Although the dangers of distracted driving are well known, many young drivers seem to ignore the risks. A recent study by Bridgestone Americas surveyed drivers between ages 15 and 21 about distracted driving.
The study found that more than 50 percent of young drivers were aware that distracted driving was dangerous. However, the drivers felt that they were in control of the risks and, therefore, the dangers do not apply to them.
The study also found that:
The study concluded that because very few young drivers have been driving long enough to be in an accident, few realize the actual potential consequences of their actions. A driver who has not been in an accident simply does not understand the possible consequences. Unfortunately, it only takes one instance of distracted driving to cause a potentially deadly accident.
Source: NY Daily News, "Distracted driving risks ignored by youngsters," Josh Max, April 30, 2012
]]>While an investigation into the New York construction accident is still ongoing, it appears that the collapse occurred when a beam supporting the main structure gave way. Whether this was due to human error or structural integrity remains to be seen.
Injured workers may be entitled to a variety of remedies, including workers' compensation and possible third party actions. Workers' compensation benefits help to maintain a reasonable standard of living and maintain their financial obligations while they are unable to work. Award payments are based on a claimant's ability to work, and the extent of work they are to perform based on a doctor's restrictions.
]]> Typical benefits that injured workers are eligible for include:Injured workers may also have claims against negligent third parties, as long as they are not the employer - such as holding liable the property owners or the general contractor for the negligence of a subcontractor. A personal injury attorney can help evaluate any negligence claims and also protect the injured worker's rights to disability benefits and monetary damages.
Source: WPIX.com "1 Killed, 2 Critical After Columbia University Construction Site Collapse" March 22, 2012
]]>No site strikes more pride in the hearts of New Yorkers than the redevelopment of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. But a recent crane accident on that site showed the massive dangers that crane operators, steeplejacks and ironworkers face every working day.
A load of steel that was being hoisted 40 stories up to the new building at Church and Liberty Streets suddenly broke loose, and tons of steel plummeted to the flatbed truck from which it had been raised. Workers were immediately evacuated to nearby Zucotti Park while the FDNY and other investigators assessed the damage.
While onlookers described the scene as chaos and the resulting commotion brought back troubling memories to nearby residents who endured 9/11, the accident resulted in only minor injuries to the crane operator. However, the impact of the falling steel required a precautionary shutdown of the number 1 train below Chambers St.
]]> This accident illustrates the extreme dangers construction workers deal with on a daily basis due to the risk of falling objects. Whether the accident results from operator error, defective cables or hardware, or any other circumstance, falling objects on construction sites can cause serious and catastrophic injuries.As with other types of workplace accidents such as scaffolding accidents, electrocutions, explosions and falls from ladders, injured workers often need to assert their legal rights to ensure that they receive sufficient compensation. A New York construction accident attorney can explain the complexities of legal claims to worksite injury victims and wrongful death survivors.
Source: NY Daily News, "Worker hurt as crane cable snaps at World Trade Center," Joe Kemp, Feb. 16, 2012
]]>While driving under the influence of drugs is not mentioned in the press as much as drunk driving, it is just as dangerous and just as likely to lead to car accidents on New York roadways.
Across New York, drugged driving arrests rose from 1,669 in 2001 to 2,248 in 2011, a statewide increase of 35 percent over ten years. Parts of the state experienced a much greater increase. In New York City for example, the numbers more than quadrupled in the same time period, going up from 81 to 357.
Recent fatalities attributed to drugged driving include a Medford mother, killed as she stood next to her car by a driver alleged to have taken prescription drugs, and a five-year-old West Islip boy who died when his father's truck was hit by a driver who apparently was under the influence of oxycodone.
It is more difficult for police to determine that a driver is impaired by drugs than it is to identify a drunk driver. Drugged drivers do not necessarily exhibit the same kind of behavior that characterizes those who are drunk. Few police forces have any equipment and technology to test for the influence of prescription drugs. They have no approved detection devices comparable to breathalyzers used with drunk drivers that can be carried in police cars and used on the spot when a suspected drugged driver is pulled over.
]]> A New York senator recently announced a federal effort to cope with the growing problem of drugged driving. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is supporting the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011, which would fund research and training. The Department of Transportation could use funds to work on developing reliable technologies for testing drivers for the presence of drugs in their systems. One possibility is a swab to collect and quickly analyze a saliva sample from a driver. The Department would also be able to provide grants to states to train law enforcement officers in detecting the influence of prescription drugs. With improved skills and equipment, police will have tools to use in the fight against the growing drugged driving epidemic.Source: "Drugged drivers an increased risk in New York state"
]]>The models being recalled include over 95,000 Optimas from model years 2006 through 2008 and about 50,000 since-discontinued 2007-08 Rondo crossovers. Owners who see a glowing airbag warning light on the car dashboard will be given priority in fixing the problem.
