As the saying goes, only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Of course, we can never know precisely how we will die, but the National Safety Council does collect some interesting statistics as to the likelihood of certain causes of death. (more…)
Common Spine Injuries From Accidents
One of the more common injuries in personal injury claims is an injury to the spine. Spinal injuries can arise from a wide variety of mechanisms – the traditional “whiplash” injury in a rear-end collision accident, being struck with a falling object on a construction site accident, falls from unsafe ladders and scaffolding, and even common trip and fall accidents.
These types of accidents can result in all manner of injuries to the spine, ranging from “soft tissue” injuries to some rather significant and devastating injuries, many of which are permanent and life-changing. Below, we break down the different areas of the spine and explain how damages to these areas can affect your body. (more…)
It Only Takes Two Inches of Water For a Tragedy To Occur: Keeping Children Safe Around Water
When your child is in a pool, or in other large bodies of water, chances are you probably take several steps to ensure their safety. From providing flotation devices to keeping a watchful eye on them as they splash and swim, responsible parents take precautions to keep their children safe in the water.
But did you know that sinks, toilet bowls, buckets of water, inflatable pools and even some puddles can contain enough water to drown a small child? (more…)
Pool Safety Tips
After a long, cold winter, it’s time to have some fun in the sun. Public and private swimming pools are open for the season and families are flocking to them to enjoy the beautiful weather and cool off during the long hot summer days.
While spending the summer poolside is a great option, there are some unfortunate dangers that come along with pool use. Pools are common areas for slip and fall accidents, and other types of incidents that can result in personal injury or death.
This year, keep your little ones safe at the pool by remembering these swimming pool safety tips: (more…)
Craft Brew Boogaloo – Enjoy and Please Drink Responsibly
On Saturday, May 23, 2015, at Cantine Memorial Field in Saugerties, New York, the inaugural Craft Brew Boogaloo will be held. This event will feature over 150 craft brews from over 75 local, regional and national breweries. Local farm-to-table food will also be available. More information is available here.
As members of the Saugerties community, the attorneys at Maynard O’Connor look forward to this offering of local craft brew and food. We also would like to offer a reminder for people to please drink responsibly.
Drinking and driving is a well-known risk. But despite the well-documented dangers, many still continue to engage in this dangerous and irresponsible behavior. As a result, they drive erratically, often times injuring others, and changing many lives forever. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in the past year, drunk driving claimed 364 traffic deaths, and 6,019 alcohol related crash injuries.
Victims of drunk drivers deserve compensation for their injuries. To accomplish this, it’s important to partner with an experienced New York personal injury attorney with a detailed understanding of alcohol related accidents. We understand the tragedy that drunk driving accidents cause victims and their families, and would like to help.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a drunk driver, please contact Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto today. We can help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Home Safety Tips – Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home
It is estimated that 6 children die from injury in the home every day in the United States. That’s more than 2,200 US children per year who die from injuries incurred at home. A new report issued by Safekids.org explores what parents are concerned about and what they do to keep their kids safe.
The Make Safe Happen ad created by Nationwide Insurance brought into dramatic focus the preventable household injuries that are the number one cause of childhood deaths. From bathtubs and cleaning chemicals to falling televisions, the home can be a dangerous place for children.
Together, we can reduce these shocking statistics by following these home safety tips:
- Do not leave children unattended in the bathtub or around water. Give them your full and undivided attention.
- Test smoke alarms and change batteries every 6 months to ensure they are in good working order.
- Keep cribs clear of objects.
- Keep all medications up and away from children. Be aware where medications are, and keep them locked away.
- Make sure cabinets containing cleaning chemicals are locked and out of reach of children.
Raising Awareness About Risks of Drunk Driving in New York
Raising awareness and educating people about the severe risks associated with impaired driving can help save lives. DWI accidents frequently have devastating consequences, and every one of these crashes is absolutely preventable. With safety and prevention in mind, let’s consider some facts from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In terms of collisions, injuries, deaths and arrests, roughly 1/3 of the problem of drunk driving is due to repeat offenders, according to MADD. It is estimated that between 50-75% of DWI offenders who have had their license taken away continue to drive. Drunk driving in New York is no exception, though the state’s Leandra’s Law provides for the installation of ignition interlock devices after a DWI conviction to counter this statistic. Even with this, however, more needs to be done to prevent first and subsequent offenses.
MADD reports that close to one out of every three fatal motor vehicle accidents involve a drunk driver – an estimate that is particularly telling when you consider these numbers:
- Each year, Americans make about 233 billion car trips.
- Out of every 2,000 of those trips, one involves a driver who is under the influence of alcohol.
In other words, a proportionally small amount of the population – drunk drivers – cause a proportionally huge amount of damage and loss. MADD reports that someone is hurt in a drunk driving accident every 90 seconds, and on average, someone is killed every 53 minutes in a DWI crash.
After an injurious or fatal DWI accident, victims or their families have a right to seek justice in civil court in addition to criminal court. In a civil capacity, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit can lead to compensation for damages as well as hold the wrong doer fully accountable.
