New York Injury Lawyer Blog

Many drivers rely on GPS systems to help them navigate their way through city roads. A new application could be soon available for travelers to reach their destinations using the safest roads possible, as Top Tech News reports.

New York City personal injury lawyers understand the dangers of traveling -- drivers in an unfamiliar area are at increased risk of being involved in an accident. We encourage you to plan for your trip by allowing enough time to avoid rushing, have an alternative route and make sure your car is properly maintained to avoid potentially deadly car accidents.

AAA is currently working with eight states to program and plot their safest roads and routes, using years of prior accident rates. The company is confident that this application will have the ability to save lives.

"You could get in a car, turn on the in-vehicle navigation and request not only the quickest way from point A to point B, but the safest way," said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation. You can now drive your "5-star-car" through "5-star-roads".

A similar service, SafeRoadMaps.org, is already available to drivers and has proven itself effective and useful to consumers; it has received more than 10 million hits in its first year-and-half.

The new portable application will be available to the public soon, within the next two or three years, and will be able to inform drivers of the safest roadways to take throughout their trip, based on years of analyzed information of where car accident deaths have occurred.

Continue reading "New App May Decrease Risks for New York City Car Accidents" »

New York tops the nation for having the most active road-rage drivers, according to Fox News.

"New Yorkers were most likely to wave their fists or arms. They were most likely to lay on the horn and they were most likely to make some sort of obscene gesture," said Michael Bush of the marketing and consulting company Affinion Group.

New York City personal injury lawyers advise drivers to travel carefully and calmly to avoid road-rage car accidents. Aggressive driving sometimes causes serious injury even death to drivers. It is important to remember that with the proper education and techniques for handling these situations, the risk of aggressive-driving accidents can be significantly reduced.

A Roadtravel.com survey shines light on the popularity of aggressive driving habits:

-17 percent of drivers flash their headlights.

-7 percent of drivers mimic the other car's act of aggressive driving.

-34 percent of drivers honk their horn at aggressors.

-27 percent of drivers yell.

-19 percent give the finger.

Road Travel's Magazine also provides a list of strategies to avoid aggressive driving:

-Always use a turn signal so drivers around you won't be surprised or irritated by your maneuvers.

-Keep your distance. If you witness another driver getting angry behind the wheel, give them space and do not instigate.

-Don't tailgate. Not only does tailgating decrease you response time, it can also be very irritating to other drivers.

-Don't forget to apologize. Use an appropriate gesture to apologize if you do happen to make a driving error.

-Get help. If you think you may be in serious danger because of an aggressive driver, call 911. Do not retaliate. Your hasty actions may only put more drivers in danger.

Continue reading "Aggressive Driving and Road Rage Cause Increased Risk for New York Car Accidents" »

A severe New York City bus accident that left 15 dead on a trip home from the Mohegan Sun casino, could have been caused by drowsy driving.

New York City Personal Injury Lawyer Nicholas Rose would like to remind you that drowsy driving is a frequent cause of serious and fatal accidents in New York and elsewhere. Countless New York City car accidents can be avoided with proper rest and attention.

AAA offers these statistics on drowsy driving:

-41 percent of drivers have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel.

-1 in 6 accidents resulting in fatalities were reportedly caused by a drowsy driver.

-Younger drivers, ages 16-24, are twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving accident.

-Drowsy driving accidents most often occur in the early morning hours.

A study by the University of Pennsylvania, funded by AAA, offers this advice to avoid a drowsy driving accident if you find yourself dozing off on the road:

-Get some fresh air. Try rolling down your window.

-Try rotating drivers.

-Try turning on/up your radio.

-Stop for a caffeinated beverage.

-Pull over and take a nap.

Proper safety precautions might have saved the lives of those involved in the recent New York City bus accident. According to the federal website, World Wide Travel had had been in the 52.4 percentile for fatigued-driving infractions, according to NY Daily News.

Continue reading "Drowsy Driving a Potential Culprit in New York City Bus Accident" »

As of 2001, New York drivers have been forbidden from using cell phones behind the wheel. Recently, we reported on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog that drivers can face two-points on their driver's license in addition to a $100 fine.

