Bergen County Personal Injury Law Blog

Distracted driving is a shockingly common risk on the roads

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Once barely acknowledged as a risk, distracted driving is currently one of the leading causes of serious collisions in the United States. Countless people every day decide to do something other than just drive, even knowing how much risk comes from speeding around in a motor vehicle. When a driver takes their mental focus, eyes or hands away from the task of driving, danger increases.

Along with drunk driving and speeding, distracted driving is a preventable, unnecessary risk that claims lives and leaves people with debilitating injuries. Every day across the country, roughly nine people die in distracted driving crashes while another thousand people wind up injured.

New Jersey Impacted by Salad Recalled Over E. coli Fear

By Christian Caminiti of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in (client-fulfilled) product liability on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

The product liability attorneys at Breslin and Breslin are reporting that a New Jersey company has recalled nearly 100,000 pounds of salad, some of it distributed to New Jersey retailers, because it may be contaminated with E.coli, federal inspectors announced Thursday.

NJ Company Recalls Fruit Product After 33 Contract Salmonella

By Christian Caminiti of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in (client-fulfilled) product liability on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

The product liability attorenys at Breslin and Breslin are reporting that a New Jersey produce company is recalling some of its cut fruit products in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware for possible salmonella contamination after more than 30 people got sick.

Exercise can benefit spinal cord injury victims

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

Trying to live as normal of a life as possible when you are paralyzed is a challenge. One way that you can help yourself is to get active. You might not think this is possible because you are paralyzed. However, there are still benefits that you can reap and ways that you can get your daily activity in.

A good fitness program doesn't have to be complicated in order to help you. Instead, it just needs to be a mix of activities that keep you moving. You can work with your doctors and therapists to find out what you can do to enjoy the benefits of exercise.

Compensation after a car wreck includes several things

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 29, 2019.

A car wreck is a very stressful experience, especially when you suffer a catastrophic injury. It is common to have some soreness after the crash, but there are times when things like a brain or spinal cord injury occurs. These can change the course of your entire life, so you have to be prepared for what's coming.

One thing that shocks many people is the high cost of care after the accident. The emergency room care is only the beginning of the cost. You also have follow up care, possible therapy appointments, assistive devices and personal care. These can all add up quickly, so you will have to think about how you will cover these.

Top causes of construction site injuries

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Working on a construction site carries many risks, as an accident can happen when you least expect it. And even if you attempt to protect yourself against injury, such as by wearing the appropriate safety gear, there's no guarantee you won't require medical attention.

Here are some of the most common causes of construction site injuries:

Slip and fall: This can happen at height, such as on a roof, or on the ground. Either way, a slip and fall has the potential to cause serious injury, such as broken bones and traumatic brain injury.
Motor vehicle accident: Even if you're not responsible for operating a motor vehicle on a construction site, you can still suffer an injury if you work in close proximity to these vehicles. For example, if someone operating a bulldozer doesn't see you, they could strike you by accident.
Falling object: With people working above, such as on the roof of a building or scaffolding, there is always a risk of an object falling to the ground below. If a heavy object happens to hit you, there's no shortage of the number of injuries it can cause.
Equipment accidents: Construction sites are full of all types of equipment, ranging from power saws to nail guns to forklifts. All of this equipment is designed to improve performance and efficiency, but it also has the potential to cause an accident.
Heat stroke and frostbite: Working outdoors on a construction site can subject you to inclement weather. For example, during the winter months, frostbite is a concern when temperatures dip below freezing. And during the summer months, it's a must to protect against heat stroke at all times.

Repeated falls shouldn't be considered normal in nursing homes

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in Nursing Home Negligence on Friday, November 15, 2019.

Residents of nursing homes often face specific challenges that require them to have more help with daily activities than what was possible in their home. One risk that some of these individuals face is an increase in the likelihood they will fall. Many nursing homes have protocol for evaluating residents for this risk and addressing it when there is a reason to think the person has an increased chance of falling.

A suitable fall prevention protocol in a skilled nursing facility has three parts. First, there is a plan for assessment. Second, there is a recognition and implementation of fall minimization interventions. Third, there is a plan for reducing the severity of injuries if a fall should occur. Together, these components greatly improve resident safety when they are used properly.

Pedestrian safety during the winter is a priority

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in Personal Injury on Friday, November 1, 2019.

As the winter months approach, Hackensack residents who walk around town need to ensure that they are doing what they can to remain safe in the inclement wintry weather. Taking walking safety seriously starts before ever leaving the house. One of the most important things you can do is to wear proper gear.

Ideally, you will bundle up in layers so that there is a barrier between the cold temperatures and your skin. You should have as much skin covered as possible to reduce the risk of developing frostbite. You also need to wear shoes that help with traction as you walk. Heels aren't a good option when there is snow or ice on the ground. Instead, stick to sneakers or snow boots.

Head injuries in car wrecks can produce life-long impacts

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

People who are involved in a car wreck sometimes think that they aren't at risk of a brain injury because they didn't hit their head. This isn't always the case. It is imperative to know some of the signs of brain injuries and what you should do if you notice them.

Always remember that a brain injury won't necessarily show up at the time of the accident. You may notice them days or even weeks after the wreck, so be sure that you remain vigilant and seek medical care right away if you notice something is amiss.

Consider the real ramifications of texting and driving

On behalf of Breslin & Breslin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 18, 2019.

When warning drivers about texting behind the wheel, it's easy to stick to generalities. You may say something like "It makes an accident more likely" or "You should always try to avoid distractions."

It's not that those things are not true. They are. It's just that they're so general that it's easy for people to ignore them or overlook the bigger issue. They know that it may make an accident more likely, for instance, but they still think that they're safe enough. Or they think that it will happen to someone else.