Summer is coming, and after a year of staying safe at home, many of us have admittedly gotten a bit out of shape. The covid vaccine rollout in New York is proving to be effective against the spread of the virus, and the number of new cases has been at a steady decrease. Additionally, many gyms and fitness centers in New York are now allowing vaccinated members the option to exercise without a mask. Because of this, many are getting back into their normal pre-pandemic fitness routines.
A lot of people who want to go the extra mile in their fitness game consider hiring a personal trainer. A good trainer can really be a great motivator for some, introducing new and effective exercises and tailoring them to the client’s fitness goals. But like anything else, there isn’t a guarantee that every personal trainer out there is well-trained and particularly safe. Unfortunately, sometimes a neglectful trainer can cause someone to be injured; not only leaving you unable to work out for some time, but also at times unable to work and require you to pay hefty medical bills.
Improperly trained personal trainers can unfortunately cause injuries. You might think that years of training or maybe a degree is required to be a personal trainer. While this might be the case for some, becoming a personal trainer can be as simple as an online course followed by certification. Without a full understanding of fitness form and techniques, injuries can happen easily. As an authority on fitness, the client is going to trust what the trainer tells them to do. This can lead to:
– Improper instructions
– Not properly spotting you during exercises
– Advising you to do exercises beyond your current capabilities, such as lifting too much weight
– Advising improper form, which can lead to strains and falling backward
So let’s say for example, the personal trainer tells you to lift weight near your limit in an improper form, and once you have it over your head you lose balance and fall backward onto other equipment. That could mean hitting your head, landing on a barbell and injuring your back, or other related serious injuries.
Additionally, a lot of people who hire trainers are older, and pushing them to do more than they can handle with poor form can tweak a ligament or cause joint damage. This can lead to being out of work for some time, requiring doctor visits, MRIs, and physical therapy.
This will depend a bit on the circumstance, but generally, if the injury is serious and is a direct result of the workout your trainer had you doing it’s feasible.
First, neglect needs to be established. If it can be proven that the injury was caused by your personal trainer not paying enough attention, giving bad advice, or having you do exercises that are ill-advised given your specific physical condition, it will go a long way toward building a case.
The other major factor that goes into building a legal case around a gym-related injury is the extent of your injuries. Has the injury prevented you from working and therefore earning a living? Has the injury impacted your quality of life? Was your personal trainer aware of a prior injury you suffered, and then recommended a workout routine that caused that injury to worsen?
Also, some personal trainers are affiliated with the fitness center while others are not. If your gym had you sign a waiver prior to working with a personal trainer, this might make a lawsuit more difficult, but not impossible. Either way, it is still in your best to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to examine the circumstances with you and see if you are owed compensation.
If you’ve suffered from any of those types of injuries because of work you did with a personal trainer, it’s worth exploring your options. Generally, the statute of limitations on these types of injuries is 3 years. If you are a family member of someone who has died as a result of gym-related injuries, you typically have 2 years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a lawsuit.
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.
As vaccinations continue to roll out and numbers decrease at an optimistic pace, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for New Yorkers. As of this week, 44% of Long Islanders as well as 44% of all New Yorkers have at least one dose of the vaccine. On top of that, the warming spring weather has made many eager to leave the house. With all of these things in consideration, it’s no wonder that strip malls and shopping malls are busier than ever.
From a safety standpoint, parking lots offer the greatest risk of pedestrian accidents. Parking lots at strip malls are especially hectic. This is because cars and people are not surrounding a specific entrance. Strip malls have multiple storefronts, with multiple entrances, resulting in vehicles and pedestrians in every direction. While drivers are expected to yield to pedestrians in parking lots, this doesn’t always happen. Drivers in parking lots can easily be distracted, and pedestrians don’t always make themselves visible. To avoid potential catastrophe, here is what drivers and pedestrians can do to create a safe environment in parking lots.
The more space you have between your car and others, the less likely you will be to be in an accident. You can much more easily navigate your surroundings because you can better see where you are going and you have more space to pull out of your spot. It is better to be in an open well-lit spot that is further away rather than be in a difficult and tight spot and risk getting your car hit. Being a little further away from the storefront also means you will encounter fewer pedestrians.
It is very important that you pay lots of attention to your surroundings. Look out for cars backing up, and be careful at intersections. Even if there are stop signs, drivers sometimes do not take them as seriously in parking lots. Anticipate the actions of other drivers and be prepared to use your horn if another car does not seem to see you, especially if they are backing up and getting too close.
It is also important to drive slowly as there could be shoppers walking all over the place. You do not want to be liable for a pedestrian accident. Pay special attention when backing out, or driving near the storefronts. Although they are helpful, don’t rely fully on your backup camera. Slow down at crosswalks, but be aware that many shoppers will cross the street without using a marked crosswalk.
Additionally, do not use your phone while you are driving in a parking lot; you are still driving and it is still a distraction. This is important to mention because studies show that 66% of drivers nationwide said they would make phone calls while driving in a parking lot. Other distractions include looking for something like your wallet, eating, or getting distracted by loud music.
