New Jersey Personal Injury Blog

Franklin Township Three-Vehicle Accident Injures Two

Two people sustained injuries in a New Jersey car accident involving three vehicles in Franklin Township. According to a news report in the Gloucester County Times, a 2003 Saab ran through a stop sign at the intersection of Malaga Road and Route 538. The Saab then collided with a 2002 Hyundai, which was traveling east on Route 538. The Hyundai was pushed into a 2001 Ford Focus. The 56-year-old male driver of the Saab and the 46-year-old driver of the Hyundai were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Under New Jersey Statutes 39:4-120.9, drivers must obey all traffic control devices/signs. The law states in part: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall observe and obey any official traffic control device erected at a public-private intersection….”. Violation of this statute, or any other New Jersey traffic law, can be a basis to establish the negligence of a driver who caused a motor vehicle accident. If injuries are suffered as a result of a driver’s failure to obey traffic signs or signals, consultation with a New Jersey attorney familiar with local traffic laws is important in helping to establish the fault of the culpable driver. Even when a driver does not run a red light or stop sign, a violation of a New Jersey traffic law may still be established, such as: the failure to make proper observations of traffic and traffic conditions, or, following another vehicle too closely.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident as a result of another person’s negligence, contact an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer at Blume Goldfaden. Call 973-635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.

Rear-End Collision on New Jersey Turnpike Causes Injuries

A 20 year old South Hackensack man sustained a life-threatening brain injury in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to a news report in The Star-Ledger, his car was rear-ended by a SUV. Two passengers in the car and the driver of the SUV sustained minor injuries. Authorities arrested the driver of the SUV for driving under the influence and for possession of cocaine.

Under N.J.S.A. section 39:4-50 it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in New Jersey with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher; or to operate a motor vehicle under the “influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug.”

Drunk drivers may not only face criminal charges in the event of an accident, but they can also be held civilly liable for injuries and damages suffered by others in the accident. Injured victims and their families can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for unpaid medical costs, lost earnings, the value of the lost services, disability, and the reasonable value of physical pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey car accident, or, if your loved one has been killed or injured as a result of a DUI accident, contact the law offices of Blume Goldfaden at 973-635-5400. Our experienced New Jersey car accident attorneys can help you and your family through this difficult time, and, can assist you to seek fair and appropriate compensation for your injuries, damages and losses. Call us at 973-635-5400 for a no-cost consultation and an evaluation of your potential claim.

Fatal Hit-and-Run Accident in New Jersey

The Star-Ledger recently reported that a 79-year old Marlboro man was killed in a New Jersey car accident when the car in which he was a passenger was struck by another vehicle. The victim was travelling on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge when his vehicle was “rear-ended” by either an SUV or a minivan and was pushed into the center median. The SUV or Minivan left the scene of the accident and police are looking for a blue SUV or minivan with damage to the front driver’s side.

Under New Jersey Statutes section 39:4-129 (a), it is a felony to leave the scene of an accident when someone is injured in the crash. The law states: “The driver of any vehicle, knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene until he has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.” Subsection (c) requires motorists to provide information including license number, vehicle registration number insurance information, and, most importantly, to assist in obtaining medical assistance for anyone who may have sustained injury.

In a hit-and-run accident, despite investigation by law enforcement, very often the at-fault party may not be able to be identified. In such cases, it may become a more complicated process for victims and their families to obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and losses; in such instances, recovery may be limited to available uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a negligent driver, including a “hit and run” or “uninsured” driver, contact one of the experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Blume Goldfaden. We will help you navigate through the complex legal process. Call us at 973-635-5400 for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your potential New Jersey car accident claim.

Central New Jersey Auto Accident Injures 10

Ten people were recently injured in an auto accident in Central New Jersey, which involved five vehicles. According to a Star-Ledger news report, the collision occurred on Route 27, north of Cortelyous Lane in Franklin Township. Some of the injured were transported to local hospitals and no one sustained life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Auto accidents which involve multiple vehicles can sometimes be extremely complicated to properly investigate. Investigators need to examine the actions and/or inactions of each and every driver prior to the collision, as well as road and weather conditions in order to help determine the causes of the accident. In any New Jersey auto accident, before one can even discuss compensation for any injuries sustained, it is critical to determine liability (or who is at fault).

Therefore, it is important to have the counsel and guidance of an experienced New Jersey car accident lawyer, who will examine all aspects of the incident to determine who the culpable parties are in any such accident. The at-fault party may be held liable for injuries, damages and losses suffered by those who were harmed. Compensation may be sought relative to unpaid medical expenses, disability, lost earnings, physical pain and suffering and property damage.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey motor vehicle accident, contact the personal injury lawyers of Blume Goldfaden for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your potential claim. Call us at 973-635-5400 to find out how we can help.

