As automobile injury lawyers on Long Island, we see many people who believe that New York’s no-fault auto insurance laws prevent them from holding the at-fault motorist who caused their accident liable for their damages.
But that is simply not true.
If your injured, you qualify to pursue a personal injury case against the at-fault driver.
We offer complimentary consultations on Long Island, at the hospital, or even in your home. Call us today at 516-932-0400 to schedule your free consultation.
If you were injured in a car accident in New York City, please go to our New York Car Accident page.
Recoverable Damages in a Long Island Car Accident Case
We will work to put a value on your case and determine what types of damages you may recover as we conduct our investigation and assess your full range of losses.
Some of the common types of damages that are recoverable in car accident cases include:
- Medical treatment and related expenses
- Ongoing care costs and future care expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Loss of services
- Out of pocket expenses
- Rental car costs
- Pain and suffering damages
If your loved one was the victim of a car accident and passed away because of their injuries, you may also be eligible to file a wrongful death action. We can review your case and guide eligible family members through the claims and litigation process.
Call us today at 516-932-0400 for your free consultation and to get started.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Long Island, call 516-932-0400
Let the Experts at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. Determine What Caused Your Long Island Car Accident
Car accidents occur in a variety of ways and almost all of them can lead to serious injuries. Some of the most common types of car accidents we see include:
- Rear-end
- T-bone
- Head-on
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Drowsy driving
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
We will collect evidence to get a better understanding of exactly what happened, who caused the accident, and how it led to your injuries. We will work to identify the negligent act, which will allow us to hold the at-fault driver liable for your serious injuries.
Some of the most common causes of accidents include:
- Distractions, including texting or talking on the phone
- General inattentive driving
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield right of way in turns
- Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
- Failure to observe all applicable traffic laws
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
Long Island Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 516-932-0400
Our Team Can Help You Explore Your Options After a Car Accident
A car accident lawyer on Long Island from Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. can help you understand your options for recovering compensation after a Long Island car accident. This may include:
- Filing an insurance claim with your PIP coverage
- Filing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s liability coverage
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver
We often attempt to settle car accident cases out of court. But in some situations, the insurance company may refuse to make a fair settlement offer or may deny your claim altogether. When this occurs, we will not hesitate to file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to court to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Get started now by calling us at 516-932-0400.
Click to contact our Long Island Personal Injury Lawyers today
The Clock Is Ticking on Your Car Accident Case
New York only gives us a limited time from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit in civil court. This means the clock is already ticking on your car accident case. We recommend calling us as soon as possible after an accident so we can get started immediately.
We can meet with you while you are still in the hospital, or we can come to your home. We will also meet you elsewhere on Long Island or throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Talk to a Long Island Car Accident Lawyer at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P.
At Friedman & Simon L.L.P., we pride ourselves on being passionate advocates for the injured. We will work for you by fighting for the compensation you need and deserve.
Call us today at 516-932-0400 to schedule your complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
Long Island Car Accidents News
27 Year Sentence For Drug-Related Car Accident
The New York Times reports that a man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for an aggravated vehicular homicide charge along with other charges.
On February 14th, 2018, four members of the McCoy family were driving along a stretch of Route 25, which bisects Long Island.
Behind them was Jamel Turner, driving a 2018 Camaro that had been reported stolen. At a speed of 154 m.p.h., Turner plowed into the Mazda occupied by the family. This collision caused a domino effect, sending the Mazda into an Infiniti. The Camaro hit an oil truck. The Mazda caught fire and all four occupants were burned alive in the inferno.
At the time of the accident, according to the medical examiner, Turner had the second highest level of marijuana he had ever seen in his system.
A passenger in Turner’s vehicle, identified as Lonidell Skinner and Skinner’s dog, were both thrown from the vehicle and died on scene.
Earlier this year, Turner pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and serious injury charges. The truck driver, who suffered from spine and neck injuries, is still recovering.
On the day of his sentencing, Turner refused to leave his jail cell, stating that he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea. The judge, Justice Fernando Camacho denied the request. He then warned Turner that if he did not show up, he could risk losing his plea deal and face life imprisonment.
Turner was sentenced to 27 years in state prison. He is a Bloods gang member and drug dealer with an extensive criminal history.
In New York, when a person drives while intoxicated and is in an accident that causes the death of one or more people, that driver can face charges of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree. In certain situations, that charge can be elevated to aggravated vehicular manslaughter, which is a Class B felony. If the accident causes the death of more than one person or the death of one person and seriously injures another, then the aggravated vehicular manslaughter charge may be applied. If convicted, this charge carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years in state prison.
A Driver Runs Into A Tree Off Off Deer Park Avenue Exist, The Passenger Succumbs To Fatal Injuries
There are several types of car accidents, and each type has its own set of common causes. However, there are generally some common causes that are shared among accident types.
