Researchers found the largest increase was among 16-year-olds, with fatalities increasing 16 percent in the first part of 2011. Overall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projects total motor vehicle deaths in the nation declined. Although this projection offers good news, the increase in teen motor vehicle fatalities is troubling.
]]> Teen's Tragic DeathUnfortunately, this trend was illustrated recently with the tragic death of a teen. A 17-year-old girl was killed in an upstate car accident while traveling with two high school friends on the New York State Thruway.
Police officers suspect the accident occurred when the driver, an 18-year-old boy, was distracted and looked away from the road. The car went off the road and crashed into a tree. Speed and slick road conditions may have also played a role in the accident.
The girl who died as a result of the accident was in the rear seat and not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The driver and passenger were both treated for minor injuries.
Steps to Reduce New York Teenage Car Accidents
Such tragedies can be avoided. The Chairman for GHSA recommends parents take the following proactive steps to provide teenagers with the tools they need to safely operate motor vehicles:
Parents can also set an example for teens by avoiding the use of wireless devices while driving.
Car accidents are caused by many factors, and remedies are available for victims of accidents. These awards can cover the cost of medical and rehabilitative expenses, as well as pain and suffering.
Source: Reuters, "Teen driver deaths up 11 percent in first half of 2011," Feb.17, 2012.
]]>Arrests for alcohol-impaired driving still outnumber arrests for New York driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI-Drugs), but that gap may be shrinking. LoHud reports that in 2010, 326 drivers were arrested and charged with DWAI-Drugs in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.
This is more than double the number of drivers that were arrested on this charge just 10 years earlier - 145 drivers were arrested on this charge in the three-county area in 2001.
]]> Why Have the Number of Arrests Increased?A couple reasons that explain the increasing number of arrests for drugged driving are better police training and more prescription drug abuse.
Police officers are receiving specialized training so that they are able to recognize the signs of drug impairment in drivers. Designed to enhance the basic training that officers receive, a 16-hour course offered to officers so they are better able to "detect the symptoms of drug use," according to LoHud.
Additionally, a few officers receive additional training to become drug recognition experts (DRE). To receive the certification officers must complete 200 hours of training. During the training officers learn to identify symptoms of drug use.
While officers are better training to recognize signs of drug impairment, police officials also attribute the rise in arrests to an increased number of people becoming addicted to and abusing prescription drugs.
Drivers accused of DWAI-Drugs face the same penalties as those charged with DWI. If stopped and accused of impaired driving, be respectful to the officer. However, at the first opportunity ask to speak with a criminal defense attorney.
Source: LoHud.com, "Drugged-driving arrests soar as prescription abuse, police training rise," Ken Valenti, Jan. 22, 2012.
]]>After NY state troopers charged five residents with drunk driving or drugged driving, the name, age and residence of the alleged offenders showed up on the website of The Journal News, which serves Rockland County, Putnam County and Westchester County.
]]> The charges were based on a range of circumstances:Whatever the legal consequences of an arrest, being exposed for suspicion of driving while intoxicated can take an immediate toll on a career and community standing. Contacting an experienced DWI defense lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest is critical to protecting your rights.
Source: Lohud.com, "Troopers charge 5 with drunken driving in Rockland, Westchester, Putnam," Dec. 6, 2011
]]>A cautionary tale comes from Long Island, where this month a 22-year-old man crashed his car into a Suffolk County police cruiser in the early morning hours. The driver was wearing a shirt, which said "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a drunk, alcoholics go to meetings." The officer in the police cruiser was a part of the department's Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team and arrested the man for driving while impaired (DWI).
While the incident may seem funny, driving after drinking one too many is no laughing matter. Drivers charged with Westchester or Rockland County DWI face serious consequences. Some of the penalties following conviction include: fines, court costs, possible jail time, loss of a driver's license and higher insurance premiums. A New York DWI conviction can become a very expensive crime.
]]> Tips to Stay Safe on Thanksgiving and Throughout the YearThe best way to avoid the consequences of a DWI charge or conviction is to plan ahead. Make sure to have a safe way to get home before going out to celebrate with friends. Designate a sober driver in advance. Call a taxi to get home after that extra drink.
