AAA: How Not to Be an Intexicated Driver
Every day, nine people are killed, and 1,000 are injured in distracted driving accidents nationwide. According to AAA, there are hundreds of distractions that can snag a driver’s attention from the road. But the most prevalent and deadly distraction to date remains the use of cellphones while driving. Whether it’s texting, talking, navigating, or checking notifications, using a cellphone behind the wheel can lead to deadly consequences. The AAA defines an intexicator as any driver who uses their cellphone behind the wheel. It only takes one tap of a screen or a few seconds of glancing away for a driver to miss a road hazard that leads to an accident. In some cases, these hazards are fixed objects, such as guardrails, dividers, or construction signs. But most often, road hazards in distracted driving accidents involve people: occupants of other vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians. Studies conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety have found that despite 97 percent of drivers admitting that cellphone use while driving is dangerous, 45 percent still admit to reading a text or email while driving and, 35 percent admit to typing a text while driving in the last month. Spreading awareness on the critical impact distracted driving can have in our communities is the first step to protecting others on the road. Here’s where you can start to make a difference near you. Know the Facts It’s not enough to say that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents to inspire someone to drive safer— even if it’s true. However, sharing relatable situations of how dangerous using a cellphone behind the wheel can be is a great place to start. The AAA provides the following examples for you to share with friends and family to illustrate the true danger of distracted driving: Reading an email for 5 seconds is the same as driving an entire length of a football field blindfolded; Taking your eyes off the road for 2 seconds doubles your risk of a crash; Mental distractions, even when your hands are on the wheel, can take your mind away from the road enough to cause an accident (listening to the radio, talking on the phone, using voice activation for texting, calling, or emailing); At least 6 out of 10 teen crashes are the result of a distraction, the second most common distraction being cellphone use aside from interacting with passengers; and Cellphone use while driving impairs your brain in similar ways to drinking alcohol while driving. Understanding Distractions One of the biggest misconceptions about distractions behind the wheel is that if a driver can do two things at once successfully, they are not distracted. Unfortunately, that’s not how distractions work. A distraction while driving is any task aside from driving that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or mind off driving. Distractions can involve taking your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or both at the same time, but all distractions require a driver to take their mind off driving. Examples of common distractions include: Eyes: Billboards or construction signs, checking yourself in the mirror, looking at scenes outside of your, checking your phone. Eyes and Hands: Personal grooming, reading maps or papers, reaching for fallen objects, attending to pets or children, texting and driving. Hands: Eating, drinking, using handheld cellphones, manipulating vehicle instruments, changing the radio or music. Mind: Talking with passengers, using hands-free devices, daydreaming, using voice activation. The use of cellphones, especially texting and driving, requires a driver to remove their eyes, hands, and mind from the road. This leaves optimal room for missed road hazards and critical errors in judgment by the distracted driver. How To Prevent Distracted Driving Distracted driving is 100 preventable and never worth the risk it poses. Multi-tasking does not exist when it comes to driving. Whenever you perform another task behind the wheel, your concentration breaks, and your chance of making an error significantly increases. Cellphones are certainly the most prevalent distraction on the road, but they are by far the only ones. Avoiding multiple distractions to maintain your alertness is crucial to driving safely. The AAA recommends the following safety steps to use every time you drive yourself or others: Put your phone out of sight to reduce the temptation of looking at missed calls and notifications; Know the route before you drive or enter your coordinates before you begin driving to avoid GPS distractions while in motion; Pull over on the side of the road in a safe area if you need to call, text, or readjust your coordinates; If you have passengers, ask them to help you with tasks in the vehicle instead of taking your eyes off the road; If you are a passenger, do not distract the person who is driving with loud noises or other distractions that takes their attention away; Use your Do Not Disturb setting on your phone to limit notifications; and Refrain from doing non-driving-related tasks in the car (eating, drinking, smoking, makeup, writing, or other). Take the Pledge April is officially Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but why wait? Distracted driving takes the lives of approximately 30,000 Americans every year. Raising awareness of the prevalence of distracted driving can occur at any time and anyone can make roads safer. You can help spread the word about the importance of reducing distracted driving accidents by taking the AAA pledge. By partnering with AAA in committing to putting down your phone while driving, you could personally reduce the number of people killed and injured by distracted driving within your community. Find out how to create a personalized pledge card to share on social media and use the hashtag #DontDriveIntexticated to gain more traction. Drive safe and alert, Long Island! New York City and Long Island Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys Our personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Siler & Ingber, have over 20 years of experience serving clients across New York City and Long Island. We protect your
