Early this month, a 62-year-old New Jersey man was killed when he fell from the Ferris wheel at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier on the Ocean City Boardwalk. The man was the owner of a Swedesboro, NJ, company that was hired as a subcontractor to make repairs on the ride. The person who called 911 described him as a welder.

A Fatal Fall Occurred During National Fall Safety Stand-Down Week

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the company as well as the historic amusement park. An OSHA representative noted the sad irony that the fatal accident occurred during National Fall Safety Stand-Down Week. 

She noted, “It is a tragic reminder that all employers should take safety steps to protect the employees from fall hazards.” The OSHA area director echoed those sentiments, adding, “Worker falls are preventable with the use of proper fall protection.”

Falls from heights are the leading cause of fatal injuries for those who work in construction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about a third of all construction-related deaths in 2020 resulted from falls. In New Jersey alone, nearly 40 people engaged in some kind of construction work have died in the past two years from falls.

Falls from significant heights, even when they aren’t fatal, can result in catastrophic and often life-changing injuries. It’s crucial for injured workers and their loved ones to seek the workers’ compensation and any other sources of benefits to which they’re entitled. This can help keep a family going financially when they’re dealing with medical costs, lost wages and more.

Unfortunately, long hours at work and multiple days of back-to-back of driving can lead to fatigue and increase a trucker’s risk of causing a crash. Being too drowsy to drive is worrisome enough that the federal government imposes Hours of Service rules to limit how long truckers can drive. 

Why is exhaustion such a serious safety concern for the commercial transportation industry? 

Fatigue Affects the Body Much as Alcohol Does

It may sound strange, but going for too long without sleep can affect driving much like having too much to drink. An exhausted driver has trouble focusing and staying awake. Decision-making will be harder than it usually is for them, and they may also have increased reaction time. 

The longer someone goes without adequate sleep, the greater those impairments become. Federal trucking laws limit drive times in part to protect the public from the risk caused by exhausted drivers. When a driver violates the Hours of Service rules that limit how long they can be at the wheel or their employer demands that they keep driving until they reach their destination, they may put other people on the road at unnecessary risk. 

Learning more about the rules that apply to the trucking industry could help you pursue a claim after a commercial vehicle crash.

While the use of cell phones in any capacity behind the wheel is prohibited by New Jersey law, talking to passengers in your vehicle can be equally distracting and dangerous. Talking to passengers in your vehicle can be so distracting that you are involved in an accident. 

Are Your Conversations too Distracting?

Sometimes, you may not even realize you are distracted when talking to passengers in your vehicles. However, if you notice that you can’t focus, are missing traffic signals, or have to stop suddenly because you didn’t see an upcoming sign or hazard, it’s clear that you are distracted. Because of the dangers this poses to you, your passengers and others on the road, it’s best to end the conversation and pick it back up when you reach your destination. 

Tips to Reduce Distractions From Conversations

It’s only common to want to talk to the people in your vehicle. However, you need to stop the conversation and refocus on the road if you become distracted. You can also request that passengers don’t speak loudly or make sudden loud noises, which may startle you and cause you to jerk the wheel. 

Staying Safe While on the Road

A huge part of driving is paying attention to what is going on around you. However, if you find the conversations in your vehicle are taking your mind and even your eyes off the road, it’s best to end them. By doing this, you can keep yourself, your passengers and other motorists safe and prevent an accident caused by your distraction. 

However, many bites get more serious with time, as they become infected. This is when a superficial wound could be potentially fatal or you may need serious medical intervention to care for the infection. It’s very important to watch for potential signs, such as swelling or redness, so that you know when to do this.

But why do dog bites get infected? The problem is that they tend to be puncture wounds.

The Difference With a Puncture Wound

A puncture wound is so much different than an open wound for a few reasons. The first is that it tends not to bleed as much. While you don’t want excessive bleeding, some bleeding does help to actually clean the wound. If your body can’t do that because the puncture wound has closed back over, then it may not be as clean as it would be otherwise.

Similarly, it’s much harder to clean out a puncture wound yourself. You could run water over it, as you would with a open cut, but there’s no guarantee that you’ve actually cleaned it thoroughly. Many people think that the bite isn’t serious because they washed it off and it stopped bleeding, but the truth is that the most serious part is still to come.

