Blog Topic

New York Records Slight Increase in Traffic Accident Fatalities in 2010
Posted by: William Gentile
December 31, 2011

While there was an overall drop in the number of people killed in traffic accidents around the United States in 2010, New York reported a slight increase in the number of people killed in accidents last year.  In 2010, 1,200 people died in traffic accidents in New York.  That was an increase of 42 fatalities, or 3.6%, from 2009 when there had been 1,158 fatalities. 

That is a substantial increase, and it is disappointing for New York car accident lawyers to see that New York has not been able to save more lives in traffic accidents every year. Apart from New York, several other states including Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee among others saw an increase in traffic accident fatalities .In contrast, across the country, there was a 2.9% drop in traffic accident fatalities, from 33, 883 in 2009 to 32,885 in 2010.

Part of the reason for this increase in traffic accident deaths in New York State could be the fact that there was an increase in alcohol-related car accident deaths last year.  In 2009, there had been 318 fatalities in alcohol-related car accidents in New York.  That number increased to 364 fatalities in 2010. 

The New York Department of Transportation needs to take a closer look at these numbers, and analyze them to find out why we have not been able to save lives more lives in accidents last year.  The agency should also analyze why there are more numbers of people being killed in drunk driving accidents, while according to the trend across the country, these fatality numbers are actually declining.

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Major Bus Inspection Blitz in New York
Posted by: William Gentile
October 31, 2011

For two weeks ending October 7, 2011, federal inspectors undertook a massive inspection sweep of commercial buses. The sweep involved thousands of buses, including school buses and tour buses.

Passengers are at risk when motor coach carriers do not follow federal safety regulations, including those related to bus maintenance and driver training.  Defective parts and inadequate maintenance of buses have been cited as factors in many bus accidents this year.  Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sponsored a bus safety summit in Washington DC.  The summit discussed ways to enhance motor coach safety including issues related to driver fatigue. 

In New York, bus safety has been a special topic of concern since the deadly accident earlier this year that killed 14 people in New York City.  Fourteen people died in the accident caused when a discount bus carrying people back from a casino, flipped over on a highway and crashed into a pole.  The bus was sliced into two.  Dozens of people were injured, many of them seriously. 

That accident, and many others like it this year, has galvanized the federal administration into action.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a massive inspection sweep of buses to look for safety violations.  The agency has increased its roadside inspection rate, doubling it since 2005.  However, New York bus accident attorneys find that many bus companies continue operations under new names after they have been shut down for unsafe operations.

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Wrong Way New York Driver Arrested in Fatal Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
August 23, 2011

A New York driver, who traveled more than 6 miles in the wrong direction on Interstate 95 in an intoxicated condition, causing a fatal accident, has been charged with second degree manslaughter. 

According to the complaint, the twenty-six-year-old woman was driving intoxicated when her vehicle crashed into a car.  One of the passengers in the car, a twenty-nine-year-old man from New Jersey was killed in the accident.  The driver sustained serious injuries, and is in a Bronx hospital.  Gomez also suffered injuries in the accident, and is reported to be in a fair condition.

Results of alcohol and drug tests on the female driver are still pending.  However, for New York car accident lawyers, this accident is eerily reminiscent of the one that occurred on the Taconic Parkway two years ago.  In that crash, a mother drove her minivan in the wrong direction for several miles, before she crashed into another car.  Four children in her minivan were killed in the accident.  Three people in the other car were also killed.  Since then, investigators have determined that the woman had been driving under the influence of alcohol.  She also had traces of marijuana in her system.

That wrong way driving is so often linked to intoxicated driving should not surprise anyone.  One of the effects of driving under the influence of alcohol is that it impairs your judgment and your ability to reason.  It also increases your propensity to make critical driving errors. In an intoxicated state, a motorist is much more likely to miss warning signs and turns, and end up making critical driving mistakes, like driving into opposing traffic.  When you consider that many times, intoxicated driving is also accompanied by speeding, it's not hard to understand why these accidents are so deadly.

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Elderly Woman Killed in Bronx Car Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
July 10, 2011

A senior citizen was killed in a deadly accident involving a cab in the Bronx last month.  The accident left the 61-year-old woman dead, and at least six people injured.

