When you need a ride around Long Island, you may choose a ride-hailing app like Uber or Lyft. These services can give you a relatively affordable ride compared to cabs. And you can have the driver come directly to your door to pick you up. However, like any vehicle, Uber and Lyft cars can have accidents.

When you get into the back seat of a ride-hailing cab, you have the choice to wear a seat belt. But if you are like many passengers, you may choose not to buckle up. Riding without a seat belt can put you at serious risk of injury if your driver crashes.

Passengers without a seat belt put themselves and others in danger

When back-seat riders don’t buckle up, they become much more prone to severe injuries. One study says that the chance for injury in an accident is eight times that of buckled passengers. And they can also cause harm to other people if they fly around the car.

Many riders of ride-hailing services don’t buckle up

Despite the dangers, passengers in the back seat of cabs often don’t protect themselves with a seat belt. Studies in different cities have shown anywhere from 26% to 52% of rear-seat riders put themselves at risk in ride-hailing cabs. Safety advocates say that when people get into someone else’s back seat, many don’t feel obliged by the law or by safety standards to wear a seat belt.

Riding in a cab means relying on the driver

When you get into another person’s car, you must put your faith in their ability to drive safely. Since you don’t have control over the vehicle, you rely on the driver to get you to your destination without incident.

However, in the busy streets of Long Island, anything can happen. Even if you have a short trip, you may find yourself involved in an accident. Wearing a seat belt may help you avoid serious injuries.

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With the cold weather starting in November, winter seems to be coming early this year. And with winter weather comes snow and icy roads.

As a New Yorker, you know how dangerous road conditions can get this time of year. Drivers who go too fast or don’t have experience put you in danger of serious car accidents. For you to stay as safe as possible, here are a few tips from the American Automobile Association (AAA) for driving in winter weather:

• If you don’t have to drive, don’t! When snow and ice cover the roads, the best way you can stay safe is to avoid driving altogether.
• If you do have to go out, drive only as fast as the conditions allow.
• You have less stopping power on icy roads. Slow down well before a stop sign. And leave more room between you and the car in front of you.
• Your tires should be in good condition. Keeping them inflated and making sure they have tread helps increase your traction.
• When the road is icy, avoid cruise control.

Winter will soon settle in over you in New York. As you travel for work and holidays, you put yourself at risk of the actions of other drivers. Overconfident drivers can lose control and slide all over the highway, threatening your safety. And an accident on snowy roads can cause you severe injuries and lead to expensive medical bills.

While you can’t control other drivers, you can take steps to keep yourself safe on winter roads.

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As your school-age children get older, you will likely grant them increasing levels of autonomy regarding their daily lives. This will likely include getting to and from school every day. If your child is old enough to have a cellphone, you may feel comfortable letting them walk to school in some weather conditions.

Even if they are not old enough to handle the commute to school as a pedestrian, you may still let them wait at the bus stop alone with their friends. Unfortunately, your children may be at risk of an injury caused by a car crash while waiting at the bus stop or walking to school. Talking with them a little bit about pedestrian safety can go a long way toward minimizing their risk.

Kids should never text and walk

Mobile communication plays a major role in adolescent socialization. Unfortunately, it also creates a lot of risk for teenagers and young adults. Their social media feed or text messages may seem so engrossing that they fail to pay attention to where they stop or who might be nearby.

A teenager reading or composing a message might stop while standing in the street or step down into traffic, potentially right in front of a moving vehicle.

Practice the best route and talk about traffic safety

Hopefully, your children won’t need to cross too many busy intersections and those that they do have to cross will have crossing guards. However, even calm side streets can be dangerous if a driver isn’t paying attention.

Talk to your kids about how many drivers don’t watch carefully for pedestrians. Make sure your children know the route that is safest and easiest to get to school or to the bus stop. Also make sure that they understand how important it is to pay attention when in close proximity to vehicles and to try to stay visible, especially on mornings where there is fog, rain or low light.

Bus safety is another important lesson

The longer children ride the bus to and from school, the more comfortable they get with mass transportation. That can be a good thing as well as a source of unnecessary risk. When kids have grown used to traveling on the bus, they may do things that increase their risks in the event of a bus crash, such as sitting or kneeling in a strange position, leaving their seat or otherwise engaging in dangerous behaviors.

The more you communicate with your child about safety, the more informed they will be to make good decisions for themselves. Sadly, there will be circumstances that no amount of proactive parenting can control or prevent. The situations could include collisions when your child is a pedestrian.

If your child winds up injured because of a dangerous driver, you may be able to take legal action against the person responsible. Consulting with an experienced New York attorney is often the best way to learn more about your rights as the parents of an injured child.

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It’s no mystery that driving an automobile while tired is a serious hazard, but more than one in three drivers admit that they’ve operated a vehicle while drowsy. A contributing factor to this problem may be the prevalence of sleep aids in New York and other states. Many people who take these types of drugs report getting behind the wheel within seven hours after taking a dose. According to most medications, users of sleep aids need to plan for at least seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep after taking a pill.

