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Founded in 1838, Mercer County has a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War including the Battle of Trenton when General George Washington’s troops crossed the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, and crossed again the next week on January 2 for a second, successful battle. Known as the “Capital County”, it includes the seat of New Jersey’s state capital in Trenton NJ. The county has become popular, attracting highly educated people to towns with some the state’s best public schools. The county includes the towns of East Windsor Township, Ewing Township, Hamilton Township, Hightstown, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Robbinsville Township, Trenton, and West Windsor Township.

The regional Trenton-Mercer Airport services commercial and corporate air traffic, and its Sky Lounge at Ewing restaurant is enjoyed by both locals and travelers.

The county is located between Philadelphia to its west, and New York City to its north-east.

Personal Injury Claims

Injuries occur in Mercer County every day, too often due to someone else’s fault. Injuries happen while we live our everyday lives – in car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites. In worst cases, wrongful deaths result. When injured, managing the recovery and healing as best as possible should be of the first and given upmost priority.

Fortunately, an experienced personal injury attorneys such as Howard P. Lesnik will work on your behalf to recover any and all of your financial exposure the injury has caused, which may include:

• Hospital bills
• Current and future medical bills
• Medication expenses
• Missed work and pay
• Emotional distress

Howard Lesnik and his team of experts conduct any necessary investigation regarding the accident, and collect the evidence to support your case. Howard will handle any and all negotiations with insurance companies to get a fair settlement. And if necessary, will represent you in court. He works with injured clients to get the compensation they deserve, allowing his clients to focus on their recovery.

Mercer County Car Accident Claims

Although car accident claims are not publicly available due to privacy concerns, factors that contribute to high car accident claims include:

• The severity of the injuries and the extent of medical bills and other expenses
• The number of people injured
• The driver’s insurance coverage: If the injured driver has a high insurance policy limit, the they may be able to recover more compensation.

Mercer County has had the tenth highest number of motor vehicle accident deaths among the 21 counties of New Jersey in 2023 to date1. Of these lethal accidents in the county, the victims included 11 drivers, three passengers, two bicyclists, and seven pedestrians. In 2020, Mercer County had the tenth largest number (1,710 accidents) of motor vehicle accidents in the most recently published data from 20202.

Dangerous roads and intersections in Mercer County include:

• Route-129, which has been identified by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the most fatal road in all of New Jersey. In the three years between 2016-2019, there have been 7 fatalities in its 2.4-mile span. The most dangerous intersection is at Route 129 and Lalor Street.
• Route 1 is most dangerous within the two-mile stretch in West Windsor, between shopping malls and office parks, between Alexander Road and Quaker Bridge Road
• The intersection at Route 1 and Bakers Basin Road in Lawrence Township had 178 car accidents with three fatalities over a five-year period.

The specific locations of crashes that have involved fatalities as of Oct. 25, 2023 are:

The most common reasons for car accidents in Mercer County, NJ are similar to the most common reasons for car accidents nationwide. The top causes of car accidents in Mercer County typically are:

1. Distracted driving, such as talking on the phone, texting, eating, and adjusting the radio.
2. Speeding, which reduces a driver’s reaction time and makes it more difficult to control the vehicle.
3. Drunk Driving,  which impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
4. Aggressive driving, such as tailgating, weaving between lanes, cutting off other drivers, and running red lights.
5. Failure to yield the right of way, such as failing to yield to pedestrians, other vehicles, and traffic signals.

Typically, these factors are involved in over 60% of all Mercer County car accidents.

Howard P. Lesnik, Esq, handles claims on behalf of accident victims throughout Mercer County. His extensive experience in the representation of all people who are injured due to another party’s fault has earned him high regards from hundreds of clients. He personally handles client cases from the beginning until a successful result is achieved.

Mercer County Motorcycle Accident Claims

Recommended and popular scenic motorcycle rides in Mercer County include:

• Start at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ and traveling to ride along the Delaware River
• Start at Princeton NJ, routes such as the New Hope, Hopewell, the Long Climb – Rewarding Hill loops, and 16 other loops as mapped out on komoot.com
• A Trenton NJ ride through to Frenchtown and New Hope, PA

When enjoying the road, the ride, and the scenery, be sure to be alert and drive defensively.

According to the New Jersey State Police, there have been 22 motorcycle and bicycle fatalities in NJ between Jan. 1 – October 32, 2023. (Note: since motorized bicycle accidents are now included, the State of NJ refers to the category of motorcycles, bicycles, and motorized bicycles as “pedalcyclists”.) In the same 10-month time frame, there were 21 pedalcyclist fatalities in 2021, and 15 in 2022. Even when not fatal, motorcycle accidents can be serious, especially if the rider is ejected from the motorcycle resulting in serious head and spinal injuries, broken bones, lacerations, and burns.

Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

According to 2021 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, 14% of all traffic fatalities nationwide involved motorcyclists. The fatality rate for motorcyclists (30.20) has been almost 24 times the passenger car occupant fatality rate (1.26) per vehicle miles. When multiple vehicles are involved, one-third  crashes happened because other motorists turned into the path of the motorcycle. Motorcyclists must remain visible at all times, and anticipate when drivers making left turns may not see them.

Safety First When Riding Motorcycles

• Do NOT consume alcohol. Motorcycle riding requires full attention, skill, and coordination. Forty-three percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes in 2021 were alcohol-impaired.
• Wear a helmet and other protective gear.
• Be aware of your surroundings and other drivers on the road.
• Be especially careful when riding at night or in bad weather.

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to immediately seek medical attention, even if you do not think you are injured.

