New York Injury Lawyer Blog

According to a recent study from The University of Maryland, about 0.3 percent of the 48,000 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. from 2000 to 2009 were caused by pedestrians wearing headphones. Although these type of accidents has tripled in the last six years, researchers don't believe that it's an epidemic.

About 36,000 people were killed in pedestrian accidents in New York City and throughout the country during the study time. Researchers believe it's a waste of time to focus on the 0.3 percent of accidents instead of looking at the other 99.7 percent of accidents to see what the real problem is -- motorist and dangerous roadways.

Our New York City pedestrian accident attorneys have recently discussed the dangers that pedestrians face in our city. During the recent study, there were than 3,220 pedestrians killed on our state's roadways. New York, Northern New Jersey and Long Island witnessed a large percentage of these pedestrian fatalities. It's obvious in our city that headphones aren't to blame for these accidents, but rather the design of our roadways and the habits of motorists.

The recent study, claiming that these type of accidents have tripled in recent years, has caught a lot of media attention. The media is portraying a picture that pedestrians are running through our streets listening to their music with little to no regard for vehicular traffic. That's not true. In fact, more than 97 percent of pedestrian fatalities are happen when pedestrians are victims of irresponsible drivers and poorly-designed roads.

Like Transportation For America says, it's like seeing a man who has been stabbed in the chest and attempting to cover up a scratch on his elbow with a Band-Aid. It makes no sense to focus on such an insignificant problem when we've got tens of thousands dying every year due to other causes.

Yes, we recognize that traveling while engaging in distractions is never a good idea. But don't you think it's more important to focus on the distracted drivers who are causing a majority of these accidents?

From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 48,000 pedestrians killed while walking along U.S. roads. Fewer than 120 of these fatalities were the result of distractions such as headphones.

The recent study didn't prove anything. It didn't let us know that you're more at risk for a pedestrian accident if you're walking and listening to headphones. It simply told us that a tiny portion of these accidents happen this way. You might as well do a study on how many pedestrians were killed while walking and chewing gum. The conclusion there would be just as wasteful.

What we do take from this study is that a large majority, more than 97 percent, of pedestrian accidents occur on busy, federally funded roadways with little attention from motorists.

Continue reading "More than 97 Percent of Accidents in New York and Elsewhere NOT Blamed on Headphone-Wearing Walkers" »

Recently, the preliminary statistics of 2011 car accidents in New York City were released. These statistics illustrate the fewest number of traffic accident-related fatalities since 1910. As of the Dec. 27, there were about 240 fatalities resulting from traffic accidents in the city. While this is 40 percent fewer than the number of fatalities in 2001, it is still far too high.

Included in this number are the 134 pedestrians who were killed in accidents involving a motor vehicle. This represents a more than 30 percent decrease from statistics recorded in 2001. The number of bicyclist fatalities remained about the same over the last decade.

Our New York City car accident attorneys understand that the Department of Transportation is congratulating itself for the record low and credit the safety engineering initiatives and public education efforts along with the NYPD and its pursuit of aggressive enforcement efforts. Yes, the NYPD has made increased enforcement efforts to bust drivers who speed and drive drunk. But the congested traffic on our city's roads still took the lives of nearly 240 people in 2011. With that many traffic-related deaths in a year, it's no time to be celebrating.

The announcement of these new statistics was made by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in Brooklyn at the Grand Army Plaza. This location is where the roadway was recently redesigned to enhance safety. Some of the most recent improvements are expected to decrease the number of accidents in the plaza, adding to the approximate 40 percent reduction that has already been seen in the last three years.

"This will be the city's safest traffic year in the more than 100 years since records were kept," vowed Mayor Bloomberg.

Bloomberg says he and Transportation officials are making strides to make further reductions in traffic fatality figures. He says the city is looking to redesign numerous areas and to push aggressive traffic enforcement to get there. He says the city wants its roadways to be safe for everyone, regardless on the desired mode of transportation.

