New Jersey Injury Lawyers Blog

A recent post on YouTube highlights what can happen when drivers try to run red lights; the post shows footage of crashes and near misses in New Jersey intersections. But do the red light cameras being installed at various locations throughout the State help or add to the dangers? If, after reading the following, you have issues with traffic violations in Hunterdon County, consider contacting the municipal court attorneys at The Rotolo Law Firm in Lebanon, NJ.

The YouTube video shows ten actual accidents that occurred on our roadways as drivers try to beat the light, including:

• A Hudson County driver being t-boned after running a red light;
• A Middlesex County driver slamming on brakes to narrowly miss a pedestrian in the roadway; and
• A Gloucester County driver getting hit at night after running a light. (1)

The accidents shown occurred in Deptford, Linden, Union Township, Monroe Township, Jersey City, East Brunswick and Pohatcong. All occurred during 2011. (1)

The video was put together by American Traffic Solutions, a major provider of red light camera systems in the nation. According to the video, over 100,000 people are injured every year, including hundreds fatally in accidents caused by running red lights.(1)

New Jersey began a five-year pilot program in 2008 to install red light cameras at various locations throughout the State. Since then, twenty-five municipalities have signed on to participate. (1)

Some drivers, however, suspect the program is more of a money-generator than a safety matter. They cite the possibility of even more accidents as drivers stop short at yellow lights to avoid getting caught on camera. (2)

There is no question that the cameras do generate ticket income for participating municipalities. In Pohatcong Township, for example, where cameras were installed in August, 2,500 tickets have been issued as of earlier this month at a fine of $85 each. (2)

One of the biggest areas of debate seems to be the right-on-red rule. Drivers who claim to have come to a full-stop before making a legal right-hand turn are still getting tickets as a result of the red light cameras. Drivers have become accustomed to stopping beyond the white stop line when preparing to turn right on red in order to get a better view of oncoming traffic. The cameras, however, are designed to snap photos of all cars that pass that white stop line when the light turns red. As a result, it is not definitely clear whether a driver did indeed come to a full-stop or rolled through the light. (3)

Public debate aside, New Jersey’s red light camera program is scheduled to expand next year. Nearby Phillipsburg is one of the areas on the list of possible candidates for cameras. (3)

If you or anyone you know has an issue with traffic violations in Hunterdon Count,y consider contacting the municipal court attorneys at The Rotolo Law Firm, located in Lebanon, NJ.

(1) http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/nj_intersection_crashes_are_po.html

(2) http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2011/12/lopatcong_township_councilman.html

(3) http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2011/11/route_22_red-light_cameras_cau.html

New Jersey experienced an 18% increase in fatal car accidents during the first quarter of 2011. Officials attribute this rise, at least in part, to distracted driving.(1) High on the list of distractions for motorists is the use of cell phones and State officials are taking steps to change this behavior. If, after reading the following, you need a car accident lawyer in Hunterdon County or the surrounding areas to assist you in a similar situation regarding traffic violations, contact the The Rotolo Law Firm in Lebanon, N.J.

Since March of 2008, talking on a hand-held cell phone and/or texting has been a primary offense in New Jersey, meaning police may stop and ticket a driver solely for the reason of witnessing that driver using a hand-held device. Today such an offense carries a $100 fine and no points on the driver’s license.(2) But that may soon change. There are five bills before the Legislature which, if passed, would give New Jersey the distinction of having the toughest cell phone use laws on the books.(1)

Among the major consequences of the pending legislation would be a graduated increase in the amount of fines associated with distracted driving and the possible suspension of a driver’s license. According to reports, fines under the new law would start at $200 for the first offense and climb to $600 for the third and subsequent offenses. Drivers would also be subject to suspension of their driver’s license for 90 days for third and subsequent offenses.(1)

According to State law enforcement agencies, some 10,000 traffic tickets are written each month for violations of the State’s cell phone use laws.(1) The issuance of traffic tickets has long been a source of contention between police and the general public, with the latter sometimes looking at tickets as merely a fundraising gimmick. At least one neighboring community is taking steps to combat this notion.

During the month of December, law enforcement officials throughout Somerset County will not issue tickets for violating cell phone laws. Instead, drivers stopped for such offenses will be given warning citations and 15 days in which to view a video titled “The Last Text” and answer questions related to the video in lieu of a fine. This is part of the county’s “Put It Down” campaign designed to educate the public to the dangers of using a cell phone while behind the wheel.(3)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the risk of serious accidents is about four times higher for drivers engaged in hand-held cell phone use than for drivers who refrain. Efforts are underway to reduce this risk through education and changing laws.

When there has been a car accident, whether it is related to cell phone use or not, the individuals involved need legal representation; contact the car accident lawyers at The Rotolo Law Firm. With a location on Route 22 in Lebanon, NJ, The Rotolo Law Firm is conveniently located minutes off of Route 78.

(1) http://handsfreeinfo.com/new-jersey-cell-phone-laws-legislation

(2) http://njsaferoads.com/phone_down_overview.html

(3) http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20111130/NJNEWS/311300022/Put-Down-campaign-Drivers-using-cellphones-will-watch-video-pay-fine?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Traffic accidents are on the rise across the state – a fact that a quick glance at the local news confirms.

