Garden City Personal Injury Blog

Keeping your kids safe at the bus stop or while walking to school

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

As your school-age children get older, you will likely grant them increasing levels of autonomy regarding their daily lives. This will likely include getting to and from school every day. If your child is old enough to have a cellphone, you may feel comfortable letting them walk to school in some weather conditions.

Even if they are not old enough to handle the commute to school as a pedestrian, you may still let them wait at the bus stop alone with their friends. Unfortunately, your children may be at risk of an injury caused by a car crash while waiting at the bus stop or walking to school. Talking with them a little bit about pedestrian safety can go a long way toward minimizing their risk.

Tips to preventing drowsy driving

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Monday, August 19, 2019.

It's no mystery that driving an automobile while tired is a serious hazard, but more than one in three drivers admit that they've operated a vehicle while drowsy. A contributing factor to this problem may be the prevalence of sleep aids in New York and other states. Many people who take these types of drugs report getting behind the wheel within seven hours after taking a dose. According to most medications, users of sleep aids need to plan for at least seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep after taking a pill.

Due to a lack of public transit options, drowsy driving can be almost impossible for people in most areas to avoid. There are, however, some guidelines that people can follow to avoid getting behind the wheel when tired. The first is to try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. If someone isn't able to get this much sleep or is still tired after seven hours, they should consult with their doctor.

The top distractions that drivers should avoid

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Distracted driving is an epidemic in New York as in many other states, and everyone is susceptible to it. Though the use of smartphones and navigation systems has been rising, this is far from the only possible distraction. Anything that takes one's attention from the road is a distraction.

First, drivers are advised to put their phones on Do Not Disturb mode and refrain from talking on hands-free devices as well. If they must make a call, they can do so after pulling over safely. Next, drivers should be aware that the more passengers there are, the more likely they will be distracted by conversations. Drivers could limit how many passengers they take.

Walking to work? Avoid a pedestrian accident

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Monday, July 29, 2019.

Pedestrians can be in much danger when they're on or near the roads. They have no real protection against injury if they're hit by a driver. Even at slower speeds, a person who is struck by a car could suffer serious injuries.

To prevent pedestrian accidents, drivers have a duty of care. They are required to act responsibly. Drivers who are negligent can be held accountable if they hit a pedestrian.

3 tips for preventing nursing home injuries in Long Island

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Friday, July 26, 2019.

When you place a loved on in a nursing home, you may worry that they won't get the care they need. There are many injuries that they could suffer if they're not treated well in the facility.

The good news for families is that nursing homes can be held liable if they are not careful about how they treat your loved one. On top of that, there are steps you can take to make sure your loved one is treated with respect.

Typical causes of truck accidents

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

New York truck drivers could cause accidents for a number of different reasons. For example, some drivers get behind the wheel despite their fatigue. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving and could lead to a serious accident.

Many accidents are caused by speeding. Speeding can be tempting for truck drivers who will make more if they can deliver loads more quickly, but it can also be dangerous. Drunk driving is another danger. However, distracted driving has replaced it as a top cause of motor vehicle accidents, and it doesn't just mean talking on a cellphone. Bending down to pick up an item, eating or even emotional distress can be distracting.

Changes in driving rules for truckers

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

New York motorists should be aware that the Department of Transportation plans to scale back federal rules on the number of hours truck drivers can remain driving before being required to rest. The trucking industry has long since been advocating for a relaxing of the rules. Detractors of the federal agency's plans state that such a move will make the regulations inadequate and will result in safety hazards as a result of fatigued drivers.

The federal regulations that are in place now require long-haul truck drivers to drive no more than 11 hours within a 14-hour period of being on duty. The drivers are also required to have had 10 straight hours of being off duty before their on-duty period begins again. Also, any truckers who will be driving in excess of eight hours are required to take a 30-minute break before the eight-hour mark arrives.

Phone addiction creates crises on the roads

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

There is a very real consequence of so many people being connected through the internet and digital devices. That consequence is addiction.

You probably know at least one person who can't be away from their phone at any time. They check it while driving, while parked, while eating dinner and at every moment they can. This addiction isn't healthy, and it puts them at risk of being involved in or causing a crash.

IIHS: drivers overestimate the capabilities of ADAS

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Many drivers in New York are under the impression that advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, are able to replace them behind the wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has conducted a study to see just how widespread these misconceptions are. Researchers say that drivers' ignorance, combined with imperfect technology and misleading advertising from the automakers themselves, is creating a dangerous situation.

Of the more than 2,000 participants in the IIHS study, nearly half believed that the Autopilot program (by Tesla) would allow them to drive without ever touching the steering wheel. Over 30% thought it would be safe to talk on the phone while driving with Autopilot on. A small group even assumed that Autopilot would allow them to take a nap.

Defective hernia mesh products may cause serious conditions

On behalf of Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. posted in personal injury on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Shortly after their development in the 1950s, hernia mesh products became a widely accepted way to repair hernias. However, not all of these products are safe. Some are made of materials that have not been sufficiently tested for safety, while others have coatings that are liable to be dissolved in the body. New York residents should know that these defective products can cause serious complications.

There is the possibility that the mesh will perforate the organ and cause an infection like peritonitis, for example, or migrate to another part of the body. Bowel adhesions, which are scar-like tissues that may make the mesh stick to the bowel. They can cause severe chronic pain and even lead to bowel obstruction.