Daylight Savings Time comes around the same time every year, when America pushes its clocks ahead one hour. Despite the fact that everyone knows it is coming, people often take a great deal of time to adjust to the change in schedule. This shift is more than a simple inconvenience, however, as the switch to Daylight Savings Time often comes with an increased risk of injury and death, particularly when people are out driving.… Read the rest
Category: Car Accident
NHTSA Reports Increase in Traffic Fatalities During Quarantine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that the first nine months of 2020, which included the most intense period in which the coronavirus lockdown was in place, showed an increase in the number of traffic-related fatalities compared to the same period in 2019. This is despite a general decrease in traffic- or, as the NHTSA proposes, it may in fact be because of the lightened traffic. In addition, there were increased signs of drivers being under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances during this time period.… Read the rest
Pedestrian Accidents on Rise From 2015 to 2019 in NY
A study by AAA Northeast has shown that 162,000 pedestrians were struck by vehicles from 2010 to 2019. That is an average of one person every thirty-three minutes, with the highest point coming in 2013 with 16,145 pedestrian accidents. While things seemed to be turning around in 2015, when accidents had fallen by 22% from just two years prior, they slowly turned back around, and in 2019 there were 15,456 pedestrian accidents. While this trend may have been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, pedestrian accidents nevertheless remain shockingly prevalent and deadly in New York.… Read the rest
Car Accidents: Five Things That Make Them More Likely
Car accidents are among the most common causes of injury in the United States, with thousands of people injured or killed every year in New York alone. While some of these accidents are unavoidable, there are circumstances that can make car accidents significantly more likely. Here are five issues that increase the likelihood of a car accident:… Read the rest
Red Light Camera Fee Increase Ruled Unconstitutional
A recent administrative fee added by Suffolk County onto red light camera charges has been ruled unconstitutional by a state Supreme Court justice. Red light cameras have long been an area of contention due to both their proliferation and their debatable legality. This decision is a victory for those who advocate against the cameras, although it merely reduces their cost in Suffolk County, rather than eliminating them entirely.… Read the rest
Limo Safety Bills Signed into Law in NY
Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a package of limousine safety bills into law, intended to deal with a series of fatal crashes on Long Island and across the state that resulted in calls to address the problem. The laws specifically address the issue of rented stretch limos, which are commonly hired for formal events like proms, weddings and bar mitzvahs, among other similar events. The hope is that the new measures will reduce the number of fatalities caused by limo crashes every year.… Read the rest
Nassau County Takes Steps to Protect Pedestrians During “Fall Back”
Research has shown that pedestrian deaths increase in the period immediately after the end of Daylight Savings Time. The combination of fewer daylight hours plus the sudden shift in people’s sleep schedules has the combined effect of drastically increasing the danger to pedestrians in the weeks immediately after the “fall back” to Eastern Standard Time. Nassau County has recently announced a plan that would hopefully reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities that occur as result of the fall back.… Read the rest
Hit-and-Run Driver in Bronx on the Run
Police are on the lookout for a dark-colored pickup truck that was involved in a hit-and-run on Pitman Avenue in the Bronx, according to ABC 7’s Eyewitness News. The incident occurred on September 22nd at 7:55 PM, when the truck backed over the woman as she was crossing the street, resulting in her suffering injuries to her legs and feet. Police noted the truck apparently had an after-market cap installed on the truck bed. The victim is currently hospitalized but in stable condition.… Read the rest
Uninsured and Underinsured Accident Claims
No one wants to be the victim of a car accident. But one of the worst fears of a car accident victim is when the other driver does not have enough car insurance to cover your losses. This can be due to the driver having an inadequate policy, or even, no policy at all. In fact, the nation’s Insurance Information Institute recently reported that nearly 13 percent of the nation’s drivers are uninsured. Knowing what to do in these instances is the key to receiving the compensation you deserve for your injuries.… Read the rest
Will Legalized Marijuana Result in More Motor Vehicle Crashes?
Despite overall statewide and local support for the legalization for marijuana, there has been concern that legalizing the drug may mean an increase in motor vehicle crashes.… Read the rest