If you are walking in a parking lot, it’s important to be aware that other drivers may not be driving as defensively as you would like. Many drivers ignore normal traffic laws when driving in parking lots, such as ignoring stop signs and failing to use their blinkers. Additionally, at night it can be difficult for drivers to see you. Therefore, make yourself as visible as possible. Don’t weave in and out of cars. Use sidewalks and crosswalks where available. Pay attention to the brake lights of cars, knowing that they are trying to back out.
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.
Last week we spoke about the dangers that motorcyclists face when sharing the road with Long Island drivers, and the need for motorcyclists to wear a helmet at all times to prevent serious injury. According to NHTSA data, motorcycling is 33 times more dangerous than driving a car. There is a saying among motorcyclists that there are two types of riders: Those who have crashed, and those who haven’t crashed yet.
Now this isn’t meant to scare you from riding a motorcycle, but rather to emphasize the need for taking the necessary safety precautions. Because motorcyclists not only face a greater risk of getting into an accident, but also potentially can face more serious injuries. In addition to wearing a helmet, there is other necessary equipment that motorcyclists should wear to prevent injuries if they face an accident.
Aside from a helmet, motorcyclists will tell you that the next most important piece of equipment for riding is leather gloves. The reason why gloves might be even more vital than a jacket is the fact that any kind of incident where you fall off your motorcycle, you’re naturally going to put your hands out to protect you. Without any protection on your hands, you can break bones, face serious lacerations, or possibly even lose fingers.
It’s important to get real leather gloves as an effective, comfortable and stylish way to protect your hands. You can also find gloves that protect your hands against the wind if you get weather-proof gloves, or you can find gloves that are more aimed towards keeping you cool in the hot weather.
A motorcycle jacket is one of the most popular pieces of safety gear you’d expect to see on a motorcyclist. Even more than a fashion statement, these jackets are designed to be a helpful defense if a rider is skidding across pavement.
There are a bunch of different materials your motorcycle jacket can be made of. There are jackets of different materials that may be more comfortable depending on the weather. In the hot summer months, you can get a jacket made of ballistic mesh. These jackets are more breathable than a leather jacket, but still provide good protection. You might also get a perforated leather jacket for the spring and fall to keep you warm but not too warm. And finally, in the winter you’d want to be sure to have a full leather jacket to provide maximum warmth while you ride.
More often than not, riders find themselves being more cool than warm, so it’s important to have a jacket that will make you comfortable while you ride. In those instances where it is just crazy hot outside, you may be tempted to ride without a jacket. Once again, look for something breathable, and the breeze you feel while you ride your motorcycle will help keep you cool. Regardless, it is better to be a little hot and be protected than to risk getting seriously injured by not wearing a jacket. Don’t underestimate how easy the pavement can rip up skin, and these jackets will go a long way in preventing that from happening.
Motorcycle boots look great, but they also provide you with traction and protect the small bones in your feet in the case of a crash.
There are plenty of stories of people who decided to wear tennis shoes while riding a motorcycle and when they crash, their shoes literally fly off their feet. Having your feet and toes exposed to pavement at a high speed is a scary thought.
The main rules when it comes to motorcycle footwear is to make sure they are sturdy, and they have over the ankle protection. That means things like work boots that you might already have are a great choice if you are on a budget. High top sneakers however, are not strong enough to offer great protection. There are also plenty of manufacturers that specifically make boots that are designed for motorcyclists.
Motorcycle pants are usually the piece of gear that the vast majority of riders choose not to wear, due to not liking the idea of wearing leather pants. Most people think jeans are enough protection, but that simply is not true. Jeans will get shredded in just a couple feet of sliding on the pavement and offer no protection at all. At the end of the day, denim is just cotton, and cotton is very weak. It is not very hard to rip a hole in your jeans, so the pavement will have no problem doing that for you. Even worse is wearing shorts and having your legs and knees completely exposed. There should never be a situation where you are riding a motorcycle with shorts on.
Nowadays, many manufacturers are starting to design jeans with Kevlar panels added to key places. Some are even weaving the Kevlar directly into the cotton material, and adding armor to likely impact zones. The Kevlar jeans won’t protect you as much as leather pants, but they are way better than regular denim jeans. Although many avoid leather pants, there are some leather and textile motorcycle pants that don’t look so clunky. It may be worth trying them and choosing the safest option to protect your legs should you face a motorcycle accident.
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.
The reason so many people love the idea of motorcycles is because of the sense of freedom that riding a motorcycle can bring to a person on the open roads. Some, however, may get too caught up in that freedom by also choosing not to wear protective gear, most importantly a helmet.
A motorcycle accident is way more dangerous than a car accident, due to the fact that unlike a car, which has multiple features that try to minimize injury such as an airbag, a motorcycle offers no protection. Therefore, motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to wrecks resulting in severe and life-threatening head injuries. Many states such as New York have laws requiring all riders to wear helmets as required safety equipment.
