New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Category – wrongful death
21 Children Injured in New Jersey School Bus Accident Involving Minivan
The driver of a minivan was killed in a New Jersey car accident involving a Vernon school bus. The Star-Ledger reports that the fatal bus accident occurred on Route 638 near Old Homestead Road in the Highland Lakes section of Vernon Township. Police report that the collision occurred as the school bus was on its way to Rolling Hills Primary School. The driver of the van was killed in the accident and 21 children on the Decker Transportation school bus were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
New Jersey car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. In cases where a drunk, distracted, or otherwise negligent driver is involved, the at-fault driver can be held liable for injuries and damages sustained in the accident. Injured victims in a New Jersey auto accident can seek compensation for physical pain and suffering, unpaid medical expenses, disability and lost wages.
Victims and their families should refrain from talking to insurance companies or lawyers for other parties until they have retained and been advised by their own legal counsel, who will help protect your legal rights.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey car accident, contact the experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers of Blume Goldfaden to discuss your legal rights and options. Call our accident lawyers at 973-635-5400 to get more information about how to pursue your possible claim.
New Jersey Truck Driver Gets Prison Sentence for Fatal Accident
A New Jersey truck driver, who pleaded guilty to negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with a fatal truck accident, was sentenced to six months in prison, and, 10 years on probation.
According to a report in the Rutland Herald, the fatal accident occurred on April 16, 2008, when a New Jersey truck driver lost control of the tractor-trailer he was operating on Route 9 in Vermont; while negotiating a curve in the road. The truck, which was carrying an improperly secured load of heavy paper rolls, overturned and struck two cars in the opposite lane of oncoming traffic. Three people died as a result of injuries sustained in this accident. Police said the truck accident could have been avoided had the driver shifted his truck into a lower gear to compensate for the steep downgrade and the sharp degree of curve of the road.
Many tractor-trailer accidents in New Jersey happen because a truck driver is fatigued, or, poorly trained. The lives of motorists and their passengers are endangered by truck drivers who have delayed reaction times, and, who fail to stop or maneuver their trucks properly. Very often, the occupants of passenger vehicles are the most seriously injured in tractor-trailer accidents, primarily because of the overwhelming size and weight of the “big rigs”.
If you, or, a loved one has been injured because of a truck driver’s negligence, both the truck driver and his or her employer – usually a trucking firm – could be held liable for your injuries and damages. The qualified New Jersey tractor-trailer accident attorneys at Blume Goldfaden have an extensive track record of favorable verdicts and settlements secured for our clients who were involved in truck accidents. We have the necessary resources and experience that is needed to pursue complex multi-party cases, including access to independent expert medical witnesses, accident reconstruction specialists, and, investigators who can assist in gathering evidence and developing a meritorious legal strategy to prosecute your claims. Call us at 973-635-5400 to schedule a no-cost consultation of your potential case.
Source:http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100130/NEWS02/1300336/1003/NEWS02
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
Toyota Vehicles Recalled for Faulty Floor Mats
Toyota Motor Corp. announced that 3.8 million of its vehicles in the United States are being recalled to correct a safety issue pertaining to removable floor mats. The floor mats in question could have a propensity for causing the accelerator to become stuck, allowing the vehicle to continue acceleration, and, making it difficult to bring the vehicle to a stop. According to Toyota, the recall will affect the 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, the 2005-2010 Tacoma, the 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and, the 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350. A money.cnn.com article reported that motorists driving any of these Toyoya vehicles should immediately remove the floor mat from the driver’s side to eliminate the risk of injury from a stuck accelerator.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports have been received of at least 102 different incidents in which the accelerator on a Toyota vehicle became stuck because of the floor mats. One noteworthy reported accident, and the incident which initially spurred the investigation into the auto product defect, involved a high-speed crash which occurred in California in August of 2009. That accident made headlines when the passengers inside a Lexus made a frantic call to 911 emergency services to explain that their accelerator was stuck and that they couldn’t stop their vehicle. All passengers in that vehicle were killed when the car unavoidably crashed.
Manufacturers, designers, and distributors of motor vehicles all have obligations to ensure that their products are safe to use and fit for the purpose intended. If they breach those obligations, it can result in tragic circumstances including motor vehicle accidents causing injury or death.
If you or a loved one have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident, and you have reason to believe that a defective auto product may have been a factor in causing an accident or injuries, contact the auto product liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden. Our skilled personal injury lawyers will evaluate the details of the accident, and, will determine whether a product liability claim may be warranted. For more information, call us for a no-cost consultation at 973-635-5400.
