Many drivers in New York are under the impression that advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, are able to replace them behind the wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has conducted a study to see just how widespread these misconceptions are. Researchers say that drivers’ ignorance, combined with imperfect technology and misleading advertising from the automakers themselves, is creating a dangerous situation.

Of the more than 2,000 participants in the IIHS study, nearly half believed that the Autopilot program (by Tesla) would allow them to drive without ever touching the steering wheel. Over 30% thought it would be safe to talk on the phone while driving with Autopilot on. A small group even assumed that Autopilot would allow them to take a nap.

The reality is that Autopilot, like other ADAS on the market, only allows for level two automated driving. There are five levels of automation with level two requiring drivers to still be alert and actively engaged in operating their vehicle. Level five allows for full autonomous driving, but vehicles are far from achieving this.

The IIHS study also involved 80 people watching a video on a Mercedes-Benz vehicle wrongly advertised as self-driving. Many participants struggled in understanding why some safety devices would become inactive. Others did not understand the features’ limitations.

While ADAS are meant to prevent motor vehicle crashes, they may contribute to some crashes if drivers do not grasp the limitations. Negligent drivers’ may face a personal injury claim afterwards: or rather, their auto insurance company will. Victims who intend to file a claim might want to retain legal representation since the insurance company will bring forward its own team of lawyers to argue against the claim and deny payment. If negotiations fail, a lawyer may prepare the case for court.

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Shortly after their development in the 1950s, hernia mesh products became a widely accepted way to repair hernias. However, not all of these products are safe. Some are made of materials that have not been sufficiently tested for safety, while others have coatings that are liable to be dissolved in the body. New York residents should know that these defective products can cause serious complications.

There is the possibility that the mesh will perforate the organ and cause an infection like peritonitis, for example, or migrate to another part of the body. Bowel adhesions, which are scar-like tissues that may make the mesh stick to the bowel. They can cause severe chronic pain and even lead to bowel obstruction.

Bowel obstruction is the blocking of the small or large intestines. The patient becomes incapable of passing stool or gas and may suffer from nausea and vomiting. The obstruction may cut off blood flow and cause part of the intestines to die. If the patient does not undergo immediate treatment, death may result.

Hernia mesh products from well-known brands like Covidien and Bard have been the subject of lawsuits. Others, such as the Ethicon Physiomesh and the Atrium C-QUR, both of which were approved by the FDA, were found afterward to have problems.

When a defective product causes a personal injury, the victim may be able to file suit against the makers for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other economic and non-economic damages. It might be wise, though, to hire an attorney who works in product liability law. Whether the defect was a design, manufacturing or marketing defect, the attorney may have third-party investigators gather evidence against the defendants. The victim might have the attorney negotiate for a settlement and litigate if one cannot be achieved.

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There are many construction hazards that people face, but there are four that are more serious and common than others. These are called the “fatal four.”

The fatal four hazards include falls, being caught in or between, getting electrocuted and being struck by objects. The good news is that it is possible to make a work environment safer and to avoid these serious accidents.

How can you prevent falls?

Preventing falls is as easy as being aware of your surroundings and wearing the right kind of fall arrest equipment. Some tips to prevent falls include:

• Using ladders and scaffolding according to manufacturing specifications
• Using perimeter protection
• Securing or covering floor openings and labeling them
• Using fall-arrest equipment

How can you prevent getting caught in or between objects?

To avoid getting caught between objects, make sure you don’t work in unprotected trenches, or excavations with a depth of five feet or more with protective systems in place. Also, if you’re working with machinery, always use the guards as required. Try not to have any loose hair or clothing near the machinery.

How can you prevent electrocution?

This is trickier than other hazards, because you may need to work with electricity. Some of the things you can do to avoid an electrocution include:

• Finding utility lines before you start work
• Looking for overhead lines and marking them
• Using ground-fault circuit interrupters
• Staying a safe distance from power lines
• Avoiding operating electrical tools that are not grounded or double insulated

How can you avoid getting struck by another object?

It’s usually simpler to avoid being struck than it is to avoid falls or other hazards. It requires you to make sure you’re never walking between moving and fixed objects and that you are always wearing brightly colored, visible clothing to make you stand out.

These are the four serious accidents that can happen on the job and some ways to avoid them. Remember, your workplace may never be 100% safe, but there are plenty of things you can do to make hazards more noticeable and to prevent them from causing significant injuries on the job in New York.

Always do your best to recognize the hazards that are around you and take steps to make yourself safer when you’re around them. If there are new or unusual hazards, make sure you mention them to your employer, so they can do what’s needed to eliminate them from the work environment.

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No one wants to think about their loved one suffering a nursing home injury as a result of a staff member’s negligence or intentional actions. Sadly, many people are harmed in nursing homes in New York and throughout the country. One of the most common causes is simply neglect and mistakes, which are things that you can identify if you are present in the home often enough.

