Garden City Personal Injury Blog

AAA study says infotainment systems can be distracting

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

Infotainment systems can offer several useful features for drivers in New York, but some are irrelevant to driving and only serve as potential distractions. University of Utah researchers analyzed 30 infotainment systems on 2017 model vehicles and found that all of them demanded a moderate, high or very high level of attention. Participants in the study were drivers aged 21 to 36 who were asked to use the systems behind the wheel.

The results of this study, which was conducted for AAA, may be surprising to some. Drivers became quickly distracted, swerving out of lanes, ignoring stop signs and driving far below the posted speed limit. Researchers found that using the GPS and the feature for sending texts were the two most distracting tasks. They mentally and visually distracted drivers for more than 40 seconds each.

Elevators and escalators: A threat to workers and users

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Monday, December 31, 2018.

It is a common trope in horror movies to see someone get hurt in an elevator or pulled into the gears of an escalator. You might think that these are extreme situations made for movies, but the reality is that these types of accidents do happen. People get hurt in elevators and on escalators many times each year.

The reason that people get hurt on elevators and escalators usually comes down to malfunctions or not paying attention to the risks. Other times, people are hurt when they're working on these devices, installing them or repairing reported malfunctions. As always, it's vital that everyone is as cautious as possible when using these potentially dangerous methods of transportation.

Dealing with aggressive drivers in New York

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, December 26, 2018.

Road rage is a frequent cause of accidents. That's why drivers will want to follow a few tips for diffusing aggression. For starters, one should always remain calm. Honking the horn, flashing the high beams or making inflammatory hand gestures at the offending driver will only make matters worse. Drivers are encouraged to find their own unique strategy for keeping calm: for example, listening to classical can relieve stress.

In certain cases, such as when someone takes a parking space, the offended driver should try and give the other side the benefit of the doubt. It may be that the other person did not see them. Faced with an aggressive driver, one should never make eye contact as this could be taken as a challenge.

3 tips for preventing nursing home injuries

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Monday, December 17, 2018.

When you place a loved one into a nursing home, it's with the expectation that the facility is safe and will provide the care they need to remain healthy. The trouble is that not all facilities are the same. Some are more advanced than others, and safety may not always be the most important thing to the facility you choose.

The good news is that there are ways to prevent nursing home injuries before they ever take place. Here are a few things to consider before you choose a nursing home and once you place your loved one in their care.

Safety tips for pedestrians

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in pedestrian accidents on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

Below are just a few safety tips that pedestrians in New York or anywhere else can easily follow to reduce their risk of accidents. The first tip is to make one's self visible, especially at night and on foggy or rainy days. Pedestrians could wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight.

Pedestrians should always walk on sidewalks or walk facing traffic when there are no sidewalks. In parking lots, they should have eyes and ears open for backing lights and engine noise. They should try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street because drivers may be calling, texting or engaging in some other distracting activity. Pedestrians should never cross from behind a parked car and always cross at well-lit areas.

Burn injuries can be caused by defective boilers

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Friday, November 30, 2018.

In your home, there is a boiler. It does exactly as its name describes, boiling water to supply hot water around your home.

With boilers, there is normally a safety in place to prevent water from getting too hot. There are also pressure valves to release steam and energy, so there is a lower chance of an explosion.

Limiting hours for OR doctors and nurses

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in personal injury on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

Many doctors and nurses in New York are required to work long hours in operating rooms across the state. Some people feel that the hours should be capped similar to the way that hours are limited in other professions. Many doctors feel that this is inappropriate because patients do not expect their physician to leave during the middle of an operation.

A poll by Medscape found some differences between the way that doctors and nurses feel about limiting working hours in operating rooms. When asked whether hours should be limited to reduce mistakes, 57 percent of doctors and 87 percent of nurses said yes.

Sleep deprivation poses a significant driver safety concern

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

There are many risky behaviors associated with higher incidents of traffic collisions. Drinking and drugged driving clearly create dangers on New York highways. Also problematic are driving at excessive speeds and what has been identified as distracted driving, primarily from cell phone use and texting. However, there is another "silent killer" that many motorists don't think twice about.

A Department of Transportation study looked closely incidents of vehicle crashes, which included interviews with the drivers. The DOT report verified what had long been suspected -- driving with insufficient sleep carries risks similar to drinking and driving. The scope of the problem is underlined by the numbers, which show 7 percent of all vehicle crashes and 16 percent of all fatal crashes are related to driver drowsiness.

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Monday, November 12, 2018.

Car accidents both big and small happen often on the busy New York roads, keeping insurance companies just as busy. However, in recent years studies have found that nearly 6 percent of motorists drive without insurance in New York.

This is illegal, but it does not stop some people without insurance from continuing to drive. Fortunately, uninsured motorist coverage can protect you and your family in the event of an accident.

Tips for school zone safety

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Friday, November 2, 2018.

School drop-off and pick-up can frazzle the steadiest of nerves, whether you walk your child to school, or drive them. Children appear from every direction and everyone is in a hurry. Throw in buses, and it’s no wonder that pedestrian accidents in school zones continue to happen at a disturbing rate. Luckily, there are things you can do to help.

Your child walksor bikes to school: