New Jersey Accident and Injury Law Blog

In Spite Of Ban, Cell Phone Use While Driving Widespread in New Jersey

Scott Grossman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:48:26 -0500

When the law banning the use of hand-held cell phones was passed in New Jersey in 2008, injury lawyers believed that it would dramatically impact the rate of accidents caused by such distracted driving. It turns out that we may not have been as right as we might have hoped. According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, there are still far too many drivers out there using cell phones while driving and causing accidents.

Since the law went into effect on March 1, 2008, law enforcement officers in New Jersey have issued close to 225,000 citations to motorists for breaking the law. Between 2008 and 2009, there were 3,610 accidents that involved a motorist using a hand-held cell phone. These crashes led to a total of 13 deaths. The number of deaths from cell phone-related accidents seem to be the highest in Camden County with 231 accidents in all related to motorists using cell phones while driving. Burlington County was next with 121 accidents, and Gloucester County was third with 116 accidents traced to the use of hand-held cell phones at the wheel.

According to Division of Highway Traffic Safety chief Pam Fischer, law-enforcement officers are doing their duty, going out there and cracking down hard on motorists who use cell phones while driving. Unfortunately, the number of motorists who break the ban seemed to be far too many for law enforcement to be able to reach them all.

So do I think the laws have failed? No. We simply need better enforcement, heavier fines, and stricter penalties for these laws to work the way they were supposed to.

In related distracted driving news, a new bill proposes that police responding to an accident note down whether the motorist was distracted at the time of the accident. Officers would be given a sheet with a number of distractions - eating, changing radio stations and other distractions - and would have to check on the appropriate one.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey injury lawyer, representing injured victims of motor vehicle accidents and car crashes in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic, and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

Accident Fatalities Down to Lowest Level in 54 Years

Scott Grossman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:18:10 -0500

Preliminary data released by the Department of Transportation indicate that there has been a record-breaking dip in the number of highway fatalities that occurred on American roads last year. In 2009, according to the data, there were 33,960 deaths on our highways, a drop of 9% from the previous year.

As a New Jersey injury lawyer, I have been blogging about the declining accident fatality rates across the country, including in our state. This year's numbers, while not low enough by any standards, are still extremely encouraging to those of us who would like to see fewer people killed and fewer lives shattered in preventable traffic accidents. According to the Department of Translation, fewer incidences of alcohol-related car accidents, greater use of seatbelts and safer cars have contributed to these decreasing fatalities.

I have to agree. Americans are safer now on the highways than they were even a decade ago, and that's no small accomplishment. However, that isn't to say that we don't have challenges on our roads.

· The biggest challenges come from more and more numbers of technological distractions making their way into our vehicles. These include not just cell phones and texting devices, but also dashboard computers that are beginning to appear in cars.

· Fatalities could also be reduced if we could focus a little harder on motorcycle safety. This is one category of highway users that continues to be at a high risk for death. We still continue to have far too many deaths in motorcycle crashes, even when the motorcyclist is wearing helmets.

· The challenges to raising a new generation of informed drivers are greater today than they were a decade ago. Teen motorists have far too many distractions to enable them to drive safely. Law enforcement agencies in New Jersey must focus harder on enforcing traffic safety rules, educating teen motorists by taking the message to high schools around the state.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey accident lawyer, representing injured victims of automobile accidents in Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, and Bergen Counties and across New Jersey.

More Worries about Distraction Risks from Digitized Billboards

Scott Grossman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:06:31 -0500

As the numbers of digitized billboards on our highways has increased, the calls for limiting the use of these billboards because of the distraction risks have also become louder.

Travelers have become used to these billboards that flash advertising messages, news headlines, and sports scores. But exactly how distracting are these billboards?

The billboard industry insists that there is no evidence to show that these billboards are any more distracting than traditional billboards. However, auto safety advocates are not as convinced. Adding to the confusion is that there have been very few studies into the distraction risks of these billboards compared to conventional ones. Last year a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study indicated that these billboards were an accident risk, but did not confirm just how high the risk was. The Virginia Tech study did say, however, that there was a need for more studies into these risks.

It seems to me that anything that can take a motorist’s attention away from the road on a busy highway for enough time to cause an accident, must be considered a serious risk. Some of these billboards change messages every 6 to 8 seconds. These are highly distracting messages that have the potential to cause motorists to take their eyes off the road for several seconds at a time. Motorists who are distracted by billboards are already talking on their cell phones or texting while driving. In short, these motorists can't handle any more distractions.

Efforts to ban these billboards are on, but the industry has been stubborn about its opposition to any such ban. In several states, nonprofit groups are trying to block the installation of more such billboards.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey personal injury lawyer representing injured victims of auto accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

Girl Severely Mauled in Dog Bite Attack in Georgia

Scott Grossman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:52:23 -0500

A serious dog bite incident in Georgia this week critically injured an eight-year-old girl. The attack has also led to louder calls for breed specific legislation in the state.

Earlier this week, eight-year-old Erin Ingraham was playing in the yard at her Atlanta home when she was attacked by two Staffordshire Terrier dogs. Animal control officers were able to get the dogs off the little girl. One of the dogs was shot and killed in the scuffle, while another has been caught, and is likely to be euthanized.

The attack was vicious, and Erin suffered serious injuries. She continues to remain in intensive care, and has undergone several surgeries since the attack. Obviously, Erin is looking at a long, traumatizing and painful recuperation. My prayers are with the little girl, and I hope that she makes a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, the viciousness of the attacks have spurred calls for stronger dog bite legislation in Georgia. Georgia‘s dog bite laws don't allow for strict liability in a dog bite case. That means that when a bite incident occurs in Georgia, the dog must have been involved in a previous attack for the owner to be held liable. In comparison under New Jersey's strict liability laws, an owner can be held liable for the injuries caused by his dog even if it was the very first dog bite incident involving the animal.

In Georgia, the attack on Erin has led to at least one legislator calling for a ban on violent animals, or at least some kind of restrictions on violent breeds.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

University of Alabama Conducting Study into Prevention of Dog Bites Among Children

Scott Grossman — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:23:19 -0500

The University of Alabama in Birmingham is conducting a study to determine the effectiveness of a software training program in teaching children about safe interaction with dogs.

The study will involve giving the children a software program called the Blue Dog, developed by the Blue Dog Trust in the United Kingdom. The program features a series of instructions for little children to be safe around dogs and avoid possibly antagonizing behaviors around these animals. The children will then be tested with a live dog to study how much they have absorbed the instructions given in the program. If it is found that the children have learned a lot about safe interactions around dogs from the Blue Dog program, then it could help in preventing at least some of the thousands of dog attacks involving children every year.

Many dog attacks involve children who unwittingly provoke the animal by pulling the animal’s ears, or teasing it. Children are the most frequent victims of dog bites in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year there are more than 4.5 million dog bite incidents occurring in the country. Of these, an overwhelming majority involve little children between the age of five and nine. Children of this age group are not only more likely to be involved in the bite incidents, but are also more likely to need medical attention for their injuries. Teaching children to be safe around dogs is a big part of preventing these attacks.

Scott Grossman is a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey representing injured victims of dog bites around the state of New Jersey.

Killer Whale Attack Underscores Unpredictable Nature of Animals

Scott Grossman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:15:19 -0500

Normally, an attack involving an orca would not find a place on this blog, but as a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey who frequently comes across serious and even fatal attacks involving man's best friend, I have to express my surprise that anyone thought an attack like this was completely impossible.

Tilikum, the 12,000 pound, 22-foot killer whale is just about everywhere on the news. This week, the orca pulled its trainer Dawn Brancheau into its tank, and thrashed her violently from side to side. The trainer died of traumatic injuries. This wasn't the orca’s first brush with death. He has been named in at least two previous fatalities. In the first one, he was among a group of three whales which attacked a trainer who fell into the pool at a park in British Columbia. In the second incident, Tilikum was linked to the death of a 27-year-old man who is believed to have sneaked into the orca tank. The man was found dead on the whale’s back the next day.

That anyone is stunned at this attack is a matter of surprise to me. Whether you're talking about killer whales, or a chimpanzee, or your pet dog, you're dealing with animals, and animals are unpredictable. Tilikum was one of the largest killer whales in captivity, and has lived in captivity since he was two years old. That makes it all his life in training. That didn’t stop the orca from killing its trainer. It's insane to blame the whale here. It is also important to understand that when you are in proximity to animals, there is always going to be the risk of an attack.