For example, if you know your loved one’s medicine schedule and notice that no one has come to deliver a nightly medication long after it was due, you can reach out and ask what’s going on. If you find that your loved one is pressing a call button but no one responds, you’re there to go find someone and complain.

Of course, in those cases, you’re there to protect your loved one. In other cases, they may not be so lucky. That’s why you need to recognize signs of abuse and neglect. Some common signs of abuse and neglect include:

• Bedsores, which can be caused by a lack of mobility and lack of attending to during the day or night
• Dehydration, which is a sign of not getting enough to eat or drink during the day
• Missed medications leading to behavior changes or a decline in health
• Bruises or lacerations from intentional abuse
• Sudden and unusual injuries, such as broken hips or shoulders from falls

In any of these cases, it’s a good idea to speak with the nursing home’s director and to call 911 right away. Your loved one may need immediate medical care, especially if they have open wounds or are suffering from dehydration. Once the medical team arrives and takes them to the hospital, you can document everything that has happened and make sure you report it to your attorney.

Nursing homes have an obligation to keep patients safe and to attend to them regularly. Failing to provide them with water, help them get up to go to the restroom, give them medications on time or move immobile patients regularly can harm them significantly.

These signs of neglect and abuse are serious, and you should not waste time asking what’s happened. You can call for emergency care from your loved one’s room or ask the nursing station to do so for you immediately. If they are not easy to locate or the staff ignores your concerns, you should address the situation with the director and let your attorney know immediately.

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Many New York car buyers may be interested in the advanced autonomous technology offered by Tesla. However, a recent series of tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine suggest that the company’s Autopilot feature may not be as safe as its marketing materials claim. After putting cars equipped with Autopilot through their paces, Consumer Reports concluded that using the system was more stressful than driving.

The Consumer Reports researchers compared using Autopilot to watching a child trying to drive a car. The autonomous system is designed to change lanes, speed up and slow down automatically. However, rigorous testing reveals that it often performs these tasks in unexpected and dangerous ways. Testers discovered that the system reacts poorly when vehicles approach from the rear. They also noticed that its automatic braking feature often engages vigorously, without warning and for no apparent reason.

The Consumer Report tests are the latest in a series of setbacks for Tesla’s efforts to introduce autonomous driving features. The carmaker tells drivers to remain alert and vigilant when using Autopilot, but a series of deadly crashes involving Tesla cars equipped with the system reveal that this advice is often ignored. Tesla blames these accidents on driver error and claims that its cars have covered millions of miles without incident when the feature is used properly.

The sensors that systems like Autopilot rely on keep detailed electronic records of both vehicle and driver behavior. This information is often useful to motor vehicle accident investigators, and it could also provide crucial evidence in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a personal injury victim. This is one of the reasons why a personal injury attorney may seek to have the vehicles involved in an accident inspected.

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Despite the attention focused on distracted driving and other smartphone-linked dangerous behaviors, one of the most consistent threats to roadway safety in New York and around the country is speeding. As a result, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is focusing on that during its upcoming Operation Safe Driver Week. During the week, police will be looking for commercial vehicles as well as passenger cars violating safety rules, particularly speeders. In fact, speeding is linked to 94% of all traffic accidents, even when other causes were also involved in the incident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition, speeding is linked to over 25% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents, a figure that has held firm for over 20 years. In 2017, 9,717 people lost their lives due to excessive speed. Spokespeople for the safety week said that this is an unacceptable risk that is completely preventable. They urged the importance of public education about the dangers of speeding as well as increased law enforcement targeting speeders. The safety week will not restrict itself to speeding, however, as police will also look for distracted driving, texting, improper lane changing, aggressive driving, and failing to use seat belts.

Operation Safe Driver Week usually includes an increase in the number of traffic citations issued. Police noted that these tickets can be unpopular but effective in reducing dangerous roadway behavior. In 2018, nearly 17,000 passenger vehicle drivers and almost 2,000 commercial drivers received speeding tickets during the week. Overall, 57,405 citations were issued during the week for a variety of causes.

Speeding can also make car accidents more serious, leading to severe injuries or even fatalities. Occupants of other vehicles who have been injured in such a crash might want to have legal assistance when seeking compensation for their losses.

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Elevators are commonly used by the elderly and disabled in particular in order to transport between levels in a building. Elevators are generally perceived to be very safe forms of transport. They facilitate the use of wheelchairs when necessary, and they can be used by those who are unsteady on their feet or immobile.

However, unfortunately, incidents are occasionally reported as a result of using elevators, and injuries can be possible. One of the most common causes of injuries is due to an elevator’s doors opening when it is misaligned with the floor of the building. This can lead to trips and falls. If you or a loved one has been injured when using an elevator in New York, you may be able to make a personal injury claim to recoup damages.