Here’s When You Need a Child Injury Attorney
Children, with their playful spirits and unlimited energy, often get hurt while playing with their friends. Whether it’s a rough game of sports, a race, or just a slip and fall, a minor scrape or an injury is a part of everyone’s childhood and also important to build resilience among children. What accounts for injury due to negligence among children? Sadly, more than 6000 children die due to injuries each year. In a scenario where children are hurt and the situation could have been prevented with adequate care and supervision by an adult, it is recommended to recruit a child injury attorney. Here are some of the common scenarios when children get injured due to lack of supervision by an adult: Choking – While enjoying a meal with the family, at a restaurant, or at a birthday party, a child might choke. It is imperative that the adults present get medical help immediately and do the needful. Otherwise, the adult may be held responsible for causing such an injury. Animal bites – It may so happen that a child might attempt to pet a domesticated animal (dog/cat) and get injured if the animal bites, scratches, or injures them. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that they warn children to come near their pets or make sure that the pets don’t bite. A dog bite injury attorney may be hired if a child suffers injuries due to a dog’s bite. Drowning – A day by the pool or a picnic at the beach may prove risky for children if they don’t know how to swim. It is important that the parents/caregivers/adults are absolutely alert to make sure that the children don’t go near water or maintain a safe distance. If a child drowns, the adults present may be held responsible for their negligence. Lead poisoning – Toys are meant for children to have fun but they can very well become agents of severe injuries. Lead poisoning from toys is a serious threat and if a child suffers from it, the parents can hire a child injury attorney to sue the toy company for selling harmful toys to children. In such a scenario, the attorney will put forth a case to prove the negligence of the toy company and get the compensation the family deserves. Car/school bus accidents – A motor vehicle accident is one of the most common causes of personal injury in adults and children in the United States. If a child is hurt in a motor vehicle accident, the negligent party will be held accountable and charged accordingly. Child abuse – In extreme cases, parents/caregivers might deliberately cause injuries to their children. In such a case, social services and child injury attorneys work towards bringing children out of such situations and punishing the appropriate party strictly as per the laws of the state. What does a child injury attorney do? Firstly, a child injury attorney is a specialist in cases related to children. Their expertise allows them to view the cases with a lens of prevention and how the injury could have been avoided by the adult in the situation. Additionally, a child injury attorney will help you file a claim to cover all tangible and intangible costs, for example, medical expenses, loss of income to parents to care for the injured child, emotional distress caused to the parents and the child, etc. If your children or someone you know has been injured due to someone’s negligence and you need a winning law firm, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced child injury attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Their Link to Dementia
A serious head injury can irrevocably change the course of your life. Extensive research has been conducted globally and in the United States to study the link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and dementia. From the many studies done, it has emerged that people with TBI are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia in the years following the injury. In fact, a study has shown that there is a 2.3 times greater risk for adults with a history of moderate TBI of developing Alzheimer’s, and those with severe TBI are at 4.5 times greater risk. At the same time, it is important to remember that not everyone with a TBI suffers from dementia. What is TBI? TBI often occurs due to a blow to the head. Degrees of a TBI vary from mild to moderate to severe. When a person gets a TBI, they often experience loss of consciousness, dizziness, or may feel disoriented depending on the degree of the injury. As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 2.87 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths were reported due to TBI. Causes of TBI The most common cause of TBI is falls followed by car crashes. Both these causes are preventable following adequate safety measures. Some of the other causes could include construction accidents, medical negligence / surgical errors, etc. Treatment of TBI Depending on the severity, treatment of TBI is often long-term and expensive. Any damage done to the brain is going to be expensive to treat and likely lead to a number of other expenses. A visit to the emergency department is enough to drain your savings in case of a severe TBI. Further, while the TBI may be treated with immediate medical care, there is no way to know its long-term implications, such as resultant dementia, which may show up even years after the TBI. Moreover, a TBI will do more than just incur financial expenses, however; it will also affect how you live and enjoy your life. It may hamper your ability to earn an income, enjoy your hobbies, or lead an independent and normal life you enjoyed before the TBI. TBI due to someone’s negligence While falls are common among older people due to deteriorated reflexes etc., quite a large number of falls-related TBI may also be caused due to negligence, such as no warning on a wet floor, lack of a railing, etc. Additionally, car crashes are often a result of negligence, such as speeding, drunk driving, etc. Whether you suffered a minor concussion or a loved one sustained serious brain damage that has left him or her comatose, if another party was responsible for the accident that caused it, you have a right to compensation. Hire a brain injury lawyer to recover the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in an elevator accident and need a winning law firm, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced brain injury lawyers. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
The complexity of litigating elevator accident cases
Skyscrapers are a part of New York’s infrastructure and so are elevators. But elevators can pose a serious risk if they’re not adequately inspected and properly maintained. An accident caused in an or due to an elevator can lead to serious injuries or even death. As per theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, accidents caused in elevators and escalators lead to 30 fatalities and seriously injure about 17,000 people each year in the United States. Common causes and injuries due to elevator accidents Injuries in elevator accidents are caused mostly due to the following: Falling into the shaft Getting stuck between malfunctioning doors Tripping due to improper/unbalanced leveling with the floor Freefall Electrocution Colliding with a fellow passenger while entering or leaving the elevator in a rush Often, these accidents lead to severe injuries and even fatalities. Some common injuries caused due to elevator accidents are: Severed limbs Broken bones Spinal cord injuries Cuts and bruises Injuries on the head, neck, or shoulders One of the most common reasons for elevator accidents is improper maintenance of the elevator which leads to equipment failure. Some common equipment failure is: Faulty wiring Malfunctioning of the pulley Obsolete equipment not upgraded timely Improper installation of the elevator Power failure Error while operating the door Mechanical breakdown Elevator maintenance rules in New York State The New York City building codes have made it mandatory to inspect all the elevators for public use twice every year. These inspections need to be performed by a third-party licensed by the Department of Buildings. Recently, Gov Andrew Cuomo also signed legislation to improve elevator safety in New York. This new law requires all individuals engaged in the design, construction, inspection, maintenance, and repair of elevators or other automated people moving conveyances to be licensed by New York State. The law also creates the New York State Elevator Safety and Standards Advisory Board to help establish recommendations for elevator inspections, examinations to satisfy licensing requirements, and enforcement to ensure compliance and promote public safety. What happens if someone gets injured in an elevator accident? If you have been injured in an elevator accident, we recommend you hire a personal injury attorney to represent your interests in this situation. This becomes even more important in this scenario as litigations related to elevators can become slightly complex, especially when it comes to identifying the party at-fault for causing the accident – whether it is the elevator manufacturer, the building administration, on-site work staff, etc. Leave it in the able hands of a personal injury lawyer to ensure that your expenses are duly covered and you get the compensation you rightly deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in an elevator accident and need a winning law firm, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
Cycling Accidents in New York City
Public transportation has been one of the most affected services during the pandemic in New York City. During the peak of the outbreak in the city, subway ridership suffered drastically and fell to 25% of what it used to be. When the city opened up, commuters were still awry of the public transit system and chose to bike instead. Surge in cycling in New York New Yorkers took to new hobbies to get through the pandemic and biking was on top of the list. New cycling enthusiasts sprung up in all boroughs. In fact, the number of cyclists counted this year were the highest ever recorded and here’s data from the DOT to explain it: ~25,000 cyclists crossed the city’s four East River bridges on an average weekday from July through October Weekend bike trips almost doubled this October, when ~ 22,439 people biked over the East River On the Queensboro Bridge, weekday bike trips were up a whopping 56 percent from 2019 Challenges due to the surge While biking is a great way to reduce emissions and definitely has numerous health benefits, the city’s infrastructure is not equipped for this sudden and large surge. Narrow streets and bridges are often overcrowded with bikers and tourists scrambling for space. On the Queensboro Bridge, drivers have access to nine lanes but cyclists only get half of a single lane. The bridges between Manhattan and Brooklyn are also a bottleneck for inter-borough cyclists. For many