In Garden City and across the United States, approximately 80 percent of drivers talk on their cell phones while driving. Three out of every 10 drivers admit that they barely escaped from getting involved in car crashes because of their distracted driving activities. The Travelers Companies, Inc., an insurance company, recently published the new 2019 Travelers Risk Index. The index included about 2,000 drivers who were questioned about distracted driving.

The results show that 44 percent of drivers type texts, read emails and send emails while driving. About 23 percent use Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. Another 22 percent of the participants record videos or take pictures. Plus, 15 percent visit online vendors while driving. Nearly half of the drivers involved in the study admitted that they would find it difficult to stop engaging in distracted driving activities while driving their vehicles.

One major problem is that 87 percent of business managers want to stay in touch with their traveling employees. Many workers worry about losing their jobs if they do not respond to supervisors’ messages. Other employees stated that their bosses expect them to respond immediately. Other workers mentioned that they get most of their work done while driving. Business owners who continue to pressure employees need to change their policies in light of the statistic that distracted drivers cause frequent motor vehicle accidents.

A person who is injured by a distracted driver may lose their job and have trouble finding other employment. One way to solve this problem is to seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer. A successful lawsuit compensates the injured person in addition to any insurance-related monies received from an insurance claim. People who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents may benefit from contacting a personal injury attorney before the statute of limitations expires.

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When you want to use hot water in your home, the goal is to make it hot enough to kill bacteria and to feel hot to the touch, but you don’t want it so hot that it burns you. When the temperature gauges are not working correctly, it’s possible that the water could become so hot that it causes burns.

There are two types of safety controls on a boiler. The first is the safety relief valve, which protects people from high temperatures and high pressures. The next is the low-water cutoff, which turns off the boiler if there isn’t enough water. If a landlord neglects to maintain or fix faulty boiler controls, tenants can get seriously injured. 

Why is it important to prevent high-temperature water from contacting the skin?

Anything hot can cause damage to the skin, including water. Did you know that you could suffer a third-degree burn by exposing your skin to 150-degree water for only two seconds? If the water is as hot as 140 degrees, you’ll suffer third-degree burns after just five-to-six seconds of exposure.

The risk of burns continues on a downward trend as temperatures decline. Typically, it is safe to bathe in water of 120 degrees or less, which is the typical maximum recommended setting for boilers. At 120 degrees, it’s still possible to suffer from burns after five minutes of exposure, so it’s best to reduce temperatures so that they are close to body temperature or slightly warmer.

Typically safe water temperatures for your activities include:

• Showers at 110°F to 115°F
• Hand washing at 110°F to 115°F
• Laundry washing at 110°F to 120°F

What can you do if you are burned by a defective boiler?

You should feel safe in your own home. Unfortunately, many New York tenants face dangerous conditions in their apartment complexes. It is your landlord’s duty to properly maintain the building so you can avoid easily preventable injuries. 

If you have been burned by a defective boiler in an apartment complex, then you may be able to file a personal injury claim to cover damages. Damages could include medical bills and payment for pain and suffering. 

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In March 2018, an Uber autonomous vehicle failed to detect a woman as she crossed a shadowy area of an Arizona street and struck her. She died, and the self-driving industry took a major hit. As a result of the accident, automakers have taken a fresh look at the way they test autonomous cars in New York and around the world.

The Arizona accident caused regulators to severely restrict automakers’ access to public roads for testing. This has forced engineers to take a different approach to vehicle evaluations. For example, a Swedish company called AstaZero uses a private track to test self-driving vehicles with “virtual humans.” These computerized pedestrians dart out of blind spots and engage in other challenging behaviors to measure an autonomous vehicle’s ability to spot them and take the appropriate evasive actions. Swedish automaker Volvo is one of the company’s clients as well as Swedish truck and bus manufacturer Scania.

As it turns out, testing autonomous trucks is even more difficult than testing cars. These vehicles’ enormous weight and size make them inherently more dangerous to test on public roads. Therefore, they are being tested in enclosed areas with few humans, including mines, harbors and warehouses. For instance, Scania is testing one of its autonomous trucks in a Rio Tinto mine in Australia. At the same time, AstaZero is testing an identical model under virtual conditions on a private track in Sweden. Some of the scenarios used to test both cars and trucks involve simulations from cities around the world, including region-specific roads and culturally specific human behaviors.

New York victims of car accidents could turn to an attorney for assistance. A lawyer could prepare a personal injury claim and push for a settlement that covers a victim’s medical expenses, lost wages and more.

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According to data gathered by the Governors Highway Safety Association, there were an estimated 6,227 pedestrian deaths in 2018. That was the highest number since 1990, and it represents a 35 percent increase from 2008. There were a number of reasons why New York pedestrians were being killed at higher rates, and they include distracted driving and walking as well as drug and alcohol use.

