20 February

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OOIDA seeks rule change regarding hours of service

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law The advocacy group for tractor-trailer owner-operators, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), has recently filed a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration seeking changes to so-called 'hours of service" regulations. The FMCSA is responsible for issuing regulations on the number of hours a day a tractor-trailer driver can be on the road. These changes could affect the safety of all New York drivers. The OOIDA claims the current regulations are convoluted and lead to fatigued driving. Drivers are provided with a 14-hour window each day to drive, and the clock begins running as soon as...

14 February

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Safety technology reduces car accidents, injuries

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law New York motorists who follow automotive technology may be interested in learning that safety warning systems work. A new study indicates that collision avoidance systems significantly reduced certain types of accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studied 5,000 car accidents that happened in 2015. These car accidents included one-car, head-on collisions and sideswipes in lane departure and blind spots the technology features are designed to prevent. The accident rate decreased to 11 percent in vehicles that had the warning systems. The injury rate also dropped by 21 percent. The study determined that 55,000 fewer people would...

12 February

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Delayed abdominal pain after a car accident is serious

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Uncategorized

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Many of the injuries that a person might suffer in a car accident do not cause pain immediately. In some instances, these injuries may go undiscovered for some time, until they worsen and become painful. In some cases, this leaves victims with very little time to seek treatment. While not all delayed pain injuries are serious, those that produce pain in a victim's abdomen may indicate something life threatening. If you or someone you love recently experienced a car accident and now feel pain in your abdomen, please seek medical attention as soon as you can. You...

07 February

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NTSB proposes ways to discourage speeding

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Many New York motorists are aware that over the past few years, traffic-related deaths have been on the rise. Though some claim that distractions, especially smartphone-using pedestrians, are causing it, the National Transportation Safety Board has released a study saying that the main factor is speeding. About 31 percent of traffic deaths between 2005 and 2014 were caused by speeding, roughly the same as fatalities related to driving under the influence. Therein lies one of the issues, according to the NTSB. No national campaigns have created a cultural stigma around speeding, and there is no...

30 January

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NHTSA to hold summit on drugged driving

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Car accidents caused by drivers who are under the influence of drugs are on the rise in New York and across the United States, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to do something about it. On March 15, the federal agency will host a summit designed to raise awareness about drug-impaired driving and develop solutions to solve the issue. Two of the reasons behind the increase in drugged driving crashes are America's opioid crisis and the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana in many cities and states. In fact, federal statistics show that the...

24 January

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Senate bill would mandate side guards on tractor-trailers

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Truck Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Each year, more than 200 Americans die when their vehicle slides beneath the side of a tractor-trailer truck. These types of accidents, called "side underride" collisions, are especially deadly because they can shear off the top of the car, causing severe head trauma to the driver and passengers. To address the issue, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida have proposed a bipartisan bill that could prevent such accidents. Introduced in December, the Stop Underrides Act of 2017 would mandate the installation of guards on the sides of...

17 January

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The dangers of overloaded tractor trailers

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Truck Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Truck accidents in New York and around the country often involve overloaded semi-tractor trailers or commercial vehicle drivers who failed to adequately control their fully laden vehicles. Loaded tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds without violating state or federal safety laws, and that amount of weight traveling at highway speeds can cause catastrophic damage to passenger vehicles. Many truck accidents involving fully laden or overloaded tractor-trailers occur when commercial vehicle drivers face an emergency situation and are forced to take evasive action. Heavy loads can shift dangerously in these situations and cause trucks...

10 January

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Driving with large trucks

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Truck Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law York drivers may be reluctant to share the road with big rigs. Their unwieldy size and propensity for moving back and forth between lanes can make driving on busy highways and roads nerve-wrecking. However, there are some things people can do to make driving alongside the large vehicles safer and more comfortable. When driving near large commercial trucks, practicing patience and extreme awareness is key to remaining safe on the road. It is important that drivers of passenger vehicles not take any chances when near the larger vehicles, even if it may present an inconvenience. For...

10 January

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Falling ice during thaws could result in premises liability

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Uncategorized

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law The winter in New York brings with it all kinds of serious risks. The potential for motor vehicle crashes increase due to holiday drinking, as well as inclement weather that can leave roads slippery and dangerous. Sidewalks and parking lots can become risky places if ice and snow isn't cleared, resulting in slip-and-fall accidents that injure people. One issue unique to areas with large buildings, including Staten Island and all of New York City, is the danger resulting from falling ice, especially on warmer days. Serious injuries, property damage or even death could result from falling ice...

04 January

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What to do around aggressive drivers

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law New York drivers often encounter others on the road who are aggressive or downright angry. Sometimes, offended drivers will become angry and also give in to road rage, increasing the chances that both of them will get in an accident. However, it doesn't have to be this way. For example, drivers may notice someone trying to force them out of the way by riding close to their bumper, perhaps even honking the horn and flashing the lights. In such cases, drivers should neither slow down nor speed up, as they may accidentally block a passing...

February 2018