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, Janette Sadik-Khan, says that the redesigns have helped to save an estimated 300 people. She says that the recent accomplishment is something to be proud of. Still, she says the DOT isn't done just yet. She says DOT officials are working in the five boroughs in an effort to make our streets even safer.

The fatality rate in the City fell from about 5 fatalities per 100,000 residents back in 2001to about 3 in 2011.

Still, consider the fact that 240 people died on the City's roadways in 2011. Yes, that's a reduction from previous years, but the number is still far too high. Officials shouldn't throw in the towel until that number is zero. More needs to be done to make our roadways safer for everyone.

Continue reading "Fatal New York Car Accidents Down; Still Too Many Deaths" »

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is estimating that 42.5 million holiday travelers will be visiting loved ones this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Almost 90 percent of these travelers will be reaching their destinations via U.S. roadways. Motorists who don't use a little extra caution during the holiday travel period could be at considerable risk of being involved in a car accident in New York City or elsewhere in the country.

Manhattan car accident attorneys know that Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and quite understandably a time to give thanks for loved ones in your life. However, traveling to family gatherings is not the only thing that makes our illustrious city dangerous on this particular holiday. The 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will draw all sorts of motorists and pedestrians out to New York City roadways to celebrate its 85th anniversary this year. Over 2.5 million viewers are expected to come out and line the streets to watch floats, novelty balloons, character balloons and marching bands among others in the 10,000 estimated participants.

With so many people populating the City this weekend, it makes sense for pedestrians and motorists to be extra careful as you mill around Central Park, Manhattan and the surrounding areas. The National Safety Council is predicting over 430 deaths nationwide this Thanksgiving holiday period which runs from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday. In addition, another 43,400 people are expected to be injured and need medical attention from traffic accidents throughout the weekend. When comparing similar non-holiday periods in recent years, the average number of traffic fatalities for Thanksgiving holiday periods was more than 10 percent higher.

Holiday travelers can help the cause and reduce the risk of injury by using some of the following safety tips this Thanksgiving weekend.

Parade tips for pedestrians:

-Arrive early to get a good viewing area and avoid walking amongst a large mass of people.

-Walk with the flow of pedestrian traffic to reduce the risk of fall accidents. Walking against the crowd on over-populated sidewalks can be detrimental if a slip or fall accident occurs.

-Keep children close by holding their hands at all times. Getting separated can not only be dangerous but it can be frightening for both parent and child.

-Stay away from moving floats or parade marchers by remaining on the sidewalk.

Travel tips for motorists:

-Focus your attention on driving rather than other distractions inside the vehicle like children, pets or radio dials.

-Buckle up. It is not only the law but it will reduce the risk of driver or passenger injuries when an accident occurs.

-Exercise defensive driving not aggressive driving skills by remaining patient and alert at all times.

-Take breaks frequently on long trips to stay refreshed.

Continue reading "NYC Motorists at Risk of Car Accidents with More Families Traveling this Thanksgiving" »

New York City pedestrian accidents took the lives of more than 3,200 people from 2000 to 2009. These types of accidents are expected to increase as we are now in Daylight Saving Time, which brings earlier sunsets and increased risks of pedestrian-car accidents.

Even drivers with 20/20 vision experience a reduction in visibility after the sun sets. Unfortunately, drivers don't always adjust their habits behind the wheel to accommodate these changes. It takes time for motorists to adjust to the low-light environment. During nighttime driving, motorists are urged to take notice of their surroundings instead of focusing on the lane in front of them.

Our New York City car accident attorneys understand that about 50 percent of fatal accidents occur during the evening hours. This is relatively high considering that about a quarter of travel takes place during this time. To help reduce the risks of these accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is providing motorists and pedestrians with a few simple safety tips that can help save lives. With a conscious effort from all travelers to navigate our roadways safety and more alertly, we can all do our part to reduce these accidents.