According to news reports, a livery cab plowed into a building, dragging the woman under the car.  She sustained serious injuries, and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  The driver of the cab and his two passengers were injured.  At least three other people, including two pedestrians, were injured in the accident.

Investigations into the accident have begun, but investigators don't believe that drug or alcohol use were a factor in this crash.  The driver of the cab also had a clean driving record, with no previous citations.  As of now, there are no clues about what caused the accident. 

However, driving errors like this are very often the result of distractions or inattention.  Inattentive drivers may not be 100% focused on the road ahead, which could be dangerous in a congested city like New York.  Distractions include not just internal distractions like cell phones and text messaging devices.  They also include external distractions like highway signs, billboards, and other vehicles.  Whatever the source of the distraction, an inattentive driver could be at a much higher risk of an accident.

New York has a ban on the use of handheld cell phones and texting while driving for motorists.  Those laws recently became even tougher, with stronger penalties added to them.  New York car accident attorneys  had been calling for stronger penalties for violations of the state's cell phone laws in order to reduce the numbers of people using cell phones while driving.

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Increase in Motorcycle Accident Fatalities in New York
Posted by: William Gentile
May 23, 2011

A new report by the Governors' Highway Safety Association shows that New York had more motorcycle crash fatalities in the first nine months of 2010, compared to 2009. 

According to the estimates, during the first nine months of 2009, there had been 136 motorcycle crash fatalities, and that number spiked to 160 motorcycle fatalities during the same period of time in 2010.  That is an increase of 24 fatalities, and New York was actually one of the few states in the country that actually managed to record an increase in motorcycle crash fatalities last year.

Overall, there was a national decline in motorcycle crash fatalities.  Fatalities declined by a little more than 2% in the rest of the country. Obviously, we have serious motorcycle safety issues in the state of New York.

To a New York personal injury lawyer, this spike is very disconcerting.  It's very important that our transportation safety agencies analyze the Governors' Highway Safety Association report to understand why fatalities have increased so dramatically in New York. 

The Governors' Highway Safety Association report alsofound that there has been a 16% decline in the use of DOT-approved helmets in the country.  The DOT mandates motorcycle helmets for all riders.  These laws could be enforced more strongly, to assure that motorcyclists are protected from injuries in an accident. 

The NY Department of Transportation also needs to look into promoting the use of motorcycles with antilock braking systems among riders.   The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that these systems reduce the risk of serious injuries in motorcycle accidents.  

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Pressure on Motor Carrier Industry Post Deadly New York Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
April 12, 2011

Investigations into the New York bus accident last month that killed 14 people indicate that the bus driver was speeding at the time of the accident, and that some of his initial accounts of the accident were not entirely accurate. Meanwhile, even asthe investigations into the accident continue, the National Transportation Safety Board has intensified pressure on the motor carrier industry to increase safety aids on buses.

Initial investigations have shown that the driver was driving at a speed of 70 mph in a 50 mph speed zone.  His initial accounts of the bus having been flicked by a tractor-trailer also don't seem to be true.

The motor carrier industry, not just in New York but around the country, has been forced to reflect on the sorry state of its fleets. According to National Transportation Safety Board Chairperson Deborah Hersmann, a bus has fewer protections than your average minivan. To NewYork personal injury lawyers, there can be no denying the fact that the bus industry has simply failed to keeping pace with increasing traffic, dangerous highway conditions, and faster automobiles. Most buses still continue to ply our roads without the most basic of safety features, like seat belts.  In spite of the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendations over the years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has failed to mandate seat belts for buses.

This week, the National Transportation Safety Board came close to recommending that the motor carrier industry begin equipping its vehicles with enhanced technologies to prevent accidents and reduce fatalities. The board is specifically advising the use of forward collision warning systems that can alert the driver when an object is in the path of his car, thereby preventing an accident. Other systems like electronic stability control help reduce the risk of dangerous bus rollovers.

The bus that crashed in New York last month skidded at high speeds and flipped over, effectively slicing the bus in two. At this point in time, it's hard to tell whether any of these technological aids would have helped reduce the impact of this accident. However, there's no denying the fact that the motor carrier industry in the United States needs to step into the 21st century.

