The Personal Injury Attorney in Ridgefield, NJ, You Can Trust
Did you know that as a state, New Jersey has the 3rd most personal injury cases per capita? In fact, personal injury cases occurred at a rate of 30.34 per 100,000 capita, which is 218% higher than the national average of 9.53%. Perhaps even more alarming, personal injury cases account for 31% of New Jersey's entire caseload - 166% higher than the U.S. average, which lies at 11.65%. One look at those stats, and it's clear that thousands of men and women in New Jersey suffer from the unfortunate negligence of others.
The truth is, when an accident happens out of nowhere, even the most prepared New Jersey native can become a victim. Imagine driving home after a tough day at work, looking forward to relaxing, but suddenly, your life takes an unexpected turn due to someone else's negligence. Coping with the aftermath of personal injury accidents is a daunting task involving long-lasting pain, concerns about work, and worries about your loved ones.
Unfortunately, victims often fall prey to lowball settlement offers and provide official statements to insurance companies without a personal injury attorney in Ridgefield, NJ. Once you accept a settlement offer or make an official statement, it becomes challenging to correct the situation. That's where William Gonzalez Law Group comes in - to protect your rights and fight on your behalf for the compensation you deserve.
Service Areas
The William Gonzalez Law Difference
William N. Gonzalez was Born in 1961 in the Bronx. He moved to Puerto Rico in 1973, where he attended Middle School, High School, and freshman year at the Catholic University of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Ultimately, he transferred to John Jay College of Criminal Justice C.U.N.Y., earning a B.A. degree in 1984.
After completing that achievement, he attended Seton Hall School of Law from 1987 through 1990, earning a J.D. and admission into the New Jersey State Bar. Shortly after, he began working for various law firms until2002, when he became a solo practitioner in the Township of West New York.
Since that time, he has dedicated his practice to serving the community with honesty, integrity, and hard work. His practice was founded with the main purpose of helping those who face crisis and are in need of a personal injury lawyer in Ridgefield, NJ, who sticks by their side.
Mr. Gonzalez focuses on a range of personal injury cases, including but not limited to.
- Auto Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Slip-and-Fall Accidents
- Workers' Compensation Cases
- DUI Cases
- Municipal Court Cases
If you're looking for a fearless attorney to fully represent you and to fight the good fight on your behalf, look no further than the William Gonzalez Law Group. Now that you're up-to-date on William Gonzalez's background and accomplishments, let's dig a little deeper into the nuances of personal injury law and the areas of law in which he focuses.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in New Jersey
While there are many different types of personal injury cases in New Jersey, some are more common than others - especially those that involve motor vehicles and driving under the influence. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases that William Gonzalez helps clients overcome include.
Did you know that driver error is the leading cause of car accidents in New Jersey? The truth is that negligent drivers don't pay attention. They also don't adhere to traffic laws or use the right safety precautions. They often cause serious injuries by.
- Driving Too Fast
- Talking or Texting While Driving
- Driving Under the Influence
- Making Improper Lane Changes
- Running Stop Signs and Red Lights
- Rear-Ending Other Drivers
If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else's negligence, it is important to have a personal injury attorney in Ridgefield, NJ, whom you can rely on. Your lawyer will help protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation possible according to local laws. Your car accident attorney will also collaborate with specialists such as investigators and accident reconstruction experts to determine the cause of your injury and establish who is responsible for any damages.
There are more than eleven million trucks that operate daily across the United States, with drivers who work long hours and carry sensitive materials. In 2016, there were over 470,000 large truck and semi accidents, with human error accounting for 90% of those accidents. Truck accidents can cause injuries in several ways, such as if a truck carrying hazardous materials explodes or spills its contents, causing damage to surrounding drivers and property. Commercial trucks can also jackknife or lose control of their steering wheel, which can result in injuries to the driver or others involved in the accident.
Due to the massive size of semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles, accidents involving these vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries. If you have been injured due to a negligent truck driver who was speeding, distracted, impaired, or whose vehicle was poorly maintained, it's time to hire a trucks accident lawyer. Doing so quickly after your accident will help protect your rights against insurers and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you ride a motorcycle in New Jersey, you are at a higher risk of dying in an accident compared to other drivers. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are on the rise. The good news? William Gonzalez is highly skilled when it comes to representing motorcycle accident clients and the injuries they sustain, including.