The U.S. lost nearly 4,100 pedestrians in traffic-related accidents in 2009. Another 59,000 were injured throughout the year. About 25 percent of these accidents happened between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m. and another 15 percent occurred between 4 and 8 a.m.

While driving at night or early morning twilight, our eyes have a more difficult time focusing on objects when compared to daytime driving. That's why drivers are urged to keep an extra-watchful eye on their entire surroundings when driving at night, not just on what's directly in front of them. Drivers are also urged to eliminate driving while doing distracting tasks, such as using a mobile phone. Drivers need to place their full attention on the roadway.

Nighttime safe driving tips for motorists:

-Driver slower. You need more time to react to dangers at night with the decreased visibility. Driving slower will allow you with that time.

-Remember that pedestrians oftentimes wear headphones, meaning they are unable to hear your vehicle approaching.

-Keep your windshield, mirrors and windows clean to maximize visibility.

-Make sure your defrosters work and that you have enough windshield wiper fluid.

-Allow pedestrians the right-of-way.

Nighttime safe walking tips for pedestrians:

-Walk with a flashlight. If you choose not to walk with a flashlight you should wear fluorescent tape on your clothing to make yourself more visible to motorists.

-Walk cautiously. Don't depend on traffic signs and signals to direct drivers. Distracted drivers can easily miss these devices.

-Never jaywalk. Always cross at a crosswalk or at a street corner.

-Walk along a sidewalk when one is available. If there's no sidewalk and you must walk along the roadway, do so facing traffic.

Continue reading "Daylight Saving Time Change Increases Risks for Car-Pedestrian Accidents in New York" »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigued drivers cost Americans $12.5 billion in damages and medical losses every year. Drowsy drivers cause roughly 100,000 car accidents annually leading to over 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries in these types of collisions.

New York car accident attorneys know that thousands of people suffer from sleeping disorders which can only make roadways more dangerous for everyone who uses them. It only takes a second for a fatigued driver to swerve off the road or sway into oncoming traffic after nodding off behind the wheel which creates a high risk for a car accident in Manhattan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a sleep study earlier this year which indicated that 5 percent of drivers admit to dozing while driving in the month prior to the study. Microsleep, a few seconds of sleep or less, can be just as dangerous for drivers as dozing off for minutes at a time because driver inattention has been lost for several hundred feet of roadway and anything can happen in that short amount of time when a vehicle is not being controlled by the driver.

A 2005 study by the National Sleep Foundation reported more compelling results about drowsy driving. The results of the Sleep in America poll indicated the following:

• 168 million drivers admit to driving a vehicle while they felt tired in the past year.


• 103 million drivers admit they have fallen asleep behind the wheel in the last year.


• 13 percent of the respondents that admitted to falling asleep while driving said that it is a monthly occurrence for them.


• The age group that most admitted to driving drowsy was 18-29 year-olds.


• Shift workers drive drowsy more often than day time or regular working hour employees.


• Males drive drowsy (56 percent) more often than female drivers (45 percent).

Fatigued drivers are often compared to drunk drivers because driving drowsy affects your reaction time and motor skills similar to how driving intoxicated affects the skills needed to drive safely. Someone who has been awake for 18 hours is equivalent to a driver testing with a blood alcohol concentration of .05 which is nearly over the legal limit.

Drowsy driving research could be further advanced with the implementation of a couple of key factors. One problem is drunk drivers can be given a breathalyzer test to see how much they have been drinking, but there is no test to be administered to drowsy drivers to determine a fatigue level. Developing a measurement to test fatigue levels could keep drowsy drivers off the streets and roadways safer in the long run. Another area needing improvement is police training in determining fatigue as a cause of an accident.

Self-reporting is really the only way of knowing when an accident is caused by fatigue and most drivers won't admit to it because it could have costly ramifications to their driving record or insurance rates. Developing a system for officers to use and report fatigued driving crashes would be helpful in future reports regarding car crashes related to driver drowsiness.

