Optical Cabin Control
Having a camera inside your car is not a new concept. However, this new model introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week could be a game changer when it comes to driver safety. Guardian’s In-Car Camera Watches the Driver—And Everyone Else Optical Cabin Control (OCC) is a new single-sensor system equipped with an optical camera and a variety of safety monitoring capabilities to keep drivers alert and aware. Created by Guardian Optical Technologies, an Israel based start-up, OCC is designed to be paired with autonomous cars to help reduce the number of accidents on the road caused by driver errors. In addition, OCC comes with features that detect a number of other safety concerns that can cause injuries and unnecessary fatalities to drivers and their passengers. How It Works OCC may look like just a small camera next to your rearview mirror, however, the technology behind it is quite complex. This system uses a multi-layer sensor with a powerful artificial intelligence engine that uses 2D, 3D, and motion analysis to create ‘passenger aware’ vehicles. The system is constantly scanning the inside of the car, looking to assess driver and passenger actions to see if they might be dangerous enough to cause an accident. The camera picks up behaviors such as when a driver… takes their hands off the wheel looks back towards passengers in the vehicle looks down at a cell phone closes their eyes points their head away from the road or direction they are going in The original idea behind OCC was to detect when children were left in the backseat to prevent unnecessary heatstroke deaths and illnesses. Now, in addition to this monitoring capability, the system can tell when a passenger seat is empty or occupied, activate or deactivate the airbag, verify seat belts are being used, as well as look for distracting behaviors that could lead the driver to take their eyes off the road. Making Self-Driving Cars Safer It’s no question that autonomous vehicles are the future, but they are far from perfect. Several accidents that have occurred since self-driving cars have launched testing programs have revealed the need for more safety features to address the dangers that are still present when a driver is not looking at the road. In March 2018, the driver of a self-driving Tesla in Silicon Valley, California was operating the car on “autopilot” when he was killed after the car suddenly sped up and crashed into a concrete barrier at over 70 mph. Within the same month, another fatal accident involving a self-driving Uber in Tempe, Arizona resulted in a pedestrian fatality when the car did not break for a cyclist crossing the road and the driver was not paying attention to intervene. By installing OCC, Guardian hopes to make autonomous cars safer in instances where drivers put too much faith into their vehicles “autopilot” mode. Until the technology for self-driving vehicles becomes more advanced it’s important for drivers to remain alert and to pay attention to their surroundings. This camera system can help increase positive driving behaviors that could ultimately make autonomous vehicles safer to operate and reduce preventable accidents caused by distractions or other dangerous behaviors. Getting Automakers On Board Optical Cabin Control could be life-changing for many drivers on the road but that doesn’t mean automakers are jumping at the chance to use it. An article published by WIRED last week highlighted the resistance that some automakers currently have toward implementing the OCC system, mostly coming down to cost. The majority of new cars on the market have multiple sensors throughout the vehicle to detect some of the safety features OCC addresses such as passenger occupancy and seat belt awareness. Replacing all of those sensors with a single based camera system could be pricey and tricky. Not all parts of the cars are made by the same department and it would require a ton of networking between engineers to make a single-sensor work effectively throughout the entire vehicle. Privacy Issues and Public Backlash Automakers may eventually fall in line with installing systems such as OCC in new and autonomous vehicles but will the public buy them? The WIRED article points out that not everyone is onboard with being watched consistently in their car. Privacy is a huge concern with camera systems such as OCC and could spark a public backlash against the technology. Consumers who are more supportive of the advancement of autonomous vehicles will most likely be on board with the extra safety features. However, other car owners having to give up even more control over their vehicles will be hard to convince. The Future of Safety If autonomous cars are our future, it is safe to say that Optical Cabin Control monitoring systems probably are too. Until then, drivers operating any type of vehicle should continue to use safe driving habits to help prevent injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving. Keeping your eyes on the road, avoiding the use of electronic devices, and never driving fatigued or impaired will help keep all motorists and passengers on the road safe until cars begin driving all on their own. If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident, the law firm of Siler & Ingber is here to help. Contact us today at 1-877-529-4343 for a free case evaluation to review your options.
