When we think of dangerous road conditions on Long Island, most of us would likely think of winter weather. And for good reason, driving when there is snow or ice on the road is one of the most hazardous conditions a driver can face. However, it doesn’t snow every day in Long Island. And when it does snow, we naturally limit the amount of time we spend on the road during those times. On the other hand, driving during the summertime is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than the winter months. Everyone wants to be outside and enjoy the nice weather. The increased number of hazards create many different opportunities for a driver to potentially get into an accident.
Although the bus routes have ended, the fact that school is out means the roads are more hazardous. Teens and college students are now sharing the road, many having just gotten their licenses. They are no doubt the most inexperienced drivers and may not have learned how to drive defensively. Additionally, more cars will be on the road during all times of the day due to these students being off from school.
Construction workers will take advantage of the good weather for road construction projects. Additionally, the winter months often cause damage to roads that require repairing during the summer. Construction zones can be potentially dangerous if drivers are not properly adjusting to the changing traffic during the construction zones.
Motorcyclists and bicyclists will definitely be more abundant during the warm summer days. With high traffic areas, narrow roads, and confusing intersections, Long Island can be especially hazardous for cyclists. Most motorcycle or bicycle accidents that occur are not the cyclists fault, but occur due to drivers not correctly sharing the road with the cyclist.
Once again, nice days will attract a lot of people to be out and about, including pedestrians. Drivers need to be aware of this and always anticipate areas where pedestrians could be crossing the road. Even where there is no crosswalk, drivers should be especially attentive when driving near villages, parks and schools.
Although there is no snow, summer storms can also be incredibly hazardous. Long Island is not immune to severe thunderstorms and hurricanes. On June 30, Suffolk county faced a severe storm with wind speeds reaching over 50mph, causing many trees to fall and leaving thousands without power. During or after these scenarios, it’s important to drive extra defensively and follow the instructions of the police if they are directing traffic.
Additionally, if a traffic light is without power, it is to be treated as a four-way stop sign to determine who has the right of way. But it’s important to remember that other drivers may not know this, so be extra careful when driving through intersections to avoid accidents. We also recently wrote another post detailing the dangers of hydroplaning and how easily they can cause accidents.
Hot weather increases the chances of tire blowouts. During hot days, the asphalt can get very hot, and when tires are under-inflated, a blowout is likely. When a car is driving down a road, the sidewalls of the tires are flexing (bending, grabbing the asphalt), which creates heat. If the tire pressure is correct, then the heat created is minimal. But if the tire pressure is low, then the sidewalls have to do a lot more flexing, and create a lot more heat. Add in the summer sun and eventually the bonds in an under-inflated tire can break down and you’ll have a blowout. Therefore, do not neglect your tire maintenance and make sure they are properly inflated especially during the hot months.
Summer is an exciting time, and we are all looking forward to those beautiful days to enjoy being outside. Keeping in mind these scenarios will help prevent a fun day from turning into a disaster.
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.
Many love the thrill of riding a motorcycle and it is not uncommon to see motorcyclists on the roads of Long Island. However, along with the enjoyment of riding a motorcycle, it’s important for motorcyclists to understand the risks. Especially in higher-traffic areas like Long Island, severe accidents are absolutely a possibility. No matter how safe of a driver you may be as a motorcyclist, you cannot account for how other drivers respond to sharing the road with a motorcycle.
If you do find yourself in a motorcycle accident, these tips are essential so that in addition to the tragedy of getting injured in a motorcycle accident, you are also not drowning in medical expenses.
Motorcycle accidents have a greater risk of causing injury than typical motor vehicle accidents. Motorcyclists have much less protection and no airbags to prevent the laws of physics to launch a driver at a high velocity.
If you are a motorcyclist involved in an accident, even if you feel very little pain, do not let the adrenaline fool you and seek medical attention right away.
It is always a good idea to call the police at the scene of the accident. Doing so will ensure that everyone is safe and the details of the accident are properly recorded. However, it is also possible to file a police report following the accident.
If you were injured in an accident due to the other driver’s negligence, having witnesses to the accident is important to prove this. The other driver may try to deny or minimize being the cause of the accident, so having third-party witnesses will help validate the events of the accident.
Even though New York is a no-fault state, motorcycle drivers are not covered by no-fault insurance. Therefore, the motorcyclist will need to speak to their private health insurance provider to pay for the medical expenses.
If you do not have private health insurance you will need to put any medical bills through Medicaid or Medicare. If you did not have Medicaid at the time of your accident you can apply for Medicaid after the accident.
The medical bills following a motorcycle accident can really add up, especially for injuries that have a long recovery time. Additionally, long recovery could also mean lost wages for being unable to work for a period of time. This is why it’s important to speak to a personal injury lawyer. They will help an injured person receive compensation for all the economic losses caused by the motorcycle accident including medical bills, property damage, lost wages and pain and suffering. They will guide you through the process from the beginning to the end. An early investigation will also help preserve key evidence in your case.
Motorcycle accidents can be especially scary. During these traumatic scenarios, you might not naturally be thinking about recording evidence for a personal injury claim, but following these steps can really help a motorcyclist in the long run financially. At Palermo Law, we have helped personal injury victims receive their compensation for motorcycle accident injuries for over twenty years. We offer free no obligation consultations and don’t charge any fees unless we win your case. So if you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, feel free to give us a call.
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.
On Sunday evening in Northport, Long Island, a woman riding on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle died when an SUV crashed into the motorcycle. The 66-year old woman driving the 2015 Toyota SUV was attempting to turn into her driveway. She was driving eastbound on Fort Salonga Road, west of Sandy Hollow Road. The motorcycle was in the westbound lane when the SUV struck it.
The Northport Patch reported that Floral Park resident Martha Garcia, age 57, was riding on the back of the motorcycle and upon impact was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at Huntington Hospital. Her boyfriend operating the motorcycle was 53-year old James Losita. He was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Huntington Hospital, as was the driver of the SUV.
Authorities are still investigating the accident and have impounded the vehicles for safety checks.
The odds of surviving an ejection accident are typically not in the victim’s favor. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who are totally ejected from vehicles during crashes die from the accident. Ejection accidents happen most frequently in cars when individuals are not wearing seat belts. By comparison, only one percent of people wearing seat belts are ejected from vehicles. Of course, since motorcycles do not have seat belts and also have no enclosure, riders are much more at risk for ejection during an accident.
Most motorcycle accidents occur because drivers fail to see the motorcycle until after impact or until it is too late to stop.