More than 90% of all accidents usually involve driver error. This error could be anything from driving while distracted to driving under the influence. In order to receive compensation for injuries in an auto accident, the victim must usually prove that the at-fault driver was acting in a negligent manner.
One of the most common driver errors that leads to accidents across the country is speeding. Speeding not only increases the forces at play during an accident, making it more severe, but it can also lead to loss of control much easier than driving at a slower speed. Speeding can also reduce the effectiveness of other safety measures, such as airbags and seatbelts.
The Huntington, New York Patch reports that there has been a fatal crash on Northern State Parkway.
The crash occurred at about 7:57 p.m. on Friday night west of the Deer Park Avenue exit.
57-year-old William Wade was driving west on the parkway when he failed to negotiate a curve. He lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree.
21-year-old Tacorra Moss was ejected from the vehicle. She was rushed to a West Islip hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Wade suffered from non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a separate hospital.
Wade was issued several traffic citations as well as an appearance ticket for first-degree unlicensed operation.
Fatal Long Island Crash Started With Teen Fleeing Police
Police are trained in how to drive in stressful conditions, which includes training on how to maneuver at high speeds, such as those that often occur in chases. Many police departments have guidelines on when a chase can be initiated and when one must be called off because of the danger to the public. Often times, when these chases end in collisions, the ones who are hurt are innocent bystanders. The results can often be catastrophic, such as an accident that occurred in Long Island as a police officer chased a car that had been reported as stolen. The Medford Patch reports on the story.
On Saturday night, a Suffolk County police officer observed a gray 2015 Nissan Rogue fail to make a stop at a stop sign. The officer also reported that the driver of the Nissan was behaving recklessly on Main Street in Yaphank at around 11:45 p.m.
The Nissan had been reported stolen on February 7th from East Patchogue. The driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old Nahriek Belford, refused to stop at the officer’s signal and fled.
While traveling westbound on Route 25 in Middle Island, the Nissan struck a 2009 Honda CRV that was making a left turn. 74-year-old Jerome Weingarten and his 71-year-old wife, Randee, were in the driver and front passenger seat. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
19-year-old Angelo Belford, who is the brother of Nahriek Belford, was also killed in the accident. 16-year-old Jaquell Funderburke was also in the Nissan. He was injured but survived the accident. Belford was also injured in the crash.
So far, Belford has been charged with reckless endangerment, but more charges will likely be filed.
Long Island Athlete Dies In Car Wreck
Teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal car accidents than any other age group. This is primarily due to their immaturity, lack of driving skills, and lack of experience. In fact, car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens aged 15-19 in the United States. Many of these crashes are due to situations such as distracted driving, speeding, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Because of this, all 50 states have implemented a graduated driver’s license program, taking a teen through steps before they are giving a full driver’s license, preventing many of the distractions that plague them.
The Riverhead Patch reports that a Long Island star athlete has succumbed to the injuries she received in a fatal car wreck.
Melissa Marchese’s death came as a shock to residents of Long Island. She had suffered from critical injuries in a car accident last Thursday evening.
The accident took place at 6:50 p.m. on Thursday night on Route 25A near Miller Avenue.
According to police, 17-year-old Evan Flannery was driving a 2007 Hyundai Elantra south on Miller Avenue, making a left turn onto Route 25A. His vehicle was struck by a 2006 Hinda Accord driven by 34-year-old Michael Troiano.
Marchese was a passenger in Flannery’s Elantra and was airlifted with critical injuries to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries. Flannery and another passenger, 18-year-old Caroline Tyburski suffered from non-life-threatening injuries. Toriano also suffered from non-life-threatening injuries.
Marchese had recently signed on to play softball at the University of Hartford. She was also recognized as a New York State Scholar-Athlete on the all-girls division softball team.
Motorcycles Catch Fire In An Accident With A Jeep
Motorcycles are both a primary method of transportation and a fun way to spend a weekend. According to statistics, there are around 8.5 million motorcycles on the roads in the United States. Motorcyclists face unique risks and dangers when they head out on roadways. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists are five times more likely than car occupants to be injured and 29 times more likely to sustain fatal injuries in an accident. Helmets and thick clothing designed for motorcyclists can help, yet 50% of motorcyclists do not wear helmets. Additional data reveals that 40% of all motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
The Shirley-Mastic Patch reports that a motorcyclist has died in a fiery crash.
The crash occurred Tuesday night at around 8:21 p.m. in Suffolk County.
A woman from Manorville was driving a 2006 Jeep Liberty south on Mastic Road when she made a left turn onto Eleanor Avenue. She turned into the path of two motorcyclists that were heading north on Mastic Road.
31-year-old Bernard Lafayette was driving in the lead, ahead of a 35-year-old male from Mastic.
Lafayette crashed into the Jeep and the other motorcyclist fell off of his bike, which then crashed into Lafayette’s motorcycle. Both motorcycles then caught fire.
Lafayette was taken to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other motorcyclist only suffered from minor injuries. The driver and passenger in the Jeep were not injured.
Both the motorcycles and the Jeep were impounded for safety inspections.
New York And New Jersey Cities Worst To Drive In According To Study
According to the Department of Transportation, there are two types of traffic congestion. The two types are recurring and non-recurring. According to the DOT, half of all congestion is of the recurring variety. It happens daily due to a lack of capacity on highways and interstates. Non-recurring traffic congestion is typically caused by traffic accidents, construction, and weather delays. The primary culprit in non-recurring traffic congestion is the weather, which accounts for 15% of all of this type of congestion. Another primary factor in non-recurring traffic is the human element, which includes traffic accidents that are not directly attributable to weather.
NBC New York reports that a Wallet Hub study has revealed that New York and New Jersey cities are among the worst to drive in.
Wallet Hub looked at the 100 largest cities across the country and ranked them across 30 indicators of driver-friendliness. They then used these rankings to determine the best and the worst cities to drive in.
Key indicators included the cost of gas per gallon, hours spent in traffic congestion, and the number of auto repair shops per capita. These rankings were then divided into four categories: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance.
Newark, New Jersey came in at number 96 of 100. It placed 97th in the traffic and infrastructure category. As far as safety is concerned, Newark placed 84th.
New York City came in at number 92 overall and ranked 93rd when it comes to ownership and maintenance. However, New York City ranked at the bottom, number 100, when it came to traffic and infrastructure. However, the city placed 16th when it came to safety.
On the brighter side, New York City had the third-lowest auto-theft rate.
New York’s No-Fault Laws and Time Limits
New York is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that laws require that a driver carry personal injury protection coverage for their vehicle. This allows all people in the vehicle to obtain benefits, regardless of who was at fault during the accident. No-fault benefits are limited in some cases to $50,000 unless the insured purchased additional benefits. No-fault claims must be filed within 30 days of the accident. Filing after this deadline could lead to a reduction or even a complete loss of benefits.
Menafn reports on the most common types of accidents that occur in Long Island, New York where insurance claims must be filed.
New York Civil Practice Laws and Rules Section 214 states that any person injured in a car accident has three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some injuries that are suffered in a car accident may not immediately present themselves. Because there is a time limit, it is important that people involved seek medical evaluation.
The most common kinds of accidents that take place on Long Island are the following:
- Head-On Collisions
- Side-Impact Collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Rear-end Collisions
- Hit-and-Run Accidents
Along with being a no-fault state, New York is also a contributory negligence state. When a monetary judgment is being deliberated, the individual parties will be assigned a degree of fault. The amount of compensation will be determined by how much the individual is at fault in the accident. For example, if determined to be 20% at fault, the person would likely receive 80% in compensation rather than 100%.
Safety Hearing For New Limousine Regulations Follow Deadly October Crash
A tragic limousine accident occurred in October last year and killed 20 people, including the driver. Further investigation revealed that the modified SUV should not have even been on the road. Both state officials and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board have been investigating the deadly crash. The operator of the limousine company, Nauman Hussain, is facing criminal charges. Authorities allege that Hussain kept putting the limo involved in the crash back into service despite being taken off the road by state inspection officials. Now, the Times-Union reports that the New York State Senate will be having safety hearings regarding limousines.
Next week, New York’s safety regulations will be examined at a public hearing in Albany.
The Senate Transportation Committee has planned at least two hearings for this matter. The Senate is expected to hear from experts in the transportation industry, safety experts, and family members of those killed in the fatal October crash.
The focus of the hearings will be on new regulations for limousine companies and operators as well as road safety issues.
State lawmakers have signed off on an $85 state inspection fee, tougher penalties for illegal limo operators, and powers to remove license plates from the limousines that fail state inspections. Governor Cuomo had intended to ban on after-market stretch limousines, but that part of the deal was dropped from the current budget. Some of the new regulations were crafted in direct response to the fatal accident last October.
Besides the hearings, a bill has been introduced that would significantly raise the minimum insurance requirements that upstate limo companies must carry on their vehicles. The bill would increase the minimum amount to $1.5 million for injuries or death to one or more passengers.
Seatbelts And Alcohol Lead To Deadly Fiery Crash
In 2018, the national seatbelt use was 89.6% of drivers and passengers. The use of seatbelts saved approximately 14,955 lives in 2017. In 2017, there were 37,133 people killed nationwide in automobile accidents. Of those, it was determined that 47% were not wearing seatbelts. In the front seat of a passenger car, buckling up can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45%. It also reduces the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. For light trucks, buckling up reduced the risk of death by 60% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 65%.
According to statistics, teenagers are most likely to drive or ride in vehicles without buckling up. That’s part of the reason why this latest crash was so terrible. The Buffalo News reports on an accident where a car burst into flames, claiming the life of a teenager. The crash occurred Sunday morning at about 5:23 a.m.