Truck Accident Claims in Mercer County

Truck accidents range from pickup trucks, landscape trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks to tractor-trailers. Trucks are harder to pivot and stop than cars, given their weight and size. And the damage resulting from truck accidents tends to be far more severe. Recent examples of accidents in Mercer County, NJ include the following:

• Two dump trucks overturned on I-295 southbound in Mercer County, NJ on the Route 1 overpass just south of the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township, spilling rocks and dirt all over the highway on March 22, 2023.An 18-year-old senior at Lawrence High School made a miscalculated, improper left turn into the path of a dump truck on Route 1 near Franklin Corner Road in Lawrence Township, New Jersey on July 1, 2023. The dump truck hit her car, tearing it apart. The driver of the car died from her injuries. And the 28-year-old truck driver was hospitalized with injuries.
• On March 1, 2023 on Gold Drive in Hamilton Township, in a very industrial area, a deadly box truck, cherry picker accident occurred.

Accidents involving trucks can be life-threatening, cause permanent bodily harm, or cause serious injuries requiring lengthy, expensive recoveries. Multiple liable parties may also be involved in the accident, complicating how any medical bills or wrongful deaths settlements are covered. By working with an experienced personal injury lawyer such as Howard Lesnik, you are in a much better position to reach a fair settlement, and not simply accept an insurance company’s inadequate settlement offer.

Mercer County Pedestrian Accident Claims

Pedestrians are at grave risk whenever they are hit by any kind of motor vehicle. Too often pedestrian accidents are fatal. For the lucky survivors, they most likely suffer from severe injuries to their head and/or spine. The following recent pedestrian accidents in Mercer County are representative of what can happen:

• A pedestrian died after being struck at intersection of Pennington Road and Somerset Street in Ewing, NJ on Jan 25, 2023.
  On March 6, 2023, a pedestrian died after being struck my multiple vehicles on Route 29 between Cass Street and South Warren Street in Trenton NJ.
• On October 31, 2023, a 63-year-old man was struck by a car at the intersection of Penn-Lyle Road at Canoe Brook Drive in West Windsor, in Mercer County. His injuries from the accident include a serious head injury.
• A pedestrian died in hit-and-run collision on Calhoun Street in Trenton, NJ on September 23, 2023

According to the NJ Motor Vehicles Commission, “pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections, including intersections with no crosswalk markings.” If you or a family member have been hit by any kind of motor vehicle, we recommend contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer such as Howard Lesnik as soon as you are able to. Your attorney will gather details of the accident, and work with the appropriate insurance companies to make sure your medical expenses and treatments are properly covered.

Premises Liability Claims in Mercer County

Who covers your medical expenses when you are injured due to improper care and maintenance in buildings, walkways, playgrounds? Too frequently injuries occur in Mercer County in apartment buildings, stores, businesses, and in private homes. These injuries often occur when someone

• Slips and falls on a wet floor in a store
• Slips on an uneven floor
• Is exposed to unprotected electrical equipment
• Trips on dangerous stairs
• Trips due to Insufficient lighting
• Is hit by crumbling ceiling
• Is hit by falling products, equipment, or materials
• Lead paint exposure

If you or a family member suffers from injuries incurred in any of these situations and face unanticipated medical expenses, you may want to know who is responsible for covering those costs. New Jersey’s premises liability laws applicable in Mercer County, protect those injured in a defective buildings, allowing for full and fair compensation to cover injuries, including coverage for current and future medical costs, pain, suffering, emotional distress, lost wages and benefits, and diminished earning capacity.

Stores and businesses have a “Duty of Reasonable Care”, requiring them to:

1. Protect the public from dangerous conditions on their property
2. Warn invitees of hidden defects, and
3. Regularly inspect their property to ensure the premises are free of defects and is safe.

If injured in a private home in Mercer County, the host is expected to exercise reasonable care to correct any defective or dangerous condition, or warn their guests of the danger. The host has a “Duty to Warn” their guests of any unsafe conditions.

Building landlords, businesses and homeowners insurance policies work with experienced lawyers on their end to minimize potential payouts, which is why it is important to work with an experienced attorney who fights for you to get the fair compensation for your injuries. Once an injury occurs, you have only two years to file a claim, so it is important to contact an experience personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Mercer County Dog Bite and Dog Attack Claims

If you have unfortunately been bitten by a dog in Mercer County, NJ, the state provides legal protection for the cost of your injuries. According to the state statute N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, the dog’s owner is liable – and responsible – for the damages and injuries from their dog’s bite – whether the bite occurred when lawfully in a private home or on public property. Dog bite injuries can range from simple lacerations, to extreme cases, including death, and may involve permanent scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma.

All dog owners are responsible for training and socializing their dog, and preventing the dog from getting loose and attacking neighbors or someone passing by.

Wrongful Death Claims in Mercer County

When a Mercer County NJ family loses a family member due to the carelessness or negligence of another person, they grieving from their tragic, irreplaceable loss. Although entitled to seek damages for the loss, the renumeration can never replace their deep sense of loss.

Filing a wrongful death claim requires a personal representative of the decedent’s Estate, the executor of the will, to file the claim at the Mercer County Court house. If there is no will, an estate administrator is appointed by the probate court. The probate court may select a spouse or child as the estate administrator. The wrongful death claim is a civil action to recover the financial damages associated with the death, which may have resulted from a car, truck, motorcycle, bike, or pedestrian accident, construction accident or hazardous property, or from inadequate security.

When representing families, Howard Lesnik works diligently, preparing your case within the two-year statute of limitation from the time of the deceased’s death. Case preparation involves gathering evidence, such as video surveillance, eyewitness accounts, and expert witness testimony. The evidence he gathers is used in negotiating settlements, and when necessary, preparation for trial.

Mercer County NJ Courthouses