Firm Partner Ira Slavit recently appeared on the BronxNetTV show OPEN to discuss how unsafe roads contribute to the deaths of Black drivers. He noted that more people of color were killed behind the wheel during the pandemic, although there were fewer people driving. He also provided advice to those whose loved ones were killed in accidents and told viewers what they should and should not do at the scene of an accident. To view the segment, watch the video below: … Read the rest
Tag: personal injury
Ira Slavit Says Better Roads Need to Be Built in Communities of Color to Reduce Number of Black Driver Deaths
During the pandemic, fewer people were on the roads, yet the number of traffic deaths went up. For Black drivers, the death rate was much higher, citing the configuration of unsafe roads that can be found in communities of color. Ira Slavit, Partner, Levine & Slavit PLLC, says local, state and federal governments must work together to improve these roadways to reduce the number of fatalities among Black drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 38,680 people who were killed in crashes last year, 7,494 were Black. Even though total overall deaths were up 7% … Read the rest
Peloton Issues Recall for Treadmills
Peloton, a major manufacturer of exercise equipment and apparel, has agreed to issue a voluntary recall for its treadmills over safety concerns. The recall comes after reports of dozens of people being injured while using the treadmills, including one child who died of their injuries. Peloton has agreed, as part of an agreement with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to cease production on the recalled treadmills, and is offering full refunds to anyone who asks for them.… Read the rest
Overexertion a Factor in Nearly a Third of Workplace Injuries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, overexertion is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in the United States. Together, injuries resulting from overexertion factor into 31% of all workplace injuries, accounting for more than 280,000 injuries per year. What is tragic is that most overexertion injuries are preventable, given the right training, equipment, and oversight.… Read the rest
Switch to Daylight Savings Means More Car Accidents
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
Rate of Workplace Injuries Remains Constant Throughout 2019
According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released this past November, the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses throughout 2019 remained stable from the previous year, staying at around 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses. In another BLS report, which was released in December, noted that the number of workplace fatalities went up during the same period of time. Together, these show a picture of a workplace environment that grew more deadly even as the overall number of illnesses and injuries remained the same.… Read the rest
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
Congress Bans Surprise Medical Bills With “No Surprises” Act
Congress has passed a law that will make it illegal to give someone a “surprise” medical bill. Known as the “No Surprises” Act, this law will make it substantially harder for medical providers to charge someone with unforeseen medical bills due to problems caused by inconsistent coverage from insurance networks. This will hopefully reduce the cost of medical stays, where people may face unforeseen medical expenses after suffering a major illness or injury.… Read the rest
Five Reasons Why Construction is the Most Dangerous Industry
There is no industry that is more dangerous to its own workers than construction. No other single profession has more on-the-job injuries or deaths than construction workers, with more than 150,000 construction injuries across the United States last year. Here are just five of the most common reasons why construction is the most dangerous industry:… Read the rest
