New York Injury Lawyer Blawg

As temperatures rise in the summer, maintaining your vehicle becomes more important to reduce the risk of a New York City car accident. The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering a consumer advisory for motorists to check their tires before traveling. Tread wear and improper tire inflation in extremely hot temperatures could cause a severe accident on U.S. roadways.

The week of June 5-11 is National Tire Safety Week. Our Manhattan car accident attorneys want to remind travelers to routinely check your tire pressure as it will keep you safer and could improve gas mileage as you travel across the state.

As fuel prices jump this summer, remember that properly inflated tires can put pennies in your pockets. U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov reports that a fuel-economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and a 35 pound per square inch (PSI) is recommended for a vehicle. A 25-percent loss in tire pressure equates to an 8.8 percent loss in fuel economy or, 2.6 miles per gallon. In other words, tires that aren't properly inflated can decrease gas mileage by .3 percent for every one PSI drop in pressure for all four tires.

Hot temperatures make it even more dangerous for motorists to drive on worn or under-inflated tires. Older tires in hot temperatures are susceptible to heat stress, which causes the tire belt to break when a vehicle is moving. This can cause a driver to lose control or cause rubber debris to fly through the air, making it dangerous for a vehicle driving behind you.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is encouraging motorists to check tire pressure before long trips and to perform routine inspections on your tires throughout the year.

Your vehicle owner's manual will provide information on recommended tire pressure and tread depth, as well as how often to replace tires on your vehicle.

From 2005 to 2009, it is reported that about 116,000 people were injured and another 3,400 were killed in tire-related crashes on U.S. roadways.

Safercar.gov offers the following recommendations to improve tire safety:

-Obtain an accurate tire pressure gauge.

-Every vehicle has tire pressure and vehicle load requirements, which are the leading causes of tire failure. Consult your owner's manual to follow requirements made by your vehicle.

-Perform routine inspections monthly on your vehicle's tires to keep a handle on wear and overall condition.

-30 percent of cars and light trucks have at least one tire that is under-inflated by eight PSI or more. Visual inspections can be misleading, so always use a gauge for an accurate measure.

-Tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles for maximum mileage and symmetrical wear and tear on your tires.

For answers to frequently asked questions related to tire maintenance, visit the Tire Pressure Monitoring System website.

For information on National Tire Safety Week and results of the 2011 Tire Care Awareness Survey, visit betiresmart.org.

Continue reading "Worn Tires can Cause Manhattan Car Accidents in the Summer" »

GMAC Insurance partnered with one of the largest research groups for the seventh year in a row to conduct an online general driving rules test. The results were not good for New York drivers.

Our New York Personal injury lawyers know that understanding the rules of the road will reduce the risk of having a car accident in Manhattan or the surrounding areas.

Participants were given a 20-question test with many similar questions found on the state's test used to grant driver's licenses or permits. An objective sample representing U.S. individuals ages 16 to 65 was used for the study. Completed surveys totaled 5,130, and at least 100 surveys per state, including Washington, D.C., were used. The test results showed that 20 percent of drivers on the road today - nearly 37 million U.S. drivers - did not pass the test.

The test results:

-20 percent of drivers scored lower than 70, which is 2 percent more than last year.

-The nationwide average test score was 77.9 percent.

-For the second year in a row, Kansas scored the highest with 82.9 percent correct.

-Washington, D.C. had the lowest score of 73.9% correct.

-The best region was the Midwest with a score of 77.5 percent; the worst region was the Northeast with 74.9 percent.

-The most improved state was Colorado. Its score went from 77.8 percent to 82 percent.

-The least improved state was Arkansas. Its score dropped from 79.8 percent to 76 percent.

-Only one out of 20 drivers failed the test in Wyoming, and one of three drivers failed the test in New York and Washington, D.C.

-Men averaged 80 percent on the test, while women averaged 74.1 percent.

-Men had a fail rate of 13.6 percent; women had a fail rate of 27.2 percent.

GMAC Insurance administers the test because they feel everyone should keep the rules of the road fresh in their minds to maintain safe driving habits. Do you think you could pass the test? Click the link to view and take the test.

Here are the driving mistakes that cause the most crashes:

-Multi-tasking: Remember when you get in the car to turn off the gadgets. Nothing is more important than focusing on driving. Everything else can wait until you get out of the car.

-Tailgating: Always give yourself a two-second gap between your car and the one in front of you. In bad weather/road conditions, double or triple that time gap.

-Not yielding on a left-hand turn: A good rule to follow is to check the flow before you go. Make sure the street is clear of vehicles and pedestrians before turning.

