0 0 Blog We have already seen record-setting snowfall across much of New Jersey this winter. Now, in addition to more snow in the forecast, meteorologists are predicting significant icing in the next couple of rounds of storms. Residents of New Jersey clearly understand the impact of ice storms. Roadways turn into a dangerous skating rink. The number of serious car accidents increases. The number of serious injuries from slip and fall accidents increases. And, of course, the number of power outages skyrockets. There are two words that power companies never want to hear in the winter. freezing rain. Utility workers will be working hard, risking work-related injuries and putting in long hours and overtime through some brutally cold conditions. Thank you to every New Jersey worker who is out there helping to restore power during these storms. As both the frequency and strength of major storms continue to rise because of climate change, the usage of portable generators continues to increase as well. Generators THE BENEFITS While most people are at the mercy of the power companies while waiting for their power to be restored, some businesses and homeowners are fortunate enough to have a generator as a temporary solution. Generators are truly a lifesaver in many cases. The ability to keep the power on has provided hospitals with vital resources during major disasters. It has helped give people some level of comfort when they are evacuated from their homes and living in storm shelters. Portable generators have brought a great deal of value to homeowners as well. Many people have found themselves at home a great deal more during this year’s Coronavirus pandemic. Having the ability to keep the power on is a big help to professionals working remotely and students learning virtually. However, it is important to know that portable generators also present several potentially dangerous risks. THE RISKS According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the major risk from the use of portable generators is CO poisoning. Portable generators produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide, which is a gas that is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. The CPSC reported that more than 900 people died of carbon monoxide poisoning while using portable generators between 2005 and 2017. In addition, the CPSC concluded that thousands more required treatment at an emergency room from suffering with CO poisoning. According to the CDC, “the CO poisoning death rate was highest among people 65 and over and likely attributed to their being at higher risk for undetected CO exposure. Symptoms of CO exposure often resemble those associated with other health conditions that are common among the elderly and they may not seek prompt medical attention for undetected CO exposures.” The most common symptoms of CO exposure are nausea, headache and dizziness and they can be easily mistaken for other conditions such as a viral illness. The more severe symptoms including loss of consciousness, shortness of breath and loss of muscle control are often not reported. (CDC.gov) In addition to carbon monoxide dangers, the use of portable generators has caused several other types of serious accident injuries. These accident injuries include severe burns from explosions and fires and electrocutions. SAFETY TIPS See a full list of safety guidelines from Consumer Reports here. Some important points include: Never run a generator indoors and always keep it at least 20 feet from the house or building. Always direct the exhaust away from the home or building. Always keep generators dry and do not use in wet conditions. Avoid electrical hazards by using a transfer switch. Always check cords for cuts or damage. Do not attempt to backfeed your house, which means trying to power your home’s wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. Lawsuits Here are a few notable lawsuits involving the use of portable generators: Honda Portable Generators In 2019, Honda recalled about 200,000 portable generators due to a fire hazard caused by gasoline leaking from the unit’s fuel valve. In March of 2020, Honda then recalled those same generators again plus an additional 140,000 units. According to the CPSC, “the portable generator’s inverter assembly can short circuit with the presence of salt water. This causes the unit to smoke or catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.” The models recalled were Honda EB2200i, EU2200i, EU2200i Companion and EU2200i Camo Portable Generators. A class action lawsuit was filed by some owners of the recalled Honda portable generators. If you or a loved one may have been impacted or injured as a result of these recalled generators, please reach out to our product liability attorneys at 908-352-2323. Generac Power Systems Earlier this year, a Langhorne, Pennsylvania man filed suit against Generac Power Systems and Lowe’s Home Improvement. The man suffered right index finger amputation and crush injuries from a generator that the lawsuit alleges was defective. The injuries occurred when the plaintiff and his assistant attempted to move the portable generator from the back of a truck. The lawsuit states, ““As the generator began to drop, due to the negligence and wrongdoing of defendants, and the defective condition of the aforementioned portable generator, suddenly and without warning, the handle caught on the vehicle and swung up and plaintiff experienced amputation and traumatic crush injury to the index finger of his right hand and further causing him to suffer severe and grievous injuries.” (Pennsylvania Record, 6/1/2020) City of San Francisco vs. Building Owner and Commercial Leaseholder In 2017, the city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against a landlord who “exploited 20 vulnerable residents for years by charging them rent to live in unsafe, dungeon-like quarters in the windowless basement of a laundromat”(sfcityattorney.org) The