Individuals were distracted in part by using smartphones while walking to work. SUVs were more likely to kill or injure pedestrians because they hit victims in the torso and head. This type of vehicle was deemed more likely to injure or kill even when a collision took place at relatively low speeds. From 2013 to 2017, the number of deaths caused by an SUV rose 50 percent.

Although pedestrian deaths increased from 2008 to 2017, traffic deaths fell by 6 percent overall. The GHSA made some suggestions that could make roads safer for pedestrians. For instance, it may be a good idea to add lights even if there are no intersections or road crossings. It may also help to take pedestrian traffic patterns into account when designing road crossing. Educating the public can also help drivers and pedestrians share the road.

Those who are are walking or biking have less protection than a person in a vehicle. Therefore, pedestrian accidents may result in serious injuries even if a collision occurs at a low speed. Injured victims might want to meet with an attorney to see whether the filing of a lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle might be advisable.

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When you send your child to school, you do so will the expectation that they will be kept safe from harm. All teachers and school workers should be trained on safety, and children should be monitored at all times. If your child became injured while at school, in addition to being upset you may also be wondering whether the school itself is to blame.

It can be possible to hold a school legally liable for the injuries that your child suffered, especially when you had to pay costly medical bills as a result. Your ability to make a legal claim against the school does not necessarily relate to the seriousness of the injury, but to the expense of the medical bills.

For example, you may wonder if you are overreacting by considering a legal claim over a minor injury. However, if that injury proved to be financially costly, there is no reason why you should not consider seeking reimbursement.

Considering whether the school is at fault

Your first priority should be ensuring that you child receives the medical attention that they need. After your child has recovered, you can then take the time to consider who was at fault for the incident.

It is important to be honest with yourself and ask whether you think that the school could have realistically prevented the accident. Your child’s age will also be an important consideration. If your child is in elementary school, they should be subject to constant supervision. However, if they are in high school, they are more responsible for the consequences of their actions.

What should I do before filing a claim?

If you decide to file a claim, you should try to ensure that you have sufficient evidence. This may be difficult to do, because you were not at the scene of the accident. However, you may be able to get statements from other people who did witness the incident.

It is important that you do not automatically accept the occurrence of the incident, and that you take the time to consider whether you want to file a personal injury claim.

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From 2015 to 2017, more and more of the fatal crashes that occur involve large trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has noted that the number of large truck occupant fatalities went up each year during that period as well. In particular, fatal work zone crashes involving one or more large trucks saw an increase in percentage for each of the three years. This trend affects New York and the rest of the nation.

The FMCSA presented this and other data at the 2019 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. However, it did not put the blame for the upward trend on truckers themselves. Most accidents, after all, have multiple factors. However, the data makes it clear that truckers can do a lot to improve road safety for everyone.

In work zones, for example, truckers can signal their turn far ahead of time to show their intention to merge into the open lane. They can put on their flashers to warn drivers that they are approaching slowed or stopped traffic.

Preventing distracted driving is even more important. Truckers are recommended to adjust their seat, mirrors and radio before driving. Holding a phone to make a call is against federal law. However, if their company allows hands-free phone use, truckers should ensure that the phone will not slide or fall.

Distractions, fatigue and intoxication are just a few things that can make someone negligent behind the wheel. Those who survive a truck crash and who believe that the trucker was at fault (or was at least more to blame than they) may have grounds for a personal injury claim. It might be a good idea to have a lawyer evaluate the case. Once the courts determine the degree of fault, the lawyer may head to the negotiation table for a settlement.

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Riding your bike is a great way to get around the city, but it’s not always safe. Cyclists know that they aren’t always on drivers’ radars, so drivers may not expect them when they are present on the roadways.

While younger children might get away with riding on the sidewalk, that’s not a possibility for adults. What can you do, then, to make sure that you don’t fall victim to a driver’s carelessness?

There are rules for everyone to follow when cycling on urban streets

If you have the right state of mind, avoiding an accident should be easier than if you aren’t prepared. To start with, you need to get into the brain of a driver. Think about what you’d do when approaching certain intersections and if you’d be able to see a cyclist. Additionally, you need to apply the same driving rules to your ride. Treat your bicycle as if it’s a vehicle, so you follow the same laws as any other drivers.

Another thing to remember is that you will need to stop from time to time, and you should be prepared to at a moment’s notice. Sometimes, your ability to stop quickly is all there is between you and a serious collision. Stop at stop signs, yield signs, if necessary, and at lights. Don’t ever go through yellow or red lights, since this could lead to a collision at an intersection. It’s best to err on the side of safety.

To be even more cautious, try not to split lanes with vehicles. While it’s possible for you to pass vehicles that are stopped by filtering through them, it’s better to avoid doing this. Many drivers won’t expect someone to glide by them when they’re stopped, and this could lead to a crash if someone moves forward or makes a sudden turn or move.