One way drivers can prevent drowsy driving accidents is to stop at a rest area or pull into a restaurant parking area. Many drivers who are fatigued make the mistake of trying to fight through drowsiness which results in a car crash. Stretching or getting some fresh air can give drivers a much needed boost and get the safe driving juices flowing again.

Continue reading "Drivers Admit to Fatigue, Put Other Motorists at Risks of Drowsy Driving Accidents in New York" »

New York students will be headed back to school soon, so before summer ends is a good time for parents to review some school safety tips. Children spend most of their time at school from the end of August until the middle of June and emphasizing safety to your children can help keep child injuries at Manhattan schools at a minimum and give your children the time and energy needed to focus on their studies.

Children typically get transported to school one of three ways which include by bus, foot, or bicycle. The National Safety Council offers a back-to-school checklist for safety which is a good place for parents to start. Items on the checklist cover both transportation safety (walking, riding a bike or riding a bus) and school safety (playground safety).

New York school bus accident attorneys know that school accidents occur not only when children are riding to school or school-related events but also when they get on and off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over 25 million students travel to school by bus in our country.

In 2005, there were 134 people killed and another 11,000 injured in school-bus related accidents. Injured victims in these accidents were comprised of school bus passengers, bus drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. For this reason, safety tips are provided not only for riding a bus to school but also for children who ride a bike or walk to school each day.

Tips for children who walk to school:

• Children 10 years or younger should always have an adult accompany them on their way to school, especially if the route requires crossing over roadways.


• Always look both ways before crossing a street, it doesn't hurt to double check before you step off the curb.


• Use sidewalks so motorists can see you.


• Never sneak out from behind a car to cross the street.

Tips for children who bicycle to school:

• Be aware and follow the rules of the road.
• When riding with other bikers, follow in a single line on the right side of the road.
• Try not to ride in the dark but if you do, ride with an adult and make sure bicycle pedals and wheels have reflectors to increase visibility.
• Beginner bicyclists are encouraged to practice before they hit the streets.

Tips for children who bus to school:

• When waiting for a bus to arrive, allow plenty of time and stand away from the curb until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver puts flashing lights on.
• Always stay in front of the bus so the driver can see you.
• At a minimum, allow 10 feet where you cross the street in front of the bus and only after the driver has signaled it is clear.
• Always use quiet voices when riding the bus and keep your hands and feet inside your seating area.
• Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop before you exit. Use the hand rail as you leave the bus.
• Even after the driver has signaled it is ok to cross the street be alert for other vehicles before you step to the middle of the roadway.
• Always make yourself visible to the bus driver and other vehicles or bicycles nearby.

New York City Department of Transportation offers a Safe Routes to School Program which focuses on improving safety for children getting to and from school each day. The NYCDOT selects 135 schools with the most accident rates and works to improve safety with regard to sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic patterns and safer routes to school.

Check to see if your school has a school traffic safety map locator by visiting NYCDOT Safety Map Locator online.

Continue reading "Parents Concerned With Child Injuries For Kids Walking, Biking, Riding to School in Manhattan" »

The National Complete Streets Coalition is spreading word throughout the country to make streets safer and more welcoming for everyone who uses them.

Designing streets with safety in mind can reduce the number of bicycle accidents in Queens or pedestrian accidents in Manhattan or elsewhere in New York.

New York injury lawyer Nicholas Rose, PLLC knows that street design and proper engineering is the key to making New York City streets safer. Bicyclists and pedestrians risk their lives every day when they venture out on our overly populated streets which are mostly utilized by speeding vehicles.

Transportation Nation recently reported that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to sign the Complete Streets Law into legislation. Advised by the New York Department of Transportation, the new law would constitute that transportation agencies at the state and local level consider all street occupants in future designs of New York City streets and roadways.