New York is one of nineteen states that have adopted a universal helmet law. Twenty-eight other states require only some riders to wear a helmet, while three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire) have not enacted any helmet restrictions at all.
NYS law requires the use of motorcycle helmets for both drivers and passengers. Protective eyewear is also required. Helmets and eye protection are also required for certain mopeds, those with a top speed of 20 mph or more.
Wearing a motorcycle helmet is the single greatest means of preventing severe head injury in the event of a motorcycle accident.
According to the CDC, helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and death by 37%. Riders opting out of wearing a helmet subject themselves to a higher certainty of debilitating head injuries, such as skull fractures and traumatic brain injury.
Even if there is no physical evidence of injury in the head, the brain can often be severely affected by the blunt force of the accident. Catastrophic brain injury can result in loss of cognitive function, physical impairments, and emotional issues.
By wearing a helmet, a rider provides a safety measure cushioning the brain from the impact and trauma of the motorcycle crash. This protection is designed to reduce and prevent permanent disabilities associated with brain damage.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to accident injuries. Even when wearing the right protective gear, there is no guarantee against significant harm to the body and brain. Oftentimes, motorcyclists aren’t at-fault for the accident, because many drivers on Long Island do not know how to handle sharing the road with a motorcycle. Additionally, you may have been wearing a helmet and still suffer from a traumatic brain injury.
You have the right to pursue damages from anyone whose negligence contributed to your injury, including another driver or the manufacturer of a failed helmet.
If you have been injured in a Long Island motorcycle crash and have suffered a head injury, contact a Long Island personal injury attorney today. Many offer a free consultation so you can see if you can be compensated for lost wages and medical bills as a result of your injury.
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.
For the second year in a row, Palermo Law P.L.L.C. was voted as the best law firm in Long Island Every year the public votes for the best business in different categories in the Bethpage FCU Best of LI awards. We are very pleased that our firm has consistently won in this category. We have always been proud of our reputation as a personal injury law firm and are very grateful that it could be reflected in this award. With so many lawyers that practice personal injury, you might wonder what makes a personal injury law firm effective. Here are some things you can look for when trying to find a good personal injury law firm. Most of these traits can apply to any other practice of law as well.
Every case even in one practice of law can vary greatly. In the case of personal injury, a car accident case is much different than a slip and fall case. A lawyer that specifically focuses on personal injury is going to be better equipped to handle your case as opposed to a general practice lawyer or a lawyer that typically practices a different area of law.
The right personal injury attorney for your case will have a long track history of handling cases similar to yours in the jurisdiction where your accident happened. Additionally, experience in the location is also very important. If you are injured in a car accident in Suffolk county, NY for example, an attorney with experience handling car accident cases in Suffolk County has the experience to handle the case properly. They also have experience with the judges, court system, and jurors in that area. If the attorney has been practicing a specific area of law for a long time, that also shows that they have a lot of experience focused solely on that practice.
We are so appreciative of receiving this Best of Long Island award because a lawyer’s reputation is so important to their practice. When you are dealing with the same insurance adjusters, defense attorneys and judges all the time, you would want to know that your lawyer is well respected.
To find a lawyer with a good reputation, you may first ask family members, friends, and acquaintances if they have a recommendation for an attorney. If a family member or a friend recommends a lawyer that does focus on personal injury, this can be good insight on the lawyer’s reputation and what to expect should you use him. Compile a list. Once you have a list, do your own research. The best place to start is Google.
Even if you don’t have a personal recommendation, an online presence is a great way to see a lawyer’s reputation. Like anything else, not all reviews online are honest or fair, reading a good array of online reviews along with the descriptions can give a really good general idea of an attorney and his/her staff. Most Suffolk County accident attorneys will have many reviews on various websites. Google, Avvo, Lawyers.com, Yelp, and Facebook all list attorney reviews. It is worth the time to read them to see how the attorney that you are considering for your injury case has a good reputation.
Additionally, meeting the attorney and his staff for a free consultation is a good way to use your instincts to determine the lawyer’s reputation and how he conducts himself and the office. The staff should be kind, the office should look presentable and well-organized. These kinds of clues reflect the firm’s experience in handling cases and getting successful verdicts.
Finally, an attorney’s prior results are very important. If your attorney doesn’t have a track record of recovering large verdicts and settlements how can you be sure they will get you the most compensation possible? Most attorneys will list their results online. Ethically a lawyer cannot advertise false results. Therefore, if you see verdicts and settlements displayed on a lawyer’s website, you can be sure that the information is true.
A combination of all three of these things is what is going to ensure that you are hiring a trusted personal injury attorney. Although many qualified attorneys may be able to compensate for some money, an attorney with good experience, reputation and results are more likely able to maximize the amount of compensation owed for your injury. Thank you to Bethpage Credit Union for voting us as the Best Law Firm of Long Island for two years in a row.
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.