After all, a dog’s mouth could contain quite a lot of bacteria. When you suffer a puncture wound, the teeth and saliva push that bacteria deep under your skin. You need to get this cleaned out to prevent the infection, but, as noted above, this can be incredibly difficult to do. That is why it is more likely that a dog bite is going to become infected than some other kind of wound.

What Should You Do if This Does Happen?

If you do get bitten by a dog and it does get infected, start by seeking medical treatment. You need to talk to doctors and make sure that things aren’t going to get worse or potentially become fatal. After that, then you can start looking into your rights to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner or the party who is responsible for the attack.

If this happens, it means that someone slept on their job, and you ought to hold them liable for their negligence.

The Law is Very Clear

In regulating the trucking industry, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Authority (FMCSA) has rules that trucking companies, drivers and loading crews need to follow. These regulations detail how cargo should be secured using the proper equipment to reduce the risk of improperly secured loads.

Who is at Fault in an Accident Involving Unsecured Cargo?

All fingers may point to the truck driver if an unsecured load causes an accident, but they may not be the only ones to blame. Other parties may share in the responsibility as well.

For instance, the trucking company may be liable if it violated FMCSA’s cargo regulations by using substandard equipment. Equally, if a loading crew was contracted to load the truck, they could also be liable for the accident caused by the unsecured cargo.

Getting Justice

If you are a victim of an accident caused by unsecured cargo, you need to protect your rights and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

However, you need to know that trucking accident claims are unlike other car accident claims. There could be several liable parties, and the compensation figure may be pretty significant if your injuries are severe. Therefore, it could help your case if you learn more about dealing with such accidents and what you need to do to strengthen your claim.

Despite all of the benefits of this modern piece of equipment, there are some drawbacks. Nail gun accidents are fairly common. They can cause severe injuries and even fatalities in severe instances. What are some of the more common causes of nail gun accidents?

Underestimating the Power of Nail Guns

To embed a nail into hard surfaces, a lot of force is required. Sometimes, workers can make the mistake of underestimating how powerful the tool is or how thick the surface is. If a surface is too thin, then a nail can penetrate through to the other side. A colleague who is on the other side of the surface is likely to find themselves in trouble, potentially suffering a debilitating injury, especially if the nail has come into contact with their head.

Unexpected Ricochets

Nails are largely designed to go through wood and non-metal surfaces. If a nail hits a surface that is as hard or harder than it, there is a chance that a ricochet could occur. The nail will be unable to penetrate the surface and will instead head back towards the operator or someone else in close proximity. A ricocheting nail can reach a staggering speed and it will cause severe damage if it strikes a human in the eyes or head area.

Nail guns are a useful tool as long as adequate safety protocols are followed. Your boss has a duty to ensure that tools are well-maintained and adequate training should be provided before usage. If you have suffered an injury on-site, make sure you check out your legal options.

At the same time, however, it’s important to understand that there’s nothing you can do to avoid all car accidents. Sometimes, things are just out of your control. Driving safely is wise, but you also need to know what to do if someone else injures you.

Accidents at Red Lights: An Example of the Constant Danger

To show how the risk is not always avoidable, consider the fact that roughly 143,000 people suffered injuries in 2019 when they were hit at red lights. One of the drivers ran the red light and caused a serious crash. 

While it’s true that some of those in the above statistics are the offending drivers who ran the lights, many are also drivers and passengers who were supposed to be safely driving through a green light when they got hit. They followed all the traffic laws. They didn’t make any mistakes. They tried to be as safe as they could. But even that wasn’t enough because something like running a red light or running a stop sign is such a critical error that even safe drivers can be seriously injured.

If this does happen to you, you may be facing extensive medical bills and a lot of other costs. Be sure you know how to seek compensation for your injuries and losses. You shouldn’t have to pay for another person’s mistakes. 

While driving can be a rewarding activity, there is always a potential for danger, no matter how careful you are.it is impossible for you to control weather conditions, which significantly impact road safety. You also can’t know for sure if something is going to go wrong mechanically- all you can do is take the best possible care of your vehicle. 

