The Willingboro, New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers at Petrillo & Goldberg Fight to Win Compensation for Our Injured Clients

From its founding in 1688 until today, Willingboro has played a vibrant role in the lives and prosperity of New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia. Today, over 31,000 people live in Willingboro. Thousands more visit or pass through the area daily to work, shop, attend school, visit friends and family, and take on other tasks.

Those who travel, work, and shop in Willingboro must take due care to prevent injuries and accidents. Failure to take due care can cause serious injuries. These injuries are often preventable. An injured person can often seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in harm.

If you’ve been injured in Willingboro, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg can help.

Injury Statistics in New Jersey

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for New Jersey residents ages 15 to 44, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Unintentional injury is the fourth leading cause of death in New Jersey among all age groups.

In 2020:

604 people were killed in a motor vehicle accident.

613 people suffered fatal injuries due to a fall.

173 people suffocated to death in a New Jersey accident.

2,836 people died in New Jersey due to accidental poisoning.

The top four causes of unintentional injury tracked by the NJ Department of Health are motor vehicle accidents, falls, suffocation, and accidental poisonings. The Department notes that suffocation can result from many causes, including workplace accidents. Accidental poisonings can occur if a dangerous product is not adequately labeled or if its container is not designed to be difficult for children to open.

Common Causes of Personal Injury in Willingboro

Personal injury cases can occur in many settings. Some activities and places are riskier than others. Common causes of personal injury in Willingboro include motor vehicle accidents, falls, and work-related accidents.

Car and Truck Accidents

In 2022, the New Jersey Department of Transportation recorded 236,760 motor vehicle crashes throughout the state. These numbers included 10,196 crashes in Burlington County. The total includes car and truck collisions as well as pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents.

In 2022, motor vehicle collisions caused 54 deaths and 2,410 injuries in Burlington County. Statewide, 648 people died and 52,260 were injured.

The fatal car accident total decreased in New Jersey in 2023. 2023 saw 9.4 percent fewer deadly car accidents than 2022. However, 585 fatal crashes occurred in 2023, indicating that work remains to secure the safety of New Jersey roads.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

In New Jersey, pedestrians and bicyclists may use public streets if they follow the laws laid out for their travel. Drivers who fail to watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists continue to put these travelers at risk, however.

While car crashes declined in 2023, pedestrian accidents increased. In 2024, 221 pedestrians died on New Jersey streets – a 29 percent increase over 2023’s total and a 36-year high for pedestrian deaths, according to the New Jersey State Police. New Jersey ranked as the fourth most dangerous state for pedestrians in 2024.

The New Jersey State Police track annual motor vehicle accidents in real time. As of April 9, 2025, three pedestrians had been killed in New Jersey crashes.

Motorcycle Accidents

New Jersey is currently ranked as one of the most dangerous states for motorcyclists, based on the rate of motorcyclist accidents and injuries. In 2021, New Jersey motorcyclist deaths hit a 15-year high when 99 people died in fatal crashes.

2021’s increase in motorcycle accident deaths represents a sudden and alarming spike in risk. New Jersey’s lowest death rate occurred in 2018 when 55 motorcyclists died in crashes. 2021’s total of 99 deaths is nearly double the number that occurred just a few years before.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Falls remain a leading cause of serious injury and death nationwide. New Jersey follows the national trend.

Falls at work are a common source of death and serious injury. The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) lists falls as one of its “Big Four” risks in the workplace, particularly at construction sites and in manufacturing occupations.

Older adults are especially vulnerable to death or serious injury in falls. About 543 older adults died due to fall-related injuries in New Jersey in 2023, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries for older adults. However, anyone can be injured in a fall.

Premises Liability

New Jersey law requires businesses to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. If a business cannot immediately fix a hazard, the business must warn visitors about the risk. If a business fails to address a hazard or to warn visitors, it may be liable if a visitor is injured by the danger.

Falls are a common example of accidents that can cause serious injuries. Hazards that can result in a slip, trip, fall, or other form of serious injury at a business include:

Broken, damaged, or uneven flooring or floor coverings,

Missing, loose, or broken steps, stair treads, handrails, and balcony railings,

Broken or malfunctioning elevators and escalators,

Broken, damaged, or defective furniture and fixtures,

Broken or inadequate lighting,

Insufficient security resulting in violence from other business visitors.

Other situations can cause serious harm as well.

Workplace and Industrial Accidents

In 2023, 81 people died in New Jersey workplaces, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The most common causes of death in workplace accidents included:

Slips, trips, and falls,

Exposure to harmful substances or environments,

Transportation incidents, and

Contact incidents.

Transportation workers suffered the highest total number of workplace deaths in New Jersey in 2023, with 19 fatalities. Construction was the second deadliest occupation in New Jersey in 2023, claiming 18 lives. Slips, trips, and falls accounted for 10 of the 18 fatal construction injuries in 2023.

Workplace accidents and injuries may be covered by workers’ compensation for injured employees. An injured person may also be able to seek compensation from a third party who caused injuries.

Navigating a Personal Injury Case

Many rules govern personal injury cases in New Jersey. These include time limits for filing cases, rules for proving fault, and rules outlining the type of compensation an injured person can seek.

Time Limits

A personal injury case in New Jersey must be filed within two years of the date of injury. In most cases, this means the case must be filed within two years of the date of the accident.

A case that is not filed within the time limit cannot be filed at all. An experienced attorney can help ensure your case is filed within the time limit. If an exception applies, your attorney can demonstrate that your case is filed within the appropriate time frame.

Proving Fault

Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. In a negligence claim, an injured person and their Willingboro attorney must demonstrate four things:

Another person or company had a duty of care to prevent harm,

The person or company “breached,” or failed to meet, that duty of care,

Their breach caused your injuries, and

Your injuries can be compensated by the court (usually by the court ordering payment of monetary damages).

To counter your arguments, the other party can raise many arguments or defenses of their own. A common counter-argument is that you were partly or totally at fault for your own injuries.

Some personal injury claims have special rules for proving fault. An attorney can explain the rules that apply in your situation and prepare to fight against common counter-arguments. .

Compensation

Compensation seeks to restore losses you suffered as a result of the injury. Compensation is typically paid with money damages. Common types of compensation in Willingboro personal injury claims include:

Medical bills, including future medical bills,

Lost wages, including any future lost wages,

Payments for damaged or destroyed property,

Pain and suffering.

Other types of compensation may also be available. Speak to an experienced Willingboro injury lawyer to learn more.

Wrongful Death

When an injury proves fatal, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death claim, the family can seek compensation for their loved one’s losses and their own.

Common forms of compensation included in a wrongful death claim are:

The deceased person’s medical bills and lost wages,

Property damage claims,

Funeral and burial expenses,

Surviving family members’ loss of their loved one’s financial and emotional support, care, and companionship.

Navigating grief after the sudden death of a loved one can be challenging. An experienced attorney can handle your legal needs so that you can focus on your family during this trying time.

Speak to an Experienced Willingboro Personal Injury Lawyer Today

A serious injury turns your day – and your life – upside down. You began your day expecting your usual routine. What you received was anything but usual.

If you’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one, speak to an experienced Willingboro personal injury attorney immediately. The dedicated legal team at Petrillo & Goldberg has a proven track record of recovering compensation for our injured clients. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.