-Merging incorrectly: Yield does not mean stop. Accidents happen when a driver stops instead of yields. Ramps are meant as a means for merging into traffic, so don't stop.

-Going in reverse: Don't just rely on your mirrors when backing up. Turn your head and look over your shoulder.

Continue reading "New York drivers at high risk of car accidents by motorists failing national "Rules of the Road" test " »

A Yeshiva World News article reports that the New York State Senate has passed a bill to help protect pedestrians from truck accidents in Manhattan and throughout the state.

Our New York personal injury lawyers know that equipping trucks with special mirrors will help reduce Manhattan pedestrian accidents caused by trucks.

Requiring trucks to install a special convex mirror will help improve the trucker's ability to see pedestrians. After a large number of pedestrian accidents involving trucks, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the request to Sen. Martin Golden to solve the problem.

"Trucks equipped with crossover mirrors eliminate the truck driver's blind spot and allow drivers to see pedestrians crossing in front of them," Golden said. "I am proud to have introduced this important legislation that the state Senate has approved. I urge my colleagues in the state Assembly to now approve this bill, so that Gov. Cuomo can sign it into law, and we can reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries in New York. This is about saving lives and keeping New Yorkers safe on our streets."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2009 Traffic Safety Facts, 66 percent of pedestrians killed by trucks were initially hit by the front of the truck. Between 1999 and 2008, there were 161 fatal accidents and 2,732 accidents with injuries involving trucks and pedestrians in New York City.

"Crowded city streets pose many navigation challenges for vehicles and pedestrians alike," Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said. "Requiring the use of special mirrors known to increase visibility in the front of trucks is a simple step that will reduce the potential for death or injury and improve the safety of New York neighborhoods."

Earlier this month, the Yeshiva World News reported on a 4-year-old boy who was hit by a truck while riding his tricycle. The trucker admitted to not being able to see the small child in front of his truck.

All combinations of trucks, tractors, tractor-trailers or semi-trailers registered in New York State that have a conventional cab configuration and a weight of 26,000 pounds or more must now be equipped with special crossover mirrors when in service in New York City. Trucks equipped with crossover mirrors enable the driver to see anyone who is 3 feet tall and one foot in front of the truck. The bill has gone to the Assembly.

Continue reading "Senate passes bill to protect New York pedestrians from truck accidents " »

The New York Times recently reported on a freight elevator accident that injured several people.

Property owners need to be held accountable if you are injured in an elevator accident in New York. Contact experienced New York personal injury lawyers to discuss your rights and get the compensation you deserve.

Almost two dozen people were injured when a freight elevator being used unlawfully as a passenger elevator plunged more than three stories in a building housing Bed, Bath and Beyond and Yahoo offices. Authorities report as the elevator was ascending, it suddenly dropped several floors. All the passengers in the elevator were taken to the hospital with "whiplash-like injuries." And though no injuries were life-threatening, at least nine of the passengers had serious injuries.

A spokesman for the Department of Buildings said an investigation revealed a defective brake caused the elevator to drop. Violations were issued to the owner of the building for allowing the freight elevator to carry passengers and for not keeping the elevator in good working order.

Records indicate the elevator was inspected six months ago, and the incident marked the first time the elevator was cited in 15 years.

A few weeks ago The New York Times also reported on a group of subway passengers getting trapped in Upper Manhattan.

While heading to street level from the No. 1 train platform at 181st Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue, the elevator stopped and trapped 28 people. This platform happens to be the deepest in the system and is only accessible by elevator. The last thing any of these passengers wanted to do was spend an hour on a Friday evening trapped in an elevator with no air conditioning or ventilation. The fire department had to be called to evacuate the trapped passengers. The 181st Street station happens to be the place where a roof façade collapsed in 2009, disrupting service for weeks.

According to information from the The Center to Protect Workers' Rights, there were 56 non-work related deaths of elevator passengers from 1997 to 2006. New York was the deadliest state with 12 deaths, followed by District of Columbia with five. Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania each had four, while Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota each had three deaths. California, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas each had two deaths, and Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin each had one death. Children 10 or younger were involved in thirteen of the deaths.

Follow these guidelines for elevator safety:

-If the elevator stops in between floors, activate the ALARM button. Never force open the doors or attempt to climb out of the stuck elevator.

-Hold onto children and pets firmly.

-Stay clear of the doors and keep clothing away from the opening.

-Don't stop closing doors with your hands or feet. Press and hold the DOOR OPEN button if doors need to be kept open.

-Never use an elevator if there is a fire. Use the stairs.

Continue reading "Elevators a common cause of injury to New York City users" »