lawsuit accuses the landlord of several violations that forced these tenants to live under horrible conditions. Among the claims laid out in the lawsuit, cutting off power to the basement and “forcing residents to use a portable generator for electricity and creating a threat of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.” Conclusion Portable generators provide numerous benefits. They can save lives under dire conditions. Portable generators can help businesses maintain productivity and they can provide homeowners with a great deal of value as well. People just need to remember to follow all safety guidelines when using them. If serious injuries do occur, even when operating generators safely, accident victims need to discuss their situation with a trusted product liability attorney. Product defects are possible in all industries and the manufacturing of generators is no exception. MINTZ & GEFTIC – New Jersey Accident injury Lawyers All car accidents and truck accidents require NO FEE unless we are successful in securing you a recovery to compensate you for your injuries and pain and suffering. We give personal attention to all of our clients. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, truck accident, rear end accident or pedestrian accident, call the best New Jersey injury lawyers today at 908-352-2323. If you were injured driving while working call us today at 908-352-2323. If you prefer contacting our work accident injury lawyers via email, please click here. If you were injured as a result of a defective product or product liability call us s today at 908-352-2323. If you prefer contacting our product liability lawyers via email, please click here. If you were injured as an Uber or Lyft passenger call us s today at 908-352-2323. If you prefer contacting our injury lawyers via email, please click here. Our injury lawyers serve clients throughout New Jersey. This includes the cities of Newark, Elizabeth, Union, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston and Jersey City. We cover Morris, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Middlesex counties. Our accident lawyers have offices in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Short Hills, New Jersey and in New York City. We represent clients suffering with spinal cord injury, back injury, burn injury, broken bones and traumatic brain injury. If you are enduring physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, lost wages, medical expenses or any other hardship resulting from an accident please contact us today for a free consultation. sources: CDC.gov Consumer Reports CPSC.gov Pennsylvania Record City Attorney of San Francisco 0 New Jerseyproduct defect Related Posts How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth? – Accident Injury Blog If you have been seriously injured in an accident and would like to discuss your potential case with an attorney, call or text us today at 908-352-2323. Consultations with our personal injury attorneys are always free. “How much is my case worth?” Clients that we meet with are dealing with serious accident injuries like broken bones, nerve damage, burns, severe back pain, or traumatic brain injury. They may have been involved in a serious car or truck accident. They may have taken a bad fall, possibly slipping on ice or snow. They may have been injured on the job in a work accident or… 4 0 4 14 Dec 2021 FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WILL SET HIGHWAY TRAVEL RECORD Fourth of July weekend is here! It looks like the New Jersey highways will be packed with travelers according to AAA’s estimates. As New Jersey’s top Personal Injury Law Firm, the lawyers at Mintz & Geftic know that holiday weekends tend to bring about some of the most hazardous conditions for drivers. With record traffic expected, this weekend will certainly be no exception. The Independence Day celebration always includes some potentially dangerous activities, including lighting fireworks, drinking, grilling, swimming, and more. Driving over the Fourth of July weekend is certainly no exception. Whether it’s car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents or… 0 0 0 01 Jul 2022 NJ Supreme Court Limits Workers’ Compensation for Cardiovascular Injuries The New Jersey Supreme Court decided last week in the case of Renner v. AT&T that a Workers’ Compensation claimant is not entitled to compensation for a cardiovascular injury, disease or death, unless the claimant can show that the cardiovascular injury resulted from a work effort or strain involving a substantial condition or event. This case has broad ramifications for New Jersey workers who suffer injuries such as heart attacks or pulmonary embolisms at work and seek workers’ compensation benefits for those injuries. 0 0 0 16 Dec 2014 The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) Explained ******ATTN: Drivers****** You can click here to jump down the page and get right to the bottom-line of what this new law means for you. The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) The state legislature has passed a bill that will reshape insurance bad faith litigation in New Jersey going forward. Governor Murphy officially signed senate bill 1559 into law recently, which is titled The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA). The Act establishes a private cause of action for claimants who are injured in a motor vehicle accident for insurance bad faith in the handling and payment of claims for… 4 0 4 16 Feb 2022 New Year, New Laws – What’s on the Horizon in 2019 New Laws on the Horizon in 2019 A New Year means celebrating with confetti and champagne. A New Year means setting new resolutions. A New Year means still using the old year when writing the date for a couple of weeks. …and a New Year means New Laws. Here’s a look at some new laws for 2019 that caught our eye, both in New Jersey and elsewhere. 