Worker's Compensation - New Jersey Accident and Injury Law Blog

Stem Cell Therapy Helps Blind Patients Regain Vision

Scott Grossman — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:19:56 -0500

It’s being held hailed as one of the biggest successes in the use of stem cell therapy to treat medical conditions and illnesses. A group of researchers has found dramatic success in the treatment of blindness using stem cell therapy.

These patients had suffered serious eye injuries when caustic chemicals had been splashed into their eyes, either at home or during an industrial accident. The burn injuries had led to deteriorating vision. The Italian researchers treated these persons with stem cell transplants from the healthy eye, and monitored them all over for a number of years. The researchers used stem cell transplants from the healthy eye, and placed these on the damaged cornea of the injured eye. They found that the injured eye was able to grow new tissue in the cornea to replace the damaged tissue.

]]>They found that out of 107 patients, 87 had their eyesight completely restored through the use of the therapy. In 14 other patients, the therapy was partially successful, with the benefits of the treatment lasting for up to 10 years. Ophthalmologists are calling this a “roaring success.”

For the therapy to be successful however, it was important that the patients have one healthy eye which would provide the healthy stem cell tissue. There was also no chance of rejection of the cells because they were from the patient's own body.

Every year, thousands of people suffer burn injuries after they are splashed with strong chemicals. Many of these accidents occur at home, but they're also often seen in certain kinds of workplaces, like chemical factories. This new treatment promises a much more effective way of treating blindness in these persons, than the more conventional artificial cornea transplants and cadaver transplants that are currently being used.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey injury lawyer, representing injured victims of auto accidents and workplace accidents across New Jersey.

New Jersey Company Fined for Hazardous Conditions that Could Contribute to Construction Accidents

Scott Grossman — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:58:03 -0500

A New Jersey company has been fined for safety violations in the workplace that could have proved hazardous enough to cause a construction accident. Peach State Roofing, a roofing company in Sicklerville, Camden County was fined $50,000 for a dangerous fall hazard. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors located the hazard during one of their routine inspections of a work site in Sicklerville, where two employees of Peach State Roofing were working. These two employees, according to OSHA, were not provided adequate fall protection, although their work site was located about 13 feet off the ground. This was a repeat violation for the roofing company.

]]>The construction industry has one of the highest rates of workplace fatalities among all industries in the country. The number of accidents has decreased in recent years because of stricter OSHA guidelines that mandate personal fall protection systems for workers who are working at a certain level from the ground, access to proper and well maintained equipment as well as training to perform their job well. Yet, every year, hundreds of workers employed on construction sites in varying capacities are seriously injured in avoidable accidents. The roofing industry for instance, sees an average of 38 deaths a year, and most of these are linked to fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents are also commonly seen among brick layers, as well as iron workers. Although work in this industry is inherently risky, most of these accidents are entirely preventable. When employers make provisions for fall protection systems, guard rails, sturdy ladders, and ensure that work sites are free from slippery surfaces or obstructions that can pose a fall hazard, there is a minimal risk of accidents.

Monmouth and Bergen County Construction Accident Lawyers

Workers who have been injured on a construction site are eligible for Workers Compensation benefits under New Jersey law. In addition, they may also be eligible for benefits from other parties that may have been responsible for the accident. For instance, engineers, architects, suppliers and manufacturers of defective equipment - these may be liable in the event of an accident. An experienced Monmouth and Bergen County construction accident lawyer can help a worker recover compensation from all parties that are liable. If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact a Monmouth County and Bergen County construction lawyer at my office to discuss all your options for compensation.

$10 Million Jury Verdict for Back Injury

Scott Grossman — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:45:11 -0500

A federal jury recently awarded an Iowa man $10 million for emotional distress and pain and suffering after ruling that his employer's insurance carrier acted in bad faith in denying his claim for benefits from a back injury.

The plaintiff, Kris Zimmer, a computer technician for Norwest Financial, injured his back while bending over to pick up dropped papers. He was diagnosed with severe back pain, but his worker's compensation claim was denied by Travelers Insurance Company. Travelers argued that that Mr. Zimmer had a history of back problems that included at least two prior surgeries and that the injury worsened his pre-existing psychological conditions. But the jury didn't buy Travelers' argument. A decision regarding punitive damages is still pending. Read about it here.

American Teens Have Dangerous Jobs

Scott Grossman — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:10:07 -0500

A new survey whose results were published in the March issue of Pediatrics found that millions of American teenagers are working in dangerous environments, performing unsafe tasks in violation of the law and without proper training or supervision.

Among teens surveyed who worked in the service or retail industries, 52 percent of boys and 43 percent of girls reported working with hazardous equipment such as slicers, paper-balers and box-crushers. Meanwhile, 37 percent of those under 16 reported working past 7 p.m. on school nights, which is illegal. Click here to read more.