"New York's roadways should safely accommodate all pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, and this legislation will help communities across the state achieve this objective," Cuomo said.

Twenty-four states have already passed legislation for some type of complete streets law according to the Coalition. Each state has made a commitment to take pedestrian, bicyclist, and other street users' safety into account when planning for road improvements or future road designs. From a health standpoint, getting people out on the streets to exercise or increase fitness levels is what this country needs but not at the risk of losing their lives due to a poorly engineered road design.

According to officials representing Cuomo's office, the new law enable pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists to be safer on roadways, but it will promote the 'going green' industry creating less traffic congestion which, in effect, will create less air pollution.

Creating a greener transportation system will be much healthier for everyone walking or biking on New York City streets. Public users can expect to see more raised sidewalks, bicycle lanes, control signals for pedestrians, bus pull outs, ramps and measures taken to calm traffic.

Simple things like putting in raised medians and sidewalks, redesigning intersections, or putting in a pedestrian signal at a crosswalk can reduce the risk that a pedestrian will get hit by 28 percent. Creating a bicycle-only path will get bikes off the sidewalk and away from pedestrians and off the roadway near other motorists where bicyclists are most at risk of a dangerous situation. Bicycle lanes can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 50 percent.

Health experts report that 55 percent of adults don't get the recommended amount of daily exercise each day and 25 percent of adults are completely immobile by choice. It is likely that if streets were designed with safety in mind, adults, kids, senior citizens, and even individuals with disabilities would not fear walking or riding and might choose or be more apt to get out and exercise more.

Studies have shown that communities with sidewalks are more likely to be used by 65 percent of residents who live there than when no sidewalks are available. Passing the Complete Streets bill in New York can not only reduce the risk of pedestrian and bicycle accidents throughout the City for all ages but will likely preserve health in areas that need more attention like fitness and pollution.

Continue reading "Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Motorists Can Benefit from Complete Streets Law in Reducing New York City Car Accidents" »

A new 2011 edition of pedestrian accidents in New York and elsewhere throughout the country has now been released by Transportation For America. This report illustrates the whereabouts and other details of the 47,000 pedestrian fatalities, and 688,000 pedestrian injuries, that occurred on our roadways nationwide.

During the next phase of safety measures, Dangerous by Design 2011 will examine the information in an attempt to reverse the problem by coming up with solutions for this epidemic of preventable fatalities. Pedestrian accident have become too much of an accepted occurrence on our nation's roadways between 2000 and 2009.

Our New York pedestrian accident attorneys recognize that pedestrian accidents happen all too often on our city roadways. There are a number of contributing factors to this epidemic, including driver awareness, pedestrian visibility and roadway design. Perhaps the most effective way for us to reduce the risk of these accidents is to focus inward and correct our lackadaisical driving habits.

The newly released report offers fact sheets that highlight specific statistics for each of our 50 states. The release also comes with a map that allows residents to view their communities to see just how often these pedestrian accidents occur in their own areas.

In the examined years of the released data, more than 3,200 pedestrian were killed while walking the streets of New York. These accidents cost the state nearly $14 billion. Our state ranked 39th for the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI).

The most dangerous counties, determined from the study's records, in New York are as follows:

-Kings, 515 pedestrian fatalities.

-New York, 399 pedestrian fatalities.

-Queens, 376 pedestrian fatalities.

A majority of these accident happened along "arterial" roads, which are dangerous for pedestrians to begin with as they are designed to accommodate speedy traffic flow and ignore the needs of on-foot pedestrian and bicyclists.

Ironically, a portion of our federal tax dollars are supposed to go to the production and design of these roads that lack pedestrian safety measures. Less than 1.5 percent of the current federal transportation outlay is meant to better equip these areas for foot traffic. Congress is currently contemplating the elimination of this fund entirely.

Roughly 70 percent of these pedestrian accidents over the last 10 years have happened on roads that are eligible to receive this federal aid or are designed under federal guidelines. Yet, the federal transportation department continues to argue that the design of these roads falls on local and state government.