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New York's New Cell Phone Laws Will Prevent Accidents
Posted by: William Gentile
March 28, 2011

A new law targeting cell phone use while driving in the state of New York, went into effect last week. New York personal injury lawyers are very hopeful that the new law will help reduce the numbers of people distracted by cell phones while driving, thereby minimizing the number of accidents traced to distracted driving.

The new law went into effect on Wednesday, and according to the New York Department Of Motor Vehicles, is meant to minimize the numberof distracted driving accidents here. Under the new law, persons caught violating the state's ban on hand-held cell phones while driving, can expect a $100 fine and a two-point penalty on their record. This penalty can affect the driver's insurance rates, and end with a suspended license.

The new law is very tough on distracted voters. Drivers, who continue to violate the law, can expect to lose their license temporarily. Drivers in New York, who accumulate 11 points over an 18-month period, can expect to lose their license. The earlier law did not did not include such penalties.

With this, New York now has some of the country's toughest laws against cell phone use while driving. New York injury attorneys will find that only fitting. After all, New York was the first state to impose a complete ban on the use of hand-held cellphones while driving. That ban went into effect in 2001. Several other states have since followed suit.

New York is also the scene of a progressive experiment by the Department of Transportation into the prevention of accidents caused by the use of hand-held cell phones. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is using the "Phone in One Hand Ticket in the Other" campaign to reduce the incidence of hand-held cell phone use while driving in New York and Connecticut. The campaign consists of sustained crackdowns against the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, and if successful, could be replicated in other areas of the country too.

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Toll from New York City Bus Accident Rises to 15
Posted by: William Gentile
March 15, 2011

The death toll from a deadly bus accident in New York has now touched 15 with the death of a 70-year-old man from his injuries.  The accident occurred over the weekend  on Interstate 95 when a tour bus which was taking a group of casino goers back to Chinatown, flipped over and skidded several yards before crashing into a pole. The pole crashed right through the window of the bus, cutting the bus in half, severely injuring the occupants inside. 14 passengers died immediately, and several were injured, some of them critically.

According to the bus driver, his bus was clipped by an 18-wheeler, which caused the bus to overturn and skid several years before it hit a pole.  The bus driver's account of the accident may not be completely accurate.  Police now believe that the driver was traveling at excessive speeds.  Witness accounts have reported that the bus was traveling at “reckless speeds” before it turned over.

The fallout from the bus accident has been immediate.  Sen. Charles Schumer Democrat-New York and Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez Democrat-New York have called on the National Transportation Safety Board to begin an investigation into the safety regulations followed by discount tour buses.  The bus involved in the accident was one of the several low-cost tour buses that transport casino goers to casinos in Connecticut and other states.  While this section of the tour bus industry has expanded rapidly, oversight of safety regulations hasn't kept pace.  The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to announce its findings on Saturday's accident by the end of thisweek.

This is an incredible tragedy for the city of New York,and our hearts go out to the families of the victims killed here.

The NewYork City personal injury attorneys at Godosky and Gentile represent injured victims of auto/bus/truck accidents in the city of New York.

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Pedestrian Killed in Bronx Car Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
March 07, 2011

A 76-year-old man was killed last week in an accident on a Bronx street. The man was hit by an NYC transit bus as he was crossing Castle Hill Avenue. The man was on his way to the grocery store when he was struck by the bus making a right turn.

According to the bus driver, he didn't even realize that he had hit someone, until some passersby ran up to him and stopped him to inform him that he had struck a pedestrian. The victim had been severely crushed under the wheels of the bus, and was dead at the scene of the accident. So far, no charges have been filed against the New York City bus driver here. Investigations into the accident are going on. There is no information about whether the victim was on a crosswalk or not. 

However, NewYork pedestrian accident lawyers find that many accidents in New York are caused simply because motorists - or bus drivers - are not looking out for pedestrians. Walking is an art form in New York City more than anywhere else in the country, and it surprising that the safety of pedestrians here is as much in doubt as it is.

Most of these pedestrian accidents can be prevented if motorists look out for pedestrians while they're driving. Watch out for pedestrians when you're nearing a crosswalk. Any time you see pedestrians crossing the road, is time for you to stop. Look out especially closely for pedestrians at night.  This pedestrian accident occurred during the night. Pedestrians are easy to miss in the dark, especially if they're wearing darker colored clothing.  Stay alert at all times while driving, and turn off all distractions in your car. Very often, pedestrian accidents are caused by motorists who are busy texting, fiddling with radio channels, updating their Facebook statuses or indulging in other severely distracting behavior at the wheel.

