Medford Lakes Personal Injury Lawyers

If You’ve Been Injured, We Can Help You Seek Justice

Medford Lakes is a hidden gem in New Jersey. Incorporating 22 lakes and their surrounding communities, Medford Lakes is home to about 4,200 year-round residents. The area also hosts thousands of visitors enjoying getaways in its scenic natural environment. 

Although Medford Lakes can feel sleepy compared to busy Philadelphia, Reading, or Camden, injuries can still occur here. Many injuries are preventable. These injuries often occur because a person or organization failed to take due care to prevent harm. 

If you’ve been injured while visiting, working, or living in Medford Lakes, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney today. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg can help. 

Common Personal Injuries Near Medford Lakes

Unintentional injuries are the top cause of death for New Jersey residents under age 45. Among older residents, unintentional injuries are in the top ten causes of death. In 2022, Burlington County’s unintentional injury death rate was 48.4 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The natural beauty of Medford Lakes attracts both residents and visitors. It also attracts businesses whose workers must commute daily. Vehicle accidents, bicycle and pedestrian crashes, premises liability injuries, and work-related injuries are among the most common injury types. On the lakes, boating injuries can also occur. 

Vehicle Accidents

Between 2018 and 2020, Burlington County, New Jersey had a vehicle crash death rate of 7.5 deaths per 100,000 population. This rate was higher than neighboring Ocean County but lower than the rates in Camden or Atlantic counties. 

In 2022, the New Jersey Department of Transportation recorded 10,196 vehicle crashes in Burlington County. These crashes caused 2,410 injuries and 54 deaths. Burlington County had 98 crashes related to distracted driving via cell phone use in 2022.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents

Medford Lakes is a popular place for those who enjoy bicycling and hiking. Those who bike or walk may use public streets to do so, provided they follow traffic rules. However, bicyclists and pedestrians face higher injury and death rates than those in motor vehicles. 

Between 2016 and 2020, nearly 6,000 bicycle and pedestrian crashes involving children occurred in New Jersey. Fifty children lost their lives in these collisions. 

In 2021, fatal crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages in New Jersey hit a high not seen since 1989. In 2021, 22 bicyclists and 204 pedestrians died in collisions. These numbers have since increased: in 2024, 224 pedestrians died.

Boating Accidents

Medford Lakes gets its name from its wealth of lakes. Recreational boating brings joy to many residents and visitors, yet it can also pose risks. In 2023, 131 boarding accidents were recorded in New Jersey, including seven that resulted in deaths. Common boating accidents include collisions and drowning or near-drowning incidents. 

As with driving, alcohol and boating do not mix: boaters under the influence of alcohol are more likely to cause injuries in an accident. 

Slip and Fall/Premises Liability Accidents

In New Jersey, a business must keep its premises reasonably safe for visitors. If the business cannot immediately fix a hidden danger, it must warn visitors. If you’ve ever seen a “caution: wet floor” sign in a grocery store, you’ve seen an example of a store trying to warn visitors about a slip and fall risk. 

Falls are among the most common causes of death for New Jersey residents over age 65. They’re also a common cause of death and injury for younger people. 

At a business, a fall might result from a slippery floor, spilled debris or dropped items, or clutter in walkways. Broken floor tiles, ripped carpet, uneven floors, and broken stairs or handrails can cause a fall as well. In addition, broken equipment or furniture, inadequate lighting, or poor security might result in injuries. 

Work-Related Injuries

In 2023, 81 New Jersey workers lost their lives on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most common causes of death included falls, exposure to harmful substances or environments, transportation incidents, and contact incidents.

Construction remains New Jersey’s most dangerous occupational category. Workers in manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation also experience higher than average death and injury rates. Any worker can experience injuries on the job in Medford Lakes, however.

Both fatal and non-fatal injuries at work can cause significant costs. Medical bills and lost wages hit families hard. Losing a loved one makes the burden even heavier. If you’re injured on the job or lose a loved one in Medford Lakes, speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

Medford Lakes Personal Injury Claim Basics

A personal injury claim seeks compensation for the losses an injured person suffered due to someone else’s negligence. The claim seeks to place the injured person in a position similar to the one they would occupy if the accident had never happened. 

Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. To win the claim, the injured person and their attorney will have to show that:

• Another person or company (the defendant or defendants) had a duty to use reasonable care to prevent harm.
• The defendant “breached” or failed to meet that duty.
• The breach of duty was the actual and foreseeable cause of the injured person’s injuries.
• The injuries can be compensated with money damages.

While New Jersey allows an injured person to bring their own claim to court, most injured people benefit from working with an experienced attorney. Your lawyer handles the investigations, negotiations, and legal arguments, while you focus on healing. 

How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

In New Jersey, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. If your claim isn’t filed in court within two years, you lose the opportunity to file. 

Certain narrow situations can change the deadline on your claim. Talk to a lawyer to figure out exactly how long you have to file a lawsuit.

Also: Lawsuit deadlines differ from insurance deadlines. While a New Jersey court gives you two years, most insurance companies will give you only a few months to file your insurance claim. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you file insurance paperwork in time.

What Compensation Can I Seek in a Personal Injury Case?

The goal of any personal injury case is to compensate the injured person for losses they wouldn’t have experienced if the accident hadn’t happened. To simplify the process, courts typically think of compensation in two categories: “economic” and “non-economic” damages.

Economic damages are financial. It’s usually easy to prove the exact dollar amount you lost by presenting bills, receipts, or invoices. Common examples of economic damages include:

• Medical bills, including bills you’ve already paid, bills you currently owe, and bills you are likely to face in the future if you need ongoing medical care.
• Lost wages, including wages you’ve already lost or are currently losing as you heal from your injury and future lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working again. 
• Property damage, such as the costs to repair or replace a wrecked vehicle in a car crash or a wrecked boat in a boating collision. 

Non-economic damages are personal. They don’t typically come with a bill or receipt. Yet they are real losses and can weigh heavily on an injured person and their family. Common examples of non-economic damages include:

• Physical pain and suffering,
• Mental and emotional anguish, especially from post-traumatic stress symptoms, disfigurement, or permanent scarring, and
• Loss of enjoyment of hobbies and other life activities your injuries now prevent you from doing. 

Since the facts of every case are unique, so are the exact types and amounts of damages an injured person can recover. Speaking to an experienced attorney in Medford Lakes is the best way to learn what compensation you might be able to recover after your serious injury.

What if an Injury Caused the Death of a Loved One?

An injured person can file their own personal injury case in a New Jersey court. When someone experiences fatal injuries, however, they are no longer available to file a claim. Yet the family may face significant costs, such as medical bills and lost wages, along with the heavy burden of grief.

A lawsuit involving a fatal injury is called a “wrongful death” claim. A wrongful death claim may be filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate. The claim seeks compensation similar to a personal injury claim. It can also seek compensation related to the death, such as funeral and burial expenses, as well as damages for the surviving family members’ loss of the care, companionship, support, and guidance of their loved one. 

Contact an Experienced Medford Lakes Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured while visiting, working, or living in Medford Lakes, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced Medford Lakes injury attorney today. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg can help. Reach out to us today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.