11th Annual Cops Who Care Food Distribution
Brentwood, an Area Impacted by Gang Violence, Shows What Can be Accomplished When Groups Come Together to Help Others Mineola, NY, January 10, 2019: The stories have been chilling. Seven people slayed, including two teenage best friends, in Brentwood allegedly carried out by MS-13 gang members. This community has been so hard-hit by violence that President Donald Trump visited in 2017, describing some Long Island neighborhoods as “blood-stained killing fields” that are “under siege.” But Brentwood is resilient and increased discourse between the police and the community is helping formulate possible solutions to stopping such violence. The police, including the Suffolk County Police Department and the New York State Troopers, and the community took their relationship one step further this December by teaming up to help feed needy families in Brentwood. With the help of Mineola law firm, Siler & Ingber, the 11th Annual Cops Who Care food drive donated turkeys, hams and warm winter gear including gloves, hats, socks, and scarves to underprivileged families for the holidays. A wide array of diverse families came from all over Long Island to the Primera Iglesia Roca De Salvacion Church in Brentwood to accept these donations. “The Cops Who Care holiday food program is our way of showing support and care within the community we serve. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the generosity of the Mineola law firm, Siler & Ingber as well as the Rabinowitz Charitable Foundation via the Maxim Group. Their contribution largely helped us fund the food this year,” said D/Lt. Bob Donohue from Suffolk County Police. This is the second year that the Mineola-based law firm Siler & Ingber has been involved with Cops Who Care. “Our firm is dedicated to making a difference by giving back to the community we help serve,” says Partner Jeffrey Siler. The firm plans to expand this program into Nassau and possibly other areas within the NY metropolitan area. “We wanted to do more than just write a check and donate money. We wanted to take a little stress out of the holidays by personally giving families food for their table as well as gloves, scarves and hats to keep warm during the winter months,” explains Partner Ronald Ingber. An event like this demonstrates the mutual respect that exists on Long Island between the police, local businesses and the community they serve. Media Contact: Donna DeVita, Director of Marketing, Siler & Ingber, (516) 294-2666, donnadevita@live.com
Plea Deals
Traffic tickets can be troublesome and expensive, yet ultimately they exist to make our roads safer. But when reckless drivers are able to plead down serious violations that should be removing them from the driver’s seat, the safety of all Long Islanders on the road is put at serious risk. Plea Deals Can Be Dangerous! Some residents are skeptical about traffic tickets and it’s understandable why. According to an article published by Newsday this week, Long Island collected a total of $146 million in traffic fines in 2017 and some of the fees collected were from the controversial red-light cameras. Despite this belief, traffic tickets have a dual purpose when it comes to municipalities: to punish drivers who are not following the traffic laws in hopes to reduce reckless behaviors, while using the additional revenue to better our cities and towns. Plea deals, however, can make protecting our roads via traffic tickets far more difficult. Unlike red-light camera fines which are issued to the vehicle owners with no point penalties, traffic tickets issued for dangerous behaviors such as speeding have the option for a driver to plead down to lesser charges, affecting multiple different parties in the process. How Plea Deals Work When a reckless driver gets a ticket for speeding or careless driving, the first reaction is to fight back. Initially, drivers have the option of downgrading the ticket or having it amended to an ‘unsafe driving’ charge by way of a plea deal. The driver not only gets out of points on their license but avoids the mark of an actual speeding or careless driving charge on their record. Plea deals still require drivers to pay larger fines, but not as hefty as the original offenses. Fees collected on traffic tickets for less serious offenses stay within the municipalities themselves and don’t require the collection of a surcharge which is handed over to the state. Encouraging Dangerous Drivers Even though a driver might have a lighter wallet after accepting a plea deal, there are no significant incentives not to repeat these reckless behaviors without the additional penalties to worry about. In the State of New York, the law states that a driver will have their license suspended if they get 11 points or receive three speeding tickets within an 18-month period. Drivers who plead guilty to lesser charges may have met these requirements if they had pleaded guilty to their original tickets but plea deals allow them to skip these severe consequences and continue practicing dangerous driving habits. Inaccurate Data Data collection needed to improve traffic laws and infrastructure can be skewed when drivers accept plea deals. Our state and national organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rely on reports and statistics analyzing driving behaviors to update traffic laws and policies that protect us on the road. They also use the data to determine areas of priority when it comes to road improvements, renovations, and speed limit adjustments to help keep accident rates down. Plea deals provide inaccurate data concerning the number of actual speeding and careless driving offenses cited on our roadways, making it harder to use the data correctly to improve traffic safety. An article published by Data-Smart City Solutions in October 2017 highlights the importance of accurate data when it comes to New York City achieving its Vision Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities. Unreported dangerous driving habits can provide an unreliable impression about how safe certain traffic areas are and what plans would be most effective in making them safer for drivers and pedestrians. Missed Revenue for State In addition to inaccurate data, the state misses out on revenue from traffic tickets in the form of surcharges for serious traffic violations. The state collects about $100 per offense in addition to the fine paid for the traffic offense. Though residents may find these surcharges over the top and unnecessary, these fines go towards funding court-appointed attorneys, crime victim assistance programs, and to the state’s general fund which supports various state agencies. Insurance Companies Fooled Insurance companies can also bear the brunt of drivers accepting plea deals for traffic tickets. When a driver displays reckless behaviors on the road, their insurance premiums go up as their risk to others goes up too. Without the correct information on how risky drivers really are, insurance companies are deceived out of charging appropriate premiums to cover these dangerous motorists. They also miss out on data that can be used to improve policies and create useful reports analyzing road safety from a national perspective. Tickets Really Do Save Lives Traffic laws may be cumbersome but studies show they work. In an analysis of regional highway safety laws and FARS mortality statistics performed by Auto Insurance Center, data showed that states with the strictest traffic laws saw lower rates of road fatalities caused by vehicle crashes. In another study published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, researchers analyzed the effectiveness of a ticket program in Massachusetts. They found that as unpopular as traffic tickets were, drivers drove safer during heavily ticketed periods than they did when ticketing was lax. Drive Safe NY All of the fuss around plea deals and traffic tickets can be avoided if drivers use safe driving habits on the road. Speeding and using reckless maneuvers to get where you need to be quicker is not worth taking someone’s life. Slow down, pay attention, and avoid using aggressive moves that could cause unnecessary and preventable accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, the law firm of Siler & Ingber is here to help. Our expert team of personal injury attorneys has been fighting back against negligent drivers in New York City and Long Island for over 20 years. Contact us at 1-877-529-4343 today for a free case review to find out more about your options.
