New Jersey Injury Attorney Blog

Children have been known to suffer harm or injury in a wide variety of accidents in New Jersey, with drowning and near-drowning accidents being one of the main causes of child injury and death during spring and summer months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that out of all children 1 to 4-years-old throughout the United States who died in accidents in 2005, about thirty percent were killed in a drowning incident. While increases in pool safety and drowning prevention over the last few years have helped drowning rates decrease, drowning is still the second-leading cause of accidental injury-associated fatalities for children ages 1 to 14 years.

While any parent, sibling, family member or babysitter knows that children are at least a little accident-prone, serious accidents such as drowning may be caused by another person’s negligence. For instance, child drowning accidents in New Jersey may result from lack of adult supervision, faulty pool gates, inadequate pool/spa barriers and even intoxicated driving in an open water setting. In order to help prevent child drowning, it is important to make sure that either your pool or a friend/family member’s pool has an outside door alarm, pool covering, proper pool/spa barriers and that children are being monitored at all times. It only takes a second for a small child to get out of sight and put in harm’s way.

Child swimming pool accidents may raise several complex premises liability issues that would be best handled by a skilled attorney who has handled these types of cases and has personal injury and wrongful death litigation experience. If your child has suffered injury from a swimming pool accident, whether the incident took place at another person’s home or at a public pool, a New Jersey child injury attorney can help protect your child’s rights.

A near drowning accident may be emotionally traumatic as well as physically devastating for a child. With the experienced personal injury attorneys from Lependorf & Silverstein on your side, you and your family can seek compensation for medical expenses associated with your child’s injury as well as damages for pain and suffering. Please call (609) 240-0040 today for a free case evaluation regarding your child injury or drowning accident.

Posted by Lependorf & Silverstein | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Child Injury

Bookmark:

As one of the most silent and invisible forms of personal injury, lead poisoning has put far too many children at risk throughout the State of New Jersey. Based on a nj.com report, health officials have proposed new and stricter standards that should allow children suffering from lead poisoning quicker access to health services in addition to having their homes (as the site of exposure ) examined sooner. A major change made by New Jersey health officials is the proposed lowering of the blood-level threshold said to determine whether a child exposed to toxic lead requires follow-up care and whether an environmental investigation is needed to determine its source.

According to the article, health officials are now aware that lead levels once thought to be tolerable are now known to be far too dangerous, especially when it comes to children. Depending on the level of lead exposure, some of the injuries children could encounter from lead poisoning may include, but are not limited to:

• Developmental problems


• Damage to normal growth


• Severe brain damage


• Seizure


• Coma


• Wrongful death

Continue reading "New Jersey Strengthens Combat against Lead Poisoning" »

Posted by Lependorf & Silverstein | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Child Injury , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Premises Liability

Bookmark:

Sixteen people, including a 9-month-old baby, were injured in a Glen Ridge three-vehicle accident at an intersection on October 26, 2008. According to a news report in the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the accident was caused by the driver of a Ford Expedition who ran a red light on Ridgewood Avenue and crashed into a gray Honda Accord before swerving into the path of an oncoming minivan as well.

There were reportedly 14 passengers in the Expedition. The 9-month-old was reportedly ejected through a rear passenger window when the SUV tilted sharply to the right during the collision. All 14 of the Expedition passengers as well as the drivers of the Honda and the minivan suffered injuries and were transported to area hospitals. Four, including two children that may have been the victims of a defective car seat, were said to be in critical condition.

This is a horrific auto accident. News and official reports place the fault on the driver of the Expedition who apparently broke the law by failing to stop for a red light at an intersection. The driver of the Expedition would no doubt be held responsible for the accident and resulting injuries to his or her passengers as well the other motorists. It is indeed a relief that no one was killed in this collision.

The injured victims would be well-advised to retain the services of an expert New Jersey car accident lawyer, who will fight for their rights and get them the compensation they rightfully deserve. Where there is negligence and wrongdoing involved, auto accident victims are entitled to compensation for medical bills, loss of wages, pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey auto accident, please call Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation.

Posted by Lependorf & Silverstein | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accidents , Child Injury

Bookmark:

In 2004, a 9 year old boy broke his femur in a collision with another child as they ran to line up after recess. A Passaic County jury decided that the school was negligent in supervising the children because the school only had one teacher supervising 400 children. The child suffered permanent debilitating injuries. According to the boy’s attorney, the school system only offered $5,000 to settle the case. A jury felt otherwise and awarded $500,000 for the child’s pain and suffering.

Minor injuries to our children are an inevitable part of the growing up process. When those injuries, however, are the result of the negligence of another party, it can be very unsettling. An unsafe swimming pool or faulty playground equipment can lead to injuries that were similar to the ones the Passaic County youth suffered from. Additionally, unsafe child products, such as defective car seats, strollers, cribs, and toys can play a large role in injuries sustained by our children.

If your child has been injured at school or summer camp or by an unsafe toy or product, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible to determine if there is any liability. Contact the attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein if you have any questions.

Posted by Lependorf & Silverstein | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Child Injury , Premises Liability

Bookmark:

A 10 year old boy was seriously injured while riding the Psycho Swing and Blackbeard’s Cave in Bayville when a faulty restraining belt broke, causing the boy to be knocked around the inside of the ride’s cockpit. This child suffered two broken ankles which will permanently impair his mobility for the rest of his life. The amusement park agreed to pay $1 million to compensate the boy and his family.

Regardless of the cause of these types of dangerous amusement park accidents, be it mechanical failure, operator error, or design defects and limitations, the park must be held accountable for the injuries any patron suffers while enjoying the venues attractions. Premises liability injuries like this one occur everyday and are not limited to amusement parks. Dangerous accidents can occur anywhere; in businesses, like a store or restaurant; on public streets or other government properties; or even a private home.

Amusement parks, wave parks, ballparks, and all other places that entertain the public have certain legal duties to make sure rides and attractions are safe. If you or a family member is injured during summer activities, it is important to contact an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney as soon as possible to determine if there is any liability.

Contact the attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein if you have any questions.

Posted by Lependorf & Silverstein | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Park Accidents , Child Injury , Premises Liability

Bookmark: