New Jersey Injury Attorney Blog

The state of New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services Department has unveiled a program, now a year in operation, to monitor what’s going on with worker injury and fatality. The Occupational Health and Surveillance Program is designed to get the word out to the relevant agencies and analysts about various types of workplace injuries in the state.

Here’s how it works according to the New Jersey Health Department’s detailed website. The program collects data on injuries directly from the hospitals by accessing demographics from hospital staff with proper release procedures. Then analysts identify where the main problems seem to be coming from, and work with local employers to create safety solutions that will effectively bring down the number of on the job injuries in New Jersey.

The program also conducts educational initiatives and gives information to the press and to public awareness agencies. In addition, the surveillance program produces news resources to keep the public eye on what is a critical problem, not just in New Jersey, but everywhere—the proliferation of volatile materials and possible illnesses in the workplace.

Some of the conditions that the OHSP has identified as priorities include silicosis, exposure to heavy metals, and “workplace asthma.” Workplace asthma is a condition brought on by exposure to some compounds in a workplace, and professionals are trying to determine exactly what substances are leading to asthma in a large population.

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An Asbury Park officer has been hospitalized for several days after sustaining serious injuries as a result of being hit by a car while on duty. The Officer suffered broken bones and has been listed in fair condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, according to a report.

The Pennsylvania driver involved in the car accident in New Jersey has been charged with offenses including assault by auto and driving under the influence. The 23 year old driver and his three passengers had been in Asbury Park to see a concert.

The injured Officer and another officer were at the scene of an accident at Memorial Drive and Springwood Avenue. A vehicle drove onto the accident scene and the Officer repeatedly tried to stop this vehicle but the car hit the officer. The car sustained extensive windshield and roof damage in the crash.

The hurt Officer and his family would be wise to contact a skilled New Jersey automobile accident attorney. There are multiple facets to his case. Most importantly, the officer has a worker’s compensation claim as well as a third party case.

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Rollover accidents are among the most dangerous auto accidents because they usually result in catastrophic injuries or death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about 40,000 fatal auto accidents in the United States on average each year. Out of these fatal auto accidents, about 25 percent or 10,000, involve rollover accidents.

Rollover accidents often cause serious injuries such as paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, internal organ damage and amputations. Many of these injuries could leave you with permanent disabilities that could affect your ability to earn a living. A number of rollover accidents involve sport utility vehicles and light trucks. This is largely because of design and product defects associated with these types of vehicles.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a rollover auto accident in New Jersey, it is extremely important that you retain the services of experienced rollover accident attorneys to fight for your legal rights. You may be able to recover monetary compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of enjoyment of activities and other related costs.

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A New Jersey driver reportedly caused the death of an Evesham man in a pedestrian accident, according to this news report in the Burlington County Times. The pedestrian accident victim was reportedly walking on the southbound shoulder of a road when he was struck by the northbound vehicle. Police say the drugs inside the man's vehicle were unauthorized prescription painkillers.

Pedestrian accidents are devastating to pedestrians because when a pedestrian is hit by a car or another vehicle, the laws of physics almost guarantee that he or she will be badly injured. Like all drivers, New Jersey drivers have the legal obligation to watch for pedestrians on the road.

Unfortunately, many drivers are negligent. More than 20 percent of New Jersey traffic deaths in 2005 involved pedestrian accidents, while the national percentage was just 11.2 percent. The most common causes of pedestrian versus auto accident include inattention, intoxication, falling asleep at the wheel and distractions such as texting or talking on the cell phone.

Continue reading " Fatal Pedestrian Accident " »

Three workers suffered on-the-job injuries in New Jersey in Hackensack when the aluminum ladder they were adjusting contacted a power line outside a building. According to an Associated Press news report, a chiropractor who was driving by stopped to help one of the workers whose heart had stopped. The worker resumed breathing after the chiropractor gave him chest compressions for about 90 seconds. All three workers are in stable condition although they suffered burns to their hands and feet.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5.7 million injuries and illnesses reported in private industry workplaces during the year 2000. These on-the-job injuries can be minor or major, ranging from accidents involving burns, falls and electrocution. Many of these incidents can also be fatal.