Legalizing Marijuana in NY
Legalizing marijuana has been a hot topic in our country and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced it will be one of his top legislative priorities for New York in 2019. With a number of other states also on the fence in making the change, Cuomo and state lawmakers are saying enough- let’s finally say yes to marijuana. Cuomo’s New Stance on Marijuana In a speech made at the New York City Bar Association, Cuomo outlined his agenda for the first 100 days into his third term, which included a proposal to legalize cannabis in New York for good. Not only would this move New York on the same path as a number of other states, Cuomo believes the change would go hand-in-hand with another part of his agenda- to create more equality within the justice system between the wealthy, well-off individuals and the rest of the population. Important details of the proposal, such as taxation, business licenses, or where marijuana will be permitted to be used have not yet been revealed. It’s not clear as to what the age limit will be, how this will affect driving laws, or even how an employer’s current drug policies might be affected by the change. However, with a growing number of supporters backing the legalization of marijuana, and key players such as Cuomo flipping their opinions, it’s pretty safe to assume that marijuana will be legalized sooner than we’re prepared for. Why The Change Of Heart? Cuomo was in full support this week of making marijuana legal to use recreationally for adults, but this has not always been his opinion in the past. In 2017, Cuomo was highly opposed to recreational marijuana, unconvinced of the benefits to legalizing it and referring to it as a ‘gateway drug’. However, an article published by Business Insider after his Manhattan speech last week mentions his sudden change of heart could be due to the increasing public support for legalizing marijuana. A new study out of the Pew Research Center showed over 62% of the American population is for legalizing cannabis, showing a steady increase of support within the last decade. To gain support of the majority, Cuomo was forced to change his view on marijuana, whether it is what he personally believes in or not is hard to determine. Which Side Are You On? The topic of legalizing marijuana has been ongoing for decades throughout the United States. First, starting with the fight to legalize the drug for medical uses, and now, to legalize for recreational use as well. Similar to any other hot topic, there are outpours of opinions from both sides. While some are clearly on one side or the other, there are still a number of New Yorkers who are on the fence about the topic because they simply aren’t sure, or they don’t know enough about the pros and the cons to make an educated decision. Pros of Legal Marijuana in NY Let’s start with why legalizing marijuana would be a positive move for the state of New York: Regulation: One of the biggest pushes to legalize cannabis in New York and across the country is to stop the profits the illegal drug trade is making from cannabis. By legalizing marijuana, we can implement better controls the production, sales, and distribution of the product. This means implementing regulations and policies as we do for alcohol: deciding where, when, how much, and at what level is socially acceptable. Reduced Crime: With marijuana legal, the crime rate could significantly decrease. Thousands of minors are given harsh punishments for cannabis-related crimes every year and thousands more are arrested for multiple drug charges involving marijuana that would no longer be considered illegal. Increased Profit: It may not happen overnight, but the state would definitely profit from the sale of recreational marijuana. New York City alone could see a profit of around $1.7 billion a year according to an article by the New York Times off of cannabis products; a huge difference considering it’s currently only costing the state money in resources to prosecute and imprison marijuana offenders. In addition, marijuana is one of the most popular agricultural products in the country, meaning more opportunities for farmers to grow crops and more jobs available to process and sell. Positive Health Impacts: Alcohol and tobacco are both legal, yet both have known ingredients that are harmful to our health. In comparison, several studies have been done on the health benefits of marijuana, which has actually been used for various medical ailments for over 3,000 years! Conditions in which marijuana seemed to provide the most positive benefits include cancer, chronic pain, addictions (alcohol and drugs), depression, PTSD, social anxiety, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and more. Cons of Legal Marijuana in NY On the flip side of the issue, here are the main reasons for why some New Yorkers are still opposed to legalizing cannabis and why it has taken so long to get to where we are on the issue: Regulation Flaws: We might be able to regulate the growth, sales, and distribution of legal marijuana more easily, but regulating its use can be tricky. Compared to alcohol, which remains in your urine for 3 to 5 days and in your blood for 10 to 12 hours, cannabis can stay in your urine for 7 to 10 days and your blood for up to 2 weeks. In addition, alcohol can be detected using a breathalyzer but there is currently no field sobriety test for cannabis. These factors make it much harder for law enforcement officers who suspect a driver is under the influence or an employer who believes an employee is actively using on the job, to make a decision based on current testing alone. Another opposing point when it comes to regulation is what to do with all the individuals who have been convicted of marijuana charges and are currently in jail. Do they get out? Can they dispute their sentence? Increased Pedestrian Fatalities:
How Do You Sue a Business for Injuries?
