Staten Island Personal Injury Law Blog

Study: despite crackdown, distracted drivers still prevalent

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Most New York City drivers and drivers in general should know the dangers that distracted drivers create. Auto accidents are increasingly prevalent because of texting and driving and other distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Studies are frequently done to examine the scope of the problem. New research from Zendrive shows that drivers are still engaging in distractions behind the wheel despite a legislative crackdown. People who are in crashes should be even more cognizant that it is possible that the crash came about due to a distracted driver.

In its study, Zendrive found that around 60 percent of drivers -- approximately 69 million -- are using their phones at least one time when behind the wheel. This information came from the drivers themselves as they provided it anonymously. Every hour, these drivers will use their phone around 3 minutes and 40 seconds. That is 10 seconds higher than the same information Zendrive had one year ago. This coincides with the National Safety Council reporting on the rise of fatal auto accidents from 2015 to 2016, which constituted the highest rise in 50 years. In 2017, there were more than 40,000 deaths. A reduction in the price of gas was deemed to be a factor, but a major reason for these accidents is distracted drivers.

Agency investigation examines car accidents due to Goodyear tires

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

New York drivers place an endless amount of trust in their vehicles. This trust goes beyond expecting their vehicles to get them from one place to another. It extends to its manufacture and its parts. A key part of any motor vehicle is the tires. If there is a problem with the tires, it can place those in the vehicle and others on the road in jeopardy of suffering serious injuries or a wrongful death in a car accident. An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) centers on Goodyear tires that could be responsible for 95 injuries or deaths as far back as 20 years ago.

The G159 tire was manufactured from 1996 to 2003. The NHTSA is asking the manufacturer for a variety of information -- how it was designed, its safety record and its field performance. There are an estimated 40,000 tires that are subject to this investigation, which only started when sealed court documents were unsealed. An investigation by the website Jalopnik found that the tire had failed at a rate that was 10 to 27 times worse than defective Firestone 500 tires the NHTSA investigated years earlier.

AAA survey examines cellphone-automobile behaviors

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

In New York and across the nation, the reality of everyone having access to communication, information, shopping and anything else they want at the touch of a finger through their cellphones has become a growing problem when they are behind the wheel. While distracted drivers and texting and driving are known to be a danger, research is consistently seeking to determine how prevalent the behavior is, in an effort to devise ways to stop it.

In a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a survey was conducted with more than 2,600 drivers from 16-years-old and up. AAA found that the number of drivers who spoke on their cellphones rose by 46 percent over the past five years. Around 58 percent of respondents stated that it is a safety threat to talk on a cellphone when behind the wheel. According to 78 percent, texting and driving is a "significant" risk. While they stated they were aware of the danger, close to half said they had recently spoken on their cellphone while behind the wheel. More than one in three said they texted or emailed.

New car crash statistics show conflicting results

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, March 30, 2018.

For New Yorkers, the road can be a dangerous place. This is true whether one is as a driver, a motorcyclist, a bicyclist or a pedestrian. Research is constantly conducted to determine the statistics of auto accidents and to find ways to reduce their frequency. In some cases, there might be improvements in one area, but other areas might see a worsening number. The statistics for 2017 are being analyzed and are showing interesting results. Those who are in an accident should be cognizant of these numbers if they suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one in a wrongful death incident and would like to seek compensation.

In New York City, there was a 7 percent reduction in traffic fatalities. The number of pedestrians who were killed declined from 148 to 101. However, there was an increase in the deaths of people who were driving, riding a bicycle or were operating a motorcycle. This is from a report released by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mayor de Blasio had instituted "Vision Zero" four years ago. This was an attempt to prevent all traffic fatalities. Since its implementation, there has been a decrease in these incidents of 28 percent for traffic deaths and of 45 percent for pedestrian deaths.

Being a good note-taker may help you following a collision

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Your body hurts, and your heart is racing. You have just been involved in a collision caused by a negligent driver, and it feels as though you are trapped in a nightmare. Unfortunately, the accident is far from a figment of your imagination.