There is always an element of danger when on the roads and losing control of your vehicle is a possibility. Fortunately, losing control doesn’t need to result in an accident. There are ways for you to regain control of your vehicle. 

Tackling a Rear-Wheel Skid

Rear-wheel skids can be extremely frightening and challenging to handle. If this happens, you may feel like your car is spinning out of control and you are powerless. Nonetheless, there are ways to counter a rear-wheel skid. It is important that you refrain from slamming on the brakes, as this could send a skid out of control. Instead, try to steer into the skid. This means that if you feel your car skidding out to the left, then you need to turn your steering wheel in that direction. 

Your Front Wheels Can Skid, Too

Front-wheel skids are also referred to as understeer. Essentially, this means that your car will carry on in a straight line rather than turning the corner when you steer the wheel. You’ll probably notice that the steering wheel feels light in your hands, because of a loss of traction. The most effective way to counter this is to try and keep the wheels in the same direction as the skid and ease off the accelerator until traction is restored. Again, it is important to fight any instinct to slam on the brakes, as this is likely to only escalate the situation. 

Losing control of your car can be daunting but a loss of control doesn’t always need to result in a crash. If you have been unable to avoid a collision, be sure to explore your legal options in more detail. 

There are usually a few options for compensation available for those attacked by an aggressive animal. For example, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance can provide bodily injury liability protection that covers hospital bills and any lost wages that results from a dog bite attack.

However, in some situations, the breed of the animal involved might limit your options for compensation after that animal attacks you or a member of your family.

Insurance Coverage May Depend on the Breed

Generally speaking, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will protect a pet owner from liability associated with the animal. Still, the insurance company has to know about and cover the specific pet.

Some kinds of dogs have a stronger association with bite attacks and severe injuries, so insurance companies have extra rules about these breeds. Breeds that insurance companies may refuse to cover without a policyholder paying extra for their premium are restricted breeds. Common restricted breeds include:

• Pit bulls and crossbreeds
• Wolf hybrids
• Rottweilers
• Doberman pinschers
• German Shepherds
• Great Danes
• Akitas
• Chow Chows
• Siberian huskies

If the animal’s owner did not disclose the presence of the dog when purchasing their policy, the insurance may not cover injuries of the animal causes. The same issue could arise if the owner was dishonest about the breed.

What Happens if Insurance Won’t Cover You?

In the rare situation where an insurance company did not know about the animal or had inaccurate information about its breed, you may find that homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will not cover the losses you suffer when a dog turns aggressive.

In such a scenario, you may have no choice but to pursue a personal injury claim against the pet owner who didn’t have proper insurance. Understanding the rules that govern dog bite claims in New Jersey can help you get the compensation you need for injuries that have affected your family.

The most noticeable symptoms of a concussion can last for weeks or even longer. These include headaches, dizziness and sensitivity to light and sound. However, symptoms that are less noticeable can continue longer – and they can affect your ability to drive safely.

Comparable to Drunk Driving

In one study, researchers looked at college-age adults and the effect that a concussion had on their driving skills. They used a driving simulator within days after they reported that their concussion symptoms were gone. 

Researchers noted that many of them demonstrated erratic driving. This included not maintaining good control over their “vehicle” and swerving within their lane. Researchers compared what they saw to driving under the influence. The study’s author noted, “This is a pretty large indicator of motor vehicle accident risk…at a time point when they are considered recovered.”

While this was a small study of a specific age group, anyone who has suffered a concussion would be wise not to drive until they stop noticing the symptoms of their concussion. Doctors often have timelines they use to advise people when they can return to work, school or sports after a concussion. However, there’s no definitive timeline when it comes to driving. If you’re anxious to get behind the wheel again (or you need to), it’s a good idea to bring someone along who can honestly evaluate your driving before you go out on your own.

Potential safety risks like these are just one more reason why it’s crucial to seek medical evaluation, which may include some scans if you’ve suffered a head injury — even if you feel fine. Head injuries can have serious short-term as well as long-term consequences. It’s crucial to know how your injuries will affect you before you reach any settlement with an at-fault driver or their insurance company.

The best thing to do in a blind spot is to get out of it. Alternatively, try and avoid finding yourself in one. You do not want to be in an area where you are invisible to the driver of an 8,000-pound truck. An accident can be catastrophic, if not fatal.