How Do You Sue a Business for Injuries? If you have been hurt in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. But what if the person responsible isn’t a person — but a business? Who is responsible for your injuries? Suing a business can be more challenging than filing a claim against an individual, but it is something that is relatively straightforward with the assistance of a tenacious Long Island personal injury attorney. Like people, businesses owe you a duty of care. If their actions — or inaction — causes you harm, then you might be able to file a lawsuit to recover for your losses. Negligence: Breach of Duty of Care Personal injury cases are brought based on a theory of negligence, which is the failure of an individual, business or organization to use the care that a reasonable person (or entity) would in similar circumstances. For example, if a reasonable business would salt its sidewalk during icy conditions, a store that fails to do so may have been negligent. There are four elements to any negligence case: (1) duty; (2) breach; (3) causation; and (4) damages. A duty is a legal obligation owed by an individual or organization requiring that they use reasonable care while performing any acts that could potentially harm others. A breach is a violation of a duty. Causation is the link between the breach and the injury. Finally, damages are the harm that was caused as a result of the breach of the duty. When most people think about personal injury cases, they generally consider situations where a person harms someone else through negligence. The classic example is a car accident; one driver does not pay attention while behind the wheel and causes an accident, injuring another driver as a result. However, businesses can also be negligent. There are a number of ways that a company can be negligent, from the way that they manufacture their goods, to how they install their products, to the way that they maintain their physical storefronts or office space. If you have been harmed by the actions of a business or other entity, a skilled Long Island personal injury attorney can analyze the facts of your case and determine whether you have a viable claim. Premises Liability A common type of negligence case brought against business involves premises liability. Businesses have an obligation to keep the property reasonably safe and free from hazards. That means that a business should clear hazards, clean up spills and fix dangerous conditions. If the business fails to do so, it could be held liable for any slip and falls. However, there is an important aspect of premises liability cases that must be understood. Visitors to businesses act reasonably. Visitors to a business have a duty to act responsibly when they are on the premises. If you act in a dangerous way — such as by climbing up on a display or by running down the aisles in a crowded store — then you will probably have a case for any injuries that result from your irresponsible actions. To win a premises liability case, it isn’t enough to show that you got hurt on at a business. You must show that the business’ negligence was the cause of your injuries.To prove negligence, a Long Island personal injury attorney will have to prove that the business was negligent in maintaining, designing or constructing the property. Your lawyer will also have to demonstrate that the business either knew or should have known about the dangerous condition but failed to fix it. Specifically, your attorney has to show that: The business knew about the cause of the accident; The accident could have been avoided with reasonable action from the business; and You could not have prevented the accident. If you can prove these things, you will likely be able to recover for your slip and fall. An Example For example, consider a situation where you were shopping at a grocery store when you slipped and fell on liquid soap that had been spilled on the floor. Whether you can recover for your fall will depend on whether the store knew about the spill and had the opportunity to address it — and if you had the chance to avoid the accident. If the store manager had been alerted to the spill and took no action to clean it up, then the store will likely be at fault. However, if the spill just happened and the store didn’t have time to clean it up, then the store will not be liable. Similarly, if you saw the spill but walked into it anyway, the store will not be held responsible. Settlements In many cases, a personal injury case against a business will result in a settlement. it can be difficult to predict what a settlement amount will be, as there is no such thing as an “average” settlement. Each settlement will depend on the unique facts of the case, and will be based on a number of factors, such as the severity of the injury and the liability of the business. Settlements take place when the entity being sued agrees to pay the person who has filed the claim (the injured party) an amount to dismiss the case. In the United States, 95 to 96% of all personal injury cases end in settlements. To achieve a settlement amount, both sides determine what they think the case is worth. This is often achieved by researching similar cases to see what juries have awarded in the past. An experienced attorney can also use his or her own knowledge of typical settlements to determine case value. Businesses are often insured, and their insurance companies will generally have standard amounts that they will pay for different types of lawsuits. Once each side has established their estimate of what the case is worth, the parties will negotiate a settlement amount. As the case gets closer to trial or evidence is discovered,
Who Is at Fault in a Left Turn Accident?
