Work-related injuries can be devastating, life-changing and expensive. Prior to the passage of worker’s compensation laws, workers often suffered life threatening and catastrophic injuries without any type of recourse. Employees injured on the job had to prove that their employers had been negligent to be awarded any compensation, but proving a standard of care for dangerous occupations like factory work or coal mining was nearly impossible. Eventually, governments and states created workers compensation laws to help provide lost wages and other benefits to injured workers. Workplace Injuries in New Jersey When you are injured while working, immediately report the incident to your manager. Laws require employees to report injuries within a timely manner. Don’t hesitate or delay seeking prompt medical…

One commonly asked question about personal injury cases is whether a claim can be reopened after a settlement is reached. Unfortunately, many victims find that their injuries become more severe over time, that they lose more work than expected, or that they otherwise incur costs they didn’t account for in their original personal injury settlement. Sadly, once your personal injury case is closed, it can’t be reopened. Once your case is over and you’ve signed a release form in acceptance of the settlement, you have agreed to release the defendant from any future claims related to the incident. Timing Is Everything When Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim in New Jersey You could also lose your right to compensation when you…

Many states and cities ban texting while driving. Texting, as well as activities like searching an address book or music list or checking social media while driving, is commonly seen as negligence, or a failure to use due care while driving. While some locales likewise ban talking on a cell phone while driving, the question of whether having a phone conversation while driving is negligent is less clear. Negligence is the legal standard that determines fault in most personal injury cases. It asks whether a reasonable person would or would not have done something similar to what the defendant has been accused of. If the defendant didn’t do the same thing a reasonable person would have done, the defendant may…

The National Institute of Health reports that over 1.6 million older adults will require emergency room services due to fall-related injuries every year, and the likelihood of falling significantly increases as the weather gets colder. Winter-related slips and falls are one of the largest causes of work-related injuries. Colder weather causes ice to collect in open areas like parking lots and melted snow to accumulate inside doorways which are both very hazardous. Over 25 percent of these work-related winter falls occur in icy and slippery parking lots that lack handrails and other safety features. Always use elevators, handrails, tunnels, ramps or covered walkways when available to help prevent a serious fall. Individuals should always wear appropriate footwear when they can’t…

Like most states, New Jersey does not mess around when it comes to drinking and driving. With many campaigns and other forums warning against the dangers of drunk driving, there is plenty of material dispersed on the subject that drivers should heed. The consequences of drunk driving can be catastrophic for everyone involved, especially if a driver operating a vehicle while intoxicated causes an accident. That is why there are DWI (driving while intoxicated) laws in place with stern consequences for those who violate these laws. When Can You Be Charged with Driving While Intoxicated in New Jersey? For starters, in the state of New Jersey, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC)…