Due to a lack of public transit options, drowsy driving can be almost impossible for people in most areas to avoid. There are, however, some guidelines that people can follow to avoid getting behind the wheel when tired. The first is to try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. If someone isn’t able to get this much sleep or is still tired after seven hours, they should consult with their doctor.

While in the car, there are a few things drivers can do to stave off fatigue. If possible, a tired driver should hand off driving duties to a companion. If no one else is around, taking a break for a few hours could restore energy. Drinking a caffeinated beverage may also be helpful. Driving with the windows down or playing music loud isn’t proven to reduce drowsiness.

People who have been injured in car accidents caused by drowsy driving may be able to get compensation for their medical bills, property damage, rehabilitation and other losses. A lawyer may examine the circumstances of an accident and help their client determine if pursuing legal action is their best option.

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Distracted driving is an epidemic in New York as in many other states, and everyone is susceptible to it. Though the use of smartphones and navigation systems has been rising, this is far from the only possible distraction. Anything that takes one’s attention from the road is a distraction.

First, drivers are advised to put their phones on Do Not Disturb mode and refrain from talking on hands-free devices as well. If they must make a call, they can do so after pulling over safely. Next, drivers should be aware that the more passengers there are, the more likely they will be distracted by conversations. Drivers could limit how many passengers they take.

Experts also recommend a no-eating policy for everyone in the car. This will prevent food spills and arguments between children over the food they have. Drivers should try to eat their breakfast at home rather than during their morning commute.

One other top distraction for drivers is fatigue. Drivers who sleep little, have a sleep disorder or consume alcohol before heading out will become drowsy and, thus, inattentive. In extreme cases, they may have memory lapses and drift out of their lane. On long trips, drivers may take short naps and drink coffee to stay awake.

Those who are injured by a distracted driver in a motor vehicle crash may wonder if they have grounds for a claim. If they do, they may be reimbursed for their medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost wages and other economic and non-economic damages. A lot may depend on having legal representation. Auto insurance companies might be aggressive in denying claims, but a lawyer may persevere in negotiations. As a last resort, the lawyer may prepare the case for a trial.

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Pedestrians can be in much danger when they’re on or near the roads. They have no real protection against injury if they’re hit by a driver. Even at slower speeds, a person who is struck by a car could suffer serious injuries.

To prevent pedestrian accidents, drivers have a duty of care. They are required to act responsibly. Drivers who are negligent can be held accountable if they hit a pedestrian.

What are some common causes of pedestrian accidents?

Some common causes of pedestrian injuries include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failing to obey traffic signals or signs
• Failing to signal when turning
• Not paying attention to the weather conditions
• Not paying attention to traffic
• Driving while intoxicated or impaired
• Failing to yield to pedestrians

Pedestrians have to be cautious about the dangers of the roadways. They have their own duties to follow through on including taking responsibility for their own actions. Pedestrians who violate the laws or make it impossible for a driver to stop could be held liable for their own injuries.

What actions can get a pedestrian into trouble?

• Failing to use a crosswalk when one is available
• Running out into traffic
• Disrupting the flow of traffic by entering traffic at an inappropriate time
• Ignoring the “walk” signal at any intersection

Failing to exercise caution can result in a case where a pedestrian is held responsible for contributory negligence. Essentially, the court would agree that they contributed to their own injuries.

What can you do if you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident?

If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, there are a few steps that you need to take immediately to help your case. These include:

• Calling 911 or the police immediately
• Staying at the scene until help arrives
• Gathering information on the people who were involved in the accident including their names, insurance information, addresses and other vital information that will make it easy to reach out to them in the future
• Avoiding making any statements to anyone, including those who were involved in the accident

Pedestrians often suffer serious injuries in collisions, so the most important thing to do is to make sure that you receive adequate medical care. Other aspects of your case, like speaking with the police or gathering the other party’s information, can wait until your injuries have been stabilized. After that, you can reach out and allow your attorney to help with the case.

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When you place a loved on in a nursing home, you may worry that they won’t get the care they need. There are many injuries that they could suffer if they’re not treated well in the facility.

The good news for families is that nursing homes can be held liable if they are not careful about how they treat your loved one. On top of that, there are steps you can take to make sure your loved one is treated with respect.

1. Make your presence known

The first way to prevent injuries and from others taking advantage of your loved one is by making yourself known to the staff. If they know you come to the nursing home regularly to check on your loved one’s health, there’s going to be a lower chance of your loved one being taken advantage of or suffering injuries. They’ll be on guard and may avoid doing anything that could be construed as abuse or neglect, since they’d be more likely to get caught.

2. Don’t come at the same time or on the same day

Another tip is to shake up your schedule. Come at unusual times or during different days once in a while, so you can see how your loved one is being treated when it’s not your usual time to visit. Being unpredictable but coming to the facility regularly means that the staff won’t have the opportunity to slip up, because they’ll be more likely to get caught. Additionally, if an accident or injury does happen, you’ll be more likely to be present or to be there soon after.

