How Dangerous is the Long Island Expressway?
Interstate 495, also known as the Long Island Expressway (LIE), runs just over 71 miles through Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As it is New York, most drivers are not surprised at the often-congested driving conditions. However, this stretch of the freeway can be shockingly deadly, according to numbers released by the NHTSA Fatality Accident Reporting System. The flat four-lane stretch of road is a dream for drivers who want to put the pedal to the metal. Some do, with multiple reports of drivers clocking 100+ mph on the road. Add in texting, impatience, and inattentive driving, and you have the makings of a perfect storm. Between 2007 and 2016 there were more than 600 accidents on the Expressway, with 265 of those resulting in fatal injuries. While there were plenty of crashes that stretched across the entire expressway, there were several stretches of the LIE that are home to most of the deadly incidents. Most Dangerous Sections of the Long Island Expressway Over the course of about ten years, these four locations were reported to have 30 accidents and multiple fatal injuries. LIE & Route 25 – 30 accidents, 15 fatalities The section of expressway where it crosses Route 25 just North of Bellerose Terrace is one of the deadliest stretches of road on the 495. Between 2007 and 2016, there were 30 accidents; 15 of the accidents had fatal injuries, ten had serious injuries, and another five resulted in minor injuries. LIE at Maurice Ave – 30 accidents, 15 fatalities Another 30 accidents resulting in 15 fatalities occurred on the LIE near Maurice Ave. Here Exit 17W to the BQE can cause a lot of confusion as drivers cross lanes to make their exit. LIE at 69th – 30 accidents, 10 fatalities In those same years, there were 30 accidents on the section of freeway that crosses 69th. Of those accidents, 10 involved fatal injuries, 5 included serious injuries, another five were minor, and 10 had no injuries. It is worth noting that this particular spot is troublesome in part because many truck drivers choose stretches of road in this area to pull over and sleep, according to The New York Daily News. LIE and BQE – 30 accidents, 5 fatalities Thirty more accidents on the 495 east of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, resulted in 5 fatal injuries, and 20 minor injuries. The other five accidents had no injuries. LIE Near Utopia Parkway – 30 accidents, 5 fatalities There were another five fatalities and 20 serious injuries in 30 accidents on the LIE near Utopia and Auburndale. Five of the incidents resulted in no injuries. There were several commonalities among these locations including on-ramps and intersections. Pedestrian Accidents on the LIE In this same 10-year period there were 98 pedestrians involved in accidents on the LIE. In seventy-seven of those cases, there were fatal injuries. That means 41% of all fatal accidents on the LIE were pedestrians. One would have to wonder what pedestrians are doing on the highway? In some cases it appears that individuals are actually trying to cross the LIE when they are struck, some are standing along the side of the road due to car troubles. Some there is no explanation while others are possible suicides. Other Dangerous of the LIE In reviewing the data, we noticed a few other noteworthy trends drivers should consider when heading out on the road: Most of the vehicle accidents occurred in the months of January (125), August (86), June (66), November (54), and October (53). The lowest number of accidents occurred in February (27), September (28), May (28), and March (29). An influx of tourists and more New Yorkers hitting the road for vacation, likely affect the higher summer numbers. It might be a surprise that most of the accidents did NOT occur during the morning commute or at rush hour after work. Most of the incidents occurred between 4 and 5 a.m. (104), followed by 5-6 a.m. (70), Midnight-1 a.m. (68), and 3 a.m. -4 a.m. (50). None of the reported accidents occurred between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Other low accident times include 6 to 7 p.m. (3) 7 to 8 p.m. (3), 8-9 p.m. (4), 11 a.m. to noon (4), and 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. (4). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 36 percent of car accidents occur while vehicles are crossing or turning at an intersection (which supports the data collected regarding accidents on the LIE). Additionally, 40 percent of all accidents were due to a decision error on the part of one or more of the drivers including driving too fast for conditions, driving too fast for a curve, an illegal maneuver, and aggressive driving. No matter which stretch of the LIE you plan on traveling, you can take extra steps to ensure you are as safe as possible. Always wear your seatbelts, follow posted speed limits, and pay attention to other drivers. A little extra consideration could be the difference between getting to your destination safely and a potentially deadly accident.