Jersey City Hit-and-Run Crash Seriously Injures Two

Police in Jersey City have arrested a driver who reportedly critically injured a 27 year old motorcyclist. According to a news report in The Jersey Journal, a 38 year old man, was driving an SUV southbound on Routes 1 & 9 in Jersey City, New Jersey. The motorcyclist was behind the sport utility vehicle, traveling in the same direction, when the driver of the SUV made a sudden U-turn across the four-lane highway.

The motorcyclist collided with the SUV, which then flipped on its side. The SUV’s driver fled the scene on foot, leaving the critically injured motorcyclist and a seriously injured passenger at the scene. The driver was found shortly after the crash and arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, leaving the scene of an accident, and endangering the life of an injured victim.

According to N.J.S.A section 39:4-129 (a): “The driver of any vehicle, knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene.” Subsection (c) of this statute requires all motorists involved in a New Jersey auto accident to exchange important information with other parties (insurance, license, contact information) and render aid to the injured victim or victims at the scene of an accident so they can get prompt medical assistance.

Negligent drivers in New Jersey can not only be criminally prosecuted, but also held civilly liable for serious injuries and losses caused to the victims and their families. Injured victims and their families can seek compensation for unpaid and future medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, lost wages and disability.

Experienced and knowledgeable New Jersey personal injury lawyers, such as those at Blume Goldfaden, advise those injured in motor vehicle accidents of their legal rights and options. We are committed to helping our clients obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and losses. Call us at 973-635-5400 for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your potential claim.

Three Injured in New Jersey Car Accident Caused by Deer

A vehicle rollover accident in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey, injured three people. According to a news report in The Telegraph, the accident occurred on Saratoga Road when the 19 year old driver of a Chevy Malibu lost control of her vehicle when she tried to evade a deer which suddenly ran across the road from out of an adjacent cornfield. The vehicle struck a ditch, became airborne and then rolled over several times. The news report noted that one of the passengers, a 19 year old man, was ejected and sustained serious injuries. The driver suffered serious injuries and one other passenger escaped with minor injuries.

Rollover accidents can lead to catastrophic injury and death. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 10,000 people die each year as a result of rollover accidents. That accounts for nearly 25 percent of traffic accident fatalities in the United States.

Aside from driver negligence and road hazards (such as debris and animal crossings), some auto product defects including those relating to tires, seatbelts, and design deficiencies resulting in roof crush, can increase the chance of a rollover accident or the severity of the resulting injuries.

In any vehicle accident involving a rollover or possible product failures, it is imperative to preserve the vehicle involved in the incident. The vehicle must be preserved unaltered so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for any evidence of design or manufacturing auto product failures and defects. If an accident or injury was caused by a vehicle defect, the manufacturer, and sometimes the seller, of the defective product can be held liable for the injuries and damages suffered as a consequence of the incident.

The New Jersey auto products liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden have, for decades, represented those injured as a result of unsafe motor vehicle products, as well as families who have lost loved ones due to auto product defects.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover motor vehicle accident, contact us today for a no-cost consultation at 973-635-5400.

New Jersey DUI Collision Causes Injuries

A male drunk driver injured nine pedestrians leaving the new Meadowlands Stadium after he reportedly crashed his car into the group. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the 21-year-old driver from the Bronx plowed into a crowd of people leaving the Mexico-Ecuador soccer match at the stadium. One of the victims was a 20-month-old infant who sustained minor injuries. The driver was charged with assault with an automobile, driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault of a juvenile and leaving the scene of an accident. The victims were part of a larger group of pedestrians crossing the freeway while leaving the game. All other vehicles stopped for the crossing pedestrians, but the intoxicated driver did not.

Under New Jersey law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. N.J.S.A section 39:4-50 (a) states in part: “…. a person who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood or permits another person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug to operate a motor vehicle owned by him or in his custody or control, or permits another to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood” shall be illegal.

Victims of drunk driving/DUI (“driving under the influence”) auto accidents may seek compensation from the drunk driver for their physical injuries, unpaid medical expenses, disability and lost wages. In addition, those who served the intoxicated driver with alcohol may also be liable under New Jersey’s “dram shop” laws, depending upon the circumstances. Call the New Jersey auto accident lawyers at Blume Goldfaden, who will provide a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your potential claim if you have been injured by a drunk driver. Contact us at 973-635-5400 to find out how we can help.