West Seneca Police and first responders arrived at the crash scene at the corner of Langner and Fisher Roads. There, they confronted a 2006 Pontiac G-6 that was on its roof and in flames. The driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old Tyler Wackowski, had been traveling south on Langner Road when the vehicle left the road, hit a stump, and onto its roof.
Five passengers escaped the flames and informed the police that Wachowski was still in the vehicle. An attempt was made to pull him from the wreckage, but the heat of the flames drove the rescuers back.
The other passengers in the car included three 17-year-old boys as well as a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl. All were taken to the hospital for treatment. Everyone but the 17-year-old girl had been released. At least three of the passengers informed the police that they were not wearing seatbelts. Investigators are still investigating the crash, but they do believe that speed could have been a factor. The damage to the vehicle was too severe to tell if Wackowski had been buckled in.
There were also empty beer and liquor containers inside the car and scattered outside the vehicle.
Several, Including An Infant, Were Killed In A Wrong-Way Accident Off Of Interstate 95
Annually, wrong-way collisions result in about 360 fatalities in the United States. They are the top kind of fatal motor vehicle accidents though they only account for about 3% of all crashes that occur. Because they typically cause head-on collisions and occur at high speeds, wrong-way collisions can result in serious, lifelong injuries even when they are not fatal. Typical injuries that occur in wrong-way collisions can include traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, broken and fractured bones, internal injuries, lacerations, bruising, and partial or complete paralysis.
The Chesterfield Observer reports that two people have been killed in a wrong-way collision.
The crash occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on March 27, 2020 on northbound Interstate 95 just south of the Woods Edge Road exit.
According to the preliminary investigation, 32-year-old Danielle N. McDaniel was driving south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95. She struck a Nissan Altima head-on in the center lane. After the initial collision, McDaniel then struck a Lexus GS sedan. She then drifted off the road.
43-year-old Reinee Thomas, who was driving the Nissan, was not wearing a seatbelt. She succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident. A 1-year-old male was secured in an infant car seat in the backseat of the vehicle also died of his injuries in the crash. Two female passengers suffered from serious injuries and were transferred to the hospital. Another 3-month-old was also injured but has since been released from the hospital.
The male driver of the Lexus suffered from serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.
McDaniel was arrested and is facing two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol manslaughter, two counts of felony DUI maiming, and one count of DUI second offense within ten years.
Sheldon Hit-And-Run Accident Kills Dog, Injures Teen Girls
While Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative may have impacted the number of traffic fatalities and injuries, it’s not having much effect on hit-and-run instances. According to New York Police Department data, there were roughly 36,000 hit-and-run instances in 2013. That number rose to 46,000 in 2017. The great majority of hit-and-run accidents resulted in just property damage. Despite that, the number of people injured in hit-and-run accidents rose to more than 5,000 in 2017. This is a 14% increase over the number of hit-and-run injuries in 2013. Police make arrests in less than 1% of hit-and-run cases.
The Buffalo News reports that police have arrested a woman in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a dog and injured two teenage girls.
27-year-old Lauren M. Hall was arrested last Tuesday and is facing several charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash in the Town of Sheldon.
The crash happened on August 15th before 8:15 p.m. when troopers out of the Warsaw Police Station responded to an incident on Dutch Hollow Road.
A 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl were walking their Australian Shepherd on the grass next to the roadway. A dark-colored vehicle swerved onto the lawn, striking and killing the dog. The two young girls were injured.
The 12-year-old suffered from serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The 14-year-old suffered from minor injuries.
Media and area tips led troopers to the vehicle involved, a black 2017 Chevrolet Trax. The Bureau of Criminal Investigations then were able to determine who was behind the wheel.
Hall is facing charges of felony leaving the scene of an accident involving serious personal injury, fourth-degree criminal mischief, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, unsafe lane change, and leaving the scene of an accident involving death to certain animals.
Speed Limits To Remain The Same At Deadly Limo Crash Location
The Schoharie limousine crash was the deadliest transportation-related disaster in the United States since the 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash outside Buffalo. It was the deadliest road disaster since a 2005 bus fire in Wilmer, Texas killed 23. 22 people total were killed, including the driver and two pedestrians.
The limousine involved in the accident had been put out of service by the state due to faulty brakes and numerous other issues. Because the limousine should have been out of service, the owner of the limousine company is now facing criminal charges. The State of New York is also facing lawsuits filed on behalf of the surviving victims and the families of the deceased.
Despite these lawsuits, which cite speed limit concerns on the road the crash occurred, Spectrum Local News reports that the DOT has no plans to lower the speed limit.
Officials say that no changes will be made to the road where the Schoharie limousine crash occurred.