As a dog bite attorney in New Jersey, I see this all the time. Owners who have raised a dog for years will express surprise when an attack occurs. Animal behavior is unpredictable, and there is much that we have to learn about what makes them tick and what sets them off. Until that happens, it’s the responsibility of human beings to exercise care and take precautions with the animals under their charge and care, whether it is a 22,000 pound orca, or a pit bull.

Insurer Files Lawsuit to Avoid Having to Pay Out in Dog Bite Attack

Scott Grossman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:00:47 -0500

A family in Illinois is finding out just how hard an insurer will try to avoid having to pay out in a dog bite incident. The insurer, Illinois Farmers Insurance has filed suit this week to avoid paying compensation to the victim of a dog bite attack.

The dog bite here occurred in July last year. The victim Chloe Pluger was bitten by a dog belonging to Gary and Sharon Lindstrom. Chloe's father Matthew Pluger filed a lawsuit against the Lindstroms. The lawsuit sought to recover compensation for injuries that Chloe suffered in the dog bite attack. However, Farmer’s Insurance refused to cover the injuries.

The basis for this was that Chloe's mother had been dating Lindstrom's son when the dog bite occurred. The insurer alleged that for months before the dog bit Chloe, and for two weeks after the dog bite, they had all been residing in the same house belonging to the Lindstroms. According to the insurer, their dog bite policy specifically excludes members of the same household from liability.

To those not familiar with the kind of measures that insurers can adopt to avoid having to pay out compensation to injured victims, this means that the Farmer's policy excludes Chloe because she had been living at the Lindstrom's residence when the attack occurred.

As this case shows, you can expect an insurance company to try everything possible to avoid having to pay out compensation even in a simple dog bite case where liability is apparent. I don't know much about the injuries that Chloe suffered here, but in case of a severe dog bite, victims may be looking at heavy medical expenses that could leave them in severe financial distress if the insurer refuses to pay out.

Scott Grossman is a dog bite attorney in New Jersey representing victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, and Bergen Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

Man Charged in Garden State Parkway Drunk Driving Accident

Scott Grossman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:55:05 -0500

An intoxicated motorist who caused an accident that seriously injured three of his passengers, has been charged with DUI and leaving the scene of the crash. The driver Luis Barrera was driving on the Garden State Parkway in Eaglewood Township, when his car veered off the road, and crashed into a few trees. After the crash, Barrera got out of the vehicle, and pretended to be a witness. He then tried to flee the scene of the crash. He has been arrested and jailed.

The passengers Ingrid Gomez Reyes, Xikun Zhu, and Walter Torres suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, and had to be admitted to a hospital in Atlantic City.

Every time injury lawyers in New Jersey feel hopeful at the declining rates of drunk driving crashes in the state, comes an accident like the one here. Incidents like these continue to remind us that there remains a threat from those who believe they have a right to drive when they are a danger to themselves and others.

New Jersey has strong laws that hold intoxicated motorists responsible for their actions. Our dram shop liability laws allowing persons who have been injured by a drunk driver to hold the establishment that served him alcohol, liable for the injuries. We also have strong civil laws that allow victims of drunk driving crashes and families of people who are killed in such accidents to recover compensation for their losses. These help to act as a deterrent to reckless motorists.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer representing injured victims of alcohol-related car accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

More Hospitals Choosing to Recycle Medical Equipment, Infection Concerns Mount

Scott Grossman — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:41:57 -0500

Medical malpractice attorneys in New Jersey and around the country will be concerned at an increasing trend among hospitals to recycle single-use medical products. The trend is part of efforts to reduce the amount of waste that hospitals produce, and make the healthcare industry more eco-friendly. However, it also raises concerns about how such efforts to green hospitals can impact patient safety, and increase the risk of infections.

In the March issue of Academy Medicine, researchers claim that reusing certain products can save the healthcare industry billions of dollars every year, and dramatically reduce the amount of waste that the industry produces. Single use devices must be discarded after they are used. But researchers say that sterilizing some instruments like compression stockings can cut costs, and reduce the amount of waste that the hospital generates. According to the researchers, they have studied the effects of such reuse of products, and have found no adverse patient safety-related incidents.

However, concerns are beginning to mount about the danger to patients who could be at a higher risk of infections because of the hospital’s desire to save a few dollars or cut down trash. According to Michael Bennett who is the president of the Coalition for Patients Rights, it is unconscionable for a hospital to subject a patient to the risks of infections, just to save on costs.

