Staten Island Personal Injury Law Blog

Stats for motor vehicle accidents show rise in truck fatalities

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

New Yorkers are accustomed to navigating the busy roads of the city. They will be cautious and prepared for what the bustling city roads have in store. However, one issue that they will often overlook is the danger that large trucks present. Although New York is not located in an area of the U.S. where trucks will need to traverse as they go across the country, it is an important shipping location and destination, making it common that there will be these large and ominous vehicles on the road. This creates danger. Research into the number of fatal auto accidents shows that large truck fatalities are on the rise.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released the latest information regarding fatal traffic accidents. It stated that there were positive indicators that safety is getting better from 2016 to 2017. There was a reduction in fatalities for those in passenger vehicles, vans, light pickups, motorcycles and bicycles. Pedestrian safety also improved for the first time in five years. The number of alcohol-related wrecks lowered by 5.6 percent. In other areas, however, there are worrisome issues.

Vehicle safety systems can lead to auto accidents if misused

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

In Staten Island and throughout New York City, there are endless dangers on the road. That includes distracted drivers, drivers under the influence, reckless drivers and negligent drivers. What might come as a surprise is that technologies that are being installed by auto manufacturers to improve safety are also risky and can cause accidents because they are not being used properly. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has examined this issue.

The innovations, such as the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, can help avoid approximately 2.7 million auto accidents, stop 1.1 million people from suffering injuries and prevent 9,500 fatalities. Unfortunately, drivers are often not cognizant of the limits on these systems and believe they can do more in terms of safety than they actually can. With that, accidents can happen with injuries and fatalities. The systems that can cause danger are to monitor blind spots while driving, automatic braking, warnings when there is a lane departure, cruise control and forward collision signals.

Medical groups acknowledge medical errors and try to reduce them

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Medical Malpractice on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

New Yorkers who have been impacted by a misdiagnosis, a delayed diagnosis or any other form of medical malpractice will want answers as to why it happened. This is even more important when they have had a loved one who was severely injured or died due to medical mistakes. The information as to how frequently this occurs can vary. Oftentimes, medical professionals and hospitals try to put the best possible face on their performance and dispute whether it was a mistake on their part that caused the damage. Now, however, a significant number of patient groups have joined forces to try to improve how patients are diagnosed and cared for.

The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine consists of around 40 of these groups. They are calling their efforts ACT for Better Diagnosis. Since research shows that approximately 80,000 people die each year - every nine minutes - because of a medical mistake, this step is long overdue. The CEO of SIDM says that the complex and uncertain nature of giving an accurate medical diagnosis makes it important that the way in which people are treated improves. Not only are the fatalities an issue, but misdiagnosis can harm 12 million people who are seeking medical help.

Hit-and-run pedestrian accident sends woman to hospital

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

Accidents are sometimes unavoidable in Staten Island and people are injured and lose their lives because of them. It is a tragedy when this happens and, in many instances, the cause is a driver who is operating a vehicle while distracted, under the influence or is otherwise reckless. With these crashes, one thing is certain: it is important for the driver to remain at the scene to call for emergency assistance and to provide important information. In fact, it is a law that the driver must remain at the scene. Should there be a crash and the driver flees, not only might a person who was hurt suffer worse injuries and even death because of that lack of care, but it is a crime. These are made worse when it is a hit-and-run pedestrian accident.

According to a recent report, a 55-year-old woman was injured and hospitalized when she was hit by a car. The car immediately fled the scene and is currently being sought by law enforcement. The accident occurred in the evening shortly before 9 p.m. The woman was almost on the sidewalk when she was hit. She was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle and rolled off. The driver backed up, nearly hit two other people and took off. The woman suffered bruises to her leg and back. She was released from the hospital the day after the crash. There is surveillance video of the accident.

The vital role of parents in producing responsible teen drivers

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law on Monday, September 24, 2018.

Teenagers and automobiles on Staten Island could be dangerous combinations. Safety authorities say young drivers are more likely to be car accident victims than any other age group. For that reason, your responsibility as a parent of a teenage driver to instill the basics of safe driving is enormous.

