No one is ever prepared to be in an accident, and it can be really hard to know what to do in those situations. Oftentimes just prior to the accident, people have something else on their mind that they were planning on doing that day, only for it to be suddenly disrupted by an unfortunate event. Even worse is when the accident results in serious injury, which adds another layer of anxiety because of long term pain and financial heartache.
If a person is injured in an accident and it is not their fault, hopefully they are aware that the financial burden of the injury can be compensated. Whether it is a car accident, a trip and fall, or a work related injury, correctly documenting the accident can make a huge difference in being able to gain financial compensation for the injury. Two very important ways of documenting the accident is obtaining an accident report and seeking medical attention right away. This is not only good for your health and safety, but it also logs the event that caused the injury. A third crucial way to document an accident is by taking photographs. We now live in a day and age where everyone has a camera on them at all times, so photographing the scene of the accident, as well as the injuries ensued provides substantial evidence to build a case against the person who caused the injury. Here are some helpful tips in what kind of photographs are helpful in a personal injury case.
Documenting the scene of the accident is very important, because having photographic evidence on the day that the accident occurred provides the most accurate depiction of the circumstances surrounding the accident. There is no shortage of pictures you can take, so try to take pictures at multiple angles. If it is a car accident, take multiple pictures of the damage to the car from different distances so it can be clear how the car was struck. Get a picture of all the vehicles involved to get a better idea of the relative positions and proximities of the cars.
If it was a slip and fall or trip and fall, do the same thing but for the area or object that caused the fall. Additionally, try to get a clearly visible object or landmark in one of the pictures at the scene of the accident to clearly identify where this was held (for example, a street sign or a business).
If you were injured from the accident, you should also take photos of your own injury. You should not only take pictures soon after the accident, but also as it recovers. If you have recovered from the injury but still have lasting scars, photograph them as well. Again, multiple perspectives are important to grasp the scale of the injury. Super close-up shots are important, but they should not be the only photos. Get a picture up close, and take a similar one zoomed out. Make sure your whole body, including your face, is in some of the photos. All of these things will give an accurate depiction of the injury.
Another very important part of photographing an accident is the time it took place. From a technical standpoint, every smartphone nowadays records the time that a picture is taken without a person realizing it. This is called “metadata” and gives the photo file information about how the picture was taken. While this information can technically be extracted and used to prove the time the photo was taken, it is still better if possible to date the photo yourself. Some ways you can do this are by taking a picture of the newspaper that day at the scene of the accident, or even a picture of someone else’s smartphone with the calendar date on display.
Along with photos, a good way to give perspective to the scene of the accident is taking a video. This should be in addition to but not in place of the photos you take. A slow 360 degree video of the scene along with closeups of the damage and a landmark nearby can be very helpful. Additionally, many drivers nowadays have a dash cam, it’s important that if you have a dash cam that you know how to use the SD card in the dash cam to be able to show or send the videos of the dash cam if needed. Here is an article on how to extract a video from a dash cam (SD card) and on to your PC
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Anyone who lives on Long Island is familiar with Long Island traffic. All of those cars and all of that traffic is often accompanied with motor vehicle accidents. Long Island is a unique area in that it has higher amounts of traffic because of its proximity to the city, as well as more serious accidents because it has more highways and higher speed limits than the city. News 12 stated that seven out of the ten most dangerous roads in the state of New York are on Long Island. This is not surprising.
While New York City is packed with cars and people, the cars move pretty slowly due to heavy traffic. In fact, many who live in the city seldom own a car due to the availability and practicality of public transportation. Only very popular roads, such as Broadway, really pose a threat as being dangerous due to the sheer number of pedestrians populating the streets. The rest of the state of New York is far more widespread, and much less populated. So although Upstate has many highways, it is not heavily populated. Long Island however, has that perfect combination of dense population and an abundance of major roads.
The most dangerous roads on Long Island include Jericho Turnpike, Sunrise Highway, Wicks Road, Hempstead Turnpike, Middle Country Road, Route 110 and Merrick Rd. Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) is reported to be the most dangerous for pedestrians (based on a 2014 report), with approximately half of all pedestrian accident deaths occurring between Centerreach and Ridge. The reason a road like Jericho Turnpike has so many pedestrian accidents is due to the fact that its purpose is designed to serve as a high volume road for residential and commercial areas.