Over the long holiday weekend, more New York state police troops will be on the road targeting speeders, those not using their seat belts and impaired drivers. If stopped on suspicion of DWI, be polite and cooperate with the officer. Then call a local DWI attorney.
Source: Huffington Post, "Kevin Daly Arrested for DWI After Crashing Into Cop Car, Wearing 'I'm a drunk' T-shirt," Nov. 17, 2011
]]>The survey was conducted by State Farm Insurance. Remarkably, over half of parents - 53 percent - admitted to being distracted by cell phones or other electronic devices on at least one occasion while teaching their teenage children to drive.
The teenagers who were surveyed put the figure even higher. The number of teens who said their parents were distracted by cell phones or texting while teaching their teens to drive was 61 percent.
These numbers are way too high. "It's alarming," said Chris Mullen, the director of technology research for State Farm. "There's a need to remind parents that they are role models."
Given the risk of distracted driving accidents, a parent who is a proper role model should put down the phone and other electronic devices when teaching a teenager to drive. It's that simple.
Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, is trying to get parents to realize how powerful their teaching role can be in creating good driving habits for a lifetime. When parents put the phone away while driving, LaHood says, "it's not just common sense safe behavior. It's a life-long lesson for the children in the backseat."
Even without the risk of distracted driving, it's not easy learning to drive. Parents need to do a better job of getting kids started by paying more attention themselves.
Source: "Parents distracted while teaching kids to drive," USA Today, 10-17-11
]]>It is therefore vitally important for the driver to operate the vehicle safely, regardless of who he or she is. In this sense, it doesn't matter whether the driver is a man or a woman - or, for that matter, transgender. The main thing is to drive safely and not get into car accidents.
But is it true that women, in general, tend to drive somewhat more safely than men? A recent survey conducted by the MetLife insurance company had some interesting findings on that question.
Most respondents in the survey viewed women as being somewhat safer drivers than men. The survey found that less than 4 in every 10 of the men survey (39 percent) considered men to be safer drivers than women. For women, more than half (51 percent) of the respondents said women are safer drivers than men.
]]> The percentages of men and women who were not sure which gender tends to drive more safety are also illuminating. The percentage of men who were not sure (35 percent) was appreciably higher than the percentage of women (24 percent).The president of MetLife, Bill Moore, tried to put the findings in perspective. "Despite the long-standing, good-natured debate between men and women about who is the better driver, one thing that's not debatable is the responsibility drivers have when operating their vehicles," he said. "Safety knows no gender - whether a man or a woman is behind the wheel, an attentive driver remains the most effective deterrent to auto accidents."
That is well said. Drivers of both sexes need to stay focused on the task at hand and keep their eyes on the road.
Source: "Women Believe they are Safer Drivers," Insurance Networking News, 9-30-11
]]>But how effective is enforcement of such bans? A recent year-long study in Syracuse, New York, and Harford, Connecticut, casts important light on that question.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration worked with police in Syracuse and Hartford to aggressively enforce cell-phone bans and track the results. The data has much to say about how aggressive enforcement can bring down the amount of distracted driving
In both Syracuse and Hartford, police wrote more than 9,000 tickets for talking on cellphones while driving or texting while driving. Researchers found that the enforcement campaign reduced texting while driving by 72 percent in Hartford. The reduction in Syracuse was 32 percent.
]]> NHTSA believes that the reduction was greater in Hartford than Syracuse because Connecticut's texting and cellphone ban allows for primary enforcement. In New York, only secondary enforcement is permitted.This means that in New York State police do not have the right to ticket someone for the violation, unless the person has been stopped for another suspected offense. In Connecticut, by contrast, the texting ban is a primary offense. Police are allowed to pull a driver over for using a cell phone behind the wheel, even if there is no other offense.
The common theme of the enforcement campaign, however, is that enforcement does work. Improper use of phones behind the wheel can come down, when people know that law enforcement is encouraged to take effective enforcement action.
Source: "High-tech features can tempt drivers to take eyes off road," Chicago Tribune, 8-27-11
]]>But the structures that society creates for training and licensing young drivers are also important. Drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 are involved in three times as many fatal car accidents per mile driven as all other drivers.
With temptations such as texting that often distract them, these inexperienced kids need help learning to drive with competence and care. But many states have been slow to adopt the type of graduated drivers' licensing (GDL) requirements that have been shown to reduce teenage driving accidents.
Such requirements would be made more uniform around the country by a proposed bill in Congress known as the STANDUP Act. That is short for Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act.
]]> The Act would create uniform standards for all states to follow in placing limitations on teenage drivers. These limitations would include restrictions on nighttime driving, as well as strict prohibitions on cell-phone use and texting while driving.The minimum age for getting a restricted driver's license would be 16 and an unrestricted license would not be available until age 18. Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand of New York is one of the supporters of the proposed legislation, which is currently before the Senate Commerce Committee.
According to a recent poll by Allstate Insurance, a clear majority of Americans, almost six of every 10, are in favor of passing a national law to strengthen driver's license requirements for teens. The survey showed 81 percent of the respondents supporting prohibitions on texting or cell phone use by younger drivers. And 76 percent were in favor of a minimum age of 16 to obtain a learner's permit.
Source: "More Americans Favor New Teen Driver Requirements," CBS New York, 8-11-11
]]>According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV), more than 15,000 pedestrians were injured across the state in 2009. Most accidents occurred during the afternoon hours. Driver inattentiveness and failure to yield were cited as the most common causes for pedestrian accidents. These factors suggest that inattentiveness during rush hour contributed to such accidents.
]]> Although a majority of these accidents occurred in New York City, pedestrians in suburban counties must be vigilant when crossing the street. Most accidents occur on wide throughways where motorists tend to exceed the speed limit. Researchers observed that when average speeds exceed 30 miles per hour, more pedestrian fatalities occurred. Also, gender played a distinct role in pedestrian accidents. Of the 15,603 accidents reported, male drivers were involved in approximately 9,300.Authorities have a number of options available in stemming pedestrian accidents. In addition to speed enforcement, municipalities can extend curbs and pedestrian refuge islands, incorporate bicycle lanes and design roads that prohibit excessive speeds.
Pedestrians injured in accidents may be eligible for compensation for their injuries. Families of those killed may pursue wrongful death claims and may receive money damages for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Has someone in your family been injured in a car accident while crossing the street? If you have questions about your rights and options, an experienced White Plains motor vehicle accident attorney at our firm can advise you.
Source: http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2011/Vision_Zero.pdf
]]>Mark was not wearing a bicycle helmet that day. There was no law in 1981 requiring helmets for bicycle riders. I didn't wear a bicycle helmet and none of my friends or anyone we knew wore helmets back then. Mark Dolinsky's untimely death changed that.
Today, people know full well that riding a bicycle is dangerous, not because of what you may do, but because of drunk or unlicensed drivers or distracted drivers. Who can know when they will be faced with a speeding car driven by a man with a suspended license like the one who was responsible for Mark's death?
The same danger applies not only to bicyclists, but to those who ride motorcycles. It is a fact of life that people can be seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. On many ocassions our White Plains car accident attorneys and motorcycle accident lawyers of the firm had to sit and counsel someone who suffered a horrible injury on the road. According to the article referenced below,
Annual motorcycle deaths have more than doubled since the late 1990s with 5,290 in 2008, based on a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New York has a law requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet. This law is designed to save lives - not inflict on freedoms. It should be terribly obvious to anyone why this law makes sense and should be enforced. Unfortunately, there are some among us who do not see reason and instead wish to tempt fate.
An upstate New York man was participating in a rally against laws such as New York's Vehicle & Traffic Law Section 381 which require helmets to be worn by motorcyclists. You can learn about his fate - Motorcycle rider without helmet dies
It is hard to fathom what people like this are thinking when they take part in part in such a protest.
The organizers of this protest should take a long hard look at what they are doing. They would do well to learn from the example of the Dolinsky family who turned the tragedy of their son's death into an inspiration for so many.