If you or a loved one have been harmed due to someone driving while impaired, let the personal injury attorneys at Maynard, O’Conner, Smith & Catalinotto help you. Our offices are conveniently located in Albany, Johnstown & Saugerties, serving clients throughout the Capital Region as well as Hudson, Amsterdam and other areas of Upstate New York. Contact us or give us a call at (800) 721-3553 to schedule a free consultation.
Local Municipalities Debate Installation of Traffic Cameras
In recent years, we have seen a proliferation of “red light cameras”, also known as “speed cameras” – cameras mounted alongside traffic lights at busy intersections and school zones, to detect vehicles running red lights or speeding. Such cameras utilize sensors which detect when a vehicle travels through a red light or is traveling above the posted speed limit. When a vehicle passes through a red light, these traffic cameraa will take a photograph of the vehicle’s license plate, transmit it to the appropriate local authority, and a fine is issued to the car’s registrant via mail.
Earlier this summer, Governor Cuomo signed legislation authorizing additional cameras in Albany, as well as New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Yonkers.
The City of Albany is presently engaging in a traffic study to assess where such cameras would be placed. Advocates for such cameras stress that reliance upon such technology will reduce reliance upon police resources, will decrease crashes, and will enhance the safety of pedestrians and motorists. Opponents maintain that such programs infringe upon civil liberties, allow for a risk of inaccurate citations, and eliminate the “human component” of issuing traffic tickets.
Regardless of one’s position on the issue, perhaps the greatest incidental benefit of this debate is to focus attention on safe driving practices and to change drivers’ behavior. Intersection accidents – whether due to speeding, violation of traffic control devices, use of cell phones, or inattentiveness, remain one of the most common collisions. Damages from such accidents may range from simple vehicle damage to significant personal injuries.
Another potential benefit is that such photos may be used as evidence in any subsequent civil proceeding. However, such videos or photos may only be preserved for a very short time, before the data is overwritten or automatically deleted. As a result, it is often necessary to promptly demand that the municipality preserve such materials.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, please contact the personal injury attorneys at Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto. We can take the necessary steps to secure videos or photos of the accident, place negligent parties on notice of your claims, and help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages. Our three office locations in Albany, Saugerties and Johnstown are convenient to both Capital Region and Hudson Valley communities.
Halloween Safety Tips From Maynard O’Connor
Happy Halloween from Maynard O’Connor!
Halloween is a lot of fun. But, it also presents a greater risk for injury to our children. Here are some helpful Halloween safety tips if you and your children are going out trick or treating this year.
- Make sure your child can walk easily in his or her costume and that no parts obstruct his or her vision – use face paint instead of cumbersome masks;
- Make sure props like toy swords or knives are soft, short and flexible;
- Never let your child trick or treat alone, and accompany your child up to the doors of homes;
- Use sidewalks and walkways, do not cut across people’s yards where there might be unknown hazards hidden in the dark;
- Attach lights or reflective material to your child’s costume;
- Make sure your child’s costume is flame resistant or flame retardant;
- Examine all candy for choking hazards. Throw away homemade or unwrapped candy;
- Never enter a person’s home or vehicle unless with a trusted adult; and,
- If you’re driving, be on the careful lookout for pedestrians dressed in dark costumes.
We hope everyone has a fun and safe time trick or treating! If your child or you are injured while trick or treating, please call the accident attorneys at Maynard O’Connor.
Constructive Notice: Tips for Victims of Slip/Trip and Fall Accidents
As mentioned in prior posts on this blog, the central issue in “Slip and Fall” or “Trip and Fall” accidents is often the question of notice. A property owner can be held liable only if they had actual or “constructive” notice of the dangerous condition. While constructive notice can be tricky to prove, there are some steps that you can take promptly after your accident to improve your chances at prevailing on this issue.
In many cases, constructive notice can be inferred, based upon the size and dimensions of the condition. For example, case law has held that where a patch of ice is very large or thick, the inference can be drawn that it existed for a long time. The same may hold true with large potholes, chipped and broken slabs of pavement, etc. Because the condition may obviously change between the time of your accident and the time your claim is placed, we recommend that you immediately take multiple photographs of the defective condition and the surrounding area. That can usually be promptly accomplished with your own cell phone camera. Because photographs alone often do not completely capture the extent of the condition, it could also be extremely helpful to take measurements of the condition, and photograph those measurements as well.
It is critical to report your slip and fall or trip and fall accident to the property owner right away. If your fall occurs in a store or public building, promptly ask to see a manager and request an accident report. This will help prevent the property owner from arguing later that your accident did not occur at that time and location. Be sure to keep a copy of that report for your own records.
Any other information that you can collect, such as names and addresses of witnesses and reports of weather conditions, can be helpful to your claim.
The personal injury attorneys at Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto routinely handle these issues, and can assist you in obtaining the proper evidence you need to prevail on your claim. If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall, or trip and fall, accident, please call us at 800-721-3553 for assistance.