As a New Jersey medical malpractice lawyer, I'm definitely very concerned about this potentially dangerous trend. American hospitals already struggle with a high infection rate, and we need more firm steps taken to keep these rates in check and minimize the threat of infections. While there is a need for reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing consumption in the healthcare industry, this could be done in other areas. Patient safety must not be compromised just to green hospitals.

NTSB Announces 2010 Wishlist, School Bus Enhancements Off List

Scott Grossman — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:29:50 -0500

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its 2010 Federal Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements. The agency as it does every year, has outlined the recommendations that it has made to enhance highway, aviation, rail and maritime safety.

As expected, due to the high number of plane safety incidents that we have seen in recent years, aviation safety finds special mention on the list. The NTSB list also includes a number of recommendations for trucking safety, many of which have been given a red designation.

However, one particular item on the list is likely to have escaped the attention of the media and injury lawyers. The NTSB has chosen to remove two school bus safety recommendations from its list. Earlier, the Board had recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration develop safety rules that will prevent child passengers from being ejected from their seats in the event of a collision. According to the NTSB, the NHTSA has acted to develop rules specifying seatback strength for school buses and setting down specifications for voluntarily installed seatbelts in certain school buses. The NTSB says that it is pleased with the measures taken by the NHTSA to tackle these problems, and therefore, is taking the recommendations off the list.

As a New Jersey injury lawyer and a parent, this particular removal really concerns me. School bus safety is an issue that concerns many parents. In particular, it is the absence of mandatory seat belts on these buses that is troubling. Failure to buckle up can convert a child into a projectile in the event of a crash, placing him at serious risk for injuries and deaths. These can so easily be prevented simply by mandating that all school buses come with seatbelts.

Child Injured in Dog Bite Attack at Dulles Airport

Scott Grossman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:35:48 -0500

A slightly unusual dog bite incident occurred at Dulles international Airport in Virginia this month. A four-year-old child was attacked and bitten by a Customs and Border Protection dog.

The attack occurred in the baggage claim area. Customs and Border Protection personnel say they're not sure why the dog attacked the child. However, it seems that the dog bit the girl on the abdomen, leaving her with serious lacerations. The girl's mother tries to pull the dog off her child, but failed. The dog's handler also tried break up the attack, but was unsuccessful. The dog had bitten into the child's abdomen, and just wouldn't let go. The little girl had to be rushed to a local hospital for treatment. She received close to 20 stitches on her abdomen.

According to Customs and Border Protection personnel, incidents involving dog bite attacks are relatively rare.

Any dog bite incident that involves children always touches me personally. As a father and New Jersey dog bite attorney, I feel for parents whose children suffer through a terrifying dog attack. For a four-year-old child, any dog bite incident is terrifying. Children are more vulnerable to dog bite incidents because of their trusting nature and small size. Larger breeds or more aggressive ones, are likely to consider little children as toys, or even worse, prey. In fact, most dog bites in the United States involve children between the age of five and nine.

No matter what the circumstances of this particular attack, it seems highly likely that there was negligence at some level here.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth County, Bergen County, Passaic County, Ocean County and across the state of New Jersey.

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper Named in Lawsuit Arising out of Slip and Fall Accident

Scott Grossman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:33:43 -0500

Renowned CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has been named in a lawsuit filed by a New York City interior designer. The lawsuit arises out of a slip and fall accident that the designer blames on Cooper.

The accident occurred last September at Cooper's new home. The anchor had recently purchased a house that earlier used to be a firehouse. On the day of the accident, the interior decorator Killian O’Brien was at the home when she fell through a gaping hole that earlier held the fire pole. Apparently, someone had removed the covers of the hole before O'Brien arrived on the premises. It was a 17-foot fall for O’Brien, and she was injured. Her lawyer claims the fall could have killed her. O'Brien has filed a lawsuit against Cooper.

Cooper may find that leaving his premises dangerously unsafe for visitors or guests, can be quite expensive. A 17-foot fall could have left O’Brien seriously injured, or even dead. This woman is extremely fortunate that the slip and fall accident did not result in more serious injuries.