Avoiding Blind Spots

The simple rule is that if you cannot see the truck driver, they most likely can’t see you. Therefore, it is important not to get too close to all sides of the truck. If you are driving behind a large truck and cannot overtake safely, be sure to maintain a safe distance. Equally, give enough space if you are driving in front of one. The truck driver cannot see the spot directly in front of the vehicle by design.

Who is at Fault in a Blind Spot Accident?

Like all other road crashes, determining fault is not easy, and it depends on the circumstances of the crash. For instance, did you have the right of way? Even if you were in another driver’s blind spot, it does not mean that they are free of responsibility if they were negligent.

Always Be Prepared

Driving near trucks is almost inevitable, which is why you should be prepared for such kinds of accidents. If you find yourself in one, you need to take steps towards protecting your legal rights. Truck accidents are not like ordinary car crashes, and things can get complicated. Anticipating any challenges will put you in a better position when it comes to getting the compensation you need for your injuries and property damage.

Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon. Motorcycles have become an increasingly popular form of transportation in the United States over the last decade or so, and that’s led to an increase in both fatalities and major spinal cord injuries from wrecks. Because motorcycles lack a protective cage or shell around their riders, there’s nothing between them and the pavement when a crash does happen – and the human spinal cord can be very fragile.

A Total Loss of Sensation Indicates That You Have the Most Severe Form of Injury

Spinal cord damage can be divided into either “incomplete” injuries or “complete” injuries. Since you have no feeling from the waist down, you likely have a complete spinal cord injury – which means that you’ve lost all motor control below the point of damage. 

Since just your legs, pelvic organs and the lower trunk of your body are affected, this is referred to as paraplegia. The long-term consequences of your injuries are likely to include:

• A permanent inability to move your feet and legs
• The loss of both bowel and bladder control
• Changes in your sexual function
• Problems with nerve pain in some of the affected areas
• Increased difficulty fighting off infections
• A risk of blood clots in your legs and other complications

Only time will tell exactly what complications you may face, but you’re definitely in for a long recovery period – and you will likely never regain what you have lost. Your focus will probably be on improving your condition as much as possible and adapting to your new physical reality so that you can maintain the best possible life moving forward.

Naturally, none of the medical care or adaptive equipment you may need is cheap – and insurance only covers so much. If your wreck was caused by another driver’s negligence, the best way to protect your interests is to pursue a claim for the maximum possible compensation.

Both can lead to the roads being more dangerous than an average day of the year. Heavy traffic can lead drivers to get frustrated and do stupid things. Anyone taking a long journey may also be more tired at the wheel than usual. As for alcohol – that is a different story altogether.

More People Drink a Little and Drive

Maybe you know someone who rarely drinks at home and never visits the bar. Yet, they might have a glass or two of champagne on special occasions such as birthdays or family gatherings. If they are not used to drinking, it could have a massive effect on how they drive, even if they are still under the limit.

More People Drink a Lot and Drive Before the Alcohol Has Worn Off

Now for those who like to celebrate in style. New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year for partying. Many follow it with a celebratory meal the next day, often involving alcohol again. Come Sunday and some of those people will have consumed so much alcohol that they will still be over the limit or in a hungover daze.

Impaired driving is irresponsible at any time of year. Yet, good sense can often go by the wayside on public holidays. If someone sets your 2022 off to a lousy start by crashing into you, understanding how to claim compensation for your injuries can help you set it back on course as soon as possible.

Although reconstructive surgery is certainly more accessible now than it was a few decades ago, it’s still expensive. Additionally, there are significant limitations on what plastic surgeons can do with significant scar tissue. While they can help rebuild damaged tissue, they may not be able to completely remove the scarring that results from a bite to the face.

How might the facial scars of a dog bite attack affect someone’s life?

They May Require Ongoing Medical Care

If the scar tissue is deep or painful, an individual may need pain relief or a series of procedures to minimize the scar tissue or improve function. Some people may even need physical or speech therapy if the bite causes damage to the musculature of their faces. Children with facial scars may require frequent revision surgeries until they mature and stop physically growing.

