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 Franklin Lakes, 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.
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 Franklin Lakes, NJ, who sticks by their side.
Mr. Gonzalez focuses on a range of personal injury cases, including but not limited to.
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.
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.
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 Franklin Lakes, 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.
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.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a drunk driving accident, a personal injury lawyer in Franklin Lakes, 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.
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:
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.
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 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 Franklin Lakes, 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.
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.
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.
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.
One of the biggest reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer in Franklin Lakes, 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.
When filing a claim, you must show proof of loss, which may include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering compensation.
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.
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.
A state fund that is used to reimburse people defrauded by their New Jersey attorneys awarded over $75,000 to clients for 11 claims between January and March, officials said.The Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection a...
A state fund that is used to reimburse people defrauded by their New Jersey attorneys awarded over $75,000 to clients for 11 claims between January and March, officials said.
The Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection awarded a total of $75,267 in trust money, with 10 of those awards stemming from lawyers who were paid a fee but failed to do any of the services promised.
Several North Jersey lawyers were among that group. Martin S. Fishman, an attorney from Franklin Lakes, voluntarily surrendered his law license in October. In the first quarter, he was associated with the largest reimbursement claim, at $20,000. A press release from the state Supreme Court said Fishman misappropriated the money through the unauthorized use of real estate escrow funds.
Fishman failed to keep a couple's escrow deposit for a house in his attorney trust account, and when they went to be reimbursed, he admitted it was no longer available.
Additionally, the fund paid almost $3,000 for a claim involving Jersey City-based attorney Santo V. Artusa Jr. Artusa, who is suspended and whose law firm is closed, is accused of contacting clients online to ask for money to work on legal matters.
"The Supreme Court's suspension order bars Artusa from practicing law and representing law clients in any New Jersey forum," the release said.
The fund, created in 1961 by the New Jersey State Bar Association, uses money contributed by attorneys to help repay defrauded clients. It was expanded by the Supreme Court in 1969 to cover all attorneys in the state at the bar's request. Over 100,000 lawyers are allowed to practice in New Jersey, and since the fund's creation, 4,946 claims have been paid out against 906 lawyers.
A claimant can get up to $400,000 if a claim against an attorney is approved, and the fund is allowed to pay up to $1.5 million against one lawyer. With approval from the state Supreme Court, it can go past the aggregated $1.5 million.
Claims must be filed against a state bar member who was an attorney or fiduciary at the time of the alleged incident. The attorney must be disbarred or suspended from the bar or convicted of embezzlement or other misappropriation of property if they are not dead.
"Cases involving legal malpractice, negligence, or fee disputes are not compensable," the press release said.
Claim forms can be found at njcourts.gov/public/get-help/lfcp, by calling 855-533-3863 or by writing to New Jersey's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection at Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, P.O. Box 961, Trenton, NJ 08625.
FRANKLIN LAKES — Eighty-eight acres of the Cigna/Express Scripts/IBM property have been formally transferred to developer SHG Franklin Lakes LLC, but there is no word yet on when plans for either of the housing projects proposed on the site will be presented, let alone built.The borough's "Latest Buzz" April 30 newsletter announced the ...
FRANKLIN LAKES — Eighty-eight acres of the Cigna/Express Scripts/IBM property have been formally transferred to developer SHG Franklin Lakes LLC, but there is no word yet on when plans for either of the housing projects proposed on the site will be presented, let alone built.
The borough's "Latest Buzz" April 30 newsletter announced the Englewood-based S. Hekemian Group has closed on the Parsons Pond Road property with Cigna, trading as SHG Franklin Lakes LLC. The property is zoned for 495 multi-family housing units, 62 affordable, plus 70,000 square feet of office/retail space.
"SHG has not yet filed an application, nor has it indicated when it would do so," the newsletter states.
In turn, SHG had donated 3.5 acres of that site to the borough for a 71-unit 100% affordable housing project. The borough has chosen the Montclair-based RPM Development Group to design and build the project. However, borough officials would only say RPM will be presenting a preliminary subdivision and site plan to its planning board "in the coming months."
Fair Share Housing Center advocated for 700 fourth round affordable housing units for the borough. The NJ Department of Community Affairs calculated the borough's obligation at 497 units, fourth in Bergen County behind Paramus (1,000 units), Mahwah (629) and Ramsey (503). The borough’s planner calculated their fourth round obligation at 463 units.
The borough ultimately settled challenges to its calculation and agreed to a present and prospective need of 480 units. Officials say the obligation will be further reduced based on lack of vacant and developable land.
The borough has joined a 27-municipality consortium headed by Montvale under the title "Local Leaders for Responsible Planning" in the latest in a long series of attempts to halt the state's affordable housing mandate. The consortium filed a new lawsuit in New Jersey federal court on April 24, seeking a halt after a Mercer County judge rejected two attempts at the regional level.
Representatives of SHG Franklin Lakes and RPM Development Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the impact the suit would have on their development plans.
A Franklin Lakes teen has raised money for the victims of a massive fire, including his classmate.Caren Lissner, Patch Staff|Updated Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 1:55 pm ETFRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — A teen from Franklin Lakes has helped raise $3,200 for victims of the California wildfires — including a teammate who lost his home.Franklin Lakes native Cooper Snee, 18, attends Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut and...
Caren Lissner, Patch Staff
|Updated Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 1:55 pm ET
FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — A teen from Franklin Lakes has helped raise $3,200 for victims of the California wildfires — including a teammate who lost his home.
Franklin Lakes native Cooper Snee, 18, attends Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut and plays on the varsity hockey team. His teammate Sam Houston recently lost his home to the California wildfires.
Snee, along with teammates Josh Travaglino, 18, of Scarsdale, N.Y., and Indiana Grossbard, 17, of Wilton, CT, wanted to do something to help.
Teammate Houston, 18, hails from Pacific Palisades, Calif., where the worst of the fires hit. Nothing was left of Houston’s home after the fires burned through his neighborhood in January.
“It’s actually a pretty small town, and I love it so much," Houston said recently. "All the schools, the churches, they burned down, too. We’re going to try to rebuild because we don’t want to leave that place, but it’s going to take a long time.”
Snee said, “Obviously, what he and his community have gone through is unimaginable. We just wanted to do what we could to help."
Snee, Travaglino, and Grossbard brought their idea of organizing a raffle fundraiser to Head of School Jim Detora, as well as Director of Athletics and Assistant Varsity Hockey Coach Geoff Barlow. Both approved.
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” said Houston recently. “The first I heard about it, the guys had already gotten approval from the school administration. They’ve really just overwhelmed me with support during a tough time.”
Prizes to be raffled off included authenticated signed items from sports legends across hockey, football, and basketball including a signed Shaquille O’Neal basketball and signed Mike Eruzione jersey. Tickets were sold for $5 each.
The raffle was held in mid-February and brought in several thousand dollars.
Proceeds from the raffle will go directly to families affected by the fires. Houston says his town has created a spreadsheet compiling what each affected family needs.
“My mom and I were both here in Avon, and my dad was visiting my sister in Colorado, so none of us were there," he said, "but we were getting updates from our neighbors."
“The news of the wildfires hit close to home and they wanted to help somehow,” said Coach Barlow. “They all came together."