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Slight Increase in Traffic Accidents in New York City in 2010
Posted by: William Gentile
February 25, 2011

New statistics by the Department of Transportation show that New York City is one of the safest areas in the country, with traffic accident fatalities here having dropped to their lowest levels for the past two years. Yet, lastyear, the city recorded a small increase over the previous year.

In 2009, traffic fatalities in New York City had reached record lows. In 2010, there were 259 traffic accident fatalities, an increase of 5% over 2009. Fatalities in motorcycle accidents accounted for approximately 14% of the total traffic accident fatalities in New York City in 2010, in spiteof the fact that motorcycles only comprise 2% of the city's registered vehicles.

However, traffic accident fatality rates in NYC continueto remain one of the lowest in the country, at about a quarter of the nationalrate. In 2008, New York streets were safer than those in several other large American cities, including Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles. Much of the credit should go to city transportation officials, especially Transportation Commissioner Janet Sadik-Khan.According to Ms. Khan, the trick is to stop thinking of traffic accidents as "accidents" since these are almost always so avoidable. Under the newTransportation Commissioner, there has been a great emphasis on encouragingpedestrians, thereby reducing street congestion and accidents, as well as an overhaul of traffic signals and advertising campaigns against speeding.

However, in spite of these advances in traffic safety, New York car accident lawyers still find that NYC is a dangerous city compared to some of the other major global cities. For instance, we still have a long way to go before motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in New York City are as safe as those in London, Stockholm, and even congested Tokyo. Some areas, including the Manhattan approach to the Queensboro Bridge and Brooklyn's OceanAvenue, are fatal accident magnets. 

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Driver in New York Church Van Accident Had Revoked License
Posted by: William Gentile
February 16, 2011

The driver of a church van involved in a deadly crash on the New York State Thruway last year, was driving under a revoked license that had been suspended at least 25 times.  Bernard Lattibeaudierewas driving the 16-passenger minivan on September 18^th, 2010. OnJanuary 18, he was charged with first-degree felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and traffic-related charges.

The van was carrying a group of church members on their way to a retreat in upstate New York. About 55 miles from New York City, one ofthe tires blew out, and the van flipped over several times. Six people werekilled in the accident, while eight other people were seriously injured.Several passengers were ejected during the rollover. Only two people - the driver and front seat passenger - had been wearing seat belts at the time ofthe crash. Investigations confirmed that the main factor in the accident had been the blown tire.

Minivans, like pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles,are more susceptible to a rollover. These vehicles have a much higher chance of being in a rollover accident, especially in case of a blown tire. In fact, 15-passenger vans have been under the scanner in recent years because of the high incidence of rollover crashes involving these vehicles.

NewYork car accident lawyers have found that  these accidents are made even more dangerous by the fact that 15 and 16-passenger vans are very often used as chartered vans. New York schools often use these vans for field trips. For instance, in this particular accident, the van had been chartered by a church group on its way to a Christian event. Because 15 and 16-passenger vans are used for group travel,the risk of multiple injuries and fatalities is much greater when these vehicles are involved in an accident. 

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President Obama Signs 9/11 Worker Health Bill
Posted by: William Gentile
January 31, 2011

Earlier this month, President Obama signed a landmark piece of legislation, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The law will provide medical and health aid to survivors of the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy, and first responders who fell sick as a result of working at the site.

The legislation is named after police officer James Zadroga, who fell seriously ill with a respiratory illness after he responded to the site of the greatest terrorist attack in US history.  Zadroga was a detective at the New York Police Department, and died of illnesses that he developed as a result of his work on the site. 

The law will commit $20 billion to help 9/11 responders and volunteers who fell ill after they were exposed to toxic debris and other contaminants at the 9/11 site. The initial piece of legislation would have provided for approximately $7.4 billion to be set aside for medical and healthcare for 9/11 volunteers and emergency responders.  That amount was whittled down to $4.3million.