Writing down details about what took place in the car collision may be the furthest thing from your mind immediately after the crash. However, in reality, it may be the most personally beneficial move you can make following a wreck. Here are some tips for taking good notes after you have been in a motor vehicle collision in New York.

Rear-end crash into trooper vehicle shows danger of drunk drivers

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Rear-end collisions in Staten Island can cause significant injuries and death. Often, these car accidents occur because of distracted driving or drunk driving. These wrecks do not discriminate and can happen to anyone at any time. Even law enforcement and first responders are vulnerable to these motor vehicle accidents. They can be in greater danger than a regular citizen because they are often stopped on busy roadways as they perform their duties leading to increased risk. After a crash, they too have the right to seek compensation in a lawsuit.

A rear-end crash injured a New York State Trooper as the officer was making a traffic stop in Staten Island. The accident occurred at around 1:00 a.m. The officer and his partner had just completed a traffic stop. They were walking back to their cruiser when the accident occurred. A driver rear-ended to police car, which then went on to hit the officer and the vehicle that had been stopped. The officer was thrown to the grass on the side of the road. He was taken to the hospital and his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The driver of the vehicle, a 31-year-old man, was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Number of fatal pedestrian accidents maintains problematic rate

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

New Yorkers who are on the streets for any amount of time will be aware of the dangers to pedestrians. Because the city is so busy and people are often in a rush, there is a significant chance that there will be pedestrian accidents. This can happen because drivers are not paying attention, are reckless, are breaking the law and for many other reasons. Studies attempt to calculate the number of pedestrian accidents, determine their cause and take steps to stop them. People who have been hit by a car as a pedestrian should be cognizant of these studies.

New information from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) says that there were around 6,000 fatal pedestrian accidents in the United States in 2017. This was the second year in a row in which the number was that high -- the highest in 25 years. The executive director of GHSA states that this is a worrisome trend for everyone as it is not an anomaly. Two consecutive years with this high a number constitutes a red flag.

Mother blames doctor errors for daughter's death and files suit

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Medical Malpractice on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

When a New Yorker is ill and seeks treatment from a medical professional, there is an inherent expectation that they will be given the top level of care. In such a situation, any mistake can lead to severe complications and death. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, medical malpractice and other doctor errors happen all too frequently and can cause innumerable injuries and fatalities. This is particularly worrisome when children are involved.

A woman whose 7-year-old daughter died after an alleged misdiagnosis intends to take legal action against the hospital. According to the mother, the child died less than one full day after the doctor did not give her the proper treatment for strep throat. The strep throat turned into pneumonia and the child died. She says that the medical staff was negligent. Two days before she died, the child told her mother she was not feeling well with stomach and throat problems. She had a fever of 101 and the mother took the child to the doctor.

Possible failure to yield leads to fatal motorcycle crash

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

Staten Island has many motorcyclists on the road. While most drivers of conventional vehicles will pay strict attention to those on motorcycles and take the necessary steps to ensure that they are safe, accidents still happen. A motorcyclist is inherently at risk to severe injuries and death when there is a crash with a car. Therefore, motorcyclists who are injured in a crash or those who lose a loved one in motorcycle accident should be aware of the financial and personal costs that accompany them. They should also be aware that a lawsuit may help them in the aftermath.

A crash between a motorcycle and a car killed the 26-year-old rider. The accident happened when a vehicle was attempting to execute a left-hand turn out of a parking lot and onto the road where it collided with the motorcyclist. The driver of the vehicle, age 46, stayed at the scene as law enforcement investigated and the rider was attended to by emergency personnel. The rider was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. The investigation is ongoing to determine if there will be any charges against the driver.

Hazardous property conditions may threaten your shopping trip

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

When you walk into a department store, your mind probably goes immediately to the item or items you came to buy. Besides facing the threat of overspending, you likely do not see yourself as being in any real danger.

However, whether you are shopping for clothes or household goods in New York, you could unfortunately suffer injuries as a result of hazardous property conditions. In this situation, you have the right to seek to hold accountable the property owner responsible for the injuries you have suffered.