3. Look for signs of abuse or neglect every time

Abuse and neglect can happen at any time. It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re monitoring your loved one’s care. You should visually scan them each time you visit to make sure they look healthy and that they don’t have unusual bruising or injuries. If their hygiene doesn’t look good or they are dizzy or feeling unlike themselves, you should look into their medication schedule, hydration and nutrition to make sure they’re getting all they need to stay healthy and safe in the facility.

It is possible to prevent some nursing home injuries. From falls to infections from bedsores or a lack of hygiene, most injuries are preventable if an elder is receiving the right care each day in the Long Island nursing facility.

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New York truck drivers could cause accidents for a number of different reasons. For example, some drivers get behind the wheel despite their fatigue. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving and could lead to a serious accident.

Many accidents are caused by speeding. Speeding can be tempting for truck drivers who will make more if they can deliver loads more quickly, but it can also be dangerous. Drunk driving is another danger. However, distracted driving has replaced it as a top cause of motor vehicle accidents, and it doesn’t just mean talking on a cellphone. Bending down to pick up an item, eating or even emotional distress can be distracting.

Although a truck may cause an accident, the driver is not always at fault. Improperly loaded cargo could destabilize the truck and make it dangerous to take sharp curves, or debris could fall off the truck and injure another driver. If equipment is not maintained, this could also lead to an accident. A brake malfunction is a particular danger since trucks carry heavy loads and need to be able to stop relatively quickly. Weather can also cause problems for truck drivers. Empty big rigs are at a greater risk for hydroplaning, and truck drivers should take precautions or even pull off the road in inclement weather.

If a truck accident occurs, it is necessary to determine who is at fault because compensation may be owed to people who are injured. If a truck driver caused the accident, the trucking company might also be considered financially liable. People who are in an accident should document as much as they can in the immediate aftermath since it can be a struggle to get insurance companies to pay adequate compensation.

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New York motorists should be aware that the Department of Transportation plans to scale back federal rules on the number of hours truck drivers can remain driving before being required to rest. The trucking industry has long since been advocating for a relaxing of the rules. Detractors of the federal agency’s plans state that such a move will make the regulations inadequate and will result in safety hazards as a result of fatigued drivers.

The federal regulations that are in place now require long-haul truck drivers to drive no more than 11 hours within a 14-hour period of being on duty. The drivers are also required to have had 10 straight hours of being off duty before their on-duty period begins again. Also, any truckers who will be driving in excess of eight hours are required to take a 30-minute break before the eight-hour mark arrives.

Truck drivers who are found to be in violation of the rules are subject to being tagged as out of service for at least one day. Depending on how many days they are prohibited from being on the road, this can have a severe impact on their income, as they are generally paid for each mile they travel. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that there were 4,237 fatal large truck accidents in 2017, with 344,000 non-fatal crashes that resulted in injuries.

A personal injury attorney may work to help clients obtain financial compensation for injuries sustained in truck accidents caused by negligent drivers. Lawsuits may be filed against commercial truck drivers who operated their vehicles while deprived of sleep and caused accidents that resulted in harm to occupants of other vehicles.

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There is a very real consequence of so many people being connected through the internet and digital devices. That consequence is addiction.

You probably know at least one person who can’t be away from their phone at any time. They check it while driving, while parked, while eating dinner and at every moment they can. This addiction isn’t healthy, and it puts them at risk of being involved in or causing a crash.

How common is smartphone addiction?

Smartphone addiction is growing more common in the world today. Why? People develop virtual relationships. You text friends and family. You work online and through email. You connect to people you know on social media. In all, people’s lives are online.

The trouble with this is that it makes people compulsive. You’ll compulsively check your emails, text messages and social media pages. Some people begin to crave the interaction and attention that comes from being connected 24/7.

Smartphone addiction significantly impacts a person’s life, making it harder for them to think deeply or concentrate. It disturbs their sleep and distracts them when they should be focused on other things. In combination, sleep disturbances and distractions are highly likely to make a driver a danger to themselves and others.

Smartphone addiction is more than a single distraction

Smartphone addiction causes issues other than just taking your eyes off of the road. This form of addiction also makes you take your hands off of the wheel and your mind off of what you’re doing while you respond to texts, read emails or perform other actions.

While people often believe that they can do more than one thing at once, the reality is that driving requires all of your attention. Failing to give it the attention it requires will result in near-miss accidents or crashes.

Here’s an example. If you’re driving and get a text message, you might look away. Even if you look up every second or two to check the road, your mind isn’t really focused. You may not notice the vehicle to the right pulling out in front of you or the traffic light ahead turning red. In a matter of seconds, you can go from happily reviewing an email to being badly hurt in a traffic collision.

Victims of injuries caused by those addicted to smartphones have the right to sue or pursue compensation through other means in New York. Phones cannot take precedence over a person’s life.

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