Notice that many of these roads, including Jericho Turnpike, aren’t highways. While a road like the Northern State Parkway has a higher speed limit at 55mph, it is a straight highway with only entrances and exits (and no pedestrians). Roads like Jericho, Wicks and 110 however, have stoplights, crosswalks, sidewalks, parking lots, shopping centers, center turning lanes, and many intersections. Because these roads are very commercial, they are very busy and have higher speed limits. All these factors play into why more accidents occur on these roads. Ultimately, drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists all need to exercise caution when driving on these roads. Here are some safety tips for each.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Long Island has a lot of people, with a lot of cars. A recent study reported by News 12 stated that seven out of the ten most dangerous roads in the state of New York are on Long Island. This is not surprising. While New York City is packed with cars and people, the cars move pretty slowly due to heavy traffic. Additionally, many rely on public transportation rather than cars. Only very popular roads, such as Broadway, really pose a threat as being dangerous. As for upstate New York, although they have many highways, those roads are far less populated than the rest of the state. Long Island however, has that perfect combination of dense population and an abundance of major roads.
The most dangerous roads on Long Island include Jericho Turnpike, Sunrise Highway, Wicks Road, Hempstead Turnpike, Middle Country Road, Route 110 and Merrick Rd. Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) is reported to be the most dangerous for pedestrians, with approximately half of all pedestrian accident deaths occurring between Centerreach and Ridge. The reason a road like Jericho Turnpike has so many pedestrian accidents is due to the fact that its purpose is designed to serve as a high volume road for residential and commercial areas. It isn’t a highway, but has higher speed limits and more traffic than a typical road. Additionally, unlike a highway, it has businesses, parking lots, sidewalks and crosswalks. In fact, many of these dangerous roads are similar to 25, such as Merrick Rd, Wicks Rd, Middle Country Rd, Hempstead Turnpike and 110. Therefore, these are the kinds of roads drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike should be extra careful.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
In light of the tragic car accident that occurred recently in Riverhead which left numerous casualties in its wake, we really want to touch upon how dangerous the roads are becoming. And, why. US traffic fatalities have gone up a staggering 9% in the first half of 2016 in comparison to the same time last year. An estimated 19,100 individuals lost their lives from just January to June. Roughly 2.2 million people were also injured in car accidents during this time. Tragedy after tragedy, something needs to change.
The National Safety Council has stated that the rise in the economy is at “the core of the trend”, and it makes sense. It’s simple: with more people on the road, there’s a much graver potential for accidents to occur. At this rate, the National Safety Council predict an expected 40,000 deaths due to car accidents in the US, making 2016 the deadliest driving year since 2008.
And this isn’t the only time in history where we’ve observed economic rise correlate with a rise in traffic accidents. The council also predicts that over the upcoming Labor Day weekend, beginning on Friday, September 2nd, “438 people will be killed on the nation’s roads.”
So, in light of all this evidence, we believe it’s time for some sort of change. The entire country is experiencing this problem. And Long Island has some pretty dangerous roads and intersections that require attention. The New York State Department of Transportation plans to increase safety measures on the notorious turn at the intersection of Makamah Road and Fort Salonga Road, which has taken 2 young lives this year and critically injured 2 others.
Finally, a very close friend of the individuals involved in the first accident, Zoe Berger, spoke out. “I believe there should be more guardrails, lighting and possible warning signs for the speed in which people are driving on this turn,” she said. We believe she did the right thing by speaking up. We truly applaud her for her bravery, and are so very sorry for her loss as well as the families of the victims involved in the crash. The New York State Department of Transportation decided to make this dangerous turn safer.
We can’t just wait for tragedy upon tragedy to occur at these dangerous spots on the road. We have to recognize them for what they are – life threatening. And we need to speak up – for ourselves, and for each other, as a community. It’s not just drivers who face danger on Long Island roads without the proper safety systems in place to alert us. Here’s a list of the top ten most dangerous roads for pedestrians on Long Island, courtesy of the Tristate Transportation Campaign:
Our outcries could save lives before they’re taken. As a caring Long Island Personal Injury Law Firm, we stand behind the opinion that it’s not only up to the New York State Department of Transportation to know how to keep us fully safe. We need to voice our own concerns. Contact the New York State Department of Transportation if you feel a road is unsafe and deserves their attention. As the economy rises and roads become more congested, these accidents, injuries and deaths are projected to increase all over the US. We’re responsible for our own safety and the safety of the community. We need to learn safe driving tips and let go of our complacency. A lot of Long Island roads are dangerous.
Our heartfelt thoughts go out to all the families who’ve lost loved ones as well as the individuals injured in these tragic car accidents.
For a full description of Long Island Biking Laws, click here.
Many of us love to ride our bikes around Long Island. The environment, the beautiful weather, the scenic parks with paths laid out for the bikers of Long Island, the health benefits both mentally and physically – both kids and adults can enjoy it plenty. But Long Island can also be a dangerous place for bicyclists. Our roads are extremely congested and there are very few roads with dedicated bicycle lanes. This can be a recipe for disaster.