Partner Jeff Siler Accepts Board Position for New Ground, Helping Veterans on Long Island
There are roughly 40,000 homeless veterans in our country struggling with housing- about 25,000 live in temporary facilities and 15,000 go without any reliable shelter. Though the United States has seen a significant decrease in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness, reports from 2017 showed the first increase in this population since 2010 when 74,000 veterans reported having no place to live. This rise in homeless veterans is unacceptable and more needs to be done to help. With a deep passion for our veterans and appreciation for the sacrifices they have made, our family at Siler & Ingber is more than proud to announce Jeff Siler’s newly accepted role as a member of the New Ground Advisory Board, a group dedicated to increasing the quality of life for veterans on Long Island. New Ground is an amazing organization providing a multitude of services for veterans and their families to help combat the cycle of homelessness and promote healthy and productive lifestyles throughout the Long Island communities. “I’m very humbled and honored to serve on the advisory board,” explains Siler. “As a member of a family full of veterans, this gives me an opportunity to give back to a group of people who are very disenfranchised in our country.” New Ground has been empowering local veterans since 1991, providing individuals and families directly with comprehensive services in the areas of education, employment, counseling, housing, healthcare, financial literacy, and more! Located in Levittown, NY in Nassau County, New Ground offers a beacon of hope to veterans and families who need a little help to get back on their feet in starting a new chapter of their lives. For over 25 years, New Ground has been graduating self-sufficient veterans, capable of maintaining housing and starting meaningful new careers right here on Long Island, but more are in need of help. If you or a loved one are interested in exploring the opportunities offered at New Hope, or in donating your time to a worthy cause, Siler strongly suggests contacting the organization through their website to learn more about their life-changing services.
Has The #MeToo Movement Gone Too Far?
The #MeToo movement has gained significant momentum since going viral in October 2017. With millions of shares over multiple social media platforms worldwide, many survivors of sexual abuse and harassment have worked up the courage to publicly confront their abusers, even highlighting scandals among a very high profile crowd. However, with every movement aimed to inspire strength comes a cloud of critics and individuals who seek to take advantage, both causing harm to a worthwhile cause. The media has been fairly successful in headlining the positive outcomes of the #MeToo movement, but some believe both the positive and the negative sides of the matter are not being represented equally. THE POSITIVE: Giving Survivors a Voice For the women who have suffered unconscionable acts of sexual abuse and harassment, the #MeToo movement has served as a beacon of hope. The more women who speak out about their stories, the greater the chance that other survivors will find the confidence to come forward as well. But speaking out is not as simple as the media portrays, and not all survivors, even those who have endured horrific events, receive the justice they deserve. Coming forward about sexual abuse is gut-wrenching and terrifying. Survivors could be physically close to their abusers, either by location or even within the family. Some survivors face serious blowback from coming forward if their abusers have a larger support network with the ability to threaten and belittle the survivor into giving up their fight. For these women especially, the #MeToo movement provides an outside network where survivors can seek support in facing these tough situations. They can find local groups who have been through the process of legally charging their abusers or are willing to help them stand up against the challenges they are facing ahead. It provides a population of women, who may have little to no supports, access to millions of individuals who celebrate their brave decision to say something- a definite positive aspect of the movement. THE NEGATIVE: Wrongfully Accused and Survivor Shamers For men who have conducted unforgivable acts of sexual abuse and misconduct, #MeToo has helped bring their actions to light. But unintentionally, the movement has also allowed a platform for individuals looking to take advantage of the opportunity to drag the names of wrongfully accused men through the mud. Social media is known for its instant feedback and lightning fast spread of information. It is one of the reasons why the #MeToo movement has been so incredibly successful. Unfortunately, it has also made it too easy to accuse any individual publicly without allowing them a chance to respond before going viral, regardless of whether the information is true or not. In reality, false accusations of rape and sexual abuse exist and there are cases in which legitimate false charges have been discovered. But when these cases do arise, what is often overlooked is the significant impact publicly publishing false accusations of sexual abuse and harassment can have on someone’s life. In a time where social media rules our world, wrongfully accused individuals can sustain a damaged reputation in an instant, even when proven innocent. A secondary effect of false accusations is the negative impact they pose on the claims of genuine survivors. When cases of false accusations are exposed, this opens a door for survivor shamers. These individuals and groups relish in the idea that movements such as #MeToo are harmful. They publicize false claims to devalue accusations made by genuine survivors coming forward, allowing for critics to use these examples to shame survivors in attempts to discredit their claims. DEFAMATION LAWS: Who They Help As Americans, we have the right to free speech…to an extent. You can state a negative opinion about a person, but what you cannot do is make false claims about someone’s character to smudge their good name. In these cases, justice may be served under the defamation law, and it can apply to both of the parties described above. Defamation laws can be difficult to decipher from generally ‘rude’ comments. They apply to specific situations and must hit the following points to be successful in court: The defendants must make a statement The statement must be published and made public The statement must cause injury The statement must be false, and The statement must not fall into a privileged category If an abuser publicly states a survivor is a liar after denying accusations of sexual abuse, the victim may have cause to sue for defamation. Similar, if an individual has been wrongfully accused of sexual abuse, and false claims have been circulating the web, they may also have a case to sue under the defamation law for intentional damage to their reputation. #MeToo should be complimented for exposing predators and offenders who have used their position of power for personal gain, but that doesn’t mean the accused doesn’t have a right to a fair trial.
