Burlington Personal Injury Law Blog

Women 73% likelier than men to be injured in front-end crash

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, July 15, 2019.

Front-end collisions are the most common type of car crash in New Jersey and across the U.S., and the risk of being injured in one of these is 73% higher for women than for men. Not only that, but women run double the risk for incurring a lower-body injury to the abdomen, legs and spine. These are the conclusions of a study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.

Researchers looked at 22,854 front-end crashes reported between 1998 and 2015 and involving 31,254 vehicle occupants, 50.6% of whom were women. They excluded from their study any women who were more than three months pregnant or who did not wear a three-point seatbelt. They also divided the vehicles between those built before 2009 and those built during or after 2009.

Allstate finds Baltimore is home to the worst drivers in America

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, July 8, 2019.

New Jersey readers know there are bad drivers everywhere. After all, around 6.5 million U.S. drivers crashed their vehicles in 2017, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, a new report by Allstate Insurance finds that some areas have significantly more dangerous drivers than others.

Based on its own auto claims data, Allstate determined that Baltimore, Maryland, is home to the worst drivers in America. Drivers in that city average just 4.19 years between accident claims. In comparison, the national average between crash claims is 10.57 years. Meanwhile, nearby Washington, D.C., was determined to have the second worst drivers in the country. Drivers in the nation's capital average just 4.36 years between crash claims. Meanwhile, drivers in Boston came in third on the list, averaging just 4.89 years between accident claims. While no city in New Jersey cracked the top 50 for bad drivers, Paterson motorists were ranked 53rd most dangerous, averaging 7.9 years between collision claims.

Fourth of July deadliest holiday for drunk driving

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

Though most people in New Jersey celebrate the Fourth of July by barbecuing, watching fireworks and swimming in the pool, some may choose to drink and drive. The number of people who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs during Independence Day makes it the deadliest holiday for DUI fatalities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 1,182 fatalities due to DUI on the Fourth of July between 2010 and 2017. On the average summer day in 2017, 26.1 people lost their lives due to DUI while 40.1 lost their lives due to a fatal car accident from a DUI on the Fourth of July. Data from FARS also indicated that the number of fatalities increased in years where the Fourth of July fell during the midweek.

OSHA raises awareness of hazards facing electrical workers

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Electricians, engineers and anyone else in New Jersey who performs electrical operations should be aware of the hazards of the industry. OSHA is endeavoring to raise awareness of these hazards, particularly in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

OSHA focused its inspection work in these three states from January 2015 to September 2018 after receiving reports of 15 electrical workers being hospitalized and two having a limb amputated. In addition, six wiring installation and electrical contractors were killed in that region between October 2012 and September 2018.

Be cautious when riding amusement park rides

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Monday, June 24, 2019.

During the summer months, New Jersey families often head to amusement parks and visit traveling carnivals for entertainment. After all, strolling down the Midway nibbling on a pastel tuft of cotton candy is a rite of summer that all kids enjoy.

But sugar overloads aside, there are far more risky hazards at an amusement park or carnival that could ruin your child's summer - or even cause long-term consequences.

Car accidents may cause hidden injuries

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Monday, June 24, 2019.

When a car accident occurs, the impact of the collision is often far more harmful than victims realize at first. It is common for a victim to assess their injuries in the moments afterward and feel relief that they do not feel any significant pain or see signs of broken bones. They may even choose to avoid a follow-up medical examination.

Unfortunately, some serious injuries do not cause immediate pain and may not present any signs of harm, like bleeding or bruising. It is always important for every victim of a car accident to receive a professional medical examination, to identify hidden injuries before they create lasting pain and complications.

How ADAS are saving the lives of drivers and pedestrians

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, June 21, 2019.

In 2018, J.D. Power conducted a study to find out how effective new vehicle safety tech is in preventing accidents. This tech, known under the title of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, includes devices like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Many drivers in New Jersey and across the U.S. may save their own lives, the lives of other drivers and the lives of pedestrians through the help of ADAS.

In the study, over half of new car owners said that ADAS helped prevent an accident before 90 days had passed with their new vehicle. In particular, 49% said that the blind spot alert helped them avoid a crash. The sensors for this device can pick up not only traffic to the left and right but also any cars that may pass when one is backing out of a parking lot.

Keeping workers safe from the heat in five steps

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, June 10, 2019.

Employers in New Jersey who want to help keep their workers safe from the summer heat should consider the following five tips. The heat from the sun, as well as the heat generated by machines and by the wearing of personal protective equipment, can all lead to heat-related illnesses. Every year, more than 1,300 workers die from excessive heat.

Perhaps the first step is to educate workers on the hazards of heat exposure and the symptoms of heat stress. Employers could consider the 45-minute Heat Illness Prevention Program offered online. OSHA carries many training resources, too. At the same time, employers could create an injury and illness prevention program that lays out the ways to identify heat hazards.

Improving parking lot safety in four steps

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, June 3, 2019.

Business owners in New Jersey are responsible for the safety of all lawful entrants, including employees and clients. This responsibility extends to the parking lot. Owners should know that every year, there are more than 50,000 car accidents in parking lots (according to the National Safety Council). The first thing that owners should do, then, is focus on establishing clear traffic flow.

Parking lots, crosswalks and emergency vehicles lanes should all be clearly marked. Business owners should install the appropriate signs and have directional arrows painted. Clearly visible striping and paint can be used to identify two-way traffic. At the same time, employers should tell their employees to always be aware of their surroundings: drivers may back up a turn a blind corner and hit them.

Stay safer on your summer road trips

On behalf of Casey Colonna of Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

New Jersey residents, where will your summer travels be taking you? Whether it's a short drive "down the shore" or a longer jaunt to distant states, there's nothing like a summer road trip to make fun memories with family and friends.

Regardless of your ultimate road trip destination, the following tips can help keep you safer along the way.