Responders will have to wait until the month of July to see any benefits from this law.  The bill will cover all responders, volunteers and employees at Ground Zero.  It will also cover those who lived near Ground Zero or worked nearby.  The total package includes more than $1.5 billion for the treatment of related disorders that developed a result of mental health disorders. A further $2.8 billion has been earmarked in compensation for those who were affected by their work at the site.

The lawyers at Godosky and Gentile have been strongly involvedin the efforts to secure medical and health aid for workers who were left withseverely debilitating illnesses as a result of the work they performed at theGround Zero site.   

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Infant Seriously Injured in Brooklyn Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
January 31, 2011

Red light violations continue to be a major factor in accidents that New York auto accident lawyers come across. A nine-month-old infant was seriously injured in an accident in Brooklyn, caused when an out-of-control car crashed into a minivan, and set off a chain reaction crash.

According to the New York Times, the accident on Sunset Park was triggered by a livery driver, Gregorio A. Patino who was driving on a suspended license. He crashed his car into a Toyota minivan, which then collided with a Toyota pickup. The force of the collision caused the pickup to hop onto the sidewalk and into a woman standing on the sidewalk with her infant twin sons. The mother was thrown several feet away, and sustained serious injuries. One twin has suffered head injuries, and is reported to be a critical condition. The woman is apparently from Baltimore, and had been visiting New York for a family reunion.

According to witnesses at the scene, Patino had run a red light on Fourth Avenue just before the accident. He has now been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, imprudent and reckless driving.

Investigations into this accident are going on. Red light violations are some of the most frequent factors in auto accidents in the US. These are also the most underestimated. We have campaigns to prevent distracted driving, intoxicated driving and speeding, but few crackdowns against those who show little regard for the law as they run a red light and endanger the safety of other motorists. Crashes that result from motorists running red lights are extremely serious, because other cars involved in the collision typically do not have time to avoid the speeding car.

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Approximately 2,800 People Killed in Drowsy Driving Accidents in New York Annually
Posted by: William Gentile
December 21, 2010

A new study by the AAA indicates that drowsydriving is responsible for one in every six fatal auto accidents in the USevery year. In New York, approximately 2,800 people are killed inaccidents caused by drowsy drivers. Those statistics are extremely worrying to NewYork car accident attorneys, who believe that this traffic safety issue hasnot received the attention it deserves.

Nationwide, more than 100,000 motor vehicle accidents areattributed to drowsy driving every year. These contribute to more than 40,000injuries and lead to 1,550 deaths. In 2002, a bus accident on the Thruwayoutside of Victor was traced to a bus driver, who apparently fell asleep whiledriving the tour bus. Five people were killed, and all 50 passengers on boardthe bus were injured. Whether it’s the driver of a commercial motor vehicle orpassenger vehicle behind the wheel, drowsy driving can have devastatingconsequences for all.

Some people seem to be at a higher risk for drowsydriving. Young drivers and teen motorists are more likely to be involved insuch accidents. In fact, teen motorists between the age of 16 and 24 are morelikely to be involved in a drowsy driving accident, compared to other motorists.The risk of drowsy driving, not surprisingly, increases dramatically betweenmidnight and six in the morning. The risks are also greater while driving inthe afternoon between one and four. You are also more likely to doze off ifyou're on a long drive all alone. Shift workers and people who work on morethan one job, and therefore, don't get enough sleep, could also be at a higher riskof fatigued driving.

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Teen Accident Study Has Surprises for New York Car Accident Attorneys
Posted by: William Gentile
November 26, 2010

Contrary to what many believe, pickup trucks may not necessarily be the safest vehicles for teenage motorists, and teen motorists traveling with just one person in the car are not at a lower risk of an accident than those with more teen passengers in the car. That information comes via a new study conducted by researchers at the University Of Texas. 

The researchers were trying to find what causes typically aggressive driving behavior among teenagers, with a special focus on external factors, like the type of vehicle.  What they found was surprising.  The researchers found that driving a pickup truck actually places a teenage motorist aged between 16 and 17 at a higher risk of an accident, than a teenager driving a passenger vehicle.   Other experts have typically claimed that teenagers who drive sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks have a lower risk of injuries, because of the size of these vehicles.  As this study shows, that may not necessarily be true.  In fact, the more powerful the vehicle, the higher the risk of accidents involving a teen motorist.