The lawsuit, filed by the family of Amanda Rivenburg, alleges that State Road 30 has an unsafe speed limit. The state is also accused in the lawsuit of not posting signage that adequately warned drivers of the intersection.
The lawsuit also alleges that the NYDOT should have pulled the limousine from service in the first place. A spokesperson from the DOT said that the speed limit in the area is in compliance with standards. They also stated that there is no indication that speed was a factor in the crash.
One of the reasons the state may not be making changes is because that may be an admission of liability in the lawsuit.
A lawsuit has also been filed against the owner of the limousine company, stating that his negligence caused the vehicle’s brakes to partially fail. Residents in the area say that the hill the crash occurred on is hard on vehicle brakes. Preliminary investigations revealed that the DOT had ordered the vehicle off the road due to issues with the limo’s brakes.
The owner of the limousine company, Prestige Limousine, is facing 20 counts of manslaughter and 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide as well as civil litigation in the incident.
Speeding Police Car Crashed And Overturned A Vehicle
If you look inside a modern police car, you’ll see GPS devices, scanners, laptops, radios, and sometimes even K-9 units. Any of these things can be a distraction when officers are behind the wheel. Officers are also required to maintain constant contact with dispatch. Add to that the adrenaline an officer may feel when chasing a suspect or responding to a dangerous situation, like a domestic violence call, and it can be easy for an officer to not see another vehicle in traffic.
The Astoria-Long Island Patch reports that three people were injured after a police car was involved in a side-impact crash.
The crash occurred along 21st Street in Astoria on Friday morning near the intersection with 30th Drive.
A police vehicle was speeding along 21st Street with sirens blaring and lights flashing. The police officer slammed into another vehicle, causing it to overturn. A woman and two children were trapped inside the overturned vehicle.
Witness Surjit Singh works at a gas station at that intersection. He ran over to help the injured parties as soon as he realized that there were children trapped in the back seat of the car.
Another witness who was taking his son to school when the crash occurred said that there are a lot of crashes along 21st Street in Astoria.
A spokesperson from the New York Fire Department said that all three were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident
The Augusta Free Press reports on the steps you should take immediately following an accident.
New York is like many states in that it has laws that direct a person should stop after an accident. This is especially the case if the accident causes property damage, injuries, or results in a death. While leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage or minor injuries may just be a misdemeanor, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injuries or a fatality can be charged as a felony. Failing to stop and exchange information can also affect your ability to be properly compensated for any injuries or property damage you suffer as the result of an accident.
To ensure that any claim you may have for compensation for injuries and property damage following an accident remains viable, you should take the following steps:
- Assess your immediate safety. If you are on a busy roadway, stay in your car unless there is a more impending hazard, such as leaking fuel or a fire.
- Call 911. The 911 dispatcher will send emergency services to the scene. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher and give any pertinent information so it can be relayed to emergency services.
- Even if you feel fine, allow emergency responders to give you a cursory examination at the scene. If the paramedics want you to be taken to the hospital to be checked out, heed their advice.
- If it does not interfere with the jobs of the first responders, take pictures of the accident scene.
- Within 24 hours, make an appointment to follow up with your doctor. Injuries from car accidents may not appear immediately.
- Contact your insurance company. As a “no-fault” state, you will file your initial claim with your own insurance company.
- Contact a personal injury attorney. The sooner that you contact an attorney, the sooner your case can be reviewed and the sooner you can get your settlement.
Studies Reveal That Many DUI-Related Accidents Occur Below the BAC Level of .08%
Most states have a blood-alcohol content threshold of 0.08% for adults to determine alcohol intoxication. One exception is Utah, which lowered the threshold to 0.05% for adults in 2018. For minors, it depends on the state, but many have zero-tolerance laws and BACs of as low as 0.01% could be considered for DUI charges. Many other states have considered enacting lower BAC thresholds, including New York and California, though the legislation has yet to be passed in other states. According to new studies, many car crash fatalities involve blood-alcohol levels that are lower than 0.08%, as Health Day reports.
A new study has found that about 15% of alcohol-related deaths in the United States involve drivers with blood-alcohol levels of below 0.08%. Researchers painstakingly analyzed 16 years of motor vehicle crash data. The results were that 37% of the over 600,000 motor vehicle deaths involved at least one driver with alcohol in their blood.
15% of the cases involved a driver with a blood-alcohol concentration of under 0.08%. 55% of the deaths in those cases involved someone other than the driver who had been drinking.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have recommended reducing the BAC limit to 0.05%.
Dr. Robert Glatter, who is an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, wasn’t involved with the research. However, he’s seen the consequences of driving with a raised BAC firsthand. He advocates for lowering the BAC limits to 0.05% or even 0.03%.
Impairment can begin at BACs of this level, but most research remains focused on the threshold of 0.08%.