Source:http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/29/news/companies/toyota_lexus_floor_mats/
Route 9 Bus Rider Struck By Truck in NJ
It was recently reported by shorenewstoday.com that a woman was struck by a truck and killed after she exited a New Jersey Transit bus on Route 9. The 54-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still investigating the accident, and have not said whether the 45-year-old driver of the truck was at fault. It was not reported whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
Tragic traffic accidents involving pedestrians too often end in wrongful death. Pedestrians stand little chance of avoiding significant injury when struck by a motor vehicle. Careless driving is a chief cause of auto accidents with pedestrian injury. Other factors, including dangerous road conditions, poor lighting, poor signage, or, poorly functioning traffic lights can also play a role in these tragic occurrences. As a result, it is also possible that a municipality in charge of the maintenance of roadways and signaling devices can be held liable for damages suffered by accident victims.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact one of the experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident attorneys at Blume Goldfaden. Our lawyers will evaluate the circumstances of your accident, and, determine if you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your financial losses and physical injuries. If you have been injured, call us today at 973-635-5400 for more information and a consultation at no cost to you.
Ocean Grove Rider Dies in Motorcycle Accident
A recent motorcycle accident in Tinton Falls took the life of a 36 year old Ocean Grove man. According to an app.com article, after losing control of his motorcycle, the man collided with a cement divider along Route 33. The accident is still being investigated, and officials are examining whether another vehicle contributed to the motorcyclist losing control. Other causes of this tragic accident may also include dangerous road conditions (such as the existence of debris or uneven/poorly maintained road surfaces), or, a defective motorcycle part.
Although any motorist that loses control of a vehicle faces the potential of suffering injury, motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to some of the most catastrophic injuries. Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that in 2007, in relation to each vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists were approximately 35 times more likely to die in a traffic collision than occupants of passenger vehicles.
Litigation involving motorcycle accidents in New Jersey can be extremely complex. Blume Goldfaden’s attorneys have the years of experience and knowledge to pursue our clients’ claims and protect their rights. If you or a loved one were involved in a motorcycle accident which you believe was due to the fault of another, call Blume Goldfaden today at 973-635-5400 for a no cost consultation.
Source Article: http://www.app.com/article/20090918/NEWS/90918064/1001/rss
Man and NJ Transit Train Collide, Man Dies
A New Jersey Transit train headed to New York was involved in a pedestrian accident at the New Bridge Landing Station in River Edge, New Jersey. According to a report issued by nj.com, the express train was headed Northbound when the accident occurred. The victim, a 49-year-old man from Teaneck, may or may not have purposely stepped in front of the train before he was fatally struck. None of the 350 on-board passenger train riders were injured during the incident. Police are still investigating the matter. This was the 16th pedestrian death involving a New Jersey Transit train in 2009, and, the second of its kind to occur in recent weeks.
Pedestrian accidents involving trains often result in serious injury or death. While the above case suggests a possible suicide, an investigation has not yet been determined what exactly caused the man to fall in front of the train’s path. If accidental, the investigators need to precisely determine how the man was able to enter onto the tracks in the first place. If safety railing and other deterrents could have been put in place to possibly prevent such an accident from occurring, then those entities designing, controlling and maintaining, the train station may be responsible.
Transit companies have an obligation to ensure the safety of pedestrians and their riders. As a common carrier involved in the business of transportation, they owe a higher degree of care than do ordinary citizens. They must take all necessary precautions to see to it that tragic events such as the one identified herein are avoided
If you have been injured in a New Jersey train accident, contact a skilled New Jersey personal injury attorney at Blume Goldfaden. Our experienced attorneys will investigate the circumstances of your train accident to determine whether negligence by the transit company or its employees contributed to your accident and injuries. Call us today at 973-635-5400 for more information and a no cost consultation with regard to your potential case.
Source:http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/fatal_accident_involving_nj_tr.html
Bridgewater DUI Takes the Life of Motorist’s Fiancee
Each year, motorists nationwide are injured in traffic accidents which occurred because of alcohol intoxication. A Bridgewater, New Jersey man recently pled guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and admitted responsibility for a motor vehicle accident which took the life of his fiancée. According to the website nj.com, police investigation revealed that the man’s blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the New Jersey legal limit of 0.08; and, that the car overturned when it struck a curb.
Reckless driving, related to drug and alcohol use or not, can forever impact the lives of innocent accident victims. While such behavior is punishable by law (including license suspensions, fines and sometimes incarceration), the individual who acted irresponsibly and/or negligently can also be held liable for monetary damages associated with the accident. In all accidents where some sort of negligence was a factor in causing the accident: whether because of an impaired motorist, a poorly maintained automobile, or, because of dangerous road conditions, the negligent party should be held accountable to the injured accident victims. For that reason it is essential that a skilled New Jersey auto accident attorney be retained to ensure that all potentially negligent parties are identified.
If you or a family member have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, or, you have lost a loved one in a DWI related accident, at Blume Goldfaden, our experienced auto accident attorneys will seek a fair recovery on your behalf. You can contact us for more information and a no-cost consultation to discuss your personal injury case at 973-635-5400.
Source:http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/1252724708298390.xml&coll=1