So Where Does the 5-Cents Go?
If you’re a Suffolk County resident, you’ve probably noticed you are now being charged 5-cents for EVERY disposable bag you use at the supermarket and other retail stores. The county’s new law began on January 1st, and is stirring up a slew of questions from local consumers. WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH BAG CHARGE CHARGE? Back in 2016, the Suffolk County Legislature was looking for a way to reduce the amount of plastic bags found clogging drains and entering waterways. Plastic bags are a huge threat to marine life, contributing to the 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile found on the ocean’s surface. Not to mention, plastic bags are an eyesore for residents who have to look at them scattered around their neighborhood. The solution: the 5-cent bag charge. The goal of the law is to inspire residents to consider the environment when they shop, hoping to decrease the amount of plastic bags littering roads by deterring consumers from using them to begin with. WHERE WILL I GET CHARGED? The bag law requires that any store who provides a disposable bag for customers to carry out items must charge a 5-cent fee per bag- this includes paper too. Types of establishments where you will see these charges include: convenience stores grocery stores supermarkets pharmacies drugstores foot marts apparel stores home centers hardware stores stationary and office supply stores food service establishments (located within other stores above) There are a few exceptions to the law. For instance, when you pick up your prescription from the pharmacy, you won’t be charged for the paper pharmaceutical bag. However, if you desire to put that paper bag inside of another plastic bag…5-cents please! You also will not have to worry about the fee if you receive a garment bag from the dry cleaners or the plastic bags offered in the produce/meat sections without handles. WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? Some residents may find this surprising, but all the money collected from the disposable bag fees goes right back to the stores. The new law helps store’s (especially smaller businesses) offset the cost they pay for bags. Typically, stores pay 2-cents per bag. With a 5-cent charge, they make back 3-cents for every bag that walks out the door. Without state approval, Suffolk County is not allowed to collect the money for itself, but they do hope to see cost savings from the law. For example, fewer plastic bags may mean fewer hours of work to unclog waterways and streets, saving the county high labor costs for these tedious tasks. HOW MUCH COULD A FEE HELP THE ENVIRONMENT? Suffolk County legislatures strongly believe the disposable bag fee will change the future of Long Island’s environment, and many other locations around the world agree. Washington D.C., Maryland, Chicago, California, as well as cities throughout Europe, China, and India, have all placed fees or even bans on the use of plastic bags in hopes for cleaner and healthier environments. By making disposable bags less appealing to residents, demands for the bags will go down and so will the number of resources required to produce them. Over time, this will reduce the amount of bags entering our waterways that can leak harmful toxins into the water for both animals and humans. It may be a nuisance in the beginning, but advocates of the law remind the public they have a choice. Bring those reusable bags to the stores, or bite the 5-cent bullet per bag, but as far as the law goes, it looks as if it is here to stay!