- Injury from negligent drivers who are reckless, distracted, or are involved in blind-spot wrecks
- Injury due to serious road defects such as unsafe intersections, potholes, and more
If you were recently involved in a motorcycle accident because of another party's negligence, you can count on William Gonzalez as your advocate. It all starts with an initial consultation with a motorcycle injury attorney who truly understands New Jersey injury law.
If you have been injured while working, it can be a painful, confusing, and emotional experience. It can also be financially devastating for you and your family. Therefore, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and seek the guidance of a qualified workers' compensation lawyer in New Jersey. The William Gonzalez Law Group has been successfully assisting injured workers for years. Mr. Gonzalez's goal is to get the full compensation you need to cover your medical bills and take care of your family while you recover. If you've suffered an injury while on the job that resulted in lost wages or ongoing pain and suffering, it's time to fight for financial compensation.
Injuries resulting from trips, slips, and falls can be severe and may include fractures, brain trauma, neck, and back injuries, among others. Recovering from a serious fall can take months, and the victim may experience lifelong health issues and incur substantial medical bills.
However, in New Jersey, property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their property in a safe manner. If someone gets injured on their premises or property due to their negligence, the owner can be held liable. The victim has the right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the cost of medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering caused by the injuries.
Some of the most common contributors to slip-and-fall accidents in New Jersey include.
- Poor Lighting
- Narrow Stairs
- Wet Floors
- Missing Handrails
- Uneven Flooring
- Defective Sidewalks
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a drunk driving accident, a personal injury lawyer in Ridgefield, NJ, can provide assistance. Despite decades-long efforts by civic organizations to curb drunk driving, it remains a problem throughout the United States, including in New Jersey, which has strict DUI laws and enforcement.
William Gonzalez believes that prosecuting drunk driving accidents not only helps clients recover compensation for their injuries but also serves as a warning to others who may consider driving under the influence.
What are Personal Injuries in New Jersey?
When an accident, incident, or illness causes you physical injury or emotional pain and suffering, it is referred to as personal injury. For example, suppose you are involved in a car accident and experience a traumatic brain injury. In that case, you have the right to seek compensation for the expenses related to treating and recovering from your physical injuries. You're also entitled to financial compensation for the emotional distress you may have suffered as a result of the injury.
There are three general terms you should be familiar with as it relates to personal injury law in New Jersey:
- Pain and Suffering
- Bodily Harm
- Emotional Distress
Pain and Suffering in New Jersey
Experiencing pain and suffering is not always limited to physical injuries. It can also affect one's emotional well-being, which may require the help of a mental health professional to properly document. Consulting with a mental health professional can help determine the extent of any potential psychological issues that may have arisen from your incident.
To provide accurate documentation of your emotional pain and suffering, it is important to record how your daily activities have been impacted and how you may no longer be able to participate in activities that you once enjoyed. This might include difficulties in communication or the inability to enjoy outings that were once pleasurable.
Bodily Harm in New Jersey
When someone experiences physical injury as a result of an accident, such as a car accident, they may sue for compensation for the harm done to their body. This compensation can help cover the costs of medical bills, surgeries, physical therapy, home care equipment, or any other expenses needed to aid in their recovery from the injury.
Emotional Distress in New Jersey
Emotional distress can be difficult to prove, especially when it involves defamation of character or threats to one's physical safety. It's important to understand, however, that emotional distress is valid. You have the right to seek compensation for any fear or trauma you have experienced and should not hesitate to fight for what you deserve.
If you have suffered a serious injury due to an accident, it's time to protect yourself and your family with the help of a personal injury attorney in Ridgefield, NJ. Unlike your lawyer, the insurance companies involved in your personal injury case are not on your side and are known for presenting offers that don't fairly compensate you for your losses.
How Negligence Affects Your Personal Injury Case in New Jersey
In New Jersey, determining who is legally responsible for an accident usually involves assessing the negligence of the person at fault. Proving negligence or negligent acts as the cause of serious injuries and damages can be one of the most challenging aspects of a personal injury case. While some accidents are just that - accidents - in other cases, such as drunk driving car accidents, it is clear that the act of criminal negligence caused the accident, and the person responsible should be held liable for the damages.