Following these tips is of the utmost importance for your safety. Since you’re on a bike, offering much less protection than a car, and you need to share the road with the drivers of Long Island, we cannot overstate the importance of knowing and following these rules for your own safety and the safety of others on the road. After all, the laws that drivers must follow are the same as the laws that bicyclists must follow, plus more. As well as for anyone on skates, a skateboard, etc.
Click each tip to see how they can help keep you safe on the road.
While bicycle accidents are never expected, they do happen. Protective gear significantly reduces the risk of severe injuries. From an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 97% of fatalities in bicycle crashes included individuals not wearing a helmet. And it makes sense, since 74% of fatal crashes involve head injuries. Gloves and knee pads can protect you from fracturing or breaking bones if you’re ever in a crash, minor or significant. No matter what, drive with the flow of traffic, and always in the lane provided or the shoulder if wide enough. If you drive against the flow of traffic you can see others driving toward you, and this may feel safer for you. But remember that you have much less protection than the driver of the car. And drivers are usually not paying attention to drivers headed in the opposite way that they are. And if they do see you, you’re both headed toward each other at great speed. It’s deemed better to drive with the direction of traffic because drivers will have you in their site longer, which is considerably less dangerous since you have less protection. Bicyclists are governed by the same Vehicle and Traffic Laws as motor vehicle operators. For example, bicyclists must yield to right-of-way, stop if they’re at a stop sign, drive on the right hand side, etc.[vc_column_text]Bicycles are meant to be used by one individual at a time. Placing a passenger on the handlebars, seat or pegs significantly reduces your ability to attentively visualize traffic (or visualize it at all) and impairs your ability to effectively maneuver your bicycle in case of an emergency. Not every roadway is lit up enough for drivers to see you. Furthermore, some drivers might not even have their lights on if the road is lit up by streetlights and they don’t notice (or simply neglect to put them on). This type of gear can save your life. It shines and reflects light sources, sometimes multiple light sources. It helps drivers see you on dark roads. This really goes for anyone who is forced to only use one hand to steer their bike because of the package they carry. It might be easy to glide with one hand down an empty street, but if you’re forced to maneuver to avoid an accident, you’ll need both hands. So be safe, and always keep both hands on the handlebars. A package can obstruct your view as well, making for another dangerous scenario. There’s almost always roadwork happening on Long Island roads. Sometimes, debris can be left over (ie. a small chunk of curb that was left in the shoulder lane). Debris almost always end up on the side of the road, where bicyclists ride, which causes grave potential for accidents. Any obstruction, big or small, while driving at a low or high speed, can easily cause you to lose control of your bike. There are plenty of potential obstructions for both drivers and bicyclists to watch out for. Other drivers need to know if you are planning to make a turn, just like they need to know whether another driver is planning to make a turn or drive straight. The right-of-way law applies to both cars and bicyclists – bicyclists do not get privilege with these laws. And these hand signals are there way of telling other drivers/riders on the road what they plan to do, allowing them to follow right-of-way laws. If you fail to signal and cause an accident, and need compensation for a serious injury, you may be at a loss since you didn’t the follow right-of-way laws. Here’s how to correctly signal:
Firstly, always come to a stop or slow down as much as you can (without become an obstruction for anyone behind you) before making a turn. This will make it easier for you to use hand/arm signals, especially if you have a group of bicyclists behind you.
If you’re going to make a left-hand turn, make sure you’re in the correct turning lane, and extend your left hand out horizontally. As we said before, keeping both hands on your handlebars is paramount to your safety, which is why you should slow down or preferably come to a full stop before making your turn.
For a right-hand turn, make sure you’re in the turning lane/shoulder and extend your right arm horizontally.
If you are going to slow down, begin the process and extend your left arm downward with your hand out so anyone behind you can see that you plan to slow down. This can be a bit tricky since having both hands on your handlebar is important in case you are forced to quick maneuver to avoid an accident. When you use this hand signal, survey your surroundings, and make sure that there is no potential cause for an accident. It’s also advisable to perhaps make this signal several times, allowing you to place your left hand back on the handlebar between signals. Use your best judgement with this signal. To be safe on the road, you’ll need to be fully aware of your surroundings. It’s important you know if someone is honking at you. If you don’t hear them, and a potential accident is underway, you won’t know to safely maneuver and avoid the accident.
Whether you ride a bicycle for fun or for transportation, following these simple tips will make your bicycling experience safer and more enjoyable. However, even the most conscientious bicyclist can be involved in an accident. If you should be the victim of a bicycle accident you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer that can protect your interests and obtain financial compensation should you be entitled to it.