Flu Facts: Why it is Worse This Year
This year’s flu has already proved to be brutal, and health officials believe it could get worse! New York hospitals, medical centers, and doctor’s offices are bursting with patients experiencing symptoms of the flu. The New York State Department of Health has reported 1,820 confirmed cases of the flu in our state alone, and this doesn’t account for the hundreds of individuals who do not seek medical treatment. Nationally, there have been 11,280 reported cases of influenza in the last 5-6 weeks, with 3,600 of these cases resulting in hospitalization! Sadly, twenty flu-related pediatric deaths have already been reported across the United States, one in which occurred in New York. Why has the flu become so deadly this year? The Flu Vaccine Is Less Effective The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that generally, flu vaccines are between 40%-60% effective in preventing individuals from getting the flu, or the full onset of flu-related symptoms. However, health officials examining this year’s flu vaccine are seeing about 30% effectiveness…why? According to the CDC, a person who received a flu shot will react based on two factors: overall health and the strain of the virus they have contracted. Each season, the flu vaccine is designed by guessing which strains may affect the public. This year, the majority of patients with the flu have been diagnosed with H3N2- unfortunately, a tricky strain, and not a match for this year’s flu vaccine make up. H3N2 Is a Nasty Strain When a flu vaccine is created, the virus is grown inside of an egg…a chicken egg to be precise! The virus is isolated and grown for several days before the fluid is extracted, ‘killed’, and made into flu shots. The process tends to work pretty well with most flu strains, however, H3N2 poses some challenges! The H3N2 mutates very quickly. By the time the flu-vaccines are ready to distribute, the H3N2 virus has already significantly changed as it continues to spread through the state. The CDC also reports these qualities make it extremely difficult to grow inside of eggs, as the virus almost immediately changes once inserted. This explains why looking back, flu seasons dominated by the H3N2 strain have also shown less effective vaccine rates! What’s the Point of Getting the Flu Shot? If we know the H3N2 strain is aggressive and resistant to the flu vaccine, why should we bother with the shot? Health officials around the nation and the CDC agree- some protection is better than none! The New York Department of Health recommends that all individuals (from 6-months and up) receive a form of this year’s flu vaccine. The H3N2 is especially harsh on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Providing them any protection against the flu can not only help reduce the severity of the virus but decrease the chances of spreading the disease with fewer symptoms posing a risk. The Flu or a Bad Cold? Many patients believe they have the flu when in reality they have a bad cold. And sometimes, going to the doctor in fear you might have the flu is the best way to get it from other patients who do! Influenza (the flu) is a respiratory disease that rears its ugly head with a number of uncomfortable symptoms, including: fever headache cough sore throat body aches chills congestion gastrointestinal issues If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately for treatment. How Do I Stay Protected? If you are looking for additional methods for protecting your family from the flu, good health habits are always the best form of prevention. Frequent hand washing, and covering mouths when coughing and sneezing are very important. Anti-viral medications prescribed by a doctor can also be an effective secondary method for protecting against an aggressive flu virus. If you do go to the doctor and are diagnosed with the flu, the best way to protect others is to stay home! Don’t go to work to tough it out, even if you believe you can. Protecting others from the flu is just as important as protecting yourself. For more information on this year’s flu virus and vaccines, the CDC has an abundance of information that can help guide you through staying healthy this season! ()
Cops Who Care Give Food to LI Needy Families with Help from Siler & Ingber
For the 10th year, police and civilians came together for a great cause in North Amityville. Needy families give thanks to the police officers and law firm involved with the “Cops Who Care” food distribution held on December 22nd funded by Siler & Ingber to provide turkeys, hams and lasagnas to underprivileged families for the holidays. Mineola, NY January 10, 2018: It was an encouraging scene to see the community come together between police and civilians on December 22nd, 2017. Many families lined up at the Shaw Temple AME Zion Church, in North Amityville to accept goodwill at the 10th Annual “Cops Who Care” Food Distribution. A diversity of families came from all over Long Island to seek help. The Suffolk County Police and the New York State Troopers departments teamed up once again to help feed needy families during the holiday season by giving hundreds of free hams, turkeys and lasagnas. D/Lt. Bob Donohue from Suffolk County Police stated, “The ‘Cops Who Care’ holiday food program is our way of showing support and care within the community we serve. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the generosity of the Mineola law firm, Siler & Ingber. Their contribution largely helped us fund the food this year.” This is the first year that the Mineola based law firm Siler & Ingber has been involved with “Cops Who Care”. Partner Jeffrey Siler proudly stated “Our firm is dedicated to making a difference by giving back to the community we help serve.” The firm plans to expand this program into Nassau and possibly other areas within the NY Metro location. “We wanted to do more than just donate money, we wanted to take a little stress out of the holidays by giving families needed meals. We have plans to continue working together with the police departments to further support this cause.” said Partner, Ronald Ingber. This event drew strong media attention from network and cable TV as well as local print media were present to broadcast from the event. This has proven that on Long Island there is still a great mutual respect between police
What ER Doctors Wants Every Parent to Know
Every year, over 23-million children (15 and under) are seen in the E.R., with almost 7-million of these cases due to accidental injuries. As we begin the first weeks of 2018, E.R. doctors share the most common reasons kids visited the hospital to help prevent your family from falling victim to these injuries in the future. Toys Are Supposed to Be Fun…Not Dangerous! In 2016, there were 240,000 injuries and seven fatalities sustained from toy-related accidents reported in the United States. Kids around the country suffered injuries such as burns, fractures, bruising, suffocation, drowning, and even poisoning! Parents should always research the toys they wish to buy for their children to make sure they are age appropriate and not recalled. If your child is supposed to ride the toy, providing the proper safety equipment is also recommended. Beware…Choking Is Still a High Risk! About 90% of choking cases involve children ages four and under. An estimated 22,000 choking cases occur every year! No just from food but batteries, coins, toy accessories and all small objects can all pose a serious risk for choking. Try to put any small items out of reach from children. Cut up food in small bites and avoid harder foods (such as nuts) that are difficult for children to chew. It’s important to teach children not to put things in their mouths. A Quick Slip on the Ice Can Lead to a Long Recovery! 2.5-million children are seen for fall-related injuries annually, ranking as the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in children. With slippery ice-covered sidewalks and stairs, winter poses a high risk for children to sustain severe injuries when falling outdoors, including broken bones and brain injuries. Salting all walking paths around your home can help prevent some falls, but making sure your children have winter footwear with sufficient traction will decrease their chances of falling when not at home. Curiosity in the Kitchen Can Be Deadly! This past December, a tragic house fire in the Bronx killed twelve and injured several others after a toddler became curious about a stove burner. Between 2010-2014, more than 50% of all fires, injuries, and fatalities in the kitchen were due to unattended cooking equipment and abandoned cooking materials. Kitchen injuries sustained by children can be devastating, resulting in life threatening burns and cuts. Make sure to turn off all burners when not in use and only open the oven when no children are around. Keep hot pot/pan handles out of reach and never leave knives too close to the counter. Most importantly, whenever possible… keep the kids away from the kitchen! Medications Are Not Candy…but Try Telling Toddlers That! Medications are the leading cause of poisoning in children. Children can easily mistake pills for candy when left unattended and accessible. Be mindful that the holiday season may bring guests to your home who are not used to locking away their pills. Remind all guests to safely secure their medications out of reach and to follow the lockup plans in your home to avoid children getting into harmful substances. Save the Poison Hotline number (1-800-222-1222) for easy access if needed. Is Your Child Safe in Their Carseat? Don’t Take the Risk! Car crashes remain the number one cause of death for children ages 3 to 14, with an overwhelming 7 out of 10 children improperly buckled. When driving in the winter, weather hazards and increased holiday traffic can increase your chances of getting into an accident. Before your child rides, get your seat inspected by calling 1-866-SEAT-CHECK to schedule an appointment. Though temperatures are cold, NEVER buckle your child into their seat while they are wearing a winter coat, as they can easily slip out in the event of an accident. The Longer You Wait, the Worse It Can Get! Parents and children tend to wait longer during winter to visit the E.R. than they normally would during other times of the year. We understand trecking out in the cold and spending a long waiting time in the E.R. with impatient children is not ideal, but the risks of going too late can be detrimental. If your child sustains an injury or illness that requires medical attention, go to the E.R. sooner than later. The longer you wait, the worse it could be, If you or someone you love has sustained an injury due to the negligence of another, learn your rights by calling Siler & Ingber on (516) 294-2666.