According to New Jersey law, there are four elements that must be covered when trying to prove negligence in personal injury cases. Those elements include the following.
In New Jersey, determining who is legally responsible for an accident usually involves assessing the negligence of the person at fault. Proving negligence or negligent acts as the cause of serious injuries and damages can be one of the most challenging aspects of a personal injury case. While some accidents are just that - accidents - in other cases, such as drunk driving car accidents, it is clear that the act of criminal negligence caused the accident, and the person responsible should be held liable for the damages.
Legal Duty
According to legal duty, the defendant has a responsibility to ensure the safety of the victim and prevent harm. In New Jersey, drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles safely in regard to other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Businesses are legally obliged to maintain their premises in a safe manner, ensuring there are no hazards such as ice, snow, or slippery floors.
Breach of Duty
To prove that the defendant is responsible for an accident, it must be shown that they behaved in a way that they knew could cause harm to others. Additionally, it must be demonstrated that a reasonable person in the same situation would have acted differently. For instance, it is common knowledge that driving a car, truck, or motorcycle under the influence can lead to an accident.
Causation
One of the biggest reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer in Ridgefield, NJ, is so they can prove that your injuries are a direct result of the other party's breach of duty. This means that you need to demonstrate that your injuries occurred due to the defendant's actions. To do so, it is recommended that you seek medical attention from a physician who can document your injuries and confirm that they were caused or worsened by the defendant's negligence. It is crucial to document your injuries with a doctor, as it can be difficult to obtain compensation for injuries that were not properly documented.
Damages
When filing a claim, you must show proof of loss, which may include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering compensation.
William Gonzalez Law Pro Tip
If you've been injured due to someone else's negligence, you should act fast to file a claim and hire a lawyer. In New Jersey, you only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit or claim. If you fail to file a claim within the time frame set by the statute of limitations, you will lose your opportunity to do so. In most cases, if you attempt to file a claim after the two-year deadline, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss. There are very few exceptions where a personal injury claim may be filed beyond the two-year mark.
A Personal Injury Attorney in Ridgefield, NJ, You Can Count On
The William Gonzalez Law Group specializes in helping you get back on track after a setback. With decades of experience in personal injury law, Mr. Gonzalez can assist you in cases such as car crashes, truck accidents, slip and fall incidents, motorcycle accidents, DUI accidents, workers' compensation cases, and more.
When you are unable to work, have mounting bills and medical expenses, and your quality of life is affected, you need a strong and reliable advocate on your side, and William Gonzalez is the man to call for help. Whether you need assistance with a complex personal injury case or need trustworthy, easy-to-understand legal advice, contact the William Gonzalez Law Group today.
Latest News in Ridgefield, NJ
NJ Education Department ends 10-year monitoring of Ridgefield Park school district
Marsha A. Stoltzhttps://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgefield-park/2025/06/18/nj-ends-monitoring-of-ridgefield-park-school-district-10-years/84261183007/
RIDGEFIELD PARKNorthJersey.comRIDGEFIELD PARK − After 10 years of oversight, the Board of Education was officially relieved of its state monitor at its June 18 meeting.Kevin Dehmer, assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, made the announcement with monitor Tom Eagan and Bergen County School Superintendent Patrick Fletcher at his side.School Board President Ricardo Martinez labeled the announcement a "really, really big deal" for the district."Tod...
RIDGEFIELD PARK
NorthJersey.com
RIDGEFIELD PARK − After 10 years of oversight, the Board of Education was officially relieved of its state monitor at its June 18 meeting.
Kevin Dehmer, assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, made the announcement with monitor Tom Eagan and Bergen County School Superintendent Patrick Fletcher at his side.
School Board President Ricardo Martinez labeled the announcement a "really, really big deal" for the district.
"Today, our district benefits from a board and administration that work collaboratively and are focused on providing high-quality education to our students and being responsible stewards of the village’s tax dollars," Martinez said in an email statement. "In recent years, we have made measurable improvements in instructional quality, staff investment, facility upgrades, and fiscal management. While there’s still work ahead, this is a moment to celebrate − and a sign that the best is yet to come."