Who is at Fault in a Left Turn Accident? Making left turns across traffic is something that many of us try to avoid. While it is often necessary to get where we need to go, it can be a dangerous maneuver — watching for cars behind you while simultaneously trying to make a left turn when there is a break in traffic. In most cases, the cars traveling in the opposite direction have the right-of-way when going through an intersection or driving down a highway. The driver making a left turn is required to wait until it is safe to cut across traffic. So, if a left-hand turn results in an accident, there is a strong possibility the driver making the turn will be deemed at fault. However, this isn’t always the case. Although New York law does require drivers making left turns in intersections to yield, there are situations where a driver making a left turn may not be at fault for an accident. Is a Car Making a Left Turn Always at Fault in an Accident? Under New York law, drivers making left-hand turns in intersections must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. At first glance, this should mean that a driver making a left turn is at fault for an accident — but this is not always the cause. As a Long Island car accident attorney can explain, car crash cases are generally based on a theory of negligence. This is a legal principle that essentially states that a person or entity failed to act with the care that a reasonable person would do in similar circumstances. A failure to yield right-of-way in making a left turn into oncoming traffic is considered “negligence per se” under New York law, which means that an act is considered negligent because it violates a law or regulation. However, that does not mean that a car making a left-hand turn is always at fault in a car accident. Examples Where the Left Turner is Not at Fault There are cases where the person making the left turn is not at fault for an accident. For example, if the driver had a left turn arrow and the other vehicle ran a red light, then the driver making the left turn was not negligent — the driver running the red light was. In every case, an experienced Long Island car accident attorney will evaluate the facts to determine who was truly responsible for the collision. Consider a situation where a person is waiting to make a left turn until it is safe to do so; once the way is clear, the driver begins the turn, and a truck speeds through the intersection, hitting the car making the turn. In that case, the driver making the turn will either not be at fault for the accident or will be less responsible for the collision than the speeding driver. New York follows the rule of comparative negligence, which means that even if a driver is at fault for an accident, he or she can still recover, with their damages reduced based on the percentage that he or she was at fault. Who Has Right-of-Way When Making a Left Turn? Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1141, any vehicle making a left turn when traffic is approaching must yield right-of-way. Specifically, the law provides: The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Importantly, this law does not require drivers making a left turn to yield the right-of-way to all vehicles — just those that are within the intersection or close enough to constitute an immediate hazard. In many cases, a driver making a left-hand turn will still have right-of-way because other vehicles are not in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard. A thorough investigation of the accident scene and facts surrounding the accident can help to demonstrate that the driver making the left turn was not at fault. Why Left Turn Accidents Are Deadly According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 50% of car accidents involving injuries and fatalities happen at or near intersections. In a 2010 study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the top critical pre-crash event (the thing that made an accident inevitable) was a vehicle turning left at an intersection. 22.2% of the 2,188,969 crashes studied were linked to vehicles making left-hand turns — or approximately 481,573 accidents. This data demonstrates that left turn accidents are one of the leading causes of car accidents involving serious injuries and fatalities. There are several reasons why these turns are so dangerous: Vehicles making left turns are going across oncoming traffic, which increases the risk of a collision from the cars and trucks coming in the opposite direction. There is an increased risk of rear-end crashes as drivers stopped to make left turns are often hit from behind by drivers in their own lanes. Many drivers making left turns across traffic try to “beat” the other vehicles — which can be incredibly risky. The oncoming traffic is typically traveling at a much higher rate of speed than the car making the turn, which increases the likelihood of serious injury for the occupants of the vehicle making the left turn. How a Long Island Car Accident Attorney Can Help At Siler & Ingber, we are dedicated to helping our clients get the compensation that they deserve for their injuries. We have recovered over $50 million on behalf of our clients, and have a 98% success rate. Our firm never charges a fee unless we recover money for you. We understand that being in a car accident can be incredibly stressful and that many of our clients are overwhelmed by the legal process. We are here to