Two Killed in New Jersey Auto Accident

Two New Jersey men were killed when their Avis rental truck crossed a median and hit a flatbed truck. The 41-year-old passenger died at the scene of the accident and the 29-year-old driver was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. According to a news report in The Star-Ledger, the accident took place 25 miles south of Albany on the New York State Thruway. The exact cause of the accident has yet to be determined.

In any New Jersey auto accident involving a rental vehicle, it is important to investigate whether the accident was caused as a result of a mechanical malfunction. Inquiries should be made as to: whether the rental company maintained its vehicles properly; or, if the accident was caused by a vehicle defect. If an accident was caused or contributed to by poor vehicle maintenance on the part of the rental company, then they could be held liable for the accident and any resulting injuries. If the accident occurred as a result of an auto product defect, the automobile manufacturers and/or distributors can be held liable.

Victims of accidents involving rental vehicles can seek compensation for their physical injuries, unpaid medical expenses, lost wages and disability. Families of deceased victims can file wrongful death claims seeking compensation from the responsible parties. If you have been injured in a New Jersey auto accident, or, if you have lost a loved one in a car accident, contact the experienced New Jersey auto accident lawyers at Blume Goldfaden. Contact us at 973-635-5400 for a comprehensive, no-cost evaluation of your potential claim.

Three Car Crash in Vineland Proves Fatal

Two people were killed, and, four others injured in a New Jersey auto accident involving three vehicles. According to a news report from www.nj.com, a 32-year-old Cape May County woman drove through a stop sign and caused the three-car collision. Sadly, the two passengers in that driver’s car, her 71 year old father and 73 year old mother, died as a result of the accident. A 13-year-old boy also in the same vehicle suffered a compound fracture in his leg after being ejected out of the back window. The victim in the second vehicle suffered leg and back injuries. The victim in the third vehicle was reportedly uninjured.

New Jersey Statutes 39:4-120.9 and 39:4-81 state that all vehicles must come to a complete stop at all stop signs.

In this case, driving through a stop sign cost the life of an elderly couple and injured two others. The failure to yield the right-of-way and rear-ending a stopped vehicle are two common occurrences at intersections in New Jersey. In such cases, wearing a seatbelt at all times when seated in your vehicle (whether stopped or driving), can help minimize personal injuries to vehicle occupants in such cases.

When such incidents occur it is also important to examine whether the accidents were caused by other dangers at the intersection. Sometimes, stop signs can be visually obscured by foliage or some other type of obstruction. Vehicle control devices (such as traffic lights and directional arrows, etc.) may be in disrepair and not functioning properly. Excessive road debris and hazards (e.g., large potholes, ice build-up, etc.) may cause or contribute to accidents. If the accident was caused by a dangerous condition on the roadway, the governmental agency or municipality responsible for maintaining the roadway, signs and traffic control devices could be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries and damages.

If you are involved in a New Jersey auto accident, contact the New Jersey car accident lawyers of Blume Goldfaden at 973-635-5400 to schedule a no-cost consultation regarding your potential claim.

New Jersey Multi-Vehicle Crash Injures Three

Three people were injured in an auto accident in Haworth, New Jersey, after two cars and a police vehicle crashed at an intersection. According to a northjersey.com news report, the crash occurred at the intersection of Haworth Avenue and Maple Street when a car going south on Maple hit the police car traveling west on Haworth. The police cruiser then struck another vehicle that was attempting to turn left on to Maple from eastbound Haworth. The police officer was taken to a local hospital where he was treated, and, released. The drivers of the other cars were also transported to nearby hospitals.

Any time an accident takes place at an intersection, an investigation should be conducted to ascertain who was at fault. This is can be determined by establishing which driver had the right-of-way at the intersection at the time of the accident. It is also important to determine if any of the drivers violated vehicle & traffic laws (e.g. run a red light or stop sign). Those vehicle operators or drivers at fault for an accident as well as the vehicle’s owners can be held accountable for injuries and damages caused as a result of the accident. Those injured, as well as their families may be able to seek compensation to cover medical costs, loss of wages, physical harm, property loss, and, other related damages.

If you have been injured in a New Jersey auto accident, contact an experienced NJ car accident lawyer at Blume Goldfaden. We can provide a no-cost consultation, and, evaluation of your potential claim. Call us at 973-635-5400 to learn how we may be able to help. Remember that there are time limitations to file claims against governmental agencies (e.g., Municipalities, Police Departments, etc.) in New Jersey. If your potential claim involves a governmental entity, such as a police department, consult a lawyer without delay.