Lawnside New Jersey Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law Blog

Truckers in New Jersey may have heard that a bill was introduced that could mandate automatic emergency braking on all commercial trucks. The bill, called the Safe Roads Act of 2019, is seen as providing a "common-sense solution" to the rising number of truck crashes in the U.S., many of them fatal, and it has the support of truck safety groups like the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

According to Injury Facts, there was a 9% increase in fatal truck crashes between 2016 and 2017. Between 2009 and 2017, the increase came to 45%. A total of 4,657 commercial motor vehicles were involved in fatal crashes in 2017.

No matter how long your daily commute lasts, you probably find yourself wishing you could get through it more quickly. Whether you spend an hour or 20 minutes getting to work each morning, the time you spend traveling to your job can feel like wasted minutes. You may get bored with the same scenery and route, which opens the door to distraction.

Some people try to battle that sense of lost time or boredom by multitasking at the wheel. They may do things like apply their makeup, eat their breakfast or handle some tasks they know need to be addressed. That might mean calling their boss, a client or a loved one.

Nearly one in five drivers throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country are older than 65. That figure has risen by almost a third in just the last decade, and it is expected to climb even further in the years ahead as the baby boom generation enters its golden years. Accident statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that fatal crashes involve an older driver about 14% of the time. The rise in the number of seniors killed on the nation's roads each year is outpacing other demographic groups.

In 2017, which is the most recent year for which NHTSA car accident data is available, almost 7,000 senior citizens lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions. The statistics show that 18% of the traffic fatalities in 2017 were individuals over the age of 65, but they also reveal that seniors account for 19% of America's licensed drivers. While this may suggest that older and more experienced motorists are safer drivers, analysts point out that retirees generally travel far fewer miles each year. They are thus involved in more fatal crashes for each mile covered.

The construction industry faces five hazards in particular whenever summer comes around. Both employees and employers in New Jersey will want to know what these are and what can be done to prevent them from causing injury. The first is fatigue. Workers do not make sound judgments or react quickly to dangers when fatigued. The second is heat-related illness, which ranges from heat rash to heat stroke.

Employers are encouraged to supply plenty of hydrating fluids and a shaded area for rest breaks. Breaks should be frequent and mandatory. Workers' PPE should be appropriate for the weather. Modifying work shifts may be wise as long as workers are willing to work earlier in the morning or later at night.