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While shopping at a grocery store in Columbia Park Center in North Bergen, New Jersey, a woman slipped and fell on a puddle of water leaking from a refrigerator. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partners Garry R. Salomon and Adam B. Lederman filed suit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County, proved that the store was negligent in its failure to create a safe environment for patrons, and secured our client a $650,000 settlement.
The fall seriously injured the woman’s right shoulder, neck, and back. Her shoulder suffered a full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon, impingement syndrome, and synovitis, while her neck suffered an annular tear and two disc herniations. Her back also suffered a disc herniation, disc bulge, and radiculopathy. Our client underwent many pain management procedures, including epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, transforaminal epidural steroid injections, and radiofrequency ablation. Her shoulder also required two arthroscopic rotator cuff repair procedures and the woman completed months of physical therapy.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. hired medical experts to author narrative reports proving the permanent nature of our client’s injuries. Their reports helped show our client’s entitlement to financial compensation for her loss in income, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Partners Garry R. Salomon and Adam B. Lederman also hired a forensic consultant to determine liability in this case. The expert found that the store was liable after violating many industry standards, including the International Property Maintenance Code and International Fire Code, by failing to keep the refrigerator in good working condition, to regularly inspect the refrigerator and floor, and to eliminate any safety hazards.
Settlements are often limited by the total available insurance coverage. Insurance company adjusters and their lawyers often defend cases by claiming that a client was negligent and could have avoided being injured by arguing comparative negligence on the part of an injured client; or that their pain and suffering was caused by pre-existing medical conditions or prior injuries. Despite those defenses, the Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC lawyers won their client’s injury claim. Each client’s case is unique. Results may differ because of different facts, circumstances and available insurance coverage.
Call us now for a free and confidential case evaluation. We are also available 24/7 online at our website, www.dsslaw.com.
Medical Glossary:
Annular Tear: A tear or rupture in the outer layer of the intervertebral disc, which is a cushion-like structure between the vertebrae in the spine. It can happen due to injury, wear and tear, or degenerative changes over time. An annular tear can cause pain, stiffness, and potential nerve-related symptoms, as the tear may allow the inner disc material to press on nearby nerves.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A surgical procedure used to repair a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder. It involves making small incisions and using a tiny camera called an arthroscope to guide the surgeon’s instruments. Through the arthroscope, the torn tendon is reattached to the bone using sutures or anchors, allowing for proper healing and restoring shoulder function.
Disc Bulge: A condition in which the disc, a soft cushion-like structure between the bones of the spine, extends beyond its normal position. It occurs when the outer layer of the disc weakens or wears down, causing it to protrude outward. This can result in symptoms such as back pain, discomfort, or nerve-related issues.
Disc Herniation: When the soft cushion-like material, called a disc, located between the bones of the spine, bulges or ruptures. This can happen due to injury, aging, or excessive strain on the spine. The bulging or ruptured disc can press on nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, or extremities. Treatment options may include rest, physical therapy, medication, or in severe cases, surgery to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
Epidural Steroid Injection: A medical procedure where a combination of corticosteroid medication and local anesthetic is injected into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. It aims to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain in the back, legs, or other affected areas. The injection is typically administered by a trained healthcare professional and can provide temporary relief for conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or nerve-related pain.
Full-Thickness Tear of the Supraspinatus Tendon: A complete disruption or break in the tendon that connects the supraspinatus muscle to the shoulder joint. This injury typically occurs due to trauma, repetitive motions, or degeneration over time. It can result in significant shoulder pain, weakness, and limited range of motion. Treatment options may include rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgical repair of the torn tendon to restore function and alleviate symptoms.
Impingement Syndrome: A condition that affects the shoulder joint, causing pain and limited movement. It occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become compressed or pinched between the bones of the shoulder. This compression can result in inflammation, swelling, and discomfort, often triggered by repetitive overhead activities or shoulder impingement.
Medial Branch Block: A medical procedure used to diagnose and manage pain originating from the facet joints in the spine. It involves injecting a local anesthetic near the medial branch nerves, which are the nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints. This injection helps temporarily block the pain signals, allowing doctors to identify the source of pain and determine the effectiveness of further treatment options such as radiofrequency ablation or other interventions.
Radiculopathy: A condition where a nerve root in the spine is compressed or irritated, causing pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates along the path of the affected nerve. It commonly occurs due to conditions like herniated discs or bone spurs that impinge on the nerves. Radiculopathy can cause symptoms in different parts of the body, depending on the location of the affected nerve, and treatment may involve rest, physical therapy, pain medications, or in severe cases, surgical intervention to relieve pressure on the nerve and alleviate symptoms.
Radiofrequency Ablation: A medical procedure used to treat chronic pain by targeting and disrupting the function of nerves that transmit pain signals. It involves using heat generated by radiofrequency waves to create a lesion on the affected nerve, which inhibits its ability to send pain signals to the brain. This procedure can provide long-lasting pain relief for conditions such as arthritis, back pain, or neuropathy.
Synovitis: A condition characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane, which is the lining of a joint. It can occur due to various reasons such as injury, infection, or underlying inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Synovitis often leads to joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection: A medical procedure used to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation in the spine. It involves injecting a mixture of corticosteroid medication and local anesthetic into the epidural space near the affected nerve roots. This injection targets specific nerve pathways exiting the spine, providing targeted pain relief for conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or nerve-related pain in the back or legs.