A slip and fall accident can leave a victim suffering from serious injuries. These include

· Concussions
· Contusions
· Fractures
· Spinal cord injuries
· Head injuries
· Brain injuries
· Sprains
· Strains

The victim may require weeks and months of hospitalization, surgeries and extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. There may be extensive losses, including medical bills and days lost from work.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey slip and fall accident lawyer representing victims injured in slip and fall accidents in the state of New Jersey.

Hormone May Hold Key to Limiting Effects of Brain Injury

Scott Grossman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:24:24 -0500

Trials into the effects of a sex hormone on the severity of traumatic brain injury are slated to begin soon, and these promise the first breakthrough in treatment of these injuries in decades.

Traumatic brain injury is often the result of

· Automobile accidents

· Truck accidents

· Motorcycle accidents

· Industrial or workplace accidents

· Construction accidents

· Trip, slip and fall accidents

These can leave persons with short-term and long-term effects that impact their daily lives.

Researchers will soon begin a phase 3 clinical trial into the effect of the hormone progesterone, on limiting the impact of brain injury. Studies conducted earlier have shown that the hormone injected soon after an injury, can act as a protective barrier that prevents the injury from worsening,. The trials will be led by researcher Dr. David Wright at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Across the country, more than a thousand patients in more than 17 facilities, who suffer from a brain injury, will be injected with the hormone within four hours after the injury.

The researchers believe that the hormone will work to prevent deterioration of brain tissue, and prevent inflammation and swelling. This may limit the extent of deterioration seen after a traumatic brain injury. It may also minimize the risk of death following a traumatic brain injury.

As a New Jersey injury lawyer who frequently represents seriously injured victims of car and motorcycle accidents, I am very excited at the prospect of a major new breakthrough treatment for TBI. I will be monitoring the trial very closely to see how treatments that emerge from the trials, can help my clients.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey accident lawyer representing victims injured in car accidents in the state of New Jersey.

10-day-old Baby Dies After Dog Bite in Minnesota

Scott Grossman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:06:49 -0500

This tragic story affected me not just as a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey, but also as a parent. It’s beyond horrific, and I hope that it gives parents more pause for thought as to the kind of interaction they encourage between their pets and their infant children.

The incident occurred in Minnesota. A 10-day-old baby was killed in an attack involving the family pet, a Siberian Husky. The baby was apparently at home in the car seat. the dogma attacked the baby, leaving the child with serious head injuries. Emergency responders did try to revive the baby but they failed. By the time emergency responders arrived, the baby had stopped breathing.

Apparently, the baby was alone in the room when the bite occurred. There were other members of the family present in the house, but no was at the scene when the bite occurred. There seems to be many details of this attack that are still to come out. However, for now, it’s hard enough to deal with the fact that an innocent baby has died a horrific death.

It brings home to all, including dog lovers and dog bite lawyers in New Jersey that so much of having a dog at home is about responsible ownership. The need for responsible dog rearing practices is epically important when you have just welcomed a new baby into the family. I am not sure how long this dog had been with the family, but it seems strange that they thought it fit to leave a dog alone with a baby if that’s indeed what they did. The family members haven’t spoken out yet about this, and I will not make any assumptions about what happened here.

I will however, offer readers a great resource from the American Humane Society to help dog owners who are preparing for the joyous arrival of a baby into the home

Helping your dog cope with the new arrival

Pit Bulls Terrorize New Jersey Apartment Building: Three Injured

Scott Grossman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:59:56 -0500

Residents of an apartment complex in Hoboken, New Jersey where a pit bull attacked three people are concerned about the presence of these breeds in their building.

The attack which occurred earlier this month, involved a pit bull that bit a total of three persons in an apartment. The victims included the dog's owner, her friend and another person who happened to step into the apartment. The three were injured seriously enough to require a visit to the hospital.

It was a horrific attack by any standards, and its severity can be judged by the fact that a team of Hoboken police officers as well as a Port Authority Police Emergency Service Unit were dispatched to the scene. The male pit bull in the attack was shot by police officers only after he had lunged at the third and last victim. Meanwhile, residents at One Independence Court, the building where the attack occurred, have begun to speak out about the presence of other pit bulls in the building, and their concerns that there may be more attacks.