The warning light goes on when something goes wrong with the electrical connections that are used to deploy an airbag in a car accident. A vital part in the driver's side airbag system is called the clock spring contact assembly. This part sits below the steering wheel in the steering column, and it allows the steering wheel to turn in each direction while keeping electrical contact with the airbag wiring. After many repetitions, turning the steering wheel can cause a defective clock spring contact assembly to fail prematurely, which triggers the warning light. If the light is not on, the airbag system is functioning normally and the driver is protected.
]]> The cars with the warning light on will be fixed first in order to ensure there are enough parts for the most urgent cases. Owners of every potentially affected Optima and Rondo will be receiving notices from Kia in March and can bring their vehicles to a dealer for a new clock spring contact assembly.Kia's recall follows on the heels of recalls by other manufacturers whose cars have a similar defect. Chrysler identified potential issues with clock spring contact assemblies on some of its Wranglers manufactured from 2008 through 2012, and it will provide a new assembly or a better housing for the assembly. Hyundai also has recently recalled vehicles with airbag electrical system defects. These recalls need to be taken very seriously as safety equipment malfunctions can lead to severe injuries in car accidents.
]]>The NTSB is a Federal agency whose mission is to review transportation accidents, define the reasons for the accidents and promote transportation safety. In review of cell phone related motor vehicle accidents, the NTSB created a recommendation that will drastically alter cell phone use while driving for all 50 states.
The recommendation creates total ban on all cell phone use while driving. The total ban includes all cell phone use, including hands-free devices and bans cell phone use by drivers of all ages. The ban encompasses all cell phone usage that is non-emergency. While the ban is aimed at drivers, it does not affect passengers.
]]> The effects of distracted driving are being compared to drunk driving. The NTSB recommendation comes after an investigation into a chain-reaction car accident - an accident that was caused by a 19 year old driver who sent or received 11 text messages in the 13 minutes prior to the accident. The driver's distracted driving caused a multi-vehicle accident that killed two people and injured 38 people. The rationale supporting the NTSB recommendation aims to reduce the frequency and impact of distracted driving.The NTSB recommendation is not the first type of cell phone ban. New York was the first state to enact a ban on cell phone use by drivers. In 2001 New York passed a law that required hands-free devices for cell phone use by drivers. Given the potential impact and drastic changes proposed in the NTSB recommendation, it is too early to predict if New York will approve the proposed cell phone ban. The NTSB cell phone recommendation is not mandatory and the New York legislature will determine whether the proposed ban is approved in New York.
]]>New York City workers in particular depend on elevators, as many of them work on high floors in skyscrapers. One such worker stepped onto an elevator in mid-December on her way to her advertising-agency job.
Before the doors could close, the elevator lurched upward, trapping the worker between the elevator shaft and the elevator car. The woman, in her early forties, died at the scene. The two people already in the elevator watched helplessly as the elevator accident rapidly unfolded. They were treated for psychological trauma after the shocking event.
]]> Investigation Into Cause of New York Elevator AccidentInvestigators are working to find the cause of the New York City elevator accident. According to the New York Daily News, an elevator consultant company had performed electrical work on the elevator just hours before the accident.
Elevators can malfunction for numerous reasons. It can be difficult to immediately determine who is liable for elevator accidents, but a methodical investigation can pinpoint the answer.
Possible causes of elevator malfunction include owner or repair-technician negligence. Misaligned belts, improperly calibrated cables and faulty electrical wiring can all be at the root of elevator accidents. Elevators may malfunction by stopping and starting suddenly, trapping a passenger's clothing or shoes, or stopping out of alignment with the floor.
New Yorkers ride hundreds of elevators countless times every day. Although the vast majority of journeys up and down are uneventful, occasionally tragedy does strike.
]]>The report was requested by Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Nydia Velazquez after a curb-side bus crashed in the Bronx in March, killing 15 people. The accident inspired investigation into curb-side buses that pick up passengers on the side of the road instead of paying fees to bus-terminal operators, resulting in lower bus fares, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The NTSB report states that federal officials do not have much data on the buses, like how many miles the buses travel each year or even how many companies do curb-side pickups. However, statistics show that curb-side buses have fatal accidents seven times more often than conventional buses.