According to nationwide statistics, the primary cause of death in teens between 16 and 19 years old is automobile accidents. Parents do not only play an important role in discussing safe driving but also in holding young drivers accountable for risky behavior behind the wheel.

Studies examine age range of distracted drivers

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

In New York and across the country, it is known how dangerous distracted drivers are. They can cause crashes with other vehicles, hit bicyclists and pedestrians and cause an untold amount of damage with serious injuries and even death. While legislators and law enforcement officials seek to stop the practice, research is always useful as a method to understand the phenomenon to directly target the people who are most prone to distracted driving. One study from Volvo looked at the age of people who are commonly distracted drivers.

According to its survey, in which 1,665 people 18 and older took part, 71 percent of people who are categorized in "Generation Z" and were born in 1997 and later stated they used a cellphone behind the wheel. "Millennials," who were born from 1981 to 1996, and "Generation X," born from 1965 to 1980, came in at 81 percent. People born from 1946 to 1964 - "Baby Boomers" - admitted to it in 64 percent of the cases. And the "Silent Generation," born from 1928 to 1945, registered 59 percent. Volvo says that these numbers made distracted driving an issue that spans age groups. The preferable way to prevent distracted driving was to have complete silence when behind the wheel.

Bus-pedestrian accident kills woman as she crosses street

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

New Yorkers are keenly aware of the dangers they face when crossing the streets in such a big and busy city. Taking the necessary precautions, such as walking in the crosswalk and making certain to wait for lights to change, or to have the right of way, are all key points to remember. Since there are so many large vehicles and dangerous drivers around the city, it is imperative to remain vigilant. One thing that New Yorkers will often take for granted is that drivers who take to the roads professionally - specifically New York City bus drivers - will be risk averse and cautious. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and fatal pedestrian accidents can happen.

According to a recent report, a bus crashed into an 81-year-old woman in Brooklyn, killing her. According to the investigation, the 62-year-old bus driver was turning, did not yield to the pedestrian and hit her as she crossed. The MTA driver is now confronted with charges because of the failure to yield and failing to exercise due care. According to the union representative for the driver, he is an experienced bus driver and has a good record. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Woman suffers leg injury after Staten Island hit-and-run

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

There are times when car accidents in Staten Island are unavoidable. The best that those involved in these collisions can hope for is to avoid serious injury. However, some accidents do lead to serious injuries and people will need extensive medical care. In some cases, the injuries are catastrophic and people will lose their lives. What can make these accidents worse is when one of those involved decides to flee the scene.

According to reports, a 60-year-old woman suffered a fractured leg after a car accident in the late evening shortly before 7 p.m. recently. After the crash, the other driver fled. The driver of the SUV that fled was said to be a Caucasian blonde female. She was in a white Mazda CX9 from the model years 2010 to 2012. The accident occurred at an intersection. Law enforcement officials are seeking help in finding the driver and the SUV.

A brain injury stemming from a car crash can disrupt your life

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law on Friday, August 31, 2018.

Being in a motor vehicle accident is one of the most frightening experiences you can have. In addition to causing you emotional distress, it can cause you serious physical problems and even mental problems if you suffer a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries can especially have an adverse effect on your personal/family relationships, on your employment, and on your quality of life overall. Here is a close look at brain injuries and your rights if someone else's negligence caused you to suffer these types of injuries in a New York car crash.

New York teens who are texting and driving is a growing problem

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

There are many teen drivers in New York and while they are undoubtedly excited to get their driver's license, that does not mean they fully understand the risks involved with being on the road. Many will treat it without the required seriousness, operate their vehicles recklessly and take part in risky activities behind the wheel. Today, some of the most dangerous acts that drivers can indulge in involve texting and driving and other levels of distracted driving. Research has been examining the combination of teen drivers and texting and driving and found that it is a problem in New York.

Anecdotal evidence shows endless stories of encountering teens who are texting while driving. A study in the Journal of Adolescent Health went further by putting numbers to the issue. It found that 38 percent of students text and drive. New York has a slightly lower percentage at 30 percent. A link in the frequency of teens texting while driving and the age at which drivers can get a learner's permit was found. Since the age in New York is 16, it is believed to impact the numbers.