This attack also has brought out strong reactions from both sides of the fence. Pit bull owners insist that these attacks do not reflect on the overall nature of the breed they believe is strong and gentle. Unfortunately however, the fact is that we see an inordinate number of serious attacks involving such breeds. No one denies that other breeds can just as easily attack, but those attacks rarely end in such horrific and serious injuries. Out of the three victims here, for instance, two needed surgery as part of their recovery.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Ocean counties and across the state of New Jersey.

Ohio Pharmacist Jailed for 6 Months in Fatal Error

Scott Grossman — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:07:08 -0500

An Ohio pharmacist is serving a jail term of 6 months in a fatal pharmacy error that killed a two-year old child.

I have blogged on this tragic story earlier. In 2006, Emily Jerry was receiving treatment for cancer at a Cleveland Hospital. She was due to leave the hospital after her treatment, and was getting a last round of chemo. However, a pharmacy technician at the hospital mixed the chemo drug with a saline solution that was more than 26 times the prescribed amount. Emily fell seriously ill as a result of the error, and died three days later.

The pharmacist on duty at the time, had failed to catch the mistake. That pharmacist, Eric Cropp is serving a 6-month jail term. His pharmacist’s license has also been revoked. A piece on CNN shows the pharmacist as heartbroken and “teary” over the incident. The fact is however, that an innocent little girl was killed by a preventable error. Emily was ready to go home. Her parents had even planned a trip to Disneyland to celebrate her coming home free of cancer. Like her parents say, it would have been different if Emily had died of cancer. But she died at the end of her treatment program, from a horrible error that left her on life support for the last few hours of her life.

It’s hard to imagine that anything good could come out of this tragic death, but Emily’s parents have found a way to do just that. They have managed to use their tragedy for the greater good. They spearheaded efforts to pass Emily’s Law which was signed in 2009. The law requires that prescription errors be reported to the Ohio pharmacy board, and that there be a limit on the number of technicians under a pharmacist’s supervision.

Scott Grossman is a pharmacy error lawyer representing injured victims of pharmacy errors in New Jersey and nationwide.

Five-Year-Old Critically Injured in SUV Rollover Crash in Monmouth County

Scott Grossman — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:03:08 -0500

A five-year-old girl sustained serious injuries in an accident on the Garden State Parkway this week. The girl was in an SUV. According to the report, it appears that the driver of the SUV was trying to avoid a massive block of Styrofoam that was on the highway, and the SUV flipped over. There were a total of nine people in the car, including three adults and five children. All the others are also reported to have been injured. However, their injuries don’t seem to have been life threatening.

According to the Ashbury Park Press, it appears that the Styrofoam block had fallen off a vehicle belonging to Railroad Construction Co. Inc. The company is engaged in some work on the Parkway, although it’s not clear if the fallen debris was part of that work.

No one knows yet if the child was wearing a seatbelt the time of the crash. However, a SUV rollover could result in children being ejected from their seats, especially if the child was in a booster seat. My prayers are with this family, which is still recovering from their injuries.

I would wait for the investigation to be completed before commenting, but if the debris fell off a vehicle belonging to a construction company, then the company has a lot to answer for. Unsecured cargo can be a risk in more ways than one, as this tragic accident shows.

Scott Grossman is a Monmouth County injury lawyer representing injured victims of auto and truck accidents in Holmdel, Freehold and around Monmouth County.

New Device Promises to Help Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Scott Grossman — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:18:30 -0500

As a car accident lawyer in New Jersey, I am pleased with some dramatic new advancements in the field of spinal cord injury treatment. Clinical trials into a new robotic exoskeleton that could help patients with these injuries to walk again, are on at a research center in Philadelphia.

The device has been developed by an Israel-based company, and comprises of a harness, backpack and leg supports. The equipment also includes sensors that can detect and communicate to a computer in the backpack that a step needs to be taken. The person can then walk using his crutches. The device works with the help of a battery that can be charged for three hours of use. However, in order to be able to use the device, a person must have the use of his upper body.

It is hard to overstate the kind of benefits that this exoskeleton can offer to patients with spinal injury who are unable to walk. As a New Jersey car accident lawyer, I often come across victims of serious auto accidents, who have suffered a spinal cord injury. I know the kind of hardship these people face as they begin to navigate life without the use of their lower limbs. These injuries can often been seen in major, high-impact car accidents, tractor trailer accidents, or as a result of accidents in the workplace. A serious fall can also cause a spinal cord injury.