NYE in NYC… Know Before You Go
New Year’s Eve in New York City is a tradition for many and a bucket list trip for others. But with more than a million people planning to head into Times Square to see the Ball drop, you can bet the streets and roads will be a little bit more chaotic than usual. Know Before You Go! If you’re gearing up to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration in NYC this year, don’t head out the door without a plan. There are a number of transportation changes, special rules, and dangerous hazards that could catch anyone off guard during a massive event like NYE. Here’s what you need to know before you see the ball drop. Street Closures If you’re driving in NYC on NYE, street closures and lack of parking are going to be your biggest challenges. Here are the scheduled street closures in Manhattan for Monday, December 31st: After 1:30pm: Seventh Avenue (41st to 59th Streets) Broadway (47th-59th Streets) 43rd to 47th Streets from Sixth to Eighth Avenue After 5:00pm: 42nd Street from 6th to Eighth Avenue After 6:30pm: All cross-town streets from 37th to 41st Streets- Sixth to Eighth Avenues All cross-town streets from 49th to 59th Streets- Sixth to Eighth Avenues 48th Street from Fifth to Ninth Avenues Starting at 12:01 am on Monday till 1:00 am on Tuesday, a number of parking areas will be off-limits to vehicles. Click here for the full list of parking restrictions to help plan your trip. MTA Service Changes MTA is scheduling the subway to run every 8 to 12 minutes in Midtown until about 3:00 am. Beginning at 7:00 pm on Monday, there will be parts of the subway which will be closed until 12:15 on Tuesday: Northbound and southbound N/R/W lines will skip the 49th Street station. Northbound IRT #1 train will skip the 50th Street station. N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, 7, Times Sq-42 Street station exits will be subject to closure throughout the night. Riders can exit via the passageway to 42 Street-Port Authority instead. To stay up to date on closures, downloading a NYC transportation app could help keep you alert to when transportation plans might need to change. LIRR Service Changes The Long Island Rail Road will continue its traditional alcohol ban on trains from noon on New Year’s Eve until noon on New Year’s Day. To help move revelers along quickly on their journey to the NYE Ball drop, 13 additional eastbound trains and 21 additional westbound trains will be running. Click here for the full list of additional train services set for Monday, December 31st. Where To Watch If you want a prime spot, you better make it there in the early morning or at least by noon on Monday. The best viewing area is said to be where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue. Additionally, Times Square Alliance recommends watching the Ball drop along Seventh Avenue to 59th Street and along Broadway to 43rd Street. There is also a designated viewing area for people with disabilities at Broadway and 44th Street. The NYPD will close down access to Times Square once the streets fill up. Try not to arrive after 6:00 pm or your chances of seeing the Ball drop in person will be minimal to none! NYE Rules Knowing the rules before you leave the house can save you from losing some of the items you wished you would have left home. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited and could land you a fine if you’re caught with one in Times Square. Large bags and backpacks are also prohibited at the NYE event. All bags that are permitted will be searched so leave anything at home that could be taken away. Revelers will be expected to go through metal detectors before entering the viewing areas. If you leave the viewing area before the ball drops, you won’t be able to get back in, so stay put! Bring Supplies Pack food and water in your bag before going into the city. It will be nearly impossible to get in anywhere to eat and food vendors are not permitted in the area on NYE. Going to the bathroom can also be a little tricky in Times Square so it’s advised you don’t drink too much before you head into your viewing area. Dress For the Weather The traditional fancy New Year’s Eve clothes may not be the best choice for seeing the Ball drop among a million other eager viewers. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for the event. Temperatures can get brisk as the night gets later so make sure to dress warmly: coats, hats, gloves, etc. Alcohol Awareness Emergency room visits involving alcohol-related accidents practically double on New Year’s Eve according to the Health Department, with peak hours between 1:00 am to 4:00 am. Drink responsibly when celebrating and remember not to get out of control. There will be millions of people on the streets this Monday night and staying in control of your actions is one of the only ways to reduce your risks of getting injured. Start The New Year Off Safe! You are bound to be a little overwhelmed by all the activities and visitors in the city on New Year’s Eve, but don’t panic. Doing a little bit of preparation before you leave and planning your transportation a few days before will help curve some of the anxiety and prepare you for an unforgettable night to start off 2019!
NYC PREPARE FOR SANTACON!