Still, the law doesn't seem to scare everyone into practicing safe driving.

New York City personal injury lawyers recognize that nearly two million "cell phone use while driving" tickets have been issued in New York. The numbers stand strong even against the New York law strictly forbidding all drivers from using any hand-held phones while driving, reports The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

DOT and Consumer Reports have now teamed up to help enforce the law and keep teen drivers safe on the road. Parents and educators can now access a "Distracted Driving Shatter Lives" guide to help educate their teens about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving.

Distracted driving still plagues our teen drivers according to a nationally conducted survey by Consumer Reports:

-64 percent of teen drivers witnessed other drivers texting while driving.

-63 percent of those surveyed admit to using a hand-held phone while operating a vehicle.

-30 percent of those drivers confess to driving and texting at the same time.

-Nearly all drivers reported seeing other drivers using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

According to DOT, more than 500,000 people were involved in distracted driving accidents in 2009 -- nearly 5,500 of them resulting in death.

"Behind the statistics are real families who have been devastated by these tragedies." said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Continue reading "Teens and Distracted Driving Increase Risks for New York Car Accidents" »

A bus accident in New York claimed the lives of 15 passengers after the collision involving a Worldwide Tour bus and a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95. People's Daily Online reports, "The bus driver, who survived the crash, told police that a tractor-trailer clipped the bus from the behind and fled."

The crash took place around 5:30 a.m. in the Bronx near Westchester County. The bus skidded off the road and hit a sign pole near Exit 14. Police identified the truck driver and have described him as cooperating with the investigation.

New York City personal injury lawyers understand the dangers of big city bus accidents. It is crucial to contact an experienced attorney when involved in a bus or other mass-transit accident. In such cases, state and federal regulations will play key role in determining and proving a negligence claim.

In this case, authorities are investigating whether the driver may have fallen asleep or been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The media is reporting he is a convicted felon and that the bus company has faced multiple safety violations in recent years.

The Transit Bus Safety Resource Guide offers several tips to drivers for keeping passengers safe:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration suggests car drivers remember these key points to be able to easily share the roads with buses, trucks and other large vehicles on our roads:

-Look out for blind spots. Trucks and buses have large blind spots and may not be able to see you at all times. Remember, if you can't see the driver, they can't see you.

-Be sure not to cut in front of larger vehicles. The bigger the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop.

-Be careful around turns. Large vehicles are designed to make wide turns, trying to squeeze through may result in an inescapable situation.

Officials of World Wide Travel of New York declined commenting on the incident. According to The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the transportation company had received five driving violations since December of 2009. The USA Today reports the company has been put on alert by the federal government.

Continue reading "Death Toll Reaches 15 in recent New York City Bus Accident " »

St. Patrick's Day provides an opportunity for friends and family to get together and celebrate the Irish holiday over a long weekend. It also results in an increase in alcohol consumption. New York City personal injury lawyers urge you to celebrate responsibly and take the necessary precautions to avoid drinking and driving.

New York State Police are cracking down this holiday weekend and have a number of planned enforcement efforts, including patrols in hopes that the increased visibility will help prevent New York car accidents this St. Patrick's Day.

Every year, New York City hosts the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Parade prides itself on being the biggest, the oldest and best parade in the world since 1762.

The Parade marches down Fifth Avenue starting at 11:00 a.m. and ending around 4:30 p.m. on March 17th. Parade information can be found on the Official Parade Website.

Bars and restaurants will be open and serving the traditional green beer throughout the entire route of the parade -- and probably through the weekend for that matter; St. Patrick's Day is one of the leading holidays for alcohol consumption.

DrinkingAndDriving.org provides you with a complete lesson plan guiding you through a safe and accident free St. Patrick's Day:

-Remember that a DWI typically costs around $10,000.

-Find a designated driver, a taxi, another form of public transportation or a hotel room if you've been drinking.

-Help you friends and family. Make sure they're not driving drunk either.

-Remember your designated drinks nothing, a designated driver is not determined by who is the least drunk of the bunch.