Siler & Ingber at “Cops Who Care” Food Drive
For the tenth year in a row, the Suffolk County Police Department and the New York State Troopers are joining forces to provide free hams and turkeys to families in need this holiday season. With the love we have for our Long Island community, we are thrilled to announce that this year, Siler & Inger is jumping in to help! On Thursday, October 21, we will be donating hundreds of turkeys and hams for ‘Cops Who Care’ held at Shaw Temple A.M.E Church from 1-2pm. More importantly, we will be extending additional online efforts to raise funds for this worth cause and promote hunger awareness in the Long Island communities. For every new follower on our social media platforms, Siler & Inger will be donating an additional dollar to ‘Cops Who Care’ to help provide even more families with a warm meal for the holidays. By spreading public awareness of the hunger struggles families are facing in Long Island, we hope to inspire the holiday spirit in our community and to work together with the police departments in making a difference. In past years, the annual ‘Cops Who Care’ event has depended on local politicians, officials, and the media to raise a high profile for the cause while helping to bridge relations between the police and the public during strained times in New York. This upcoming event will once again have a strong presence and prove that New York police departments, with support from the Siler & Ingber family, genuinely care about the well being of our communities. Help give back this holiday by attending this amazing event, or share the links to our social media accounts below to spread the word to others! Event Information: 10th Annual “Cops Who Care” Food Drive Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 1:00-2:00pm Shaw Temple A.M.E. Church 44th Albany Avenue, North Amityville To increase HELP WITH ADDITIONAL contributions for the food drive via Siler & Ingber, LLP social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructionaccidents/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sileringber/ Google+: https://plus.google.com/102881407685675202875 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/11179367/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SilerandIngber Further details on the event contact: D/Lt. Bob Donohue Office of Chief of Department Suffolk County Police Department 30 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank, NY 11980 Ph# 631 852-6530 Fax# 631 852-6112 Email Donohrob@suffolkcountyny.gov
Nassau County Speed Zone Cameras
Back in December of 2014, Nassau County shut down a controversial speed camera program set in place to fine drivers speeding through school zones. The program was deemed “unfair” by Long Island residents, who racked up over $30 million in revenue for the country since the program’s implementation in June 2014. But almost three years after it’s repeal, county legislation is considering bringing back the troublesome camera program, causing Nassau Country residents to pose the question- What are they thinking?! Initial Goal of the Speed Program When the speed cameras were first installed around June 2014, the main goal was to increase safety for students by decreasing speeding in school zones. The cameras were meant to ticket drivers going more than 10mph over the speed limit during listed school hours (plus one hour before and after), as well as during school events. The general idea was to encourage citizens to slow down by issuing strict penalties for speeding, in hopes to keep child pedestrians safe from possible vehicle accidents. Past Issues With The Cameras The cameras started to receive thousands of complaints from residents by early August. Some of the heaviest criticism was directed towards the malfunctions in the system, allowing for tickets to be issued: During non-school hours (weekends and summer recess) Well before/after listed school hours When no speed signs were present notifying a speed limit change Residents also complained there was insufficient notice of the cameras going into effect, catching most of the public off guard when receiving an automatic ticket in the mail. Final Decision To Close The Program In attempts to reconcile the error in the speed system, county officials deactivated the cameras for the summer months and forgave $2.4 million in ticket fines accumulated throughout the period. However, after reactivating the cameras when school began in September, residents remained outraged by the repeat of unjustified tickets that began flooding their mailboxes once again. Citizens viewed the cameras as a method of extorting money from the public and not as a protective method to decrease speeding in school zones. After only four more months of operation, the speed camera program was shut down in December for what residents thought was for good. Reasons For a Camera Comeback When interviewing with Newsday this November, County Executive-elect Laura Curran was not willing to rule out reinstating the speed camera program as a method of gaining revenue for the Nassau County budget deficit. Though refusing to interview or confirm the return of the speed cameras, Curran issued a statement addressing… “…responsible budgeting and ensuring every single dime of taxpayer money is spent on real services residents expect and deserve.” NIFA county chairmen, Adam Barksy, also expressed support in bringing back the speed camera program, but not without a plan. Barksy believes the program could be beneficial if the previous concerns were corrected before reinstating the cameras in the school zones. Public Reaction The residents of Nassau County are not so easily convinced. The idea of fighting more incorrect speeding tickets and supplying the country with the funding needed to fill a hole in the budget is not a task they wish to take on. Though some parents believe money should not be a factor when it comes to the safety of their children, most residents believe there are better methods of reducing school zone speeding than the speed camera program causing quite the mess in 2014. Personal injury attorneys at Siler & Ingber, LLP, are dedicated to supporting Long Island families in the case of unfortunate injuries due to negligent drivers. For a free, confidential legal consultation to learn more about your options, call us at 1-877-718-6079 or enter your information into the online contact form at the bottom of the page today.