Sun Glare Causes Three Car Wreck
If you’ve ever been driving and been blinded for a few moments by the sun, then you’ve experienced sun glare. According to the NHTSA, sun glare is responsible for a few hundred accidents every year as it only takes a few seconds to cause an accident. AAA disputes this factor because it believes that sun glare is underreported and is usually not the sole cause of an accident. Sun glare can make it impossible to see tail lights indicating a vehicle is stopping or it can make pedestrians more difficult to spot, resulting in accidents.
CNY Central reports on an accident that left a woman injured thought to be caused by sun glare. The accident happened just after 7:00 a.m. in the town of Groton on Tuesday. New York State Police at Ithaca responded to a call regarding an accident with a manure spreader and two other vehicles on State Route 222 near Salt Road.
41-year-old Jill Ashley Williams rear-ended the manure spreader, which was being towed by a John Deere tractor owned by the Fuller Family Dairy Groton Farm. A few minutes after the initial impact, Albert Perreault failed to observe the initial wreck and collided with both vehicles involved in the primary crash. Williams had to be extracted from the wreckage and was flown by helicopter to a Syracuse hospital. No one else was injured in the accident.
Troopers believe that factors in the accident included bright glare from the sun as well as speed
Support For Senate Legislation May Result In A Law For Backseat Passengers To Wear Seat Belts
Research indicates that when used properly, lap and shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45%. The belts also reduce the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50%. Back seat passengers are three times more likely to die when they are not wearing a seat belt. Despite this startling statistic, only 72% of those who responded to a survey wore seat belts when in the back seat of a vehicle. This may be due to back seat passengers believing that the back seat is safer than the front seat.
CBS 6 Albany reports that a new bill proposed in New York would require back seat passengers to wear a seat belt.
On Tuesday, Senator David Carlucci, Assemblyman Walter Mosley, the AAA New York State company, a trauma surgeon, and a backseat passenger who survived an accident appealed to the state senate.
They were rallying behind legislation that would require passengers in the backseat of vehicles to be buckled up. The legislation would also apply to people in the backseat of taxi cabs and ride share vehicles such as Uber and Lyft.
Over the last decade in New York state, 289 people have been killed and 25,596 people were injured riding as passengers in the backseat without a seat belt.
New York became the first state to require drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up in 1985. Currently, only minors aged sixteen and under need to buckle up in the back seat.
The fine for an unbuckled back seat passenger would be the same as a driver not wearing a seat belt. Currently, the fine for a first offense is $50.
Teen Driver Crashes Into Trees In Erin
Like many states concerned with the number of teen deaths in automobile accidents, New York State has implemented a graduated driver’s license program. This means that before they have full driving privileges, a New York teen must first get a learner’s permit, a junior driver’s license, and at 18 years of age, they can get a full driver’s license. There are different restrictions placed upon the junior driver’s licenses, depending upon which region the driver lives in. However, most regions restrict how many passengers that are not immediate family can be in the vehicle to one person. They also restrict driving at night, though some may only call for a parent or relative over the age of 21 to be in the vehicle.
The Star-Gazette reports that a car accident in Erin has killed a 17-year-old student and injured four other teens.
The one-vehicle crash occurred on Friday evening in the town of Erin.
At about 8:30 p.m. a vehicle was heading westbound on Langdon Hill Road. The driver of the vehicle lost control and veered off the north side of the roadway. The vehicle then slammed into several trees.
A 17-year-old female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Another female passenger was air-lifted to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. An 18-year-old male passenger was also air-lifted to a hospital for treatment.
The driver of the vehicle, only identified as a 17-year-old female, and another 17-year-old female passenger were transported to the hospital by ambulance.
The accident is still under investigation.
Texting While Driving Bans Show Improvement On Accident Rates
A total of sixteen states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have laws prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. 47 states even have laws banning text messaging while driving. Many of these laws have been placed into effect due to the increased incidence of fatal motor vehicle accidents that are caused by, at least in part, people using their cell phones while driving. In some states, if a person is using a cell phone while driving and is in an accident involving injuries, they may be charged with a felony offense. Many of these laws have been successful in reducing the number of car crashes, according to Pix 11 New York.
Researchers examined the data from hospital emergency departments between 2007 and 2014. For the purposes of choosing which states to sample data from, only states which reported crash information where passengers and drivers required an emergency visit was considered.
According to the results that were published on Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, the states that had texting bans saw a 4% reduction in emergency department visits related to traffic crashes. The states that implemented primary bans no matter the age or intent of the driver saw an 8% reduction in ER visits.
A primary ban generally indicates that if a driver is seen by law enforcement texting while driving, they can be pulled over for that offense alone. In New York, for example, it is illegal for drivers to use any kind of mobile device. Fines for the offense can begin at $50 and go all the way up to $400 for more than three violations.