• Mount Arlington, NJ Police Officer Killed in Car Crash (October 18, 2011)
• Highland Park. NJ Man Is Struck by Two Vehicles (October 21, 2011)
• Woman Fatally Struck Trying to Cross Route 37 in Toms River, NJ (October 21, 2011)
• Linden, NJ Business Owner Dies After Accident; Driver Was Using Cell Phone (October 26, 2011) (1)

Earlier last month, the New Jersey State Police released statistics showing that traffic fatalities are up this year, indicating an end to a four-year drop in the State. There were 445 motor vehicle related deaths in New Jersey as of October 4, 2011, compared with 418 fatalities for the same period in 2010. (2)

The causes of these accidents vary – overcrowded roadways; dangerous driver behavior, including distracted driving and driving under the influence; and poor road and weather conditions can all contribute to a motor vehicle accident. And, as if New Jersey drivers don’t have enough road hazards to face, now is the time to add yet another – deer.

Fall is mating season for the whitetail deer that populate the area. Studies by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection indicate this season peaks in the State’s northern counties during the first three weeks of November and in the southern counties during the last three weeks of the month and may last well into December.

The problem is these amorous herbivores pay little heed to cars as they dart across roadways in search of a mate. This is especially a problem in Hunterdon County where the deer population is extremely high and dark, rural roadways dominate the area.

Car versus animal collisions are not the only concern, although a deer hit at a high enough speed can come through a windshield causing serious injury or even death. Darting deer can cause drivers to veer out of control and hit objects, such as trees, utility poles and road barriers. They can also cause drivers to swerve into the path of other motorists, resulting in multiple vehicle collisions. The worse hours for deer-related accidents are the twilight hours which, ironically, coincide with rush hour – the time of day more cars are on the roads. (3)

This isn’t a small problem. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) has already picked up more than 4,000 dead deer from roadways as of October 20. A total of 6,020 deer carcasses were picked up from our roadways last year. Deer-related motor vehicle accidents have risen steadily in the five-year period between 2005 and 2010. The DOT reported 6,847 deer-related accidents in 2005 versus 8,365 in 2010. (3)

With all the hazards on our roadways today, even the most careful drivers can experience an accident. If you, or someone you know, find yourself involved in a motor vehicle accident in Hunterdon County, you may want to seek the advice of accident attorney. Contact the accident attorneys at The Rotolo Law Firm located in Lebanon, NJ, which is located in close proximity to Clinton and Flemington, NJ.

(1) http://www.NJ.com
(2) http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/nj-traffic-deaths-on-pace-to-end-4-year-decline
(3) http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20111104/NJNEWS10/311040055/Deer-car-crashes-NJ-rising

Police across the State have stepped up efforts this holiday season to crack down on drunk drivers. Two recent incidents illustrate just how serious the problem can be.

*Amy Locane, a former “Melrose Place” actress and Hopewell, NJ, resident, was indicted recently on charges of killing a Montgomery Township woman and injuring her husband as a result of a motor vehicle accident in which the actress allegedly was driving under the influence. This accident followed an earlier hit-and-run accident in Princeton, NJ, involving the actress. Locane faces a decades-long prison term if convicted. (1)

*A resident of Freehold, NJ, Samuel Perez Ramirez, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in an accident that resulted in the death of his own father, a passenger who was ejected from the vehicle when it struck another car after failing to stop at a stop sign. Ramirez’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident was reportedly three times over the legal limit. (2)

Although these accidents occurred in June and May of this yea, respectively, the number of celebrations and office parties during the holiday season traditionally increases the likelihood of people driving under the influence. During last year’s holiday season, 189 people died in New Jersey as the result of 179 alcohol-related accidents, which represents 32% of the 584 fatalities reported in the State during 2009. National statistics show that 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-related highway accidents last year. (3)

To combat this, police departments throughout the State are participating in “Over the Limit, Under Arrest,” a campaign aimed at reducing DWI accidents through public education and increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints. (3)

Despite stiffer penalties, which include a $1,000 surcharge drivers are required to pay to the State for three consecutive years following their convictions, reports show the number of DWI arrests has not decreased significantly. According to a recent report, 27,838 DWI arrests were made last year and, although it was the fewest number of arrests recorded these past 10 years, it represents only a 3% decline from 2008. In fact, the number of DWI arrests has remained fairly steady throughout the past decade, having peaked just short of 30,500 in 2007. (4)

The “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” efforts will run through January 2, 2011.