Angela Bender, former school superintendent from 2019 to 2023, recalled, "when I assumed the district's leadership as superintendent, we were amid profound financial despair with poor educational outcomes."
"Ricardo Martinez, then board of education trustee, said, 'I know it feels like we just gave you the keys to the Titanic right before it hit an iceberg'," Bender said in an email statement. "The two-and-a-half miles needed to turn the ship around was successful and directly led to the State Monitorship coming to an end."
Troubled history
State Monitor Wayne Demikoff was appointed to the district in 2015 after it was determined school officials had overspent their budget by $2.5 million, even though an audit of the 2015-2016 school year indicated the district remained on a solid financial footing.
In May 2017, an estmated 70 staff members lost their jobs under Demikoff's $38 million budget, including teachers' aides, custodians and lunch aides. Aides and custodians were privatized the next year for an estimated savings of $1.98 million.
In June 2017, a state Department of Education investigation prompted by Demikoff found the district violated three state laws in 2014 when it signed a 10-year, $5.9 million property lease to house its early learning center in St. Francis of Assisi Church without a public hearing, agreed to receive a $629,754 loan from the church for renovations without notifying the Board of Education, and allowed students to occupy part of the space without approval from the Office of School Facilities.
The district subsequently paid St. Francis $400,000 for cancelling the lease.
Also in 2017, the district received a $2.5 million loan from the state and entered an agreement to pay it off in $250,000 annual increments.
But in April 2018, Little Ferry representative Nick Fytros, who sat on the board's finance committee, announced the discovery of $2 million "calculation error" windfall. They had overestimated how much would be needed for employee salaries, benefits, utilities and Social Security payments. The discovery allowed the addition of 17 positions to the district, including 10 previously eliminated.
That same month, Board President Robert Thiemann announced the district was losing its fifth business administrator in three years.
As the district began its search for a new school superintendent in February 2019, Interim Superintendent Mark Hayes announced "all the financial issues are behind the district," and that "they're in a good place right now." But in May 2019 an appellate court ruled the district owed its teachers $3.5 million for health insurance overcharges from 2015 to 2018 in violation of their contract. School bathroom renovations were cancelled and three special education teaching jobs were cut to absorb the potential expense during the district's appeal.
That October, the district announced it was elevating Bender, a longtime principal, to the superintendent post, the latest of three to occupy the seat since 2017.
In August 2020, the State Supreme Court overruled the appellate court's decision, rescinding $3.5 million in back pay owed to teachers for health insurance overcharges.
In February 2021, the district told a judge it was in a "precarious financial position" and needed $5.1 million or a 9.8% increase in its per pupil rate of the $16,262 to educate some 300 Little Ferry high schoolers on a send/receive basis.
Bender was finishing the second year of her four-year contract in June 2021 when she was suspended with pay without explanation "for the remainder of her contract" following a no-confidence vote by the board less than three hours after delivering the district's eighth grade graduation address.
Bender filed suit against the board's "misogynistic boys club" that July, accusing six of its board members and Fytros of running a "million dollar wall" that "is a stifling barrier to women."
A second suit was filed against the district in August 2022 by middle school Principal Dyan Thiemann, who charged that Acting Superintendent Barry Haines attempted to demote her in April after she refused to make "false and disparaging statements" about her interactions with Bender during testimony before board attorneys in March. Thiemann was reinstated by the board, but removed from her post June 30, and named supervisor of early childhood education.
Six years after the state Department of Education assigned a monitor to the district, it announced in September 2022, it replaced Demikoff with Thomas Egan. That December, the board tabled a motion to eliminate Thiemann's new position, concerned it would be overruled by Egan.
The district reinstated Bender to her post in January 2023 wihtout explanation other than Martinez calling her "the best fit to lead our district at this time."
By January 2024, the six Ridgefield Park trustees cited by Bender in her lawsuit had all left or been voted off the board: Christopher Gibbons, Dave Cathcart, Jorge Fernandez. Robert Thiemann, Thomas Vercelli and Gernard Gomes. Only Fytros remains, as he cannot be removed by Ridgefield vote.
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