The Most Dangerous Highways In NJ May Surprise You
Overall, traffic crashes and fatalities were down in 2018 compared with numbers from 2017. While that is encouraging, accidents and injuries involving bicyclists and pedestrians are up from 2017 to 2018. In fact, pedestrian and cyclist accidents are at the highest number they have been since 1990. One thing behind this increase is the fact that there are more people on the roadways. Another factor is that they are driving larger cars. A third factor is distracted driving and even distracted walking.
When it comes to the increased traffic, New Jersey.com reports that certain highways in New Jersey are the most dangerous. The roadways that most would think would be on the list of the most dangerous aren’t. For example, Pulaski Skyway is absent from the list, despite the fact that there are no shoulders.
Using DOT crash statistics from 2018, the 12 highways with the most crashes were ranked. After that data was compiled, the highways were then ranked by the number of fatalities.
Route 9 came in at number five with a total of 4,405 crashes. 1,165 of those crashes ended with injuries.
Number 4 was I-80, which saw 4,722 crashes. This busy highway connects the Delaware and Hudson Rivers. 961 of the crashes resulted in injuries.
Route 1 took the number three spot for the greatest number of crashes. There were 6,915 crashes, 1,596 of which ended in injuries. Part of what makes Route 1 so dangerous is a high number of traffic lights, intersections, and entrances and exits to parking lots.
The New Jersey Turnpike had 7,777 crashes. That sounds like a lot, but consider the fact that this highway saw 230 million vehicles use the freeway in all of 2018.
The Garden State Parkway took first place with the highest number of crashes. There were 10,363 crashes on the parkway last year. This highway also had the highest number of fatal crashes. However, there were 389 million toll transactions, which is how the amount of traffic on the highway is measured.
Two Deadly, Single-Vehicle Crashes Occurred Just Hours Apart
While most motorists fear other drivers on the roadway, the deadliest of collisions are often single-vehicle crashes. Statistics show that more than half of nationwide fatal car accidents are single-vehicle accidents. In matter of fact, in 2015, AAA found that single-vehicle crashes were behind 55% of all traffic fatalities. According to the agency, 96% of drivers fear that they will be struck by another driver running a red light. 86% of people fear that they will be hit by a driver who is distracted by a smartphone or other device.
The Troy Daily News reports that two people were killed in separate single-vehicle accidents.
On Wednesday, there were two fatal crashes in Miami County.
Before 12:30 P.M., Miami County Sheriff’s Office deputies and medics responded to a single-vehicle crash in Bethel Township on Wednesday.
37-year-old Mathew Charles Martin was the sole occupant in the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, Martin was not wearing a seatbelt when the vehicle had veered off the left side of the road. I then struck a telephone pole and several trees before it rolling onto its roof.
According to witnesses, just prior to the accident, the vehicle had been speeding.
The second fatal crash occurred a few hours later, around 4:30 P.M.
32-year-old Elora Taylor was driving westbound on Fenner Road. She lost control of the vehicle and veered off the left side of the road. Her vehicle overturned and began to roll, knocking down a utility pole.
Initial investigation indicates that distracted driving and excessive speed played a role in the crash.
Two Men Connected To A Stolen Car Ring Were Arrested By Police Following A High-Speed Chase
The act of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer has been a felony in New York since 2006. The law came about after the family of a law enforcement officer lobbied for the change after the officer was killed in the pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist. Even if the driver has committed no other crime, attempting to flee from a police officer could be charged as a felony if someone is injured or killed in a crash related to the pursuit. Otherwise, the charge could be a misdemeanor. Even a misdemeanor charge of fleeing can result in significant jail time along with fines and fees. A felony conviction can result in a term in jail or prison for up to four years.
The Suffolk Daily Voice reports that two men suspected of being connected to a stolen car ring on Long Island were arrested following a pursuit that resulted in a crash that injured a police officer.
Detectives assigned to the Auto Theft Unit were investigating a stolen car ring when the investigation led them to Corona, Queens.
The detectives spotted a stolen 2018 BMW X5. The vehicle stopped at a BP gas station that was located at Horace Harding Expressway and 99th Street. The detectives attempted to arrest the three men occupying the vehicle.
Jorge Alvarez was behind the wheel of the vehicle and attempted to flee, intentionally striking one of the arresting detectives with the vehicle before crashing into a nearby police vehicle.
All three men then jumped out and fled the scene on foot. Two were apprehended soon after fleeing. Police did not specify what happened with the third occupant.
The detective who was hit suffered from a broken leg and multiple other injuries. He was transported to a hospital
Two People Died In A Crash That Ripped The Car In Half
Highways and roads in some of the most populous cities in the United States have been emptier than ever in recent memory, thanks to shelter-at-home orders during the pandemic. While this has meant that in many areas, accidents have decreased, one traffic violation has seen a significant uptick: speeding. New York is no exception to this rise in the number of speeders and super speeders. On March 27th alone, automated speeding cameras caught 25,000 drivers speeding and issued citations. This is double the amount from the same day on the month previous. This is especially dangerous as pedestrian and bicycle traffic has increased exponentially as well.
