If you want to enjoy the holiday season with your family and loved ones, chances are you’ll be hitting the road or catching a plane sometime soon. Unfortunately, first responders always see an uptick in car collisions and fatalities during the days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s. It is important to be aware of these safety tips to protect yourself and your family so you can get safely from point A to point B.

Adjust Your Driving for the Weather

If you find yourself on the road during a blizzard, you need to exercise extreme precaution. Ice, hail, snow, and rain tend to throw drivers into a panic, especially if they aren’t used to driving in those conditions. If you are driving in the snow, there are a few basic things to know. First, drive slowly, because the snow and ice on the roads will make it harder for your tires to gain traction. Second, keep more distance between you and the car in front of you than you would on a clear, sunny day. Third, approach hills with strategic caution. AAA recommends gathering some speed before you go up the hill because applying gas on an upslope will only make your tires spin. When you reach the top of the hill, pump the breaks slowly as you descend.

Check Your Vehicle

AAA also recommends you examine your vehicle before embarking on a road trip. Be sure to clear your exhaust pipe, especially if your region has seen heavy snow lately. A clogged exhaust pipe might leak toxic carbon monoxide gas into your car while the engine is running.

Share Your Location

If you’re going on a long trip, share your route and your location with all of your friends and family. If you find yourself out of gas or in a snowstorm, they will be able to find your exact location to send help.

Contact a New York Car Accident Lawyer

Drivers must be extra cautious on roadways during the winter. Unfortunately, accidents happen all the time. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car wreck because of a reckless or negligent driver who failed to exercise caution when driving in inclement weather, you have the right to seek compensation. At Hach & Rose, LLP, our team of experienced New York car accident lawyers can help you get the justice that you deserve when you call us at Hach & Rose, LLP to discuss your case.

Because vehicle rollovers have a higher fatality rate than other types of car accidents, they are considered to be especially dangerous. Even though rollover crashes only account for about 2.1 percent of all vehicle accidents, they are responsible for almost 35 percent of traffic fatalities, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). When does a vehicle rollover take place? Primarily, a rollover occurs when a motor vehicle is tipped — or “rolled” — over onto its side or roof.

There are two types of rollover crashes, including “tripped” and “untripped.”

• Tripped – Tripped rollovers result from a high-energy impact with an external force like another vehicle, a truck, or even a curb.
• Untripped – According to a 2012 study from the University of Minnesota, these types of rollovers result from a combination of “steering input, speed, and friction with the ground.”

By educating yourself on the possible causes of vehicle rollovers, you can reduce your chances of suffering the physical, financial, and emotional impact of a severe car accident. Some of the most common risk factors involved in rollovers include:

• Type of Vehicle – While almost every type of vehicle has the potential to roll over; some are more at-risk than others. High-risk vehicles tend to be taller and narrower with high centers of gravity. Some examples of high-risk vehicles include pickup trucks, SUVs, and buses.
• Speed – According to the NHTSA, excessive speeding is common with rollover crashes. In fact, “Some 40 percent of fatal rollover crashes involved excessive speeding,” states the NHTSA.
• Intoxication – It is illegal to drive intoxicated in all fifty states. It is unlawful because alcohol significantly impairs a driver’s judgment, muscle coordination, focus, and more. According to the NHTSA, “nearly half of all fatal rollover crashes involve alcohol.”
• Rural Roads – Rural roads tend to lack road divides and guardrails, making it difficult for drivers to regain control of their vehicles in a high-risk situation. Almost 75 percent of fatal rollovers take place on rural roads.
• Driver Behavior – Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal rollover crashes. Often, these crashes only involve a single car — the car that rolls over. Studies have concluded that driver behavior is a potential cause for approximately 85 percent of fatal rollover crashes.

Contact a Rollover Attorney in New York

Were you hurt in a rollover accident caused by a negligent driver, or did your accident happen due to a defectively designed or manufactured vehicle? If so, you have the right to take legal action against those responsible, and the New York rollover accident attorneys will be ready to help fight for the fair compensation you’re owed. Call us at (212) 779-0057 or reach out online today.

According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian deaths reached a new and tragic peak. In the year 2018 alone, researchers found that approximately 6,283 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents — that’s more than a 3% increase from 2017 and the most deaths in almost thirty years. Based on estimated in the first half of 2019, researchers believe that this upward trend will continue.

