10 April

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Autonomous vehicle makers questioned over forced arbitration

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...

23 March

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Common injuries caused by drunk driving crashes

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Drunk driving is responsible for around one-third of all traffic-related deaths in New York and the rest of the United States. Certain people, including drivers and passengers under the age of 24, motorcyclists and those with prior DUIs, are at greater risk of dying in a drunk driving crash. There are numerous fatal injuries that can occur during an alcohol-related car accident. One of the most common is a traumatic head injury, which can happen when someone hits the steering wheel, dash or some other part of the vehicle's interior. A head injury can also...

15 March

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Drowsy drivers and daylight saving time

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law With one less hour to sleep after daylight saving time goes into effect, many drivers across New York undoubtedly suffered from drowsiness on their morning commutes. A recent AAA study found that instances of drowsy driving increase after daylight saving time, so the organization gives drivers several tips on how to prevent getting into an accident. Drowsy driving account for nearly 10 percent of all car crashes in the U.S. If possible, drivers should get to bed earlier the night before. This is the first and most important step because nothing outside of rest can cure drowsiness....

12 March

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Uneven sidewalks could be risky for bikers, joggers and others

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Uncategorized

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law When people think about sidewalk injuries, they probably think about pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles or perhaps a snow-related slip-and-fall incident. However, the potential risks of sidewalks are not limited to only the winter months. The sidewalks themselves can cause injuries and even deaths to unsuspecting people who are just going about their daily lives. Uneven sidewalks can be caused by crumbling cement, encroaching roots, frost heave or ground settling. Property owners and business managers should pay close attention to the condition of their sidewalks and make repairs when necessary. Failing to do so result...

09 March

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Tennis player achieves settlement after slip-and-fall accident

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Premises Liability

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law Several years after a slip-and-fall accident at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City caused her a serious head injury, a Canadian tennis player has settled a premises liability lawsuit with the United States Tennis Association. Eugenie Bouchard, once ranked as one of the five top female tennis players around the world, slipped and fell at the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament. A wet locker room floor led to the incident, which caused a head injury that prevented her from playing out the remainder of the tennis season. Following the settlement,...

28 February

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Keeping highways safe with state governors’ participation

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Car Accidents

On behalf of Orin Cohen of Orin J. Cohen Law America's roads are becoming less and less safe. In 2016, 39 states reported an increase in the number of traffic fatalities. Nationwide, the fatalities rose by 5.6 percent. A total of 37,461 drivers died in New York and across the U.S. that year. It is known that road safety conditions in America are inferior compared to those of other developed countries. Drivers may be wondering who can lead the way in pushing and implementing improvements. This is where a new report from the National Governors Association comes in. The organization states that state governors have a key...

20 February

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OOIDA seeks rule change regarding hours of service

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Truck Accidents

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...

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