The other interesting fact to emerge from the study was that teenagers who had just one passenger in the car are actually at a higher risk of an accident than those with multiple teen passengers.  The researchers have an explanation for this too.  They believe that a teen motorist with a single passenger is likely continuously distracted, trying to entertain the passenger.

The study also revealed several facts that are no surprise to NewYork car accident lawyers.  Drunk driving continues to be a major factor in teen accidents, even though many of the teenage drivers surveyed in the study were aware of the risks of driving under the influence. The standard recommendations for preventing teen accidents are also the same – restrict passengers in your child’s car, get more involved in boosting your child’s driving skills by signing up for  a parental orientation course, and set nighttime restrictions till you believe your child can handle the challenges of driving in poor visibility.

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Decline in Teen Accident Deaths Being Attributed to Economy
Posted by: William Gentile
November 12, 2010

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there has beena decline in the number of fatal accidents involving teen drivers.  Not surprisingly to New York car accident attorneys, the agency is attributing this decline to the sluggish economy.  There was especially good news for parents of teen motorists in New York.  According to the CDC study, New York is one of the safest states for teen motorists, with only 10 out of every 100,000 teen drivers here involved in fatal accidents.

The CDC report analyzed fatal teen accident rates between 2004 and 2008.  During this period of time, there were a total of 9, 644 teen drivers aged 16 and 17 years old, who were involved in fatal accidents.  37percent of the fatalities in these accidents were the teen drivers themselves, while 31% were their passengers.  The remaining included the drivers and passengers of the other vehicles, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists.  65% of the teen drivers involved in these accidents were male.  36% of the teen drivers were believed to be speeding at the time of the crash.

According to the CDC, the main factor in the decline in teen driver-related fatal accidents has been the state of the economy.  Most tellingly, the decline in fatalities was the steepest between 2007 and 2008.  This was the time when gas prices fluctuated dramatically, which likely discouraged teen drivers from traveling.  Besides, the dismal economic situation meant that fewer teen drivers applied to receive their driver’s licenses over this period of time. 

There are also a few non-economic reasons for this decline.  For instance, many states now have strong GDL programs in place that prevent teen drivers from driving at night on their own,or with fellow teen passengers.  Besides,increased seatbelt use, safer automobiles and the general reduction in alcohol-related car accidents, also helped keep teen driver death rates under control.

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Four People Killed in New York Bus Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
October 09, 2010

Much mystery still surrounds the deadlybus accident in Syracuse, New York last week that left four people dead. 

The double-decker bus was on its way to Toronto, Canada whenit apparently crashed into a low hanging bridge.  Three men and one woman were killed in theaccident.  All four passengers wereseated in the top deck of the bus, and received the full impact of the crash.  The bus, a Megabus, hit the railroad overpassand the impact almost sheared off the top portion of the bus.  Several passengers were injured in theaccident, many of them critically. 

According to investigators, the bus was not able to clearthe low hanging span.   Typically, there is a flashing yellow light atthe site which alerts drivers to the low bridge.  The driver seems to have missed thislight. 

However, according to the company, the bus driver was noton his designated route either. Authorities say they believe the driver misseda turn when the road split, and got lost. There is no indication about why the driver was on another route.  Even the route he was on was not part thealternate route that is prescribed by the bus company.  Coach USA which operates Megabus, also believesthe driver made a mistake while traveling on that particular route.

According to representatives for Coach USA, this was thefirst accident involving a company bus, since its launch in 2006.  The company has assured investigators that itwill cooperate with the probe. 

The site has been the scene of accidents in the past.  According to the New York Department ofTransportation, the railway bridge has been a factor in several accidentsrecently. 

The NewYork bus accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile represent persons injuredin auto and bus accidents in New York City and around the state of New York.

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Highway Accident Fatalities at Lowest Level in Six Decades
Posted by: William Gentile
October 09, 2010

Nationwide, highway accident rates havedropped to their lowest levels since 1950.  According tothe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was a drop of morethan 9% in accident fatalities in 2009, compared to the previous year.   Thetotal number of fatalities last year in accidents was 33, 808, the lowest levelsince 1950 when there were 33,186 deaths. 