Tomorrow New York City will embrace the ho, ho, holy hell of SantaCon! It ‘s that one time of year where flocks of Santa and elf impersonators embark on a festive bar crawl, making a booze-fueled scene through the city that you’ll find either amusing or annoying to watch. The NYPD describes it as more “naughty” than “nice”. For so many reasons: Expect Grid Lock: Thousands in Santa costumes will begin gathering across from MSG on the 33rd St. plaza between Seventh and Eighth avenues until 11 a.m. Saturday before trekking to bars in Midtown, the East Village and Chelsea. The SantaCon revelry lasts into the night, so be warned. LIRR Commuters: Prepare for crowded trains and a total ban of alcoholic beverages for all riders from noon Saturday until noon Sunday. Heavy police presence: NYPD is hoping bars will not participate and turn Santas away. They are preparing to have a heavy presence of officers in midtown watching out for disorderly Santas! To find out more details of Santacon tomorrow go to: https://www.metro.us/things-to-do/new-york/santacon-2018-nyc-when-where-rules
10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2018
One child is treated in the emergency room in the United States every three minutes for a toy-related injury. While some of these injuries can be the result of sibling brawls and random accidents, others are caused by toys that are known to be harmful, manufactured without the safety of children in mind. Not All Toys Are Safe! Even though toys are made for kids, not all manufacturers take the time to make their products safe. The non-profit organization World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) released their ’10 Worst Toys’ list for the 2018 winter season this week, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers. Parents and anyone looking to buy toys for their loved ones should stay clear of these toys or similar items to help avoid unnecessary illnesses and injuries that could ruin your holiday spirit this year. 10 Worst Toys of 2018 NICKELODEON NELLA PRINCESS KNIGHT PILLOW PETS SLEEPTIME LITES This unicorn light is marketed towards infants as a soft, plush pillow that also serves as a fun nightlight for a crib. But not only does this toy pose a risk of battery-related injuries in the case of an acid leak, but Nella is made with small heart and flower decorations that could be easily swallowed by children if removed. NERF VORTEX VTX PRAXIS BLASTER This toy gun is hazardous regardless of who is operating it due to its forceful launch of 10 discs in a row that could lead to serious face and eye injuries. However, WATCH finds this toy particularly dangerous because it’s marketed towards children as young as 8-years-old, who may not understand the danger of firing the gun within close range of others. MARVEL BLACK PANTHER SLASH CLAW These toy plastic claws are hard, rigid, and marketed to children as young as five-years-old. They come with a written advisory not to ‘hit or swing at people’ due to a risk of serious face or eye injuries- not a very realistic request for a five-year-old. Pieces can also break apart posing a choking hazard to children with habits of placing objects in their mouth. POWER RANGERS SUPER NINJA STEEL SUPERSTAR BLADE Manufacturers of this toy expect children as young as four-years-old to play with this spring-loaded, hard plastic blade without 1) aiming it at anyone, 2) hitting anyone, 3) poking anyone, and/or 4) swinging at anyone according to package warnings. Any of these actions towards another person could cause facial and impact injuries due to the sword’s design. CABBAGE PATCH KID DANCE TIME DOLL The hair band on this fancy dance doll is extremely fashionable, but not very safe for the toddlers they are marketed towards. This headband can be removed and poses a choking hazard if a child were to ingest the accessory. ZOO JAMX XYLOPHONE This musical toy is made for young children between 1-1/2 to 4-years-old, yet contains a harmful component that could lead to terrifying injuries and fatalities. The drumstick handle is rigid, slender, and measures at 9-inches in length, which is long enough for a child to swallow and choke on. NICA WONDERLAND DOLL- MINICLARA THE BALLERINA Toddlers may love this ballerina doll, but parents should beware. Miniclara comes with a plush and detachable pet friend named ‘little kitten’ who could cause a child to choke if they decide to chew on it. STOMP ROCKET ULTRA ROCKET This toy is desirable for children who love to watch rockets fly up to 200 feet high. The running and jumping feature, however, could be extremely harmful to kids who have not lined up the toy correctly and end up shooting the rocket forcefully into their eyes or face. CUTTING FRUIT Toddlers love to pretend to be like their parents, including copying everyday tasks such as cooking and cleaning. This set allows kids as young as two-years-old to pretend to cut their fruit just like mom or dad but contains a knife that has the potential to cause blunt trauma injuries and puncture wounds. JANOD PULL ALONG DOG This pull toy is infuriating to safety officials as it clearly violates industry standards. While the standard for crib toys is that strings be created less than 12 inches, this toy has a 19-inch long string that could put children at risk of strangling themselves. Shop Safe Long Island These toys are not the only ones on the market posing an injury risk to your children this season. Parents, do your research before buying any toys for your children this holiday to ensure they do not have a known history of recalls or causing injuries and illnesses. It’s also important to take age recommendations on toys seriously to avoid young children from injuring themselves playing with toys meant for older kids. If your child has been seriously injured in a toy-related accident caused by dangerous products, our expert team of personal injury attorneys is here to help. Contact the law firm of Siler & Ingber at 1-877-LAW-4343 for a free case evaluation to explore your options for seeking justice.