Please take a moment to learn more about the Dolinsky Foundation and the tremendous benefit it has bestowed upon the young people of Westchester County.
]]>We have all heard the message: "If you see something, say something." Well, someone took this message to heart and alerted Clarkstown police that a man was observed driving a car while drinking a beer. The police took action and a potential tragedy was averted. Car Accidents happen all too frequently when someone has too much to drink and then gets into the driver's seat. Fortunately, no one one was injured in the June 16th incident. The 14 year old girl has someone to thank for protecting her.
So the next time you are on the road and see someone driving erratically, or you actually see a driver holding a beer bottle, don't get mad-- take action and call the police. You too can prevent a tragedy!
]]>A recent weekend in Westchester and Putnam counties serves as an example of how the statewide numbers become so large. On the weekend of May 20-22, no fewer than 13 people were arrested for drunk driving in the two counties.
The ages of the people arrested ranged from 20 to 55. Some of them were men and some were women.
Many of the 13 people arrested are facing drunk driving charges for the first time. But one 38-year-old Yorktown man had his charge elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony because of a previous DWI conviction.
]]> In addition to Yorktown, the arrested drivers from Westchester County included residents of White Plains and Tarrytown. There were also other New York drivers arrested, as well as two drivers from Connecticut.With these kinds of arrest numbers, you don't need to feel like an outlaw just because you've been picked up on drunk driving charges. Having an extra drink or two in a social setting and getting in the car to drive can happen to almost anyone. But when it does, and you face a New York drunk driving charge, an attorney at our firm can help you protect your rights.
Source: "Troopers charge 13 with DWI in Westchester, Putnam counties," Lohud.com, 5-23-11
]]>Motor vehicle accidents also carry a high cumulative cost for the economy. In a recently released report, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention tried to quantify the financial impact of so many crashes and collisions.
More than 30,000 people are killed in the United States every year. According to the CDC, the estimated total cost of all these fatal accidents is a whopping $41 billion a year in medical costs and lost work production.
And that figure would be even higher, if it were to include the tens of thousands of people who suffered serious injuries but were not killed.
]]> The extent of the cost varies widely by state. California has the highest figure, at over $4 billion, followed by Texas and Florida, each with over $3 billion each.New York also has a high ranking - seventh, with an estimate cost from car accidents of $1.33 billion.
The CDC director, Thomas R. Frieden, issued a written statement emphasizing that motor vehicle crash deaths are preventable. Release of the report is intended to spur action on a broader CDC initiative called Decade of Action for Road Safety.
The grim figures in the report are also a reminder that it is important to wear a seat belt. Many deaths can be prevented with proper seat belt use.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in New York or Florida, or someone in your family has been injured, contact us. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we can help you assert your legal rights.
Source: "Car-related deaths cost $41 billion a year," MSN Money, 5-17-11
]]>The number of dog bites in New York City has risen significantly. The city health department recently reviewed the data for 2009 and there were 3,609 dog bites reported. This was up from 3,586 in 2008 and the most since 2005
It is true that pit-bulls and Rottweilers were the most frequent dogs identified in the reported data. But the next two places on the list were taken by small dogs: the Shih Tzu was third and Chihuahuas were fourth.
Why are dog bites so frequent? In reporting the story about the increase in reported bites, the New York Post suggested that the high number of bites by small dogs may be attributable to the fact that their owners frequently take them along on errands around town.
]]> That may be only part of the story. Tammy Karecki, a New York dog trainer, believes that too many dog owners fail to train their pets properly. "I think there should be a certification program to become a dog owner in New York," she said.A Canadian pet store manager, Tracy Marcotullio, puts it this way: "Little-breed dogs tend to be more temperamental than bigger-breed dogs. People who own them tend to treat them differently, like little people." This can give little dogs a sense of entitlement - and result in serious dog bites to unsuspecting people, many of whom are children.
If you have been injured by a dog bite or other animal attack, or someone in your family has been injured, contact a New York dog bite injury lawyer in our office. We can explain your legal options for pursuing financial compensation.
Source: "Big Apple Dog Bites Surge to 5-Year High," NBC New York, 2-18-11
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