Gym Teacher Refuses Inhaler Request Causing Teen Death
In November of 2015, a 14-year old girl, Taylor Watson, heartbreakingly lost her life after suffering an asthma attack during gym class in Gaithersburg, MD. Almost two years after this tragedy, Taylor’s parents are filing a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school district for neglecting their daughter’s emergency plan and ignoring Taylor’s plea for help. According to the suit, Taylor asked her gym teacher to leave the gymnasium to retrieve her inhaler after experiencing difficulty breathing during class. Taylor was denied by the gym teacher on the first two attempts to leave. Taylor approached the gym teacher on a third occasion to, not ask, but insist she was leaving to get her inhaler in her locker. The teacher allowed her to leave, but did not make sure someone accompanied Taylor to ensure she was ok. Unfortunately, Taylor was not ok. She was found unconscious by a school employee on the steps outside of the gymnasium. School nurses and emergency responders attempted to revive Taylor at the school. Sadly, their attempts were unsuccessful, and Taylor died after arriving at the hospital. This event was tragic and unnecessary! Taylor’s asthma was a documented medical condition at the school, including an emergency plan to follow if she experienced an asthma attack. The parent’s grief and anger are unquestionable, as well as the motive behind the suit. Surprisingly, their suit has uncovered other incidents in Taylor’s school of students asthma conditions not being taken seriously, and the parents with the support of the community are determined to find out why. 6.2 million children reported having asthma in 2015 according to the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention. With this many children at risk, it’s essential that schools take necessary measures to adhere to their unique emergency plans and even more important for the parents to get involved. You can’t always be there during your child’s attack, so taking preventative steps at home and in the school for your child can be live-saving: CREATE AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN This plan will have specific details for your child and school employees on what to do if your child has an attack. It will also include what to do if the child does not respond to the regular inhalers or medications, providing all emergency numbers needed. For guidance on making your child’s plan, Metro East Allergist is a great resource. http://www.metroeastallergist.com/creating-an-asthma-action-plan/ VISIT THE SCHOOL Before the school year begins, or as soon as your child is diagnosed, visit the school with your action plan. Talk to school officials to see what their policy is for implementing these plans and who is responsible. Possible employees include nurses, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, or any school authorities who have supervised time with your child. PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT AND PREPARATION Ask your child’s doctor what pretreatment they can do to decrease the chance of an attack on days they have gym or sports practice. Educate your child on their action plan and have them identify the signs of an attack. Role play situations in which one could occur, making sure they know who to seek for help and where their inhalers are located. Asthma is a serious condition, especially in children. It requires quick response and serious action. If your child has experienced further illness, injury, or death due to the negligence of their asthma condition, don’t hesitate to call our winning team at Siler and Ingber. Our attorneys care about the safety and well being of your family. Give us a call today at 1-877-718-6079 or contact us online through the form below to schedule an appointment. ____________________________________________________________________________ Links Used Article: http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Family-Sues-Montgomery-County-Public-Schools-10-Million-Student-Taylor-Walton-Death-Inside-High-School-440916763.html Article: http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2017/Lawsuit-Claims-Teen-Died-After-Gaithersburg-High-Gym-Teacher-Denied-Request-for-Inhaler/ Article: http://rutbergbreslow.com/teen-dies-after-gym-teacher-refuses-asthma-inhaler-request/ Stats: (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm). Preventative Steps: http://www.metroeastallergist.com/back-to-school-tips-for-parents-of-children-with-asthma/