They May Notice a Change in Their Career Prospects

Humans are very visual animals, which unfortunately means that a facial scar can impact how people interact with someone. A service professional or salesperson, for example, who needs to quickly build a positive rapport with new people, may find that their scar inhibits their job performance.

Even in professions where appearance shouldn’t matter, facial scars might affect what someone earns for compensation or how likely their employer is to promote them to a more visible position.

Scars Can Have a Lasting Psychological Impact

Many people with facial scars caused by canine attacks endure psychological side effects ranging from depression to anxiety in social environments. Having a prominent scar can affect someone’s mental health in several ways. When you see the scar or when someone asks you about it, you will likely think back to the trauma of the dog bite attack. They may also avoid situations where people will stare or ask questions.

Recognizing that the consequences of a vicious dog bite attack don’t end with your hospitalization might hope you pursue a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim against the animal’s owner.

You have a right to expect your landlord or other property owners to take reasonable steps to protect residents and visitors from foreseeable dangers and threats from bad actors. When they don’t, you may have a case for negligent security.

What Sort of Situations Can Give Rise to a Negligent Security Claim?

Every case is fact-specific, but negligent security cases can involve gas stations, workplaces, shopping centers, convenience stores, parking garages, nightclubs, hotels and apartment buildings – among other places.

The big question that you may have to ask is how foreseeable the danger to you was and what the property owner could have done to better protect you.

For example, imagine the following situations:

• You’re on vacation and you pick a hotel at random. The hotel manager is aware that rooms have recently been broken into but doesn’t hire any additional security or warn you about the danger. You’re later surprised by someone in your room, beaten and robbed.
• You work at a hospital. The management knows that some of the nurses and other employees have encountered threats from vagrants in the area when trying to get through the parking deck. They don’t add any additional locks, lighting or security guards. You end up being attacked by someone and hurt.

In both of those situations, it’s clear that the landlord, owners or managers were conscious of the potential for danger from third parties. It’s also clear they could have done more to protect the people who are lawfully on the premises.

Premise liability claims for negligent security are not always so clear and easy to determine. Don’t assume that you don’t have a claim until you’ve sought experienced legal guidance.

With the increased hazards present in winter, it is important to be extra vigilant whenever you drive in such circumstances. Outlined below are some of the risks you should be wary of.

Reduced Ability to Stop

The icy road conditions highly reduce your vehicle’s ability to come to a sudden stop. Even with perfectly working brakes, a sudden stop is not guaranteed as cars can skid over ice, which could result in a crash. Therefore, it is essential to observe the speed limits and drive at a pace that matches the road conditions.

Reduced Visibility

In extreme winter conditions, a driver’s visibility is significantly reduced. This can invite disaster since you cannot see even the road hazards you are supposed to avoid. Furthermore, reduced visibility means that you are invisible to other drivers.

Use your headlights when driving in snowy conditions, and if your visibility is close to nil, it is advisable to pull over at a safe location and wait for the weather to improve.

Low Tire Tread and Pressure

The low temperatures over winter usually reduce the pressure of your car tires. This means that you may be driving with improperly inflated tires which can lead to blowouts and reduced traction. It is advisable to check the air pressure regularly and replace the worn-out tires.

Lastly, it is crucial to be prepared for any eventualities. No matter the steps you may take to prevent an accident, another driver’s negligence can lead to one. In that case, you need to be aware of the steps to take toward getting compensation for damage to property or any injuries suffered due to negligence.

People often try to justify their actions by blaming someone else. Yet, everyone is responsible for their own actions, especially if driving a vehicle.

Drivers Need to Control Their Reactions

If a driver is blaming you, it may be their reaction that is the problem. Here are some things a driver may say to blame you for a crash:

• You were driving too slowly: While going much slower than other vehicles can disrupt traffic flow and frustrate other drivers, there is no excuse for a driver attempting to pass you when it is not safe. If they collide with you or another vehicle while overtaking, they need to accept blame.
• You slowed down suddenly: Sometimes, you need to slam on the brakes. It could be because the light turns red, a car pulls out a driveway, or a dog wanders into the street. If the driver behind crashes into the back of you, it means they were either too close or not paying enough attention to react in time to your brake lights. Tailgating and distracted driving are both common issues.