(1) http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/melrose_place_actress_is_indic.html

(2) http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/freehold_man_admits_driving_wh.html

(3) http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/new-jersey-police-launch-holiday-season-drunk-driving-crackdown

(4) http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/penalties_not_reducing_number.html

A civil jury this week found that emergency responders took too long to arrive at a multi-car accident scene on the Atlantic City Expressway despite multiple 9-1-1 calls and awarded $8.7 million to a Mays Landing woman who lost her leg in that accident. (1)

The accident occurred on December 4, 2005. The woman, Janet Henebema, was returning home from her job at an Atlantic City casino when she hit a patch of black ice. Two other cars had hit the same ice patch earlier, causing them to crash into a barrier. Ms. Henebema was able to slow her car down, but the car still crashed into one of the disabled cars. When Henebema left her vehicle to walk to the shoulder of the road, she was struck by yet another car that hit the same ice patch. Ms. Henebema’s leg was severed as a result. (2)

In the civil trial it was discovered that the first accidents occurred more than one half-hour before Ms. Henebema’s car crashed and at least eight phone calls were made to 9-1-1 reporting the accidents. (3)

The jury found that the South Jersey Transportation Authority was largely to blame for the slow response, stating that dispatchers failed to appropriately update State Troopers as to the status of the earlier accidents and that they also rejected an offer of help from the Egg Harbor Township Police.(1)

The State Police, who were responding to another fatal accident on that roadway, were 20% to blame for the accident according to the jury. (1)

(1) http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/mays_landing_woman_is_awarded.html

(2) http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/article_197bd434-e469-50d8-bef1-9a6435c344b7.html

(3) http://www.mycentraljersey.com/fdcp/?1287107915465

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide stiffer penalties for people who talk or text on their cell phones while driving – a move that would make New Jersey’s laws among the toughest in the country. (1)

New Jersey has had laws against the use of cell phones while driving in place since 2004. In late 2007, those laws were amended to make using cell phones without a hands-free device a primary offense. Prior to that, drivers could be cited for cell phone use only if they were pulled over for another violation. (2)

Last Monday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee in a 4-to-1 vote approved a bill increasing the penalties for cell phone use while driving. Under the proposed Law, penalties would be imposed on a graduating scale: the first offense would carry a fine of $200; a second offense within 10 years, $400; and the third offense, $600, plus suspension of a driver’s license for 90 days. (3) Current penalties carry a $100 fine.

Studies have shown that cell phone use has a significantly greater impact on drivers’ reflexes and reaction times than driving while intoxicated. “Car and Driver” magazine reported that it takes drivers sending text messages an extra 70 feet to stop, compared with an extra four feet for intoxicated drivers. An insurance company estimated that drivers who text while driving are nine times more likely to get into an accident than non-distracted drivers. (4)

Critics of the changes say the current penalties are sufficient. Supporters, however, say distracted drivers pose a risk not only to themselves but to those around them. While it has been reported that the number of traffic accidents attributed to cell phone use did decrease about 10 percent between 2006 and 2008, records show that police issued almost 10,000 citations a month since March 2008, clear evidence that current laws do not provide enough incentive for drivers to break this risky habit. (1)

The new legislation requires full Senate consideration before it can become law.

(1) http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/senate-committee-approves-proposal-to-toughen-penalties-for-using-cellphone-texting-while-driving

(2) http://www.drivinglaws.org/jerseylaw.php

(3) http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2010/Sept10/091310/091510-03.htm

(4) http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blogs/stimulus_tracker/2010/09/nj_legislators_move_to_toughen_hands-free_cell_phone_law.html

A Belle Mead bicyclist was injured recently after hitting the front end of an SUV while making a left-hand turn on a township road. The woman’s injuries were not life-threatening but, to add insult to those injuries, she was issued a summons for failure to keep right and causing the accident. (1)

Not all bicyclists involved in roadway accidents are that lucky however. Last month, an unidentified man lost control of his bike and flipped over the handlebars while riding on a Teaneck road. He suffered serious head injuries in the accident. Following the incident police began an investigation to determine whether or not the accident was the result of the man being struck by a motor vehicle. (2)

Continue reading "Rules of the Road Apply to Bicyclists Too" »

The AAA Foundation for Safety has credited New Jersey stating, “New Jersey’s combination of licensing policies for young drivers is a model for the nation.” Recent changes to this law, however, have sparked controversy among young drivers, parents and lawmakers within this State.

Continue reading "NJ’s Graduated Driver License Program is Model for Nation, but Changes Draw Controversy" »

Year-over-year, there has been a decrease in the total number of crashes causing injury in the State of New Jersey. However, despite this decrease, polls show more and more NJ motorists are using phones to text messages while they are driving. Although NJ has instituted cell phone laws that prohibit the use of cell phones while driving, cell phone usage among drivers continues to increase and may negatively impact the safety of our roadways.

New Jersey's cell phone law, which went into effect on March 1, 2008, prohibits texting and talking on hand-held phones while driving. Motorists violating the law face a $100 fine plus court costs and fees. Despite the institution of the law, the number of total injured in accidents involving hand-held cell phones dropped only slightly from 565 in 2007 to 549 in 2008 while the number of total injured as a result of these crashes increased (765 in 2007 to 795 in 2008) with fatalities rising to 7 in 2008 up from 2 in 2007.

Pam Fischer, Director of the State's Division of Highway Traffic Safety was quoted as saying, "We're enforcing this law. Law enforcement is out there. They are writing tickets every day but there are a lot more people out there violating the law than there are police officers writing tickets."

Continue reading "Texting While Driving on NJ Roads" »