Injured New Jersey workers are usually covered by worker's compensation insurance, which the state's business are required to carry under New Jersey law. New Jersey worker's compensation ensures that employees who are injured on the job are given the necessary care and money they need to maintain their lifestyles without fear of financial failure in case of a serious on-the-job injury.

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A New Jersey man was killed in a motorcycle accident after he crashed into a car that turned in front of him, according to this news report. Police officials investigating the fatal motorcycle crash said the car, in which two people were riding, turned into a driveway in front of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist apparently struck the car and was thrown off his bike. He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of personal injuries and death in the United States. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,000 motorcyclists were killed in 2001. That number, nationwide and in New Jersey, has been climbing as more and more people are starting to ride motorcycles because it is a cheaper mode of transportation, especially in the light of climbing gas prices.

Motorcyclists are more likely to suffer major injuries or death in the event of an auto accident because they are riding an open vehicle with very little protection. All they have is their helmet and protective gear such as leather jacket or boots, which is hardly sufficient protection in the event of a crash. In most cases, motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed as a result of negligence on another driver's part.

Continue reading " Fatal Motorcycle Accident Kills New Jersey Man " »

Auto accident victims who claim they have been injured as a result of auto product defects in New Jersey and across the nation from Chrysler and General Motors vehicles are being left high and dry because of the auto makers' bankruptcy filings. According to this news report, consumers and consumer advocates are outraged that auto makers, that are being financed by tax payers, are throwing "consumer safety protections out the window."

The bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM has led to new complications, particularly with regard to product liability lawsuits. According to several consumer advocates, the car companies will back up their warranties for auto parts, but will not take responsibility for personal injuries caused by defective auto parts. So, for example, if your brakes are bad, they'll fix them. But if you crash and get seriously injured because of defective brakes, then your auto maker (Chrysler or GM) won't be held liable for that.

Auto product defects are more common than we know or hear about every day. Thousands of auto accidents occur nationwide and in New Jersey because of defective auto products such as tires, airbags, seatbelts, seatbacks, engines and steering. Defective design of a vehicle can also cause catastrophic injuries or deaths in an auto accident.

Continue reading " GM and Chrysler Bankruptcies Affect Auto Product Liability Lawsuits " »

A recent article from JusticeNewsFlash.com described a New Jersey pedestrian accident which claimed the life of an elderly Trenton man. Officials with the Trenton Police Department say that the 86-year-old man died from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a motorcycle driven by a 49-year-old man of Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. According to law enforcement officials investigating the New Jersey pedestrian accident, the incident occurred around 7:15 on the evening of May 9, 2009. Officials from the Trenton Police Department say that the motorcyclist was riding his motorcycle down an undisclosed Trenton street when he struck the pedestrian with his motorcycle.

After striking the pedestrian with his motorcycle, Trenton Police report that the driver then crashed into a telephone pole at a high rate of speed and died from injuries he suffered in the collision. Emergency response personnel responding to the auto accident in New Jersey claim that the elderly man died instantly at the accident scene from the grave injuries he received from being struck by the motorcycle. After striking the telephone pole, the motorcyclist was reportedly thrown from his motorcycle an undisclosed distance and later transported to the Capital Health System at Fuld Hospital in Trenton for treatment for his injuries. He was admitted with injuries described as ‘critical’ and died from his injuries approximately three hours after being admitted for treatment.

The investigation into the tragic accident was still underway when the article was published, but Trenton police say that the motorcyclist had just left a nearby bar shortly before the pedestrian accident occurred. They suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in the fatal accident but are withholding making a formal statement pending the results of blood tests.

Continue reading " New Jersey Pedestrian vs. Motorcycle Accident Kills Elderly Man and Driver " »

A Jersey City police officer and his canine partner survived after a New York City dump truck plowed into them at the intersection Of Marin Boulevard and 12th Street early on the morning of July 4th.

Police officer Eric C. Petersen, 34, was taken by ambulance to the Jersey City Medical Center with neck and back pains shortly after the sanitation truck slammed into his marked police SUV. Petersen was heading north on Marin Blvd. when the driver of the dump truck ran a red light and crashed into him. Rommel, the 7 year old police dog, was taken to NYC Veterinary Specialists Emergency Animal Hospital, for observation.

Luckily, Rommel the dog appears to be doing fine. Unfortunately, Mr. Petersen may not have held up quite as well. Budgell was issued a summons for failure to observe a signal and careless driving and he admitted the NJ truck accident was his fault, police said.

