New Jersey Personal Injury Blog

10 Residents of Jersey City Building Suffer Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Six adults and four children who are residents of a building in Jersey City were taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. According to The Jersey Journal, residents suffered dizziness, wooziness and other symptoms relating to being exposed to high amounts of carbon monoxide. Residents reportedly heard carbon monoxide alarms go off around 9 p.m. on May 14, 2011. A local Fire Director stated that if the building had not been equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, the residents could have died.

After the residents were evacuated from the building, firefighters detected high carbon monoxide levels throughout the building. This particular building is comprised of a ground floor grocery store and five residential units on upper floors.

The elevated levels of carbon monoxide have been linked to the grocery store owner setting up a gasoline powered generator to provide power to the grocery when the electricity to the store was off. This generator released the carbon monoxide gas; and the store owner has been fined.

In April, a 24-year-old woman died in Jersey City from carbon monoxide poisoning linked to a damaged water heater vent the day after moving into an apartment. An investigation is examining whether a man who died at the same residency in March could have also been killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning. This particular building did not have carbon monoxide alarms.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially lethal gas. It is odorless and colorless making it difficult if not impossible to detect without a properly working CO detector/alarm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that people can be poisoned by breathing CO if it builds up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. In addition, the CDC cautions that over 400 Americans die per year from accidental CO poisoning, with an additional 20,000 visiting the emergency room and over 4,000 needing to be hospitalized because of CO poisoning. Deaths caused by CO exposure are highest for individuals 65 and older.

As these stories and statistical information demonstrate, exposure to high levels of CO is extremely dangerous and sometimes can be attributed to a property owner’s failure to maintain their premises and/or adhere to building safety codes.

At Blume Goldfaden, our New Jersey premises liability attorneys are familiar with the laws pertaining to hazardous property conditions and how individuals or family members with meritorious cases may be able to obtain compensation from those responsible for causing them harm. Call us at 973-635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.

Council Meeting Addresses Injury Accident and Inadequate Security at Summit Tier Parking Garage

A council meeting was held recently regarding the safety of the Summit tier parking garage behind Springfield Avenue, reports The Independent Press. According to the article, the mother of a 9-year-old girl who suffered a fractured skull, concussion, and lacerations after a pipe coupling at the parking garage fell and struck her asked the Common Council what procedures are carried out to make sure the parking garage is safe. The accident involving the child is currently under investigation.

Another issue raised during the meeting related to a security camera at the parking garage that was installed in 2001, but has not been functioning. The mother of the child who was injured at the parking garage also stated at the meeting that cars have been vandalized and she’s heard that the garage’s upper level has become a place where teenagers hang out.

Money to pay for cameras and updates to the tier garage to improve safety have reportedly been put aside, according to the Parking Utilities Directory.

Municipal property owners are responsible for ensuring that appropriate precautions are taken to ensure that hazards or safety issues that pose a threat to the public who visit or use their premises is minimized. When business and municipal owners neglect this responsibility, unsuspecting patrons are in danger of suffering assault, serious injury, illness, or even death.

A New Jersey premises liability attorney can protect the rights of those who sustain damages and losses from injury or death as a result of property owner negligence. Although not every accident will result in a meritorious premises liability claim, those who have a viable claim may be entitled to obtain compensation for physical pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, and, where applicable, wrongful death damages. For a no-cost consultation, contact the lawyers at Blume Goldfaden at 973-635-5400.

Construction Worker Survives Eight-Story Fall

A construction worker, who fell eight stories from a building in Manhattan, sustained cracked ribs and other injuries, according to a CBS news report. The 29-year-old construction worker was standing on a wooden plank on the 16th floor when the plank cracked. The worker then fell onto scaffolding below. The man was part of a crew dismantling scaffolding at the 20-story building. The worker also sustained neck, shoulder and leg injuries as a result of the fall. Officials said he was very lucky to be alive.

Injuries from falls are some of the most common occurrences at New Jersey construction sites. Some of the most frequent incidents include falls from scaffolding, roofs, or, ladders. These falls can result in catastrophic injuries or death. In some cases, workers end up with permanent disabilities that prevent them from ever being gainfully employed again, placing a tremendous financial and emotional strain on the injured person and his or her entire family.

Many construction accidents are entirely preventable, especially if contractors and sub-contractors follow state and federal mandated safety standards to ensure a safe work environment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey construction accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, or, as a result of defective equipment, you may be able to pursue a claim. Construction accident injury victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earnings, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and, other related damages.

If you would like to learn more about your legal rights, please contact an experienced NJ construction accident lawyer at Blume Goldfaden for a no-cost consultation. Our attorneys have thorough knowledge of New Jersey personal injury civil litigation laws, and, have successfully pursued third party claims on behalf of injured workers and their families. Call us today at 973-635-5400 to find out how we may be able to help.

Source:http://wcbstv.com/local/fall.cracked.ribs.2.1391798.html

Worker Suffers Burn Injuries at Construction Site

A worker sustained serious burn injuries while remodeling a home in Jerseyville, New Jersey. The Journal-Courier reports that the incident occurred when the worker was filling an insulation blower with gas from a can, which caught fire. The man tried to throw away the gas can, but it landed under the vehicle of another worker, and, ignited the vehicle. The worker suffered a burn to his arm and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Construction zones can be extremely hazardous places. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than 13 construction workers out of every 100,000 have died on the job since 2005. In addition, six out of every 100 construction workers in the United States were either injured or sickened at work. This incident in Jerseyville is evidence that even a bystander is at risk for injuries due to construction-related accidents.
State and Federal laws mandate compliance with strict workplace safety standards for construction sites, including required protective gear, and, the regulation of exposure to dangerous chemicals. However, very often, those laws are partially or completely ignored, with possible life-changing consequences to the victims.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey construction accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, lack of safety training, or, as the result of a defective product, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and/or, permanent disability. You may be able to hold a contractor, sub-contractor, or, the maker of faulty equipment liable for your accident, injuries and other losses. Contact the experienced New Jersey construction accident lawyers at Blume Goldfaden by calling 973-635-5400 to secure a no-cost evaluation of your potential construction accident case.

Source:http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/jerseyville-24841-burned-repair.html

Escalator Fall Takes Life in Atlantic City

According to the website nj.com, in an Atlantic City, New Jersey shopping mall, an escalator accident took the life of a Clinton, New Jersey man. The man, in his early 40s, died when he fell from the escalator. Details regarding the cause of the accident were not initially provided, as police were still investigating the incident. This accident marked the second time in 13 months that an individual had fatally fallen to their death from an escalator in the same mall at The Pier Shops at Caesars.

Escalators are convenient, but also dangerous. Building owners and escalator designers, maintenance companies, manufacturers, distributors and installers typically take precautions designed to prevent injury on these devices. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that about 75% of injuries associated with escalators are fall-related. According to the Safety Commission, about 11,000 people were injured in escalator accidents in 2007.

An escalator accident involves the law of premises liability issue, and, those responsible for the premises and the inspection of its escalators may be held partially accountable for injuries that occur there. However, these complicated claims may also have a product liability component to them if defects in, or poor and improper maintenance of, the escalator contributed to or caused the accident.

Those injured in accidents of this nature should remember that an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney is an asset in holding negligent commercial property owners and others accountable for their actions. If you have been injured in an elevator, escalator, or mechanical walkway accident, contact the premises liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden. Our skilled personal injury attorneys will evaluate the circumstances of your case, and will seek to assist you in obtaining compensation for your physical injuries and economic loses. Call us today at 973-635-5400 for more information and a no cost consultation of your possible premises liability case.

Source:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/man_dies_in_fatal_fall_from_es.html