Thanksgiving Travel Safety
Thanksgiving Day is only a week away. Before hunkering down into a delicious spread of home cooked favorites, you have to figure out how to get there first. AAA is predicting a record number of travelers this holiday, exceeding 54 million Americans traveling more than 50 miles from their home. Prepare Now For Thanksgiving Travel Nightmares Travel hazards causing injuries and fatalities always increase around the holidays and now is the time to plan and prepare. Thanksgiving is particularly dangerous as most employers do not offer the Wednesday prior off, resulting in a slew of fatigued, rushed, and distracted travelers trying to get to their destinations for the holiday. Whether you’re hitting the open road, taking a flight, or simply walking a few city blocks to your Thanksgiving feast, planning for safety will reduce your risk of unnecessary accidents this holiday. Dangers on the Open Road Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous and fatal holidays on the road. At least 48.5 million travelers will choose to take a car to get to their Thanksgiving celebrations this year according to AAA, which is also the most dangerous of all major modes of transportation. The National Safety Council (NSC) is estimating around 433 fatalities and 49,400 serious injuries resulting from vehicle accidents this holiday- none of which are anything to be thankful for. To help avoid traffic accidents, here are the most common road hazards motorists should prepare for and safety tips to avoid injuries in the case of a crash: Congested Roads: AAA reports major cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Boston see an increase of quadruple the normal drive times as Thanksgiving approaches. Drivers stuck in traffic tend to use aggressive and dangerous maneuvers to avoid waiting in traffic, putting others around them at risk. To avoid causing accidents: drive defensively (not aggressive), always use traffic signals, leave plenty of room between cars, and always wear your seatbelts to reduce the severity of crash injuries. Distracted Drivers: Drivers on the road this Thanksgiving have to fight to concentrate on congested roads, in over-packed cars, and among countless other distractions around them. To help stay alert: reduce distractions inside the vehicle by turning down the music, keeping conversations with passengers to a minimum, and don’t use any electronic devices (including phones) while driving. Drunk Drivers: In 2016, the NSC reported that 34% of the fatal accidents during the Thanksgiving Day period were caused by impaired and drunk drivers. Holiday drinking is common but keeping impaired drivers off the road can be difficult. If you want to drink this holiday, make sure you do not have to drive home. Take an alternate mode of transportation, secure a designated driver, or stay the night to avoid putting others in danger. Broken Down Cars: AAA expects to rescue nearly 360,000 motorists due to car trouble this holiday. Oil changes, fluid leaks, dead batteries, and tire issues are the most common culprits. Motorists should make sure to get their vehicles fully inspected to prevent breakdowns that put passengers and drivers at serious risk if broken down on the side of a busy road. In-flight Disasters You are generally safer on a plane than traveling in a car during Thanksgiving but accidents can still occur that can cause serious injuries and tragic fatalities. These accidents typically happen in-flight, the most common including: Falling Baggage: In an attempt to avoid extra baggage costs, travelers are stuffing heavier carry-on bags into the overhead compartments posing an increased risk of serious injuries to passengers below. Falling bags cause an estimated 4,500 injuries every year, so make sure the bag you are placing over your head is not too overstuffed. Turbulence: Nearly 60 passengers are seriously injured every year due to airplane turbulence according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Turbulence injuries can range anywhere from traumatic head injuries to broken bones. To reduce your risk of turbulence-related injuries, the FAA suggests: always buckling up when seated, listening to flight attendant’s warnings, use approved child seating, and only get up when absolutely necessary when the seatbelt sign is not on. Slip and Falls: AAA estimates at least 4.27 million travelers will take flight this Thanksgiving, causing large crowds and long lines. Slips and falls over packed aisle ways, drink/food spills, abandoned luggage, and other travelers can be common, especially during a holiday weekend. Make sure to plan ahead for your flight so you don’t have to rush and stay alert to what is in front of you to avoid falls. Food Cart Crashes: Everyone looks for the food cart to come but no one wants to get run over by it! Food carts can be extremely heavy and cause serious injuries to passengers in the aisle way in the case of a runaway cart. Keep the aisles near you clear, keep all hands/arms/leg/feet in your seat if sitting on the aisle and keeps kids by the window seats to avoid unnecessary food cart injuries. Trains, Buses, and Pedestrian Hazards For commuters who are taking the subway, train, bus, or a walking to their holiday get together, be prepared for more traffic than ever. AAA predicts an increase of at least 1.4 percent in passengers traveling by bus and train this year. With increased traffic brings higher risk of accidents, leaving commuters in danger if they are not traveling safely. New York City and Long Island travelers can use these safety reminders from NYC The Official Guide to prevent injuries during their holiday commute next week: Subway and Trains Always stay behind the yellow line at the platform stations. Be mindful of the platform sizes. Some are larger than others and falls can occur with packed platforms. Do not hold subway or train doors open. Keep all hands and possessions inside the car. Do not use the doors inside the cars to walk between unless instructed to or absolutely necessary. Only buy MetroCards from approved vendors and kiosks. Taxi, Lyft, Uber