years, cyclists and street-safety advocacy groups have been spreading awareness about the dangerous conditions for bikers. Their pleas to create more room have fallen on the deaf ears of DOT and Mayor DeBlasio. With the recent resignation of DOT Commissioner, Polly Trottenberg, any positive changes are bound to be further delayed. These delays in scaling up biking infrastructure for the city have not come cheap. The city was forced to settle after an attorney at Kings County District Attorney’s office was thrown off her bike due to a tourist strolling into her bike lane. The victim, Carolea Goldfarb, fractured her arm and required surgery. The settlement was worth $75,000 because the DOT admitted that they were aware of the dangerous conditions on the bridge. Goldfarb’s injury coupled with 22 cyclist deaths as reported by the DOT so far this year, indicate that cyclist conditions are a growing concern in New York City. Currently, Staten Island is the only borough without a bike-share program. In March, they plan to launch a 350 bike program on the North Shore which will only exacerbate the crowding problem. What happens if a biker meets with an accident? Bikers suffering injuries are owed compensation by the city. A personal injury attorney will be able to represent your interests in this situation. Accident attorneys are able to make difficult legal matters much smoother for victims. If you or someone you know have been injured in a biking / cycling accident and need a winning law firm, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
Teach Your Teen Driver What To Do After an Accident
You may be excelling at teaching your teen driver how to prevent a motor vehicle accident. But did you know that preparing them for what to do after a collision occurs is equally important? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), at least 1 in 4 teens will become involved in a motor vehicle accident during the first year of driving. Teens are also three times more likely to become involved in a car accident than drivers in other age groups due to general inexperience on the road. Your teen’s increased risk for accidents makes educating them on the post-collision process even more essential. Insurance companies can and will deny claims that are missing information. Here’s what your family needs to know to avoid a big headache when it comes to submitting an accident claim. What To Do After An Accident Preparing an adult for what to do after an accident is more straightforward than preparing a teen. Teen drivers have little experience with the rules of the road or collecting evidence to file insurance claims. Ensuring you review each step carefully is critical to your claim’s success and reducing your teen’s stress level, especially when serious injuries are involved. Stay Calm Car accidents can be stressful and scary for everyone. The thought of getting into trouble or hurting others can provoke high anxiety. But becoming panicked or defensive towards others involved in the accident can unnecessarily escalate the situation. Teach your teen to stay calm and relaxed after an accident occurs. Car accidents happen every day. Sticking to the following steps of what to do after an accident can reduce stress and confusion. Review the steps often and keep a copy of the step list accessible in the vehicle to use if an accident does occur. Stay Safe Safety is always a priority over vehicle damages. Remind your teens that cars can be replaced, but ensuring they are safe and healthy is the first focus after an accident. Teach your teen to call 911 when injuries are sustained in an accident. If they cannot call but can speak up for themselves, encourage them to seek help from others. For any situation in which your teen loses conciseness in an accident, equipping them with an emergency medical card with pertinent information about allergies or other medical conditions can help medical personnel to provide care. Report The Accident New York law requires all drivers to file a police report when a car accident occurs, regardless of how minimal. Police officers can be intimidating to teen drivers who fear getting in trouble or losing their license. Encourage your teens to think of officers as individuals who are there to help, not to blame. Police officers who make accident reports are providing the information that your insurance company needs to cover damages in an accident properly. If your teen is nervous talking to police, try to role-play what they can say and what information is the most important to provide. Exchange Information Exchanging information after an accident can be one of the most stressful, but necessary, steps to filing an insurance claim. Creating a reminder sheet with all the information drivers should be collecting and providing can be a great tool. This information includes: Name of driver; Address; Telephone number; Insurance policy; and Contact information. If the other driver involved in the accident is not the owner, have your teen also ask for the vehicle owner’s information. If your teen encounters a driver who is not cooperating with the New York State protocol of what to do after a vehicle accident, make sure they provide as much information to police officers when they arrive. Explain to your child how important it is not to apologize after an accident, regardless of fault. Anything and everything your child says after an accident can be used against them, including social media posts. Teach them to be helpful and empathetic without outright taking the blame for any damages that were caused. Keep Personal Records It’s entirely possible to remember specific details about an accident later on that you may not have remembered directly after an