On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Lawmakers in Trenton are trying to make it easier to prosecute drivers whose hand-held cell phone use resulted in injuries or death. The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee unanimously voted in favor of advancing the bill toward passage into law. The purpose of the legislation is to deter cell phone use while driving and effectively prevent car accidents.
The Senate panel heard statements from people whose loved ones died because of other people's distracted driving. One woman's sister and unborn nephew were killed by a driver who was using his cell phone at the time of the accident. Addressing the committee, the surviving sister told how she sees people of all ages driving and texting, and that they "continue to do it because there's nothing that's going to happen to them for doing it."
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A New Jersey doctor is likely to have his medical license suspended after an undercover investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration showed the doctor prescribed addictive medication when it wasn't necessary. A complaint filed with the Board of Medical Examiners in Trenton claims the doctor, of Old Bridge, recklessly prescribed anabolic steroids and painkillers to his patients.
The complaint cites numerous instances of the over-prescription of medications. In one case, the doctor continued to prescribe painkillers to a patient who had recently been hospitalized for jaundice. Since the patient was already suffering from liver disease, the use of the pain medication could have caused respiratory suppression and even death.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
According to statistics provided by New Jersey's Office of the Attorney General, 30 percent of all fatal car accidents in our state involve alcohol. That number is staggering. To honor loved ones who lost their lives to drunk driving, New Jersey families and officials recently gathered in Trenton for the second annual New Jersey Remembers ceremony.
Local police and state troopers escorted the families of victims in a processional. In remembrance of their loved ones and also to educate the public, family members of the deceased took time to speak of their devastating losses before an audience of about 150.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
South Brunswick police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating two industrial accidents in Middlesex County that left two men seriously injured. The workplace accidents occurred in separate warehouses on April 21 in South Brunswick.
According to a local news report, one accident occurred at the IFF facility on Docks Corner Road. A 29-year-old Toms River man suffered first and second-degree chemical burns on 25 percent of his body. He was reportedly working with different chemicals when the mixture exploded. After paramedics responded to the scene, the injured worker was flown by a New Jersey State Police helicopter to Saint Barnabas Medical Center. No further word was available on his condition.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Previously, we've discussed how negligence too often plays a role in personal injury and wrongful death. But sometimes the determination of fault in a fatal accident has to go beyond the initial police report. In fact, families in New Jersey sometimes have to seek help in accident reconstruction after the tragic death of a loved one. Such efforts aid victims' families in deciding whether a wrongful death claim is a viable option in the wake of a fatal accident.
These issues are likely all too close to home for the family of a man from Mount Laurel. The 28-year-old was fatally injured on April 17 when a car struck him as he walked along Route 38 in Hainesport. The car that hit the young man swerved after the initial collision and struck another vehicle. Neither of the drivers was hurt, and despite the pedestrian's fatal injuries, no one was charged with a traffic violation.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, April 9, 2012
We've all seen in the news lately that the New Jersey legislature is trying to lure internet retailer Amazon to the state with millions of dollars in tax breaks. Amazon has dangled its plans to spend $130 million on the development and construction of distribution centers and create 1,500 full-time jobs in the Northeast. New Jersey and our neighboring states are all trying to sweeten the pot to win the heart of America's No. 1 online store.
However, a federal lawsuit was settled last summer between Amazon and a warehouse worker who said that there was amazing pressure to keep the retailer's fulfillment centers scarily efficient. There are reports of constant worker monitoring, pressure to cut shipping times, fear of retaliation for reporting a workers' compensation complaint, and managing workplace injuries so the Occupational Safety and Health Administration wouldn't pick up on them.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
It's probably no surprise to Mt. Laurel readers that underage drinkers are far more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober drivers in the same age group. A recent study published in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs emphasizes the fact that age, alcohol and driving distractions play a significant role in fatal car accidents on the road. Is there a need for drunk driving and distracted driving prevention programs in New Jersey schools? The results of recent studies suggest so.
In 1996, young men had a higher risk of being involved in fatal crashes than young women, whether the young males had alcohol in their systems or not. But a recent study found that the gender gap has closed. By 2007, young women were just as likely to be involved in fatal crashes as young men. Although researchers don't know exactly why, the findings show that young women are taking greater risks on the road and their behavior when drinking is similar to that of young men who drink and drive.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Monday, March 26, 2012
New Jersey residents will be interested to hear of a woman who was faced with the choice of whether or not to continue taking anti-depression medication after learning that she was pregnant with twins. She had a prescription for Zoloft, and if she stopped taking the drug, she felt she would have an especially difficult time dealing with the pregnancy. Knowing how bad her depression could be, she also feared she wouldn't be able to properly care for her newborns if she stopped taking the medication.
On the other hand, if she chose to continue taking Zoloft, she feared running the risk of her newborns' suffering from potential birth defects. Readers in the Cherry Hill area may be aware that untreated depression can actually lower a newborn's birth weight, as well as increase the chance of pre-eclampsia and maternal suicide. These issues point to how important it is for doctors to properly inform patients of the risks of taking or not taking certain medications.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
An elderly Moorestown man was recently the victim of a hit-and-run accident as he tried to cross Main Street. The hit-and-run happened shortly after sundown on March 16. Responders on the scene transported the 69-year-old to Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill for treatment. He was later taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was said to be in stable condition.
The car accident occurred near the intersection of Main and Church streets. Police are still searching for the driver of a small, red, domestic-made car. According to police, the driver was attempting to make a left turn onto Main Street when the vehicle struck the elderly pedestrian.
On behalf of Ginsberg & O'Connor, P.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Readers in the Mt. Laurel area know that a medication error can have deadly consequences. A wrong dosage could either cause an overdose or fail to treat an illness, and an incorrect prescription could cause a fatal allergic reaction. Incorrect record keeping or other error could also lead to the prescription of a drug that could interact in dangerous ways with another drug.
When a hospital, pharmacist, physician or other health care provider makes a medication error, and that error causes harm to someone, the institution or the individual can be held liable for damages.