At this point, it would be quite wise for Officer Petersen to consult with an experienced New Jersey auto accident lawyer as soon as possible. There are several issues that must be explored right away.

To begin with, Officer Petersen has a worker’s compensation case. In New Jersey, if you are injured during the course of your employment, you have the right to three benefits: 1. You get your medical bills paid by your employer. 2. You are paid a portion of your salary while you are out of work. 3. You are entitled to a final permanent disability award. An experienced New Jersey worker’s compensation attorney can assure that these benefits are received and that the numbers are fair. It is not necessary to pay a worker’s compensation attorney as they are compensated by the employer through the case.

Continue reading " JERSEY CITY COP AND HIS POLICE DOG SURVIVE DUMP TRUCK CRASH " »

A New Jersey Appellate Division panel of Judges reversed a lower court’s ruling on June 24, 2009 involving Worker’s Compensation benefits that stemmed from a late night brawl outside a bar in Atlantic City. In this case, an employee was attending a required banquet, sponsored by her employer, in Atlantic City. Following the banquet a group of employees went to the Toga Bar. At the bar, the employee introduced her boss to a potential customer. During the trial, the employee testified that she wanted to leave the bar to go to bed, but that her immediate supervisor advised her that she must stay. A little while later the employee and her boss stepped out of the bar but continued to discuss company business. At this point, outside the bar, the employee’s boss became involved in an altercation with a third person. During the course of this fight the employee was struck and sustained an injury. She applied for worker’s compensation benefits claiming she was injured on the job.

The initial workers compensation court denied her claim. The court reasoned that she was not entitled to benefits because her activities were “merely social.” The court further reasoned that the activities that took place both inside and outside of the Toga Bar were not within the scope of her employment. The Appellate Division, however, reversed the lower court’s decision and awarded workers compensation benefits to the injured employee. The Appellate Division reasoned that while her injuries were the result of a social activity, this social activity was required by her boss and was within the scope of her employment. The Court seemed persuaded by the employee’s testimony that she wanted to leave the bar because it was late and that her supervisor told her “if I have to be here so do you.” Also, there were prospective customers at the bar and when the injury took place, the employee and her boss were discussing company matters.

The facts in this case are different from the typical fact pattern in which a group of employees decide to meet for drinks after work and an injury occurs. The fact that this social activity was required, that business was conducted at the bar, and that when the employee asked her boss if she could leave he told her she had to stay, is what ultimately swayed the Appellate Division panel. If you have been injured during the course of your employment, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Contact an attorney at the Princeton, New Jersey law firm of Lependorf & Silverstein to discuss your legal rights. A Princeton, New Jersey workers compensation attorney at the law firm of Lependorf & Silverstein can advise you of your rights. Contact us today.

Boating enthusiasts enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend and beautiful weather are struggling to put their lives back together after a tragic boating accident resulted in the New Jersey wrongful death of one man and injured four others. Law enforcement officials investigating the accident say that one boat collided with another vessel on the Manasquan River in New Jersey sometime on May 23, 2009. This report filed by United Press International said that a 24 year old man of Mahwah, New Jersey was killed when the boat that he was traveling in collided with a larger vessel between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.

Hospital officials say that two other passengers in the smaller boat —a 22 year old and a 19 year old—are being treated in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit with undisclosed injuries. They claim that two other passengers in the smaller vessel were treated for minor injuries and released. Two men, ages and locations unknown, who were on the larger vessel at the time of the accident, did not suffer personal injury in New Jersey during the boating accident according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris McLaughlin.

The investigation into the New Jersey boating accident is still underway but McLaughlin said that early evidence suggests that the incident occurred when the operator of the smaller boat lost control of his vessel. At the time the article was published, authorities did not yet know if the consumption of alcohol or drugs contributed to the deadly accident. The investigation into the fatal accident continues and charges may be filed pending test results.

New Jersey boat accident statistics compiled by the United States Coast Guard indicate that there were 136 boating accidents throughout the state in 2007 which resulted in eight deaths and 52 people suffering injuries. Sadly, many of these accidents are avoidable and involve boat operators who are operating their watercraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs and/or piloting their vessels in a reckless and negligent manner.

Continue reading " New Jersey Boating Accident Kills One, Several Injured " »