Federal programs continue to urge state departments of transportation to take the responsibility of these roadways and to focus their efforts on the flow of speedy traffic instead of pedestrian safety.

Residents are urged to contact Congress and voice your opinion in an attempt to get them to rethink their decisions to cut off of the pedestrian safety fund.

Merely hours after the report's release, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and eleven co-sponsors formally introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2011. This is an Act that is meant to create streets that are safer for those who travel by foot, by bicycle, by wheelchair or by public transit. Dangerous by Designed was referenced in his report earlier this week.

Continue reading "Newly Released Data Ranks New York for Fatal Pedestrian Accidents" »

The New York Daily News reported on the tragic death of a pedestrian run over by a drunk tour bus driver.

Our New York personal injury lawyers urge you to contact an experienced New York bus accident attorney if a family member has been tragically killed by a negligent bus driver.

The tour bus driver was allegedly drinking vodka while driving prior to striking a man in midtown, according to police. The 57-year-old driver had his booze in a silver-colored travel mug and sipped it as he cruised through Manhattan. Police found $1,300 in cash and a half-full bottle of Smirnoff vodka on the bus. The driver has been charged with DWI, vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The horrific accident happened when the bus turned onto Ninth Ave. at 47th St. and hit the 29-year-old pedestrian and then dragged him almost 30 feet underneath the rear wheels before bystanders alerted the driver to stop. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he died from catastrophic injuries. The driver's blood alcohol content was .14 at the scene and was later .08, which is double the legal limit of 0.04 for commercial drivers. Records show in 2004 this driver had a DWI charge in Kentucky. The tour bus belongs to TraveLynx but the tour was run by L & L Travel, a Chinatown operator.

In March we posted on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog about the Bronx bus accident that killed 15 after crashing into a tractor-trailer. This accident triggered an increase in bus safety inspections which we wrote about last month on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog. Inspections in Manhattan resulted in 72 vehicle infractions and more than 60 percent of drivers or buses were taken out of service.

"While the actions of a few should not tarnish an important and reliable industry, the memory of those who lost their lives in March demands that additional action be taken to safeguard the traveling public," said NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald. "As always, drivers and buses found to be unsafe will be removed from the road."

Continue reading "Tour bus companies liable for hiring safe drivers to reduce risks of car and pedestrian accidents in Manhattan" »

Pedestrians in New York can feel a little safer now that countdown timer installations will be starting at dangerous intersections, reports the Gothamist.

Although New York personal injury lawyers do concur that using caution, being alert and paying attention at busy, dangerous intersections lowers your risk of having a New York pedestrian accident more than anything.

We had previously posted on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog that the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) had launched an investigation into pedestrian accidents at intersections. They concluded that countdown timers would greatly improve pedestrian safety. The project is underway and by summertime, 43 timers will be installed with the eventual goal of having 1,500 timers in place citywide.

"Crossing the street doesn't need to be a guessing game," DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said in a statement yesterday. "New York City's streets have never been safer, but we need to do even more and countdown signals can help pedestrians avoid getting caught short."

Though some New Yorkers miss the old "Walk" and "Don't Walk" signs, adding countdown timers to the current White Man/Red Hand pictures will be a welcome improvement.

Countdown signal locations can be viewed here.

In 2009 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 4,092 pedestrians were killed and 59,000 sustained injuries nationwide. Their deaths accounted for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities. In New York there were 1,156 traffic-related deaths, of those, 306 were pedestrians. New York ranked third, behind DC (48 percent) and New Jersey (26.9 percent), as having the most traffic-related deaths as pedestrians recorded at 26.5 percent.

Over half of all fatal traffic accidents in New York City involved pedestrians last year.

The following are useful safety tips that New York City pedestrians are encouraged to follow:

-Pedestrians in crosswalks have the right-of-way, but should always be alert.