The New York Post reports that two people are dead after a collision in the Bronx ripped a vehicle in two.
The incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday in front of 523 Bruckner Boulevard.
The driver of a speeding Mercedes Benz was attempting to change lanes when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then plowed into a support pillar. The force of the impact tore the vehicle in two.
All three people inside the vehicle were ejected.
32-year-old Gasper Vallejo was driving at the time of the crash. He and a 22-year-old in the back-passenger seat were killed. A 25-year-old female occupying the front passenger seat suffered from critical injuries. She was rushed to Lincoln Hospital.
The speed limit on that stretch of the roadway is 30 m.p.h. It was unclear how fast the Mercedes was traveling.
Victims Died And Driver Sustained Serious Injuries In Head On Collision
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, wrong-way crashes account for only about 3% of accidents on high-speed divided highways. However, due to the nature of these types of accidents, they are more likely to result in serious injuries and fatalities than other types of accidents that happen on highways and interstates. A study completed in Virginia found that wrong-way accidents on controlled-access highways have a fatality rate that is 27 times higher than other kinds of accidents. The California Department of Transportation found a fatality rate 12 times greater than that of other types of accidents.
Lo Hud reports that new details have emerged about a fatal accident that occurred on Interstate 287.
The crash occurred on Thursday, January 30th when Jaime Paucar drove the wrong way on Interstate 287.
According to reports, Paucar had been driving a 2006 Jeep the wrong way for about 2.5 miles when he crashed head-on into a 2018 BMW 300Ci just before 8:30 p.m. The crash occurred near the border of Harrison and White Plains.
The Jeep flipped during the accident and landed on the center median guardrail.
The driver of the BMW, 57-year-old Jordan Watchell, died at the scene of the accident. A passenger, identified as 17-year-old Eric Goldberg, died on the way to the hospital.
Watchell’s son Preston and another passenger were both treated on the scene for injuries.
Paucar also sustained major injuries in the crash. No charges have been filed against Paucar, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Weather Blamed For Pennsylvania Turnpike Crash That Killed Five In Chain-Reaction Crash With Semis And A Bus
It is the time of year where, in many places across the country, it has begun or continues to snow. Snowy conditions can make driving both difficult and frightening. However, if certain care is taken, most people can reach their destination safely. Experts recommend that during snowy conditions, people stay at home unless they absolutely need to go out. If going out is necessary, the best thing a person can do is drive slowly. Pressing both the gas and the brake should be done slowly to improve traction. Increasing the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you is also recommended because slowing down can take longer on icy roads.
The New York Times reports that five people have been killed and several injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The crash occurred on early Sunday morning when a tour bus hit an embankment, sparking a chain-reaction crash that involved three tractor-trailers and one other vehicle.
The bus was traveling to Cincinnati on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. As it traveled a downhill curve, the bus hit an embankment. Two tractor-trailers then hit the bus and a third tractor-trailer hit the other two.
The bus driver, two passengers, and two UPS employees were all killed in the crash. Many people were injured, two of whom were in critical condition. The injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
The bus was en route to many different cities in Ohio and had most recently left the intersection of Allen and Canal Streets in New York City. The hub from which the bus departed is known for its Chinatown buses, as the tour buses have come to be known.
The owner of the bus, Z&D Tour, has had no reported crashes in the past two years.
The owner of Z&D Tour said that the weather was to blame for the crash. Sudden snow was said to have begun in the area at the time of the crash.
Will Limos Be Required To Use Seatbelts?
Whether a limousine is being hired for a birthday party, graduation, prom, wedding, anniversary, or another special event, passenger safety is always a concern. The truth is that stretch limousines and other vehicles designed to carry more than ten passengers aren’t required to have seatbelts. However, there are other regulations designed to keep passengers safe. Federal regulations are set on inspection and repair, driver qualifications, and how long a driver can be on the road. However, recent deadly accidents have called the safety of limousines in question, leading some to call for federal oversight, as Newsday reports.
Last Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the National Transportation Safety Board to prioritize limousine safety, including making seatbelts mandatory, installing side-impact airbags, and requiring annual federal inspections.
According to Schumer, if the agency didn’t draft safety regulations within six months, then Congress would begin drafting legislation on its own.
Those who criticize the stretch limousine industry say that the vehicles can carry 15 to 20 passengers often operate in a black hole. There are few requirements governing the installation of seat belts, air bags, or anti-intrusion bars.
In the wake of tragedies like a 2015 accident that claimed the lives of 4 passengers in a limousine and a 2018 accident that killed 20 people, some people are calling for more regulation of the industry.
Penny Casey, who is the president of the Long Island Limousine Association, says that her organization supports the reforms. The organization represents 100 area companies.
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