Burlington Personal Injury Law Blog

What to do in a hydroplaning incident

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

When the rainy season comes to New Jersey, drivers will want to be more careful on the road. When there's too much rain for a vehicle's tires to handle, the pressure in the front of the tire will push that water underneath and create a thin band of water between the tires and the road. The thicker it becomes, the more the tires float above the road and lose their traction.

This leads to hydroplaning, which is where the car slides or skids uncontrollably on the road. The risk for hydroplaning is at its highest during the first 10 minutes of rainfall because the water will mix with the oily residue on the road, forming a slippery surface. After that critical period, the water will begin to wash away most, but not all, of the residue.

Reality-based drivers' ed may improve teens' risk awareness

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

A Baylor University study has analyzed the effects of a supplemental drivers' education program on teens' risk awareness and driving behavior. The results should be of interest to parents in New Jersey whose teens are engaging in risky behavior behind the wheel. The program analyzed is called the Texas Reality Education for Drivers program, and 21 teen participants formed the study group.

The RED program is an interactive and reality-based program that takes place over one day in a hospital. In addition to the usual lectures, videos and discussions, participants are guided by a nurse through the emergency rooms, ICU and morgue and have talks with healthcare staffers with experience treating crash victims. They also engage in activities like developing a contract with parents.

Workplace fatalities on the rise in New Jersey

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Workers in New Jersey may face serious dangers on the job in a range of occupations. In 2016, 101 people across the state were killed as a result of workplace accidents and injuries, marking an upward turn from 2015, when 97 workers lost their lives on the job. New Jersey sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to workplace fatalities, ranking 17th in the nation. Experts noted that as the economy grows, worker fatalities may become more common.

Most of the people who lost their lives on the job were men, who accounted for 95 of the fatally injured workers. Six of those who died were women. This is generally because fewer women are involved in high-risk occupations like construction or sanitation. Most of the workers killed on the job were between the ages of 45 and 54, and in most cases, transportation-related accidents were to blame. By far, workers in the private sector were more likely to be fatally injured, especially those working in service jobs in waste removal, warehouses or transportation.

Staged wrecks can be disastrous for the innocent party

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Many people think that all car wrecks are accidents, but this isn't always the case.

Some less-than-honest people try to make a quick buck by using staged wrecks. These incidents are very serious matters, but not because of the injuries that might occur to the person who caused the accident.

5 reasons usually-friendly dogs lash out

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

It was a day like most others when you met up with your friend and their pets. The dogs were enjoying themselves, playing on their own. Suddenly they approached you as a group. One seemed a little aggressive, jumping up. Normally, that wouldn't amount to much, but since you were caught off-guard, it resulted in you falling over.

For one reason or another the dogs took this as a sign to jump all over you. As you attempted to get up, they became more aggressive, and you quickly realized the danger you were in. Before your friend could remove the dogs, you suffered serious bites to your forearms.

Taking action after being injured on a roller coaster

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Visiting an amusement park in the state of New Jersey can be a lot of fun. While rides can seem scary and adrenaline boosting, they are designed to be completely safe, and amusement parks must have certain safety procedures in place to prevent any type of injury on the premises.

If you were injured in an amusement park in the state of New Jersey, it is important that you understand the legal rights you have in taking action. Whether the accident was a minor one such as a sprained ankle or a more serious one such as a back injury or severe whip lash, by taking action you are standing up for your rights and making it less likely that other amusement park visitors will have to suffer in the same way that you did.

OSHA recommendations for pinch point protection

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Employers and employees in New Jersey who work around machinery should know about OSHA standards regarding pinch point protection. Pinch points are the areas in machinery where workers or parts of their body are liable to get caught, and pinch point injuries often result in the amputation of fingers, hands, feet and entire limbs. Any machine with gears, pulleys, rollers or belt drives will have pinch points.

The first step is to install guards that isolate the pinch points. If guards are not available from the machine's manufacturer, employers should have a technically competent and qualified person design them. The manufacturer should nonetheless review the design. The guards should stand up to operational stress and be made in such a way that it's not easy for workers to bypass or remove them.

Safety recommendations for tree care workers

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

Landscape workers in New Jersey and elsewhere have some of the most dangerous jobs in America. According to data from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, landscapers make up less than 1 percent of the U.S. labor force, but they account for 3.5 percent of all work-related deaths. Of those deaths, 75 percent occur during tree removal or tree trimming.

The Tree Care Industry Association reports that the most common types of tree-related accidents involve falls, being struck by an object and electrical contact. Currently, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has no comprehensive standard to prevent such accidents. However, the agency has issued recommendations for tree care contractors and workers to follow.

How New Jersey drivers can avoid accidents

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Auto accidents can happen at any time, but being a safe, defensive driver can reduce the risk of crashing. The following are a few tips on how to avoid accidents. It starts with having a properly maintained vehicle that can handle tight turns as well as brake and accelerate quickly in emergency situations. Tires and brakes are perhaps the most crucial parts.

The next step is to avoid unfavorable driving conditions like heavy snow, rain and wind. Nighttime driving is to be avoided when possible because it reduces visibility. Drivers should also take care not to get behind the wheel after drinking. Drowsy driving is another issue to be avoided.

Five safety tips for machine workers

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, August 6, 2018.

Many workers in New Jersey get hurt on the job because of poorly maintained or unguarded machinery. Sometimes, insufficient training is to blame. Since even smaller machines can lead to serious injuries, employers will want to take the following five safety tips into account.

Machines like saws, lathes and rollers should be properly guarded. Examples of machine protection include carrier guards, light curtains and two-hand operating devices. These can prevent sparks, flying chips and rotating parts from causing burns, injuring the eye or catching limbs.