-Always use crosswalks, look left, right, and then left again before crossing the street.

-Pay attention; don't be listening to music or talking/texting on a cell phone while trying to cross the street.

-During nighttime hours, always carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing in order to be better seen by motorists.

-Use the sidewalk as it is meant to keep you safe. If no sidewalk is available, walk along the edge of the street facing traffic.

Continue reading "Improvements aim to Reduce Risk of New York City Pedestrian Accidents this Spring" »

Tourists and visitors using New York Subway systems often find subway stations to be dangerous with regard to the dark and desolate un-lit stairwells, escalators, or platforms.
New York personal injury lawyers that a municipal liability accident or premise liability accident can occur when a dangerous condition at a subway station or bus stop is not addressed.

New York subway stations are a popular place when commuters are trying to get to work or sports fans are trying to get to sporting events. Train and subway station managers have a responsibility to keep their stations' platforms, stairwells, and escalators in good repair. According to Federal Railroad Administration there have been over 20 fatalities each year on New York railways over the last 3 consecutive years. NY Subway reports that platforms are often the most dangerous place for accidents to occur. In fact, 90% of incidents occur on platforms throughout the city, which plays host to over 4 million people every day.

Not all accidents involve adult commuters or involve incidents on the tracks. The New York Times recently reported about a young high school student who was seriously injured on his way to school. The student was moving swiftly down the narrow and dimly lit steps before falling into a southbound express train on the southern end platform at Union Square station. The boy hit his head on the stationary subway train and sustained serious injuries but did not fall onto the tracks. He was transported to the hospital in critical conditon.

Trains and subways are a popular mode of transportation for fans traveling to New York sporting events. As baseball season becomes in full swing, fans attending Mets and Yankees games are reminded of the following safety tips when traveling by train or subway:

-Catch an early train or subway to avoid peak commuter travel. Getting to the game early allows time to watch batting practice or catch a few autographs.

-Never run or walk on escalators and always face forward. Stairwells should never be run down, especially when overly crowded.

-Never stand at the edge of a platform while waiting for the train or subway to arrive. Platforms are clearly marked for safety so make sure you stay in a safe area.

-Wait for everyone to clear from the door before stepping on to the car. Make sure all items like jackets, umbrellas, bags or personal items are clear of the door before it closes.

-When standing while riding, be sure you hang on to a bar, hand strap or seat around you to maintain balance at all times. A sudden stop or push by other riders could result in serious injury if you fall down.

Continue reading "Subway System a Common Site for Injury Accidents in New York City" »

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" »

Halloween is full of tricks and treats but children should be aware that there are more things to watch out for than ghosts and ghouls. Kids love Halloween almost as much as when the jolly man in the red suit comes in December. There are so many hidden dangers on Halloween night from New York car accidents waiting to happen to unleashed animals roaming the streets. Knowing the hidden dangers can help prevent your child from being injured.

Over 36 million children are on the streets on October 31st romping from house to house in hopes of filling their bags full of candy and maybe getting fun frights along the way. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the chances of a child between the ages of five and fourteen being hurt in a car accident triple on Halloween over any other evening throughout the year.

Nationwide, more than 500 motorists a year are killed during the week of Halloween, making it among the deadliest weeks on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Due to the increased number of children being killed or injured on this holiday, the New York State Division of Police has provided parents with excellent list to help your children have a safe and fun Halloween:

1. Do not allow a child to go "Trick or Treating" alone. Be sure older children TAKE A FRIEND and an ADULT accompanies young children.

2. Be certain to accompany young children to the door of every house they approach.

3. Be certain that parents are familiar with every house and all people from which the children receive treats.

4. Children should be cautioned that they should NOT enter any home without prior
permission from their parents.

5. Children should be cautioned not to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent.

6. Make sure that all children carry a glow stick or wear reflective clothing.

7. When using facial masks, make sure that children can see and breathe properly and easily.

8. All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant.

9. Children should be warned to NEVER approach any house that is not well lit and does not have a porch or "outside" light on.