DrinkingAndDriving.org also offers a Sober Pledge Contract that you and your friends can sign and agree upon to make sure everyone is safe this St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Continue reading "St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Increase Risks for New York Car Accidents" »

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that 2010 traffic fatalities increased from 2009 and the trend could continue due to the economic recovery.

New York Personal Injury Attorney Nicholas Rose knows that last year 269 people died in the five boroughs from traffic crashes. This is a statistic that is bound to get worse with more motorists commuting to and from work each day.

Though motorcycles make up only two percent of all vehicle registrations in New York City, they account for 14% of traffic fatalities. And in 2009 the number of fatal crashes went up by 10 from the previous year. A DOT study found that speed was the contributing factor in 46% of all fatal motorcycle accidents.

There were 151 fatal New York City pedestrian accidents 18 fatal bicycle crashes.

NYDOT had launched Safe Streets for Seniors in 2008. So far the program has made safety improvements to 10 senior areas. There were 44 senior fatalities in 2009.

To combat excessive speeding DOT launched the That's Why It's 30 campaign. They found out that most New Yorkers were unaware of the city's 30 mph speed limit. The ad campaign focused on the life saving benefit of traveling at 30 mph rather than 40 mph. There is a 70% chance a pedestrian will die if they are hit by a vehicle going 40 mph. But if the vehicle is going 30 mph there is an 80% chance a pedestrian will survive.

Another campaign by DOT, targeting young men, was You the Man, which aimed to reduce drunk driving. In 2008, men between the ages of 21 and 39 accounted for 63% of alcohol-related crashes in the city. An iPhone app is available to New Yorkers to let them locate an approved car service if they need a ride home after a night out.

DOT has the following upcoming initiatives planned:

-Across all five boroughs installing 1500 countdown pedestrian signals.

-Neighborhood 20 mph zones to slow down traffic in an area instead of individual streets.

-Rank corridors and address safety issues along 60 miles of roads per year.

-In Manhattan re-engineering 20 high-crash, high-volume intersections and improve visibility of pedestrians at left turns by removing curbside parking spaces near intersections.

Continue reading "Fatal New York City accidents on the rise, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents of particular concern" »

The New York Times is reporting that some New Yorkers are suing the city to remove a controversial bicycle lane in Brooklyn.

New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyer Nicholas Rose reported in an earlier post to his New York Injury Lawyer Blog that bicycling accident are a growing risk with the ever-increasing popularity of cycling for transportation, fitness and recreation.

After a year of pamphlets, rallies and dueling petitions a lawsuit was filed regarding the recently installed bike path along Prospect Park West. The lawsuit seeks the removal of this bike path. Bike lanes in New York City had been challenged before, particularly during the Koch administration in 1980.

The lawsuit accuses the Transportation Department of giving the wrong impression to residents about the benefits of the lane, selectively choosing statistics on safety improvements and joined bicycle activists to suppress community resistance.

Residents have complained that the two-way bicycle lane has reduced the room for cars and interferes with the view of pedestrians crossing the street. Government actions deemed to be random or unfair can be called into question, and is the basis of the legal complaint.

Department of Transportation officials had not fully reviewed the lawsuit. A department spokesman said the bike lane has been a success. There has been declines in speeding, crashes and injuries and usage of the path has tripled on weekdays and doubled on weekends.

Opponents argue that safety has not improved, and their suit contends that the department presented misleading statistics. Transportation officials are also being accused of ignoring required environmental reviews and dodging a public review process. Only after the choice was made to make it permanent did they present a full report on the bike lane.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released its 2009 data on bicyclists statistics. Two percent of all traffic deaths (630) and two percent (51,000) of all traffic injuries were bicyclists. Traffic deaths were down 12% from 2008. New York reported 29 bicycle deaths in 2009.

Motorists and cyclists who share NYC streets and corridors are reminded that driving distracted increases your chances of a traffic accident. Refrain from talking or texting on cell phones when commuting on the congested streets of New York City.

Continue reading "Brooklyn bicycle accidents not reduced by bike lane, detractors argue" »