0 0 0 09 Jan 2019 $500,000 Settlement During Trial, Product Liability-Consumer Product Defect $500,000 settlement during trial, Product Liability-Consumer Product Defect, commonly used type of sponge mop recoiled with such force that the retracting slide caught the users’ wedding band causing it to slice into the ring finger joint amputating the finger. (Jeffrey E. Strauss, Middlesex County 2009). 0 0 0 11 Aug 2015 It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Manhole Cover? Here at Mintz & Geftic we usually try to blog about legal news that our clients and other readers might find valuable. Whether it’s information about workers’ compensation, motor-vehicle accidents, class action litigation or medical malpractice, a majority of our blog posts are typically law-related . However, this is not one of those posts. Since we have been Elizabeth’s neighborhood law firm for over 30 years, when a local news story is discussed nationwide, we like to chime in. Many of our local readers are well aware that Elizabeth experienced a couple of explosions this past Wednesday that caused two different manhole covers to… 0 0 0 27 Feb 2016 Portable Generators – Benefits, Dangers & Lawsuits The effects of Hurricane Ida were major! From its first landfall along the Gulf coast to its arrival here in New Jersey, Ida’s path was destructive. Several families have endured catastrophic damage and some have even lost loved ones as a result of Ida. While Ida may not have been considered a major hurricane (or even a hurricane) by the time it worked its way to our area, the effects on the people of New Jersey were clearly major to say the least. Our hearts go out to all of the families affected by these recent events. There were millions of customers without… 0 0 0 07 Sep 2021 Have You Been a Victim of Wage Theft? As many visitors to our website know, we blog about a wide variety of topics here at mglawfirm.net. We cover subjects ranging from motor vehicle accidents and the types of back injuries that they can cause to a sampling of Valentine’s Day lawsuits. From the serious danger of seat back failure that has parents everywhere alarmed to the not-so-serious pondering of Santa’s workers’ compensation concerns. From construction accidents and the 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in the U.S. to flying manhole covers in Elizabeth, New Jersey. 0 0 0 06 Apr 2016 Flash Freeze Coming – What New Jersey Drivers Need to Know New Jersey is getting ready for the first major winter storm of 2019. One major hazard of this storm that we don’t come across often is a Flash Freeze. This refers to a rapid and significant drop in temperatures, causing any standing water to freeze on roadways and sidewalks. Here’s a great summary we received on the potential impacts of the Flash Freeze from top New Jersey weather resource Jonathan Carr. Carr is better known as JC to the 232k+ facebook followers on his Weather NJ page. “Lastly, once precipitation clears out to the East Sunday afternoon, temperatures will continue to drop well-below freezing statewide. By… 4 0 4 18 Jan 2019 Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in New Jersey Elizabeth, New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyers As the premier workers’ compensation lawyers in Elizabeth, New Jersey, we at Mintz & Geftic have been representing the hardworking men and women of New Jersey for over 25 years. In this time, our workers’ comp lawyers have represented clients from all different industries who have suffered from work-related injuries. This list includes construction workers, factory workers, truck drivers and many others that suffered some kind of personal injury while working. Who is at Risk? With all of our workers’ compensation experience, we can tell you that every single job contains some level of risk when it… 0 1 0 22 Jun 2016 New Bill Supporting New Jersey Breastfeeding Moms “Research shows that if 90 percent of families exclusively breastfed for 6 months, almost 1,000 infant deaths may be prevented annually and $13 billion would be saved in medical costs each year” (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services) As many of you already know, our slogan at Mintz & Geftic is “We Will Fight For You!” As Elizabeth, New Jersey accident lawyers, we fight for the victims of car and truck accidents that suffer with catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage or burns. As Elizabeth, New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers, we fight for the patients that endure hardships related… 0 0 0 04 Nov 2016 What Is a Car Accident Case Worth in New Jersey? When someone is injured in a car accident, one of the first questions they ask is: “What is my case actually worth?” The honest answer is—it depends. But in New Jersey, there are clear factors that determine whether a case is worth a few thousand dollars… or hundreds of thousands (or more). If you were injured in or near Elizabeth, understanding these factors can help you better evaluate your situation. Consultations are always free. Call or text us today at 908-352-2323 to discuss your case. 💰 The Biggest Factors That Determine Case Value 1. The Severity of Your Injuries This is the single most… 0 0 0 08 Apr 2026 New Jersey Hospital Safety Grades A national report card on hospital safety came out this week that all New Jersey residents should see. As one of New Jersey’s top medical malpractice law firms (see recent verdicts and settlements here) this report definitely caught the attention of our medical malpractice lawyers here at Mintz & Geftic. 0 0 0 27 Apr 2016 $4.2 Million Settlement in Class Action vs American Traffic Systems $4.2 Million settlement of a class action against American Traffic Systems, Inc. and 18 New Jersey municipalities alleging a failure to comply with New Jersey laws governing red light cameras. (Bryan H. Mintz, with co-counsel, District of New Jersey, 2013). 0 0 0 23 Jul 2015 Leave a comment Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment.
