Morristown, New Jersey Personal Injury Law Blog

Motor vehicle accidents: Child dies in fatal crash

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, July 2, 2020.

An accident involving an Amazon Prime tractor-trailer and a second vehicle has left a 1-year-old boy dead, according to local sources. The tragic crash happened on the New Jersey Turnpike late on the night of June 26. Three adults suffered moderate injuries and have been hospitalized. For the moment, no charges have been filed, but as with many motor vehicle accidents, the police investigation is still underway.

According to the police report, it appears the tractor-trailer struck the rear of a passenger vehicle around 11 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the turnpike. The cause of the collision is still unknown, but fire fighters from three different companies were called to the scene to assist. It took a crane to remove the tractor-trailer from on top of the car.

Motor vehicle accidents: 3 dead in New Jersey

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, June 18, 2020.

Three people are tragically dead following a serious single-vehicle accident in the late evening of June 9th. Two other people involved in the crash are hospitalized, and New Jersey police are trying to determine the cause of the crash. As with many motor vehicle accidents, charges may yet be filed against the driver, who was among the survivors of the fatal crash.

According to the report, it appears the vehicle involved was headed east on Route 22 in Newark around 11 p.m. when the driver, a 19-year-old woman, reportedly lost control of the car. The vehicle crashed and caught fire, with two passengers, a 19-year-old and an 18-year-old, being ejected from the vehicle. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

First steps to take before a premises liability claim

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

If you were injured on a premises, whether it was the home of a friend, a grocery store or an amusement park, the owner of the premises may be legally to blame for your injury. This means that if you make a personal injury claim against the premises in question, you may be able to gain back financial compensation for the damages caused in terms of medical bills and lost wages. You may also be able to gain additional compensation for the pain and suffering caused.

To be successful in making a premises liability claim, you will need to take the appropriate steps in a given time frame. Doing so will help you to gather the evidence you need and to start the legal process correctly. The following are the first things you should do when preparing to make a personal liability claim.

Criminal defense: Did police request a field sobriety test?

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

If a New Jersey police officer makes a traffic stop, there is no way to predict how events might unfold. Perhaps, the officer will merely issue a warning to the driver to slow down or to repair a brake light that is not functioning. If the officer asks the driver to step out of the vehicle and take a field sobriety test, more serious issues might be at hand, such as a suspicion that the driver is operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in which case the driver may be in need of criminal defense assistance in the immediate future.

In such situations, it is especially important that the driver in question is aware of his or her rights. No driver is obligated to comply with a police officer's request to take a field sobriety test. There are no legal or administrative penalties for refusing to do so.

Motor vehicle accidents: 5 dead in New Jersey

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

A horrific accident claimed five lives, including that of a toddler, on the evening of May 17, according to local sources. New Jersey authorities have not released the names of the deceased, pending notification of their next-of-kin, and as with many motor vehicle accidents, their investigation is not yet complete. However, they have stated they do not believe any criminal activity led to the crash.

According to the limited information available, it appears that, at around 11 p.m., an SUV was heading westbound on Route 3 when the accident occurred. For reasons currently unknown, the SUV struck a front-end loader, which was moving at the time. The driver of the construction vehicle was uninjured in the crash and has cooperated with authorities on the scene.

Motor vehicle accidents: 3 badly hurt in New Jersey

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, May 7, 2020.

An apparent wrong-way crash has set three people to the hospital with serious injuries, according to local sources. Police and emergency services in New Jersey responded to the accident, which occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 78. For the moment, no charges have been filed against the wrong-way driver, but as with many motor vehicle accidents, the investigation is still underway as of this report.

According to the report, it appears a 51-year-old woman from out of state somehow managed to end up driving east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 78 around 2 a.m. the morning of May 3. Her vehicle sideswiped a pickup truck before colliding head-on with a westbound car. Somehow, she escaped the collision with only minor injuries. The pickup truck driver also sustained only minor injuries.

Motor vehicle accidents: How to recognize a drunk driver

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Many motorists in New Jersey have suffered the consequences of drunk driving crashes. Many drivers who would never drive after consuming alcohol fall victim to motor vehicle accidents caused by impaired drivers. The only defense that sober drivers have against drunk drivers is to learn how to identify them and then to do what they can to avoid crossing paths with them.

The most common signs to indicate possible impairment include drivers who weave, drift or swerve through traffic. Tailgating and driving on the wrong side or in the middle of the road could also indicate a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drunk drivers often fail to turn the headlights on when they drive at night, and some drive very slowly -- often to avoid catching the eye of police officers.

How do I defend myself against a New Jersey DUI?

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Facing DUI charges could profoundly affect your life. You may face jail time, and you will likely be unable to drive for a significant amount of time. This could mean that you are unable to get to work and earn an income. These far-reaching effects of DUI charges are partly why it's so important to take action to defend yourself.

Everyone has the right to defend themselves against a criminal accusation, no matter how obvious the evidence seems to be. Therefore, you should be positive about your possibilities to successfully defend yourself. The following are some defense options that you may not have already considered.

Criminal defense: New Jersey police accuse man of drug crimes

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

Police in New Jersey and elsewhere may arrest someone on suspicion of a drug crime. However, it takes a lot more than mere accusation to obtain a conviction in court. To fully adjudicate a case, the person accused must be afforded an opportunity to present a criminal defense against the charges he or she is facing.

A 35-year-old man was recently arrested after police searched his home. The officers were acting as part of a drug task force that has been investigating a supposed organized drug operation with which they suspect the man in question is connected. Police claim to have seized a substantial amount of cash from the man's home as well as substances they alleged were heroin and cocaine.

Motor vehicle accidents: student dead in New Jersey

On behalf of Smith & Gaynor, LLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

A teenager has tragically lost her life following a head-on collision in Washington Township, according to local sources. New Jersey authorities confirmed the death of a teenage girl and the critical injury of a 6th-grade student and their grandfather. No charges have been filed at this time, but a GoFundMe has been set up to support the family of the deceased girl. Motor vehicle accidents of this type are always carefully investigated by New Jersey police, and this one is no exception.

According to the limited information in the report, it appears that, at around 3:25 p.m. on the afternoon of Feb. 14, the two students were riding in a vehicle with their grandfather, a 65-year-old man, when, for reasons unknown, the vehicle drifted into the oncoming lane. This prompted a crash between their vehicle and one driven by a 52-year-old Washington Township man. The force of the impact damaged both vehicles.

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