Female Car Shoppers Deserve Better Safety Ratings System, Says NY and PA Accident Lawyer

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Adam Gee

Female car shoppers need better safety information when choosing a new or pre-owned vehicle.

I recently wrote about the striking results of vehicle crash results using female crash-test dummies.

Consumer advocates told The Washington Post that the inadequate performance of the female crash-test dummies shows the federal government needs to do a better job studying the impact of accidents on women and all people smaller than average-size men..

Historically, when it comes to vehicle crash investigations and ratings, it’s a male dummy’s world. Most of the ratings are based on man-size dummies. When smaller dummies representing women and smaller people, including children, were added to the testing, the results pointed to a greatly increased risk for smaller drivers and passengers.

The Washington Post cites as an example the 2011 Toyota Sienna, which shows that a female passenger in a 35-mph crash faces a 20 percent to 40 percent risk of being seriously injured or killed, according to test data.

And what if the female passenger wants to be the driver? Well ….

“A lot of women do substantial (safety) research before going to buy a car,” Joan Claybrook, a longtime consumer advocate who was head of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during the Carter administration when the star-rating system was introduced, told The Washington Post. “Yet there’s not a whole lot of information about how cars impact women” in collisions.

Which leaves women with few good shopping options for checking specifically on risks to women and children.

Here are three of the most commonly checked websites:

All have plenty of good, helpful information, and in some cases, information that breaks down for men and women. But there is not enough.

So residents of Elmira, Corning and the Twin Tiers, it’s time to participate in your democracy and write letters to your congressional members urging them to pressure government agencies to improve their crash ratings. Oh, and remind them that sometimes women drive and the crash tests should use more female dummies behind the wheel!

As Washington catches up to the rest of the country, let me ask you – how do YOU do your safety homework when you are buying a new or pre-owned car?

Share your tips in our comment section below!

Thanks for reading.

Adam
__________________________________________

Adam M. Gee, Esq.
NY and PA Injury and Malpractice Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: agee@zifflaw.com

Police Investigate ‘Really Scary’ School Bus Crash, Says NY and PA Accident Lawyer

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Jim Reed

Police are investigating an accident Monday that injured schoolchildren in Bradford County.

A school bus accident is one of parents’ worst nightmares. Fortunately for parents in northern Pennsylvania, a crash Monday involving a school bus and a minivan does not appear to have been serious.

Please notice that I said it “does not appear to have been serious.” Sometimes, minor accidents can cause serious injuries that are not immediately evident. That is why I always encourage all accident victims to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible after an accident, even if they feel OK.

Some of the students told WETM-TV it was one of the scariest moments of their lives. Any accident involving a bus full of children is SERIOUS.

Here is what happened Monday, according to WETM-TV:

State Police in Bradford County said a minivan rear-ended a school bus carrying the Canton Junior High School girls and boys basketball teams at Woodruff Road and State Route 414 in Leroy Township.

Students told police the bus stopped quickly when a car in front of the bus stopped suddenly to make a turn.

Ten children were sent to hospitals in Towanda and Troy to be checked for possible injuries.

WETM spoke with two of the girls leaving Troy Community Hospital Monday evening.

An eighth-grader, Lizzy Tymeson, told WETM: “All of a sudden, we slammed on the brakes because the car in front of us was going really fast and wanted to turn. When we slammed on the brakes, our heads slammed forward. The car went into us too fast. It was really scary.”

Lizzy said her twin sister was being tested for a possible concussion.

A seventh-grader, Jewell Vanryn, said, “It’s kind of scary because you don’t expect things like that to happen because you don’t ever think it’s going to happen to you.”

State police said no one suffered life-threatening injuries. The teams were headed to Towanda.

State police declined to identify the drivers involved or any other details as of Tuesday.

Residents of Elmira, Corning and the Twin Tiers, remember to always get checked by a doctor, even if it is a “minor” motor vehicle accident!

Thanks for reading.

Thanks, Jim
_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Injury & Malpractice Lawyer

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and

NYBikeAccidentBlog.com

Female Crash-Test Dummies Provide Smart Safety Lesson, Says NY and PA Accident Lawyer

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Adam Gee

The data from crashes involving female crash test dummies is changing the way some vehicles are designed.

Automobile crash tests aren’t just for men anymore.

The auto industry and federal safety agencies have started adding dummies modeled on women after taking notice that women and children, usually smaller than men, fare less well in accidents.

Starting in 2011, The Washington Post reported, the federal government began replacing its average-size male dummy with a smaller dummy in some tests.

For example, when a 2011 Toyota Sienna was slammed into a barrier at 35 mph, the female dummy in the front passenger seat had a 20 percent to 40 percent risk of being killed or seriously injured, according to the test report.

The average for the Sienna’s class of vehicle is a 15 percent risk.

The manager of GM’s test lab told ABC News that GM has invested $200,000 in 200 crash dummies. GM can simulate men, women and children of all sizes, as well as infants.

Linda Tram, spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), told ABC News that studies show that women, with smaller bones and lower bone density, are at greater risk than men of suffering injury or death in crashes. Their less muscular necks make them more vulnerable to whiplash. In general, smaller people cannot tolerate crash forces as well as can full-sized men.

Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told ABC News: “One of the reasons we started using female dummies is the way women sit in a vehicle.” They tend, he said, to position their seats farther forward, to compensate for their smaller stature.

In general, experts told The Washington Post the smaller the person, the fewer crash forces the body can tolerate. When cars wrap around trees or utility poles, for example, smaller drivers and passengers suffer more head, abdominal and pelvic injuries but fewer chest injuries than average-size people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Women’s less-muscular necks also make them more susceptible to whiplash, researchers say.

Government data from police reports also show women are at greater risk of being injured, especially when they’re not behind the wheel, the Post reported.

A 2011 study by the University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics found that seat-belted female drivers in actual crashes had a 47 percent higher chance of serious injuries than belted male drivers in comparable collisions. For moderate injuries, that difference rose to 71 percent.

So before you buy in Elmira, Corning or anywhere in the Twin Tiers, find out what the dummies are revealing about your No. 1 choice. It doesn’t matter how much you love that vehicle. If it’s not safe, keep shopping!

In our next report, we’ll look at how you can learn more about the safest new vehicle models. Check back here soon!

Thanks for reading.

Adam
__________________________________________

Adