Manalapan New Jersey Legal Blog

You can file a claim for your repetitive-strain injury

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Repetitive trauma is common in workplaces where you do similar things day after day. For example, if you work in education, you probably stand, use a chalkboard and grade papers regularly, all repetitive motions. If you work in a factory, you might wrap items or move them several times a minute in similar movement patterns. If you are a writer, you could use a keyboard for many hours a day. In any case where you're doing similar actions time and time again, you could end up with a repetitive-strain injury.

In Illinois, repetitive-trauma cases are normally compensated under the Workers' Compensation Act. To be able to make a claim, you will need to determine the date of injury. Knowing the date of the accident is necessary when you file a claim.

The common hazards construction workers face

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in workers compensation on Monday, September 10, 2018.

Construction workers make up about 6 percent of the overall workforce throughout New Jersey and the rest of the U.S. However, they accounted for 20 percent of employee deaths in the private sector according to OSHA data. One of the biggest hazards workers face on a construction site is falling. Falls can occur because of an unstable surface or because they weren't using a ladder in a safe manner. They can also occur because workers failed to use or improperly used protective equipment.

Employees may be at risk for getting hurt or killed on a construction site because of electrical hazards. Therefore, workers should know where power lines and other utilities are located. It's also important to have a plan to avoid them while working. Furthermore, a safety plan should account for forklifts, cranes and other large equipment used on a job site. This can help to prevent accidents related to construction workers being hit by objects.

New awareness campaign targets drugged drivers

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in dui/dwi on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Drug-impaired driving is increasing in New Jersey and across the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As a result, the agency is launching a new campaign to raise awareness about the issue. The initiative will run through Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 3 this year.

The new campaign is similar to drunk driving initiatives like the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The taglines for the drug-impaired initiative are "If You Feel Different, You Drive Different" and "If You Drive High, You Get a DUI".

11 steps to safer chemical handling

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in workers compensation on Monday, August 13, 2018.

Chemical handlers in New Jersey face a wide range of risks, but these could be reduced or avoided if they consider the following 11 safety rules. Employers will want to incorporate them as they are general enough to apply to any workplace where hazardous chemicals are present.

The first rule may be the most important: Workers should perform their duties as they were trained to do. Second, they should wash their hands with soap and water after handling materials and clean all work surfaces so as to prevent contamination. Workers will also fare better if they are trained to think ahead to any potential hazards. Eating and drinking while handling materials should be forbidden.

Signs of a head injury after an accident

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, July 31, 2018.

New Jersey residents who have been in a car crash should get themselves checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. This is because a medical professional can check for symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Tests can be done that check for the ability to recall words or if there are signs of memory loss. Other symptoms of a head injury include a lack of balance or a change in mood over time.

Individuals should know that they may experience symptoms two or three days after the crash takes place. Therefore, they should not skip seeking medical treatment just because there is no apparent injury immediately after the crash occurs. Internal bleeding can also be a problem after a car crash, and it is easier to manage a bleed or other consequences of a head injury when a person seeks help right away.

Can bad weather cause a car accident? You bet!

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. on Monday, July 30, 2018.

If you live in the state of New Jersey, you know that each month presents its own challenges with respect to the weather.

During the summer months, the sun is typically shining bright. However, there are times when thunderstorms roll into the area. The winter months are often full of sleet, freezing rain and snow, all of which can make it difficult to tackle the state's many roadways.

An overview of risky jobs for Americans

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in workers compensation on Monday, July 16, 2018.

According to the 2016 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, logging is the most dangerous job in America. New Jersey residents may also face a higher risk of an on-the-job fatality if they work as roofers or iron or steel workers. Loggers had a fatal injury rate of 135.9 per every 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. This list was published in late 2017 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Truck and sales drivers were also on the list, and this is because 40 percent of all worker fatalities in 2016 were caused by transportation accidents. In addition to truck drivers, many farmers and groundskeepers were also killed in such accidents. However, the No. 2 spot on the list of most dangerous jobs in America was held by the fishing industry. They had a fatality rate of 86 per 100,000 FTE workers.

Studies continue to link new tech to distracted driving

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Most drivers in New Jersey don't doubt that technology is distracting more and more people behind the wheel. The U.S. Department of Transportation has noted a 10 percent rise in car crash fatality rates from 2014 to 2017, and this could be traced to the increased use of smartphones and in-car infotainment systems. A recent AAA analysis showed just how distracting both can be.

In this analysis, researchers from the University of Utah had 64 participants drive in five different vehicles and use the built-in infotainment system. At other points, the drivers were asked to use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, interfaces that run off a smartphone. The infotainment systems turned out to be more distracting. The interfaces were not perfect, either, and they demanded more or less attention based on the function being used.

An overview of New Jersey DUI laws

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in dui/dwi on Monday, June 18, 2018.

The state of New Jersey imposes many different penalties against those who drive while impaired on drugs or alcohol. Those who are under the age of 21 may lose their license for up to 90 days and be ordered to complete up to 30 days of community service. They may also be required to participate in an alcohol education course. State law says that minors may not have a blood alcohol content of more than .01 percent.

Drivers who are 21 and over may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. However, it is possible for drivers with a blood alcohol content at or below the legal limit to be charged with DUI if an officer sees signs of impairment. A first offense carries a fine of up to $400 and an auto insurance surcharge of $1,000 for three years. A second offense comes with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.

Determining landlord liability in wrongful death cases

On behalf of Law Office of Jack L. Stillman, P.A. posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

If an individual is injured or killed while on someone else's property in New Jersey, the owner of the property could be held liable for damages in a premises liability lawsuit. Based on this theory, the parents of an 18-year-old who died after consuming ketamine filed a suit against the owner of the North Dakota home where the substance was consumed. They argue that the landlord should have exercised greater control over the house and those who lived there.

The lawsuit specifically states that the homeowner could have warned guests that one of the occupants engaged in drug activity. However, an individual should also be aware that using drugs is a dangerous activity. It's possible that the homeowner could have called police or taken other steps to intervene to stop drugs from being brought onto the property. It's important to note that it's uncertain whether the home was actually leased to the individual who was said to have engaged in drug activity.