New Jersey Injury Lawyers Blog

Drug-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents on the Rise

May 15, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Although alcohol-related accidents are on the decline, accidents involving drivers impaired by drugs – including prescription medications – are on the rise.

Statistics relating to drug use and fatal motor vehicle accidents are revealing. It isn’t always the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription medications that is to blame; even those who use the drugs as prescribed can be impaired. Medications affect individuals differently. Many medications including sleep aides, pain relievers, stimulants, antidepressants and even over-the-counter medicines, can leave users feeling drowsy. Taken in combination, these drugs can have even more serious effects.

To better understand the severity of this trend and to learn ways not to become a victim, read “Prescription Drug Abuse Becoming More Common Reason for Accidents.”

What’s Behind the Increase in Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers?

April 10, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

As cliché as it may sound, dog attacks on mail carriers are a real issue and one that is growing.

Each year the U.S. Postal Service releases statistics on the number of dog attacks against its carriers in connection with National Dog Bite Prevention Week (August 9 – 15). According to this year’s figures, there were 6,755 dog attacks against mail carriers in 2016, an increase of 206 from 2015. The good news is that the severity of the attacks appears to be on the decline according to insurance claims.

The reason behind this increase? It could have something to do with the rising popularity of online retail sales, which has led to a double-digit increase in package business for the Post Office. To learn more about this growing problem and ways in which you can keep from becoming part of it, read “Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers Rise Again as Online Sales Boom.”

States Grapple with Distracting Driving Epidemic – Are More Laws the Answer?

March 27, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Despite all the warnings about the dangers, drivers in the U.S. continue to operate cell phones while behind the wheel. In fact, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 660,000 drivers can be found using their cell phones in some manner at any given time.

Safety issues related to distracted driving have reached epidemic proportions over the past 10 years, resulting in an average of 3,000 deaths and 450,000 injuries due to distracted driving-related accidents each year. While cell phones represent only one of the distractions drivers face today, it is believed they divert drivers’ attention more often and for longer stretches of time than other distractions. Will adopting more laws restricting cell phone use cure this epidemic? Read “Liberty v. Tyranny: More States Pass Laws Outlawing Cell Phone Use While Driving” to reach your own conclusions.

What’s Stalling Installation of School Bus Safety Sensors?

March 13, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Although a law requiring all new school buses in New Jersey to be equipped with sensors that would alert drivers if someone or something was passing in front of or behind their vehicles was signed more than a year ago, most school districts have yet to implement it.

Abigail’s Law, named after Abigail Kuberiet, a two-year-old who died in 2003 after being struck while walking in front of a school bus, was adopted in an effort to prevent similar accidents in the future. However, regulations regarding the implementation of the law are still under review by the State Department of Education. School districts are hesitant to install the sensors, estimated to cost between $1,750 and $2,500 per bus, until the regulations are released. To learn more, read “New Jersey School Buses Still Unequipped With Safety Sensors.”

Tougher Training Requirements Needed for Safer Waterways

February 27, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

The recent tease of warm weather has left people dreaming about resuming their favorite outdoor activities. For many, that includes recreational boating activities like fishing, sailing and even kayaking. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has warned, however, that a rise in the number of recreational vessels sharing the waterways with commercial vessels has led to an increased risk of boating accidents.

To help lessen the risks, the NTSB strongly suggested that the U.S. Coast Guard require recreational boaters to undergo safety instruction that meets standards equivalent to those set by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. For more information on how the risk of accidents and injuries on our waterways has increased in recent years, read “Recreational Boaters Need Safety Training.”

Creating a Safer Workplace

February 13, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Injuries in the workplace can prove costly for both employer and employee. Missed work, medical expenses and sometimes even legal costs all add up to create financial hardship for the injured party as well as the company held responsible for the injury.

Many workplace injuries can be avoided simply by employing some common sense strategies. Business owners may want to take the time to review their company’s safety policies to make sure they are comprehensive and that they are being followed. The article “7 Key Tactics The Pros Use To Avoid Workplace Injuries” outlines some steps to take to improve workplace safety.

New Jersey Court Reinstates $25M Award against Pharmaceutical Company

January 30, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that an Alabama man was entitled to the $25 million awarded to him by a jury in connection with his 2003 lawsuit against Hoffman LaRoche.

The original lawsuit claimed the man had become seriously ill after taking Accutane, a drug manufactured by the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company for the treatment of acne. It further claimed the company did not properly disclose the potential effects and health risks of the drug.

The man was awarded damages in 2010. An appellate court overturned the verdict stating the lawsuit was filed too late under Alabama law.

Should New Jersey Revise Its DWI Laws?

January 23, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

New Jersey lawmakers once again are backing a proposal to revise the State’s drunk driving laws in an effort to increase safety without putting undue pressure on violators. Under the proposal, the new law would require everyone convicted of a DUI/DWI violation to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and would also reduce the length of time those drivers’ licenses are suspended.

Statistics have shown that ignition interlock devices reduce repeat drunk driving violations by about 70% and, in some states, have reduced the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents related to drunk driving by half. Supporters of this change have stated that license suspensions are less effective than the interlock devices because drivers will continue to drive on a suspended license especially when they need their vehicle to get to work. To learn more about this proposed change, read “DWI penalty overhaul in NJ: Shorter license suspensions, more ignition locks?”

Did Improper Maintenance Lead to Boy’s Injury in Escalator Accident?

January 16, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

A New Jersey family recently filed suit against the Oxford Valley Mall and the Schindler Corporation, which operates the escalators at the mall, claiming the two entities were responsible for a 2014 incident in which the family’s young son was seriously injured.

According to reports, during a shopping trip to the mall in December 2014, the boy and his mother were riding the escalator when the boy’s foot became trapped between the step and the side panel of the escalator. It took emergency services personnel close of a half-hour to free the child’s foot and doctors later had to amputate the toes on the injured foot. The suit claims the boy was permanently disfigured and disabled and family members were traumatized as a result of the accident. For additional details, read “Parents sue after 7-year-old boy loses tows in escalator accident.”

Cuisinart Food Processors Involved in One of the Largest Appliance Recalls in History

January 2, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Conair Corp. last month recalled about eight million Cuisinart brand food processors just as home cooks were putting the machines to work chopping, grating and mixing food in preparation for the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. The recall, which involves the stainless steel riveted blades in Cuisinart food processors sold nationwide between July 1996 and December 2015, came after the company received more than 65 complaints from consumers who found pieces of broken blades in food that had been processed with these machines. About 30 of those complaints included reports of cuts to the mouth and tooth injuries.

The sheer number of machines affected makes this one of the three largest appliance recalls ever in America. Consumers were urged to stop using their food processors and contact Cuisinart for a replacement blade. However the timing of the recall, coupled with the fact that homemakers could have had the food processors in their kitchens for more than 20 years, caused some consumers to decide to keep a careful eye on their holiday food preparation rather than participate in the recall. If you own a Cuisinart food processor and want to see if it is affected by this recall, read “8M Cuisinart Food Processors Recalled Over Laceration Hazard.”