accident or vice versa. Provide your teens with a pad of paper and a pen to keep in the car to be able to take notes and keep records of the details after an accident, including: The police officer’s name; Witnesses present; Direct statements from witnesses; Details about the accident; or Citations and statements made by the other driver. Take Photos Thankfully, teens are pretty well versed in taking photos and most often carrying their smartphones. Remind your teen to take photos of the accident scene when it is safe. Do not move anything at the scene. You want to make sure the photos show every detail as it was directly after the accident occurred. Details teens should be focusing on include: Damage to both vehicles; The entire scene for an overview; License plate numbers, and; Injuries sustained. Find out more about how to properly photograph an accident scene here. Call Home A teen’s first reaction after an accident may be to call their parents. However, try to deter them from calling you immediately. Staying present and alert in the aftermath of an accident is important to keeping them safe and gathering the information needed for a future claim. Adequately preparing your teen can negate the need to call you for advice the moment an accident occurs. When it is time to call, your teen should have handled the majority of what is needed to file an accident claim. This is the time to check in to see where they are and what information they still need to gather. Call an Accident Attorney When car accidents are caused by negligence that leads to injuries or significant property damage, insurance companies will only cover so much. Calling to consult with an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney can be essential to navigating the claims process. An accident attorney will provide
Risks Involved in Driving an Automatic Car / Tesla
Tesla’s autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system designed to reduce the overall workload of its driver. Every Tesla car today provides advanced autopilot features and full self-driving capabilities in the future, through a series of software updates. Tesla boldly claims that every one of its cars will have full self-driving capabilities in the future in almost all circumstances and at a safety level that is at least twice as good as the average human driver. Risks involved in Tesla’s autopilot However, Tesla’s autopilot has drawn criticism and has been under federal investigation due to a string of accidents that may have been caused by the system. As of now, the autopilot function can keep a moving car in its lane and can match the speed of surrounding vehicles. Tesla has said that the autopilot system must be used only under certain conditions but some safety experts say the company does not do enough to educate drivers about these limitations or make sure that drivers do not become overly reliant on the system and thus, distracted. Accidents involving Tesla’s autopilot Autopilot is likely to blame for a 2018 crash in California in which the driver died. Findings determine that the system failed to keep the car in its lane and failed to detect a highway barrier while travelling at 71 miles per hour, the speed limit being 65 mph. The driver was playing a game on his phone at the time. The first known fatal crash with autopilot in use occurred in May 2016 in Florida, when a Tesla failed to stop for a truck that was turning in front of it on the highway. The vehicle hit the trailer, continued traveling underneath it and veered off the road. What’s the need of the hour? It is clear that Tesla needs to develop an application that senses the driver’s level of engagement and issues warnings when the driver’s hands are off the wheel. The computer security company McAfee released findings that a Tesla using the intelligent cruise control feature could be tricked into speeding by placing a small strip of electric tape onto speed limit signs. Research has also shown that placing stickers on road signs could coax cars into dangerously switching lanes while the autopilot system is engaged. Drivers misunderstand the capabilities of Tesla’s autopilot system and the Tesla website currently paints a confusing picture of its cars capabilities. In 2018, Elon Musk was widely criticized for taking his hands off the steering wheel while demonstrating the self-driving capabilities of a Tesla Model 3, something the vehicle owner’s manual instructs drivers using autopilot never to do. By calling its system ‘autopilot’ and by using terms like ‘full self-driving,’ Tesla is misleading consumers as to the capabilities of the technology. Unlike autopilot, Super Cruise, a driver-assistance system offered by General Motors, works only on certain highways and tracks drivers’ heads to make sure they are paying attention to the road. What do you do if you’re involved in an accident? If a driver suffered injuries in a crash involving a self-driving Tesla, he is owed compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. A car accident attorney will be able to help. Car injury law firms have the resources to take on a large company like Tesla and can make difficult legal matters much easier for its clients. The number of self-driving Teslas in New York is growing every day as it is one of the biggest markets in the US. The best car injury attorney at The Law Office of Siler and Ingber is just a phone call away and is experienced in tackling cases involving self-driving cars in New York City. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving Tesla’s autopilot and need a winning law firm, contact Siler &Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
Are Bed Sores an Indication of Nursing Home Negligence?
