Burlington Personal Injury Law Blog

Winter weather poses different challenges on the job site

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, November 16, 2018.

Safety on the job site is in everyone's best interests. Each worker should take whatever steps are necessary to be shielded from harm and act in a manner that respects the rights of co-workers, but the New Jersey employers who exert greater control over the work environment. Being proactive, staying on top of ever-changing situations and anticipating what is likely to occur are the best ways to avoid accidents and keep worker's compensation insurance rates down.

Winter weather creates a host of challenges for a construction site that are simply non-existent in warmer months. Safety experts suggest getting a start on protecting the workers by addressing several issues before the freeze and snow set in. For instance, employers should inspect and repair roads for potholes and cracks, especially on grades where heavy equipment is operated. Also, they should have sand, gravel, salt and whatever other materials that will be required on hand and ready to go.

How to stay safe when driving in direct sunlight

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

Driving in direct sunlight can increase the risk for a fatal auto accident by 16 percent. The rays can create visual illusions, hurt drivers' eyes and even slow their reaction times. This is why drivers in New Jersey who go out in the early mornings or late afternoons need to know how they can keep themselves safe.

First and foremost, drivers have sun visors to block the sun when it's shining on the front windshield or side windows. These are very effective because they're designed to not hinder visibility. Even better are sunglasses because they reduce the brightness and protect the eyes from dangerous UV rays. A driver should have a pair of sunglasses in their car at all times.

Avoiding drunk driving accidents on Halloween

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Halloween night is supposed to be spooky but fun. However, it can get genuinely terrifying for New Jersey drivers and pedestrians.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is crawling with drunk drivers, with the scariest hours falling between 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 1. Between 2012 and 2016, 44 percent of all traffic fatalities during those hours happened as the result of an alcohol-related crash. Further, younger people are disproportionately impacted. In 2016, almost half of all people who died in drunk driving crashes on Halloween were between the ages of 21 and 34. Fortunately, no pedestrians were killed on Halloween night in 2016.

Who can file a personal injury action after a car accident?

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Friday, October 26, 2018.

The days and weeks that follow a catastrophic car accident will be a blur. You'll hardly know which way is up, let alone be able to navigate the legal complications that come in the wake of your injuries.

However, these legal issues will need to be dealt with. If you're struggling with injuries caused by someone else's negligence, you might want to look into the possibility of pursuing a personal injury claim.

Teens driving teens linked to higher crash fatalities

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

Teen drivers in New Jersey may pose a greater risk to themselves and also to others on the road - especially if they drive when accompanied only by other teens. These were the findings of new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, released in October 2018 for National Teen Driver Safety Week. The study found that when teen drivers were accompanied by teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a collision escalated by 51 percent.

On the other hand, the fatality rate declined by 8 percent when teen drivers were accompanied by passengers aged 35 or older. AAA urged more training and supervised driving hours for teen drivers in order to help them get through periods of inexperience with the help of more experienced drivers. In 2016, there were over 1 million auto accidents across the country involving teenage drivers. Over 3,200 people lost their lives in these crashes.

NSC survey raises concerns about fatigue in high-risk jobs

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, October 19, 2018.

New Jersey residents who work in the manufacturing, utilities, construction or transportation industry will want to know the results of a recent survey from the National Safety Council. It turns out that shift workers in these four safety-critical industries are at the highest risk for job-related fatigue. In all, 69 percent of employees reported feeling tired at work.

Many of those surveyed understood what the risk factors of fatigue were. For example, 97 percent of workers in transportation did, citing sleep loss at 48 percent and long shifts at 42 percent as the most common factors. Among those in construction, 100 percent reported experiencing at least one risk factor.

Escalators are more dangerous than you might think

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Monday, October 15, 2018.

If you go to the mall, pass through airports or visit a major office building on a regular basis, chances are that using an escalator is a common occurrence. When something feels like a common occurrence, however, it's easy to forget how dangerous it is. Don't let this happen to you or your family when it comes to using escalators.

Escalators are just as dangerous as they are convenient and useful. Countless individuals get seriously hurt, maimed or killed by these devices throughout the United States every year.

Excavation enforcement a top priority for OSHA

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, October 8, 2018.

Employers in New Jersey can expect increased enforcement of OSHA rules related to trenching and excavation. From 2011 to 2016, there were 130 deaths related to trenching or excavation, and 49 percent of those fatalities happened between 2015 and 2016. Employers are required to inspect trenches on a regular basis to identify hazards that could lead to a worker being hurt or killed. There are many steps that can be taken to prevent a trench collapse.

If a trench is more than 5 feet deep, it needs to have a protective system. For trenches that are 20 feet or deeper, the protective system needs to be designed by an engineer. All trenches should have an entry and exit that is safe and easy for workers to access. To reduce the odds of a collapse, the trench should be cut at a slope angled away from the excavation work taking place.

Most drivers overestimate the abilities of car safety systems

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

According to a new study, most drivers in New Jersey and across the U.S. are over-dependent on their vehicle's collision avoidance systems. The study was conducted by researchers at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Collision avoidance systems are increasingly available on new car and truck models. Examples of these advanced safety technologies include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking systems and blind spot monitoring systems. However, the AAA study found that many drivers don't understand the limitations of these systems and, as a result, engage in risky driving behaviors.