What is negligence and how can it be attributed to elevator injuries?

In order to make a personal injury claim against the premises, you must show that negligence was present. Negligence is an instance when the premises owner failed in its legal duty to its customers.

For example, a shopping mall has a duty to keep all its visitors reasonably safe. This means that they should be making sure that their elevators are properly functioning and that they present no hazards to users. If they did know or should have known about the misalignment of the elevator to the floor, they will likely be considered to be negligent.

How can I use negligence to make sure that compensation is gained?

When you have established that negligence was present, you need to show that the negligence caused the injuries. If a clear link has been made between the negligence and the causation of injuries, you will be able to claim damages.

These damages should be enough to cover all medical expenses resulting from the incident, as well as include adequate compensation for the pain and suffering that was endured.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator in New York, it is important that you use the law to help you get justice. By asserting your rights and showing how the premises owner was negligent, it is likely that you will be successful.

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A study from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society shows that wet road conditions, including from rain, sleet and snow, increase the risk of deadly crashes by an average of 34%. Even very light rain, which most people would describe as a drizzle, can increase the chances of fatal crashes significantly. Data analysts looked at more than 120,000 accidents from 48 states, including New York, to come up with these statistics.

This study is the first of its kind to use real, precise weather data from the cite of the accident to help determine conditions. The data was used to distinguish accidents where there was heavy precipitation or snow from those where there was only light rain. The high rate of fatalities with just light rain may seem counterintuitive to some; the study speculates that drivers tend to underestimate the danger of just slightly slick roads.

Risks of fatal accidents during bad weather were found to be worst in the Rockies and Upper Midwest and least in the Northeast and Southeast. This may be because the East Coast is more urban, meaning drivers aren’t going as fast in general. In the Rockies, slick conditions on steep roads can be especially dangerous. The region is also more rural, which already experiences higher rates of fatalities in all conditions.

Victims of car accidents may be able to get compensation from the responsible driver even if light rain or heavier precipitation was involved. An attorney may evaluate the circumstances of an accident and determine if pursuing legal action would likely benefit the client. The attorney may also not require a fee unless they are able to successfully obtain compensation.

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Distracted and impaired driving are serious problems in New York and throughout the country. Volvo has a plan to reduce to ensure that drivers are sober and attentive while operating their vehicles. The manufacturer will put sensors and cameras in its vehicles starting early in the 2020s. They are designed to detect actions that may indicate that a car is being driven in an unsafe manner.

For instance, the car may slow down or stop if there is no input on the steering wheel. The same may be true if there is excessive swerving or if the system detects that a driver’s eyes are closed. A slow reaction time could also result in the car pulling off of the road or otherwise finding a safe place to park. The new technology is part of Volvo’s efforts to prevent accidents from occurring.

The company is also planning on instituting a maximum speed limit of 112 miles per hour in all vehicles made in 2020 and later. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 30 people die each day because of crashes caused by drunk drivers. The goal of the new safety features is to overcome the belief many have that it is not a problem to drive after consuming alcohol.

Individuals who are impaired when they cause car accidents could face both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. Those who are injured by drunk drivers may want to meet with an attorney to discuss how best to seek compensation for their medical expenses and other losses that they have incurred.

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As a parent, it’s important to discuss school bus stop safety with your children. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but it can also help prevent a serious accident that leads to injury or even death.

Here are five of the most important school bus stop safety tips:

• Keep a safe distance: When possible, stand on a sidewalk at least six feet away from the bus. This gives the driver plenty of space to ease up to the bus stop, without any concerns of a child getting in the way.
• Visibility is a must: Teach your children how to remain visible at all times. For example, if they’re crossing the street in front of a bus, make sure they leave at least 10 feet of space. This makes it easier for the bus driver to spot your child, thus staying where they are until it’s safe to drive.
• Take instructions from the bus driver: The bus driver will slowly approach the stop, put out their stop sign and then open the door. Once the driver says it’s okay, your child can move toward the bus.
• Never walk behind a bus: It sounds safer than walking in front of a bus, but it’s very difficult for a driver to see a child in this area. This goes along with maintaining a high level of visibility at all times.
• Use handrails: Bus steps are known for being steep, thus making it difficult for children to safely go up and down. Talk about the importance of using handrails and closely watching each step. Also, be careful that your children aren’t wearing any clothing or a backpack that could get caught in the door or handrail.

As the days go by, it’s easy to assume that your children will always be safe at the bus stop. Unfortunately, it only takes one mistake to cause a serious accident.

If your child is injured in any type of school bus accident in New York, call for immediate help or transport them to a local hospital.

Once you understand their injuries, turn your attention to the cause of the accident. This will give you a clear idea of what went wrong, as well as the steps you can take to hold the bus driver and school district responsible.

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