So what’s causing all of these deaths? According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pedestrians are almost twice as likely to be killed in a collision than a car occupant. Some of the most common risk factors include:

• Distracted drivers – Distracted driving has been cited as one of the leading causes of fatal vehicle collisions. If a driver is distracted by a phone or other task, they are significantly more likely to injure — or kill — a pedestrian.
• Driving over the speed limit – Even vehicles traveling at relatively low speeds can cause the human body devastating injury upon impact. If a driver is moving too fast, slamming down on the breaks isn’t enough to avoid a fatal collision with a pedestrian.
• Intoxicated driving – Drivers under the influence of alcohol are statistically more likely to be at-fault in a severe car accident. Not only is driving under the influence illegal in all fifty states, but it also puts both drivers and pedestrians at risk for being involved in a fatal collision.
• Failure to yield or stop for pedestrians – Pedestrian traffic laws can be nuanced and difficult to understand. Sometimes, drivers who are unaware of these laws do not realize when pedestrians have the right-of-way. As a result, drivers can often fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in situations where they should have.
• Inclement weather conditions – A vehicle’s tires can lose a significant amount of traction on roads with rain, snow, sleet, or ice. These conditions put drivers at a higher risk of skidding, swerving, or spinning out. If a driver loses control of their vehicle, they may not be able to avoid a severe collision with a pedestrian.
• Left turns – According to a study from the United States Department of Transportation, pedestrians have a higher chance of being hit by a left-turning vehicle than a right-turning vehicle. This heightened risk is due to a “visibility impairment” that a driver experiences while making a left turn. Because of this impairment, a driver may not even see a pedestrian before it is too late.
• Backing up – Drivers must check their rear and side-view mirrors before backing up anywhere — even in their driveways. Child pedestrians are especially at risk for back-up accidents, as they can be too short for drivers to detect.

Hurt in an accident as a pedestrian? Hach & Rose, LLP can help you

Car accidents involving pedestrians are significantly more likely to result in severe injury or fatality than other motor vehicle collisions. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a pedestrian collision, contact our team of experienced attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP for help.We will work to get you the compensation you need to pay your bills, repair or replace your damaged bike, and help you focus on recovery if you’re unable to work.  Call us at (212) 779-0057 to schedule your free consultation today.

Running red lights is a careless and dangerous driving offense that can cost the lives of innocent people on and near the road. According to a report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 939 people were killed in accidents caused by running red lights in 2017. This figure represents a 28% increase since 2012, and a 10-year high for red light accident deaths. Almost half of those killed were people in other vehicles or passengers, and over 5% were cyclists or pedestrians.

The AAA Foundation’s most recent Traffic Safety Culture Index raised concerning questions about red light-running. According to the index, over 80% of people surveyed said they believed red light-running to be a seriously dangerous driving offense. However, the report showed that one third of the responders admitted to having run a red light within the past month. This careless driving act, often committed simply to save a few minutes on one’s commute, needlessly endangers those around all of these drivers.

Fortunately, the implementation of red light cameras has decreased the number of fatal red light-running accidents in large cities by as much as 21%. Since red light cameras increase the chances of reckless drivers getting caught in the act, well-publicized camera implementation can dissuade people from taking the opportunity to zoom through stale yellow lights at intersections, and thus decrease the odds of fatal accidents. As of August 2019, more than 20 states were reportedly utilizing red light cameras, including Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, California, Oregon, Florida, and Alabama.

How To Prevent Red Light Running

The AAA Foundation recommends that drivers examine their own driving behaviors and take measures to make the roads safer for all. The following tips can help drivers avoid running red lights and getting hit by red light-runners:

• Prepare to stop by lifting your foot off the gas and hovering over the break when approaching lights at intersections.
• Tap your breaks to alert drivers behind you that may not be paying attention that you will need to come to a stop.
• Drive defensively to protect yourself from others who may run red lights by looking both ways after the light has turned green before proceeding.

The AAA Foundation also recommends these tips for pedestrians and cyclists to avoid getting hit by red light-runners:

• Wait for cars to come to a complete stop from all directions before proceeding across an intersection, even if the walk sign is on.
• Stay visible by wearing reflective clothing if possible, and avoid walking at night when you can.
• Make eye contact with drivers approaching intersections to be sure that they see you.

Hurt By a Negligent Driver? Hach & Rose, LLP Can Help 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a red light-running accident caused by someone else’s careless disregard for your safety, we want to help you seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We have a demonstrated history of successfully representing injured individuals, and we can help you through this trying time. Contact Hach & Rose, LLP at (212) 779-0057 for a free consultation today.

New Paltz, NY (June 30, 2019) – This afternoon, a man was hospitalized following a three-car crash that took place on the New York State Thruway around 2:55 p.m. (more…)

Alabama, NY (June 29, 2019) – Police confirmed that one man was killed in a head-on crash that took place on Bloomingdale Road in Alabama around 4:00 p.m. (more…)

Oswego, NY (June 23, 2019) – One person received injuries at an Oswego Speedway event when they were involved in a car crash and their vehicle burst into flames. (more…)

Hauppauge, NY (June 23, 2019) – Police were called to the scene of a DUI accident that took place on Lincoln Boulevard in Hauppauge that injured three individuals. (more…)

North Babylon, NY (June 16, 2019) – Police claim that a man from West Islip was injured in an accident after a wrong-way accident on the Sunrise Highway today, June 16^th. (more…)

Woodridge, NY (June 16, 2019) – Police arrived at the scene of a rollover accident that caused injuries in eight people at the intersection of Church Road and Glen Wild Road. (more…)