If all goes well, the device could be available as quickly as a few months from now. Once the clinical trials end, the company Argo Medical Technologies, plans to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for approval. If the device is approved, the device will available in New Jersey and nationwide by late 2010.

New Jersey Killer Roads Made More Dangerous by Negligent Driving

Scott Grossman — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:13:37 -0500

New data from the US Department of Transportation breaks down accident figures around the country between 1994 and 2008 based on the highways or roads where these occurred. As I looked at accident statistics for New Jersey highways, I noticed that most deaths were linked to drunk driving, speeding and failure to wear seat belts. The last was the single biggest factor in fatalities on New Jersey highways.

In Monmouth County, the most number of fatalities occurred on route 444 with 73 deaths in 61 accidents. Out of these, 20 deaths involved accidents in which a driver had been intoxicated, 6 deaths involved a speeding driver, and 33 deaths or more than 45 %, involved failure to wear seat belts.
In Bergen County, the largest number of fatalities between 1994 and 2008 occurred on I-95 which saw 56 deaths in a total of 54 accidents. Out of these, failure to buckle up was linked to the highest number of fatalities with 37 deaths or 56 percent of the fatalities. Drunk driving accounted for 16 deaths and speeding accounted for 2 deaths.
In Ocean County, the highest number of deaths occurred on route 444 with 86 accidents and 96 fatalities. The percentage of fatalities not wearing seat belts was close to 47 percent (45 deaths), with 20 deaths attributed to drunk driving and 6 deaths attributed to speeding
In Passaic County, I-80 was the most dangerous highway with 37 deaths in 35 accidents. Failure to (you guessed it) wear seat belts was the major factor in the fatalities here too, with 26 persons or more than 70 percent, not wearing seat belts. 15 of these deaths occurred in accidents involving a drunk driver, while four involved accidents caused by speeding.

The lessons from the data are obvious. You can increase your chances of staying safe on New Jersey roads by simply following 3 basic rules.

Never drink and drive.
Never drive above the recommended speed limit.
Always wear seat belts.

Scott Grossman is a car accident lawyer in New Jersey, representing victims of automobile, motorcycle and truck accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

A New Name and Address: The Grossman Law Firm, LLC Moves to a new Freehold Office Location

Scott Grossman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:43:44 -0500

This week, I moved my injury law firm practice in Freehold to a brand new building, under a brand new name. So as of the 1^st of February, the Law Offices of Scott D. Grossman is now The Grossman Law Firm, LLC.

Monmouth County residents can locate us at our new office:

The Grossman Law Firm, LLC.

Pinho Professional Center,

57 Schanck Road, Suite C-13

Freehold

The telephone and fax numbers for the Freehold office remain the same.

Phone: 732-625-9494

Web: www.GrossmanJustice.com

Blog: www.NJinjuryBlog.com

Our Northern New Jersey office remains at its current address in Bergen County.

The new expanded premises are at a convenient location, and will help Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, Howell, Old Bridge, New Egypt and Jackson area residents, who need to consult with an experienced injury lawyer in Monmouth County.

Those of you who know me on a personal level, or have given me the honor of representing you over the years, know that my objective in starting my own personal injury law firm practice was to help victims of negligence fight for their rights. Over these years, I have noticed how shattered victims of accidents and serious injuries can be. When a person walks into my office, he or she has been through one of the most traumatic experiences imaginable. He or she has often been seriously injured because of someone else’s negligence, and has been off work for several days. Medical debt will soon pile up and he or she may soon find it hard to meet rent, mortgage payments, utility and grocery expenses.

For most of these people, it is the very first time they have been seriously injured. It is also the first time they have been unable to work and support their families. The strain of dealing with physical pain and financial expenses, and worry over a future that is so uncertain - these are some of the common characteristics I see in so many of the clients who walk in for a consultation at my office.

For me, being a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey is not just about helping these people navigate their way through the complexities of the NJ insurance law, and obtain the compensation they deserve for what is often a life altering experience. It’s also about helping them find the resources they need to move forward again.

While there may be nothing I can do to make injured clients or bereaved ones feel whole again, I am committed to doing all I can to put them back on the road to physical, financial and emotional recovery, all with a very personable hands-on approach. As I settle down at our new beautiful, state of the art, conveniently located Freehold office, it’s a commitment my staff and I will maintain.