10. Children should be cautioned to remember any suspicious incidents and report them to their parents and/or the proper official.

11. Children should be cautioned to run away from people who try to trick them with special treats.

12. Children should be instructed to scream and make a scene if anyone tries to grab them or force them, in any way, to go with them.

13. Parents should inspect all treats and dispose of anything that seems to have been tampered with, has been opened, or is not wrapped.

14. A good alternative to "Trick or Treating" is for parents to organize parties at home, in
schools, or in community centers.

The Division of Police also knows keeping safety fun helps kids learn. Click here for a cool pictures for your kids to color.

Continue reading "New York car accidents and premise liability claims a Halloween danger" »

It's not just cars on New York City streets that pedestrians need to be watching. But, rather, the City's seemingly exploding population of "rouge" bicyclists who defer using bike lanes to sidewalks and recklessly ride against traffic, the New York Times reports. And this isn't a new debate. The battle for street-space between walkers and bicyclists has been documented as far back as the early 1900s.

As our New York City pedestrian accident attorneys reported in an earlier post to our New York Injury Lawyer blog, more than 50 percent of the city's traffic fatalities during the last five years involved pedestrians. Last year alone, 155 pedestrians were killed walking or crossing New York City streets.

While cyclists may be responsible for some pedestrian accidents, the biggest danger to both comes from other motorists on the road in the form of passenger cars, trucks, taxis and buses.

The bottom line is: walking around New York City can be hazardous to your health. Despite a 35 percent drop in fatal New York City pedestrian traffic accidents from 2001 to 2009. Despite the fact that New York City is safer for pedestrian traffic than such major U.S. cities as Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. Despite the extensive and expensive recent installation of miles and miles and miles of bike lanes around the City. Despite the near decade-old hike in cyclist citation fees from $40 to $100.

New York City pedestrian traffic fatalities remain a huge concern for residents, law enforcement and government officials, the NYC Dept. of Transportation reports. And here's why. Pedestrians are 10 times more likely to die than their motor-vehicle occupant counterparts when involved in a serious New York City traffic accident. Whether the pedestrian is struck by a car or a cyclist matters little when it comes to the likelihood of serious injury or death. Pedestrians in New York City are the most vulnerable population on our streets. Period.

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For New York City drivers, the Labor Day weekend may bring more stress than relaxation. Times Square, Chelsea and Midtown East place first, seventh and eighth respectively for travel destinations this weekend, according to businessreviewusa.com.

Despite the threat of a now-fizzled hurricane and high unemployment rates, hotel room bookings reflect a trend toward domestic travel across the U.S. More domestic travel translates into booked hotel rooms, bigger crowds and more city-bound and intrastate traffic on roadways.

The New York City car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC, understand that surviving a car accident can be a traumatizing and confusing time. Our staff, investigators and medical professionals are dedicated to helping victims of car accidents get the care and compensation they deserve and understand their rights and responsibilities.

Auto club AAA is predicting that about 34.4 million people are likely to travel at least 50 miles over Labor Day, a 10 percent increase over last year, usatoday.com reports. The spike is attributed to dropping gas prices and a demand for air travel.

In tandem with the holiday, New York state law enforcement from more than 500 agencies will be out enforcing their annual "Over the Limit. Under Arrest." drunk driving crackdown. With these series of sobriety checkpoints and DWI "saturation" patrols, New York drivers will see the final-stage implementation of "Leandra's Law" - named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed last October in a New York drunk driving accident, the New York Daily News reports.

"Leandra's Law" requires that all New York drivers with a DWI conviction install a breathalyzer "interlock" device in their vehicle. This device requires drivers pass a breath test before they are able to start their car.

Continue reading "New York City packed this Labor Day weekend, claiming three Top 10 spots in domestic travel destinations" »