15 May

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Liver injuries may increase risk of death in an accident

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law New York drivers and passengers are encouraged to wear their seat belts at all times even if their vehicles have air bags. This is because individuals who wear one can reduce the odds of experiencing a severe liver injury in an accident by 21 percent. In a study of 51,202 car accident cases, 15 percent of patients had a severe liver injury. Of those patients, 15 percent died as opposed to just 8 percent who had a minor or moderate liver injury. Liver injuries were either defined as low-grade or severe for purposes of the...

14 May

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Construction accidents come from a variety of situations

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Construction Workers', Truck Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Every industry has hazards of its own. Construction is no exception. There are some specific things at the work site that pose risks to workers. It is imperative for the companies who employ these workers to ensure that these risks are minimized. Safety is a priority for these companies. While they must make sure to provide specific equipment and training, the laws in New York clearly place liability for accidents on the employers. Here are some point to remember about construction site hazards and injuries in this state: Scaffolds, ladders and heights Falls are the biggest danger for...

09 May

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Wearable devices may not make texting and driving safer

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Under New York state law, it is illegal to use a handheld device to text or make phone calls. Drivers can get around this law by using hands-free devices to chat while their vehicle is moving. However, a study from researchers at The University of Texas found that using a wearable may not be any safer than using a traditional smartphone while driving. A group of 20 participants were asked to complete a driving simulation while using either a smartphone or a Google Glass to answer and send texts. Ultimately, researchers found that the participants...

03 May

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Phone use while driving continues to be a problem

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents, Injuries

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law When it comes to driving safety, northeastern states such as New York have the worst overall scores compared to the rest of the nation. This is attributable to the prevalence of speeding and hard braking, according to driving safety app Everdrive. However, distracted driving from phone use is a bigger problem in the southern part of the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted drivers were responsible for 3,477 deaths along with 391,000 injuries in 2015. To get a better handle on how pervasive phone distractions are to today's drivers, Everdrive gathered data from...

26 April

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Dog bite claims rise among homeowners

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Premises Liability

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Dog owners in New York should be aware of the dangers that their pet can pose to themselves, their family and others. Dog bite claims made up one-third of all homeowner liability insurance claims in 2017, with an average pay-out of just above $37,000. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that every year in the U.S., there are approximately 4.5 million reports of dog bites. One out of every five dog bites result in emergency room visits. The most frequent victims are postal workers and children. The former reported 6,244 dog bite incidents in 2017. Though...

16 April

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Report identifies daydreaming as major road safety hazard

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Road safety experts often blame New York distracted driving accidents on the popularity of cellphones and other mobile electronic equipment. However, a study released by Erie Insurance to coincide with Distracted Driving Awareness Month suggests that daydreaming may actually be an even greater hazard for road users. Researchers studied accidents in the United States that claimed 172,000 lives over the last five years, and they determined that 61 percent of the distracted driving crashes involved a motorist who was lost in thought. While accidents caused by distracted drivers accounted for one in 10 of all road deaths...

10 April

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Autonomous vehicle makers questioned over forced arbitration

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Lawmakers including New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have asked companies involved in the development of autonomous vehicle technology to clarify their positions on forced arbitration agreements. Questions have been asked about the safety of self-driving cars in the wake of an accident in Arizona involving an autonomous Uber SUV that claimed the life of a pedestrian. Media reports suggest that Uber's terms of service would prevent individuals injured in such a crash from pursuing civil lawsuits. Manufacturers favor arbitration clauses because they avoid costly litigation and prevent plaintiffs from filing class...

09 April

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Dog bite disasters: Tips for treating dog bites

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Premises Liability

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law posted in blog on Monday, April 9, 2018. Every time you ride your bike in your neighborhood, you see a local pet who barks at you. The dog always seemed a little aggressive, but you never thought that it would hurt you. That was in the past, though. Today, you were riding and the dog got loose. It chased you down, tackling you off your bike by grabbing your leg in its jaws. You were bitten several times and need medical care. Treating dog bites: At the scene At the scene of a dog attack, it's typically vital to treat your...

04 April

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Reducing human influence could improve driverless cars

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents, Truck Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law While a number of issues related to self-driving technologies are debated in New York and across the United States, many hope that autonomous vehicle technology could help to cut down on car accidents and make the roadways safer. However, autonomous vehicles do not have an accident-free record; because of the nature of self-driving cars, crashes involving these vehicles tend to receive widespread publicity. When looking at how to improve the safety of autonomous cars, one professor notes that human influence itself could be responsible for autonomous vehicle accidents. A professor of engineering at Arizona State...

27 March

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Conversations, cell phones both distracting to drivers

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law For some New York drivers, even having a conversation in the car might be a distraction. A meta-analysis that appeared in the journal Human Factors looked at experimental studies on driving and distraction but no epidemiological reports or surveys. The analysis examined more than 100 experimental situations using more than 4,000 drivers and came to several conclusions. It found that both hands-free and hands-on cellphone use resulted in a diminished scanning of the environment and a slower reaction time and identification of hazards. However, conversing with others in the vehicle affected reaction time, speed, distance...

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