Besides, there has been a decline in fatalities in almostevery area - from motorcycle accidents to drunk driving accidents.  Injury rates in 2009 were also down.  An estimated 2.32 million people were injuredin crashes in 2009, compared to 2.35 million in 2008.  Even the injury numbers are at their lowestlevels since 1988.  Alcohol-related accidentfatalities also dropped by 7.4% in 2009.

The state of New York had 1,156 accident relatedfatalities in 2009, compared to 1,238 in 2008. That was a drop of 6.6%.  Therewere 321 drunk driving accident-related fatalities in 2009, compared to 346 theprevious year.

So, who do we have to thank for this substantial and verywelcome drop in fatalities and injuries last year?  The economy and recession might not have hadthat much of a role to play in this.  Thenumber of vehicle miles that Americans traveled actually increased in 2009,compared to 2008.  That however, did notnecessarily translate into a higher number of fatalities. 

Also, NewYork car accident attorneys have noticed that statesaround the country have been more aggressive with law enforcement over the pastcouple of years.  New York State has seenmore numbers of DUI patrols and sobriety checkpoints, and that has contributedto a drop in DUI-related accidents. Besides, seatbelt usage across the country is up, and several stateshave enacted laws that require all occupants of the car, including backseatpassengers, to buckle up. 

Automobiles are much safer than in the past.  Electronic stability control systems, sideairbags and plenty of other high-tech gadgetry help prevent accidents andminimize injuries in the event of a collision. Being involved in a serious accident now does not automatically translateinto instant death.  If victims are closeto a trauma care center and can be taken there within the first hour after theaccident, the chances of surviving a crash increase significantly. 

All this has meant that motorists in New York are thesafest they have been in decades.

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Sports Radio Commentary Can Increase Your Risk of an Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
August 09, 2010

Cheering for the Yankees or the Mets while listening to a ball-by-ball commentary on the radio can be more dangerous for you than you think.  A new study just out of Britain indicates that listening to sports commentary on the radio, increases your accident risk significantly. 

Researchers monitored a group of persons who had to listen to a horserace commentary while being put through a simulated driving program.  Researchers found that the subjects showed a 20% drop in reaction times while driving, which is equal to the drop experienced by an intoxicated driver.  New York car accident lawyerscan take this to mean that the accident risks from being engrossed in a sports game on the radio, are equal to those from drunk driving.

Not all games have the same risk, however.  The subjects in this study were also told that they would win a certain amount of money for every horse that made it to the top five.  The persons therefore, had an emotional interest in the game, and were much more likely to concentrate on it.  It's this emotional connection that seems to distract drivers the most.  Persons rooting for their favorite team while listening to a game on the radio, are definitely emotionally involved in the game.  A fan listening to a sports broadcast is not merely a motorist listening to the game on the radio, but is actually an active spectator at the event, watching the game.  This creates a dangerous shift in attention away from the road. 

This kind of shift is considered essential by radio sports broadcasters, whose livelihood depends on being able to distract you away from whatever you're doing and focus on the game.  However, any kind of distraction that takes your attention away from the road, increases your risk of an accident, and must be avoided.

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Brain Biomarker Test Will Help Indicate Presence of Injury
Posted by: William Gentile
August 09, 2010

The Wall Street Journal has a report on efforts to develop a blood test to determine the level of brain injury biomarkers that can indicate the presence of an injury.  Doctors have known for long that brain injury leads to the presence of certain biomarkers or chemicals in the blood.  However, there has been limited success finding biomarkers in case of mild and common brain injuries, like concussions.

There are a number of studies on to determine the presence of these chemicals.  One such study is being funded by the Department of Defense.  Brain injury among injured vets is a serious issue, and the military wants to speed up the diagnosis process, thereby accelerating treatment and recovery.  Other tests are being conducted at the Banyan Biomarkers Inc. facility in Florida.  These tests are being conducted on anesthetized rats, and have provided some significant findings.  There seems to be a link between the seriousness of the brain injury and the level of biomarkers in the blood.

If a test like this is developed, locating the presence of a brain injury could be as easy as administering a simple blood test.

As New York personal injury lawyers, we frequently come across cases where brain injury has occurred as a result of auto and truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, and workplace accidents.  If a blood test like this is developed and proves successful, thousands of patients every year will benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.

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