]]> The curb-side bus companies' low-cost focus may contribute to the high risk of crashes causing serious injury or death, especially in regard to their bus drivers. An average of 16.7 curb-side buses of every 100 had been taken out of service for driver-fatigue violations, the report said, while 11.2 conventional buses were taken out of service for the same reason, according to the Wall Street Journal.Strangely, curb-side buses are not more likely to be involved in accidents than conventional buses. But, curb-side bus accidents are more likely to result in serious injuries and death.
To better understand why this might be and to improve safety for all bus riders, legislators and community-safety advocates urge greater regulation of curb-side buses. Increased federal oversight of these companies would hopefully result in fewer tragic bus accidents like the one that occurred in New York last spring.
]]>Texting can be incredibly distracting, and has been the cause of countless car accidents in New York - which is why states throughout the country, including New York, have passed statutes prohibiting texting while behind the wheel.
Even though New York's texting law has been in effect since 2009, police were previously unable to issue tickets under the law unless they could pull the driver over for violating another law. However, the 2011 change made a violation of the texting-while-driving law a primary offense - so police are now able to stop drivers solely for violating the texting law. A violation of this law now carries a three-point driving penalty - which can lead to a fine of up to $150.
]]> Police Enforcement of Texting-While-Driving LawWhen the law change was passed last July, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, ""We were serious when this law passed: texting while driving is illegal and the law is being enforced, so don't do it."
As it turns out, the police have been very serious about enforcing the new version of the law. Prior to the change, police had issued on average 427 texting-while-driving tickets per month to drivers. However in the first month following the change, police issued a total of 1,082 tickets - more than double the total during the same month last year.
Ultimately, the goal of New York's texting law is to reduce distracted driving, and thus car accidents. Unfortunately, no amount of caution can protect you from other careless drivers who fail to adhere to the law though.
Source: N.Y. law sends texting-while-driving tickets soaring
]]>The accident occurred on the Cross Bronx Expressway on the evening of Sunday, October 30. At the time, temperatures were close to freezing and the overpass was covered in black ice.
Mr. Sosa and his sister Jennifer were caught up in a multi-vehicle accident that started after some drivers began to hit their brakes to "rubberneck" at another accident. According to one witness, vehicles began spinning "like tops" and colliding into one another. When the Sosas got out of their vehicle to survey the damage, they were hit by a car and knocked off the overpass.
Mr. Sosa was still unconscious as of November 2, but doctors reported that he did not suffer brain damage or spinal cord injury. It is unclear whether Mr. Sosa will be able to resume his promising boxing career.
]]> Winter Driving Demands Extra CautionThe accident stands as an unfortunate reminder to New Yorkers of the need to follow winter driving safety precautions. Cold weather often leads to treacherous conditions, and roads can go from safe to slippery in a moment's notice.
Drivers can help reduce the risk of a car accident by adhering to the following safety tips:
Auto accidents can be devastating, especially in colder weather when treacherous conditions can materialize in a matter of minutes. Be safe this winter and drive carefully.
Source: New York Daily News, "Black Ice Triggers Deadly Crash on Cross Bronx Expressway; Two Siblings Fall 75 Feet From Overpass, Killing One," Jennifer H. Cunningham, Oct. 20, 2011.
]]>The building was scheduled for demolition as part of the State of New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Preliminary investigations show that the accident was likely caused by bricks that came loose while work was being done on the building's chimney. The bricks apparently fell onto the scaffolding, causing it to fall.
According to a spokeswoman from the New York City Department of Buildings, the department had received a complaint about falling bricks at the demolition site about two weeks before the collapse. However, inspectors who were dispatched to the scene did not observe any problems.
The department issued six violations against the demolition company responsible for the collapse. The alleged violations include housing illegal mechanical equipment on site and following an improper course of demolition. Building demolitions are supposed to be done in a certain order to help ensure safety.
]]> Witnesses Described Chaos, FearFollowing the collapse, pieces of the scaffolding rocketed through the rear windows of the bus carrying approximately 30 passengers. Passengers described the bus as being filled with smoke and debris, causing riders to panic as they tried to evacuate.
Nearly 25 people were underneath the scaffolding waiting for a bus when it collapsed. They reported a large boom followed by a wave of crashing brick and scrap metal. Most were able to flee, but some became trapped in the debris.
Under New York law, property owners have a duty to maintain a safe premises. Those who don't may be held civilly liable. An experienced New York premises liability attorney can help explain the law in New York and advise you of your rights and options.
