New Jersey Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Law Offices of Scott D. Grossman : Serving Monmouth County, Bergen County

It was a Thanksgiving holiday the Almario family of Jersey City will never forget, and now, for the driver who shattered their world in an alcohol-related car accident, it's time to face charges of drunk driving and three counts of second degree assault by auto.

NJ.com is reporting that the 26-year-old driver, Alex Gerashchenko made a virtual appearance in court via video link from the Hudson County jail, to hear the charges. He is facing a sentence of between 5 and 10 years for the assault by auto charge. Apparently quite a charming character, Gerashchenko has also been charged with unlawful taking of a means of conveyance.  His girlfriend had complained that he had disappeared with her mother's Jeep Grand Cherokee before the Thanksgiving accident, when he plowed his vehicle into the car carrying the Almario family. 

On the night of Thanksgiving, the Almarios - Dennis, his wife Jenny, daughter Jenica and infant son  Denny, were driving along in their car when Gerashchenko's car, driving on the wrong side of the median, barreled into their vehicle. The parents suffered multiple fractures, and one-year-old Denny hooked up in his car seat, suffered minor bruises. But it was 8-year-old Jenica who suffered the maximum impact of the crash. The car accident crushed both her legs. The parents had no time to nurse their wounds. They were admitted to the Jersey City Medical Center, while their daughter was taken to University Hospital in Newark. Since then, Jenica has been shifted to the Children's Specialized Hospital in Brunswick, New Jersey where she continues to receive therapy. The little girl has quite a long journey ahead of her, and is presently confined to a wheelchair. 

Gerashchenko, who was arrested after the car accident, was found to have been under the influence of alcohol.

The Almarios have been though a terrible ordeal which is still ongoing, as long as Jenica continues to receive therapy. Earlier, prognosis for the little girl's chances of walking again was bad, but she's now expected to make a recovery, with extensive physical rehabilitation therapy. We pray that Jenica gets back to her feet as quickly as possible, and be united with her family again.

This was a family that was doing nothing wrong at all. Dennis was following all traffic rules, driving on the right side of the road. He hadn't decided to get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state, to endanger the lives of his family and others on the street. Gerashchenko deserves the most severe sentence that a criminal court can hand down for his offence. He must also be held accountable for the pain, suffering and monetary loss he has caused this young family. There are two children here who have been scarred, and will carry nightmarish memories of their experience for a while. 

As survivors of what could have been a fatal car accident, the Almarios have every right to claim damages from Gerashchenko with the help of a New Jersey law firm. The family should consider talking with a New Jersey car accident lawyer to evaluate their legal options.

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Route 130 in Burlington City, New Jersey is receiving unwelcome publicity for the number of accidents that routinely occur here. Just this week, a 4-year-old boy was killed when a pick up truck slammed into him as he crossed the street with his uncle. The boy died at the scene of the accident.

Pedestrian accidents have become far too frequent on this stretch that has the distinction of being voted the most dangerous road in New Jersey by a transportation advocacy group. In all, between 2005 and 2007, a total of nine pedestrians were killed on the road. Now, city authorities are making efforts to stem these growing numbers of accidents.   Since the beginning of September, traffic enforcement officers have stepped up efforts on Route 130, and over 200 vehicles have been stopped. 199 traffic summons have been issued, including several for running red lights, using a cell phone while driving, speeding, and the rest for seat belt, and stop sign violations. 

Locals in the neighborhood and pedestrians who use the road often say that speeding is a very real problem with vehicles on Route 130. The road has a posted 40 mph speed zone, but it's common to see that speed limit being broken brazenly by motorists. This proves a particular problem when classes end for the day because school students use the route to get home. Police have also imposed a reduced speed limit during those times that the route is used by school children. 

Burlington City Mayor James Fazzone is looking at other ways to reduce the high accident rate on the much used stretch of road. On the anvil are plans for a pedestrian overpass that should be able to lessen the congestion on the road. Other ideas being proposed include the installation of blinking lights just before the intersection to act as a warning to motorists about the school crossing. 

Whatever the City plans to do, they need to do it fast. Too many innocent people are getting killed because of brazen violations on the street.

Dangerous Roads

When there are defects on a roadway because of the design of the road, improper maintenance, inadequate lighting or signage, then the chances of an accident increase significantly.  Construction defects in a road can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, while the lack of signage can lead to confusion, causing auto accidents. It’s the duty of federal, state and county authorities to make sure that the roadways are safely designed, properly constructed, and maintained regularly. If an accident occurs because of the failure of these agencies to provide safe conditions for you to drive in, then they can be held liable in a court of law for any injuries that may occur because of these accidents.

Proving that defects in road design or maintenance were the cause of your accident and injuries requires the expertise of an experienced New Jersey accident lawyer. More than one agency may have been responsible for the negligence, and may be held accountable for damages. Contact an experienced New Jersey car accident lawyer for an evaluation of your case.

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We all know that drinking and driving often results in death, serious injury or the destruction of life.  A recent local news story reported an accident in South Jersey recently sent several innocent grocery shoppers to the hospital. A car spun out of control and slammed into 3 people - two of them were in wheelchairs. The police are saying the driver was intoxicated when she crashed into pedestrians on a Shoprite sidewalk in front of the store.

 As a Monmouth County and New Jersey car accident attorney I have represented hundreds of victims that suffered critical injuries because of alcohol related car accidents.  This news story above highlights a all too common scenario whereby alcohol appears to have impaired this driver’s sense of judgment. The alleged intoxicated driver may have destroyed the lives of these innocent grocery shoppers who never would have imagined that they would fall victim to a drunk driver while going through their normal every day routine of pushing their grocery carts at their local supermarket.  Drinking and driving frequently leads to victim's extreme suffering.  I have witnessed first hand clients that have suffered at the hands of drunk drivers’ : traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs, spinal cord injuries including paralysis fractures, herniated disc injuries leading to spinal fusion or inter-body fusion surgery and a myriad of other life altering injuries and even death.  So as a seasoned New Jersey and Monmouth County accident attorney lawyer I can attest unequivocally that alcohol mixed with driving of motor vehicles, motorcycles or trucks many times equates with the total destruction of innocent life and also destroys both individuals and their families.  We can significantly reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in New Jersey by never ever driving while intoxicated or in any way impaired.  

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