The most common bike crash cause is being rear-ended by vehicles attempting to pass. While it’s possible for cyclists to pass to the front of a line of traffic, you might want to reconsider that. Why? If you are going slower than traffic, there is a higher chance of vehicles passing you and potentially causing a rear-end collision.

These are some things to consider when riding in an urban area. Be safe, follow the rules of the road, and be overly cautious to avoid collisions with drivers who may not expect you to be on the roads.

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The Governors Highway Safety Association has released a report that looks afresh at the role of speeding in many automobile-related fatalities in New York and across the U.S. It is estimated that excessive speed is behind one-third of all such fatalities. Despite the existence of state and federal policies and programs meant to reduce speeding, it continues to be thought of as culturally acceptable among many drivers.

The GHSA report is titled “Speeding Away from Zero: Rethinking a Forgotten Traffic Safety Challenge.” The hopes of the organization echo those of Vision Zero, the nationwide road project that aims to completely eliminate motor vehicle fatalities. The report mentions how even a small decrease in travel speed can reduce the severity of crashes and injuries. Increase that speed, though, and lives are threatened, especially those of bicyclists and pedestrians.

One limitation that the GHSA points out is the current focus on urban areas. This is because more speeding-related crashes occur on rural roadways. In 2016 alone, there were more than 5,000 speeding-related crash fatalities in rural areas.

This April, the GHSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will be holding a forum with stakeholders to develop a speed management program. The GHSA is also calling for stricter speeding law enforcement and the building of roundabouts and other traffic calming elements.

Drivers who speed may be to blame for any auto crashes they cause. However, it could be that both parties were negligent to some degree. In that case, the courts will determine the percentage of fault. Someone who wishes to file a personal injury claim will likely have the amount they are eligible for lowered based on this percentage. With a lawyer, a victim can strive for the maximum settlement possible.

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Experiencing a car accident is always a frustrating ordeal, even if you do not suffer serious injuries and all the parties involved work together to reach a fair resolution quickly. However, you face an entirely different set of frustrations if you experience a car accident where the other driver is uninsured.

Recovering fair compensation is possible after an uninsured motorist accident, but it is not simple. As soon as you realize that the other party does not have insurance, you must begin protecting your rights. The sooner you begin building your claim and gathering evidence against the other party, the sooner you can focus on your own needs and losses.

Get the other driver’s information

Even if the other driver does not have insurance, it is always good to get as much information as you can about them. If they stop and interact with you after the accident, be sure to get their name and contact information, as well as their license plate number and drivers’ license number. It is also wise to take pictures of the vehicle and the scene of the accident, to document the damages and the layout of the wreckage, before the cleanup crew clears it away.

Alert the police

Alerting the police to the accident helps create official documentation and puts pressure on the other driver to take responsibility for their fault in the accident, or face potential criminal charges. Once police arrive, they will create a police report, which is very useful when pursuing compensation.

Inform your insurer

Whether the other driver has insurance or not, you should call your own insurance provider as soon as possible. This allows you to report the accident and get your claim moving, if you have uninsured motorist coverage or some other form of coverage that applies.

It is also important to inform your insurer of the accident as soon as possible so that it does not fall to the back of your mind. Many insurance providers require drivers to report an accident in a certain amount of time in order to receive coverage.

Consider your legal options

In many instances, accident claims do not receive proper attention from insurers, or an insurer may drag their feet while settling a claim. Be sure to build a strong case using all the legal tools you have at your disposal, to keep your rights protected while you work through the inconvenience of a car accident with an uninsured motorist.

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New York residents who have been correctly diagnosed with migraines are, in a way, fortunate. One study shows that only one in 20 patients get an accurate headache or migraine diagnosis. The following are seven conditions that migraines are frequently confused with. The opposite, where patients with one of the seven conditions are diagnosed with a migraine, can occur as well.

Like many invisible chronic illnesses, migraines can be mistaken for anxiety and panic attacks. Patients may indeed develop anxiety, but this only results from the stress of living with migraines. A second mistake condition is Meniere’s disease. The symptoms of this disorder of the inner ear include vertigo, hearing problems and a ringing in the ears, which can be mimicked by migraines.

One serious variation, hemiplegic migraines, can be misidentified as strokes. Both cause muscle weakness and a loss of sensation on one end of the body. Fourth, doctors may think that migraine sufferers have epilepsy since both conditions can result in tingling, numbness and both sensory and visual changes.

Migraine attacks can also hurt the face and forehead, causing many doctors to mistake them for sinus headaches. The two last conditions depend on a patient’s circumstances. Migraine symptoms could be misread for post-concussion symptoms, or they could be misinterpreted as side effects to the medications that patients are taking.

A misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary tests and treatments as well as personal injuries. The victim of a doctor’s negligence can seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim, but they may want a lawyer who works in this field to evaluate their grounds for a claim. Many malpractice claims end in large settlements, but the other side can be counted on to do everything possible to deny payment. A lawyer could handle negotiations and prepare for a trial in the last resort.

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