]]>A 24-year-old Brooklyn artist was killed on a Friday evening in September when he was struck by an SUV at a Williamsburg intersection. This came only a few days after a 29-year-old dancer died from injuries sustained when she was hit by a Mercedes on Brooklyn's Bushwick Avenue while trying to avoid construction debris. Two creative young people's lives came to an abrupt halt due to two tragic, fatal and very likely avoidable bike accidents.
The Alliance for Bicycling and Walking reports that bike commuting has increased by nearly 50 percent in the past 20 years, and cycling is a very attractive option for young people trying to make ends meet in NYC. New York's State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires bicyclists to follow the same traffic laws as motorists, but truck drivers, bus drivers and other vehicle operators must exercise particular caution when it comes to sharing the road.
]]> Failing to yield right of way to bikes, turning in front of cyclists and failing to notice the bicyclists are the primary causes of most bike accidents. The best defensive strategies, including helmets and lights, can only protect a rider so far when a vastly heavier vehicle fails to heed the rules of the road.Nonetheless, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee shares four common-sense safety strategies to help New York cyclists avoid crashes: be predictable, be seen, be careful and be smart. NYC bicycle accident attorneys have one more tip for personal injury victims and wrongful death survivors: be aware of your legal right to hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they cause.
]]>This particular criminal prosecution stems from a construction accident on East 91st Street that killed a crane operator and another construction worker when a crane collapsed in May of 2008. The charges involve what investigators are calling a defect that caused the crane to collapse to the street - killing the two workers in the process.
What is even more surprising about this particular accident is that another crane with the same owner toppled on East 51st Street just two months earlier, killing seven people. The owner was not charged in this accident though, but a rigging contractor was charged with manslaughter for using faulty slings while bracing the crane.
]]> New York Supreme Court DecisionThe owner defendant had filed a motion to dismiss in the New York Supreme Court asking that the criminal charges be dropped since he contends the prosecutors presented "skewed" evidence before the grand jury.
In denying this motion to dismiss, Judge J. Thomas Farber stated, "It seems reasonably clear that the defendants knew that a defective weld in the slew bearing would be disastrous and would almost certainly result in death or serious physical injury to workers or passersby."
Farber continued, "With respect to criminal negligence, a jury could certainly find that defendants, in order to save money and time, had a critical part manufactured by a company that they clearly should have known could not manufacture the part to acceptable standards."
As this crane accident illustrates, working around heavy machinery can be extremely dangerous. Accidents in situations like this cause severe injuries and often times death. Not only can owners and operators be held accountable in a criminal court, but also liable in a civil court for the injuries they inflict on others by their negligent acts. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident, contact an experienced crane accident attorney to be advised of your rights and options.
]]>New York City boasts one of world's largest populations of bicyclers. The City itself has over 670 miles of bike lanes to accommodate two-wheeled travelers. Unfortunately, these bike lanes are often wrongfully invaded by motorists, putting the cyclist at threat of serious injury or death. While contentious debate continues on about what should be done to improve the safety of bicycling in NYC, bicycle accidents continue to plague riders. Bicyclists should use extra caution this time of year, as motorists aren't accustomed to 'looking for' bicycles in this early part of the bike season.
]]> In New York City, there is no shortage of cycling events that bikers can participate in during May's Bike Month. Below is a calendar of the cycling community happenings for May in the NYC Area:As you enjoy springtime from the perch of your bicycle, remember to be wary of motorists and always assume that they aren't looking out for you.
Source: bicyclehabitat.com, "2011 Event Calendar"
]]>The tour bus involved was actually a gambling casino bus; it started its journey at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut with its intended destination in lower Manhattan. Tragically, the bus only made it as far as the Bronx after flipping over while travelling upon the New England Thruway. Early investigations have suggested that the bus driver's sleepiness was the cause of the horrific crash.
]]> The bus driver survived the catastrophe and told officials that a semi-truck struck the tour bus, causing it to lose control and rollover onto its side. However, authorities have found no evidence of the 18-wheeler coming into contact with the gambling bus. In fact, the driver of the tractor-trailer stated that the bus passed him at high speeds and weaved about the road, swerving until it ended up in a deadly rollover.Officials are now pegging the bus driver's fatigue as the reason for the tragedy. The evidence indicates that the bus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel - losing a deadly battle with his drowsiness. Sadly, this phenomenon is more common than most think, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cites drowsy driving as the cause of motor vehicle accidents resulting in more than 1,500 fatalities each year.
As officials continue to investigate the deadly tour bus crash and its cause, please maintain your best driving practices and if you feel like you might nod off at the wheel, pull over and give yourself a rest.
Source: abcnews.go.com
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