Claiming compensation in a vehicle collision can be challenging. It will be even more so if you cannot remember what happened. Having help as you piece together the evidence (and your options) will be crucial to your claim.

What is the Meaning of “Burden of Proof?”

The burden of proof is a legal term that refers to the obligation of a party in a lawsuit to provide sufficient evidence to justify or uphold their claim.

Specifically, the “burden of proof” is the obligation on one side in a trial requiring them to prove their version of events by presenting admissible evidence, which appears sufficiently credible and convincing as compared with the opposing side’s presentation of contrary evidence.

Who Has the Burden of Proof?

The general rule is that whoever makes an assertion in a legal action has the burden to prove it. The “burden” simply means risk or duty, and refers only to the necessity of producing evidence on a given issue; once that hurdle is overcome with sufficient evidence, then the party with that burden of proof is usually said to have discharged it.

Typically, in personal injury cases, the prosecution or plaintiff has the burden of proof because they are asserting that someone else is at fault. They must be able to prove it with credible and admissible evidence in order for their claim to get substantiated. Defendants are not obligated to present any evidence unless they want to raise an affirmative defense or mitigating circumstances.

If you find yourself pressing charges in a personal injury case, you want to make sure that your claim gets justified. That means being able to prove your version of events with sufficient, admissible evidence.

What Falling Objects Can Lead to Construction Accidents?

Construction workers often sustain injuries after being struck by an object on the site. An object such as a piece of machinery or equipment, or even something small falling from a distance from above, can be very serious. Large objects like lumber or steel beams from scaffolding can leave a worker suffering devastating injuries that can leave them temporarily or even permanently disabled.

Whatever the object falling onto a construction worker, the injuries can be severe. They might need to file for workers’ compensation to cover their medical expenses and lost wages if they have to miss time from work while recovering.

What Kind of Injuries Can Occur From Falling Objects on Construction Sites?

A construction worker who suffers injuries after being struck with falling objects on a worksite might want to immediately file for workers’ compensation benefits. Certain injuries are very common after accidents involving falling objects. A worker can suffer a head injury such as a concussion or in the worst-case scenario, even a traumatic brain injury. Neck and spinal injuries are also very common. All of these possible injuries can be serious enough that they end up being permanent and disabling

In rarer cases, a falling object can lead to a construction worker suffering eye injuries. If the individual is struck in the eye by a small object or debris, it can cause irritation or something much worse such as blindness or even the loss of an eye.

People often feel confused and shaken up right after a motor vehicle collision, which makes it a bad time to make major decisions. However, that is essentially what is expected of you.

You need to take the right steps after a crash to protect yourself, which means you need to know the four things listed below.

Documenting the Scene of the Crash Will Protect You

The heavier the flow of traffic on the road where you have your collision, the more likely it is that you will not be able to leave your vehicles in place after the crash. Instead, you will need to move them to allow the flow of traffic to resume. Taking photos or even video footage with your mobile phone before you move your vehicles can capture evidence that could play a major role in your case later.

You Typically Have a Legal Obligation to Report the Crash

It is common for someone involved in a wreck to try to talk the other party out of contacting law enforcement. Drivers with suspended licenses and inactive insurance policies are among those who will likely try to negotiate to keep you from contacting the police. However, if anyone gets injured or if there are substantial property damage issues, state law requires that you notify the police either immediately or in the case of property damage is only, within 10 days of the collision.

The Other Driver’s Insurance May Not Give You Enough Protection

New Jersey does have mandatory insurance requirements, but unfortunately, the absolute minimum coverage required for someone with a Basic Policy is quite low. There might be just $5,000 worth of property damage coverage for you to make a claim against, which will force you to consider other options for compensation.

A Timely Medical Evaluation Could Make all the Difference

Your adrenal response could mask the early warning signs of a serious injury. Even if you don’t believe you had a strong biological reaction to the crash, certain serious injuries, like those that involve internal bleeding, may not have immediate symptoms after a crash but require a quick diagnosis for your full recovery. Seeing a doctor soon after a crash can get you the medical care you need and can make it clear that your injuries are the result of the wreck.

Knowing how to act after a car crash in New Jersey will make it easier for you to reduce the long-term impact of that wreck.