We often move a loved one to a nursing home in the hopes and expectations of giving them the best possible medical care and attention. But it can very easily become our worst nightmare in case of physical or emotional abuse as a result of unintentional or intentional trauma. In such a scenario, it is important to hold the nursing home liable for their negligence and hire a nursing home abuse lawyer to help. With increasing lifespan, the number of nursing homes is also increasing. In New York state, there are approximately 633 nursing homes with nearly 105,000 elderly patients residing in them. Annually, the New York Health State Department receives around 1600 complaints of abuse and negligence from nursing home patients or their loved ones. A nursing home negligence lawyer is equipped to handle such situations of neglect and abuse. What constitutes nursing home abuse? Largely, nursing home abuse can be categorized as physical, emotional, financial, or sexual. And, one of the most common signs of physical abuse is bedsores. Bedsores as a result of nursing home negligence Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are essentially damaged skin due to prolonged pressure on the soft tissue of the skin. They are quick to occur, quite painful, and difficult to treat. Bedsores often affect a person whose mobility is restricted and is unable to turn their side on the bed or the wheelchair, and are most often found on tail bone, shoulder blades, ankles, and heels. Elderly and those in need of special medical care and attention are more prone to bedsores. This is so because their skin is too thin, movement may be restricted or other underlying medical issues. But with the right care, bedsores can be prevented. If bedsores happen in nursing homes, they can be a sign of neglect. Is the nursing home responsible for bed sores? Preventing bedsores are one of the main responsibilities of caregivers and staff in a nursing home. There are set protocols in place to avoid bedsores, including good nutrition, maintaining hygiene, ensuring movement, etc. However, if you or your loved one gets bedsores as a result of neglect, you can sue the nursing home for negligence. A nursing home abuse lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. Suing a nursing home for bed sores A nursing home can be sued on various grounds in case of bedsores. Some of the common claims in case of bedsores as a result of negligence in a nursing home are: Personal injury: Most often, the patient or their loved one, file a personal injury claim against the nursing home in case of bedsores. Medical malpractice: Since the doctors and health care staff are expected to provide a certain standard of medical care, one may file a claim against the nursing staff/doctor for medical malpractice. This could include not taking proactive steps to avoid bed sores or failing to diagnose them at an early stage. Neglect: Neglect is a common legal claim related to bedsores in a nursing home. If the staff failed to follow standard procedures, such as, frequently turning the patient, ensuring hygiene, etc., they may be sued for negligence if the patient suffers from bedsores. Wrongful death: Though rare, if left untreated, bedsores can be fatal. In such a scenario, one can sue the nursing home for wrongful death. Your nursing home abuse lawyer would be best placed to advise you on the claim to file as per the facts of the case. Moreover, the lawyer will ensure that you’re compensated beyond the medical costs incurred. They will file a claim which will cover for the physical, mental, and emotional trauma caused to you and your loved ones as a result of the nursing home’s negligence. If you or someone you know has been abused or neglected in a nursing home and needs a winning law firm, contact us today. Reach out to Siler & Ingber by either calling us on 1-877-529-4343 or completing our online form on this page to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers.
October Launches National Pedestrian Safety Month
During October, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is raising awareness of the dangers that pedestrians face on the road. On September 29, 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) designated October as National Pedestrian Safety Month. According to the NHTSA, there was more than a 3% increase in pedestrian deaths from traffic crashes in 2018. In total, there was 6,283 deaths, which is the highest death rate since 1990. Statistics by New York State Department of Health show that Long Island is one of New York’s locations with the highest risks for pedestrian-related accidents. 2020 marks the first year that this October’s awareness month will focus on pedestrian safety as part of their initiative to improve safety for walkers who are exposed to the dangers on the road. The initiative is meant to educate the public with facts and safety tips that people can use to protect themselves and their families when walking. Knowing Your Safety as a Pedestrian is Always At Risk New York pedestrians are exposed more to the risks of injury as there is nothing protecting them. In 2017, every 88 minutes there was a pedestrian killed due to being involved in a traffic crash. Many pedestrians do not think there is a risk of being hit by a vehicle when walking. Especially New Yorkers walking on the same roads day after day. However, as a pedestrian awareness is key and knowing these safety precautions will help reduce the chances of being involved in a traumatic accident. Practicing these walking safety tips by the NHTSA can maintain your safety: Be predictable for Drivers. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals. Always walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment. Young Pedestrians Whether you are a concerned resident, parent, or caregiver, a young pedestrian’s safety requires additional precautions from adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five children who are 15 years or younger were killed by a traffic crash in 2017. The following is a list of resources that can help your children safe while walking: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes: Parents and Caregivers of Elementary School Children Elementary Five Tips to Keep Your Children Safe on Their Way to and from School A Kid’s Guide to Safe Walking Tips for Preteens & Teens: Prevent Pedestrian As children are learning and developing, they still need guidance to implement practicing pedestrian safety. In addition, it is also important to remind young adults that they need to use critical thinking while on the road. Driver Safety Tips It is important that drivers understand the importance of practicing safety rules and tips while sharing the road with pedestrians. Drivers who are protected by a vehicle are expected to be more aware of those on foot and yield when appropriate. According to the NHTSA these are some tips drivers should keep in mind when they are behind the wheel: Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the cross-walk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street. Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present. Be extra cautious when backing up—pedestrians can move into your path. Overall there is an unspoken trust between motorists and pedestrians that results in being aware of each other’s surroundings and maintaining the safety of everyone who uses the roads. Unfortunately, a lack of safety practice results in devastating injuries, which are often fatal and avoidable. New York City and Long Island Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Our personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Siler & Ingber, have over 20 years of experience serving clients across New York City and Long Island. We protect your rights by maximizing recovery and securing the financial support our clients need to succeed on their road to recovery. Our winning attorneys know how to navigate through the claim process using past experience as insurance defense attorneys. We are not afraid to fight and are fully prepared to take your case to trial to get a justified verdict over settling for less. If you or someone in your family has been injured in a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of another, our team at Siler & Ingber is here to help. Contact us today at 1-877-529-4343 or schedule an appointment online anytime. We never charge a few unless we recover money for you.
What Should You Know About Hiring a Construction Accident Attorney?
Accidents at the work place, especially at construction sites are quite common. They leave workers with serious injuries, disabilities and can even be fatal. All accidents which occur at the workplace make the employer viable liable for compensationbeyond the workers’ compensation often offered as settlements by the employers and the insurers.If you’re in a construction accident while working on a site, you can reach out to a construction accident law firm to guide you get the settlement you deserve. Firstly, it is important to know the main causes, common injuries, and your rights as a worker if you’re injured on a construction site. Once you’re clear about the violations or want to know more about it, a construction accident attorney can help you understand your case, file the right claim and get the settlement which is far beyond and more just than the rather lowly workers’compensation offered. But if you’re in a construction accident, here are the first few steps you need to take before you reach out to a construction accident law firm. Get medical treatment – Immediately seek medical care and ensure that save all the bills and insurance claim you have utilized for this particular accident. Document the injury in as much detail as possible in consultation with your doctor. It will come in handy which filing the claim with a construction accident attorney. Figure out your workers’compensation – All workers regardless of nature of work are entitled to a compensation should they be injured at the work site. It is important to know your compensation as it varies based on how and where the worker got injured, for example, the compensation and right to ask for claim will vary if the worker fell from a height at the work site or if the worker suffered an injury due to faulty equipment / chemical being used. Let your construction accident law firm know the exact nature of your injury and resultant compensation you are eligible to get as per the employer’s policy. Talk to the employer – It is imperative that you immediately inform and talk to the supervisor / employer about the accident. You can also talk to the human resource manager. This will help put the occurrence of the accident on-paper and can serve as documentation as the time of filing the claim with the construction accident attorney. Once you do the above, the next step is to reach out to a construction accident law firm. Here’s what you should keep in mind. When is the right time to hire a construction accident attorney? – It is best to get an attorney of a well-known law firm as early as possible. Often workers’ compensations are tied to deadlines and it is best to get an attorney who is a construction accident expert to get you the settlement you deserve. What should you ask your construction accident attorney? – Before hiring your lawyer, make sure you get the one who is best suited to handle your case. An experienced attorney can make all the difference while filing your claim and fighting for your right. Here’s a few questions you can ask them: Experience with handling construction accident cases specifically The typical settlement for other similar cases Their fee and its complete break up and structure How often have they successfully handled the cases with settlement and how many times have they had to go on trial? Any references they might have, specifically for construction accident cases How would a construction accident attorney help you? – The biggest value that an attorney from a construction accident law firm will bring is the relevant experience of such cases in the past. Their handling of previous cases would help them navigate through your case easily and find the solution best suited to you. Moreover, your case will be their biggest priority and they will do everything in their power to make sure that cover all losses – tangible and intangible – are covered. If you or someone you know has met with an accident on a construction site, get an attorney today! Reach out to Siler & Ingber, LLP, call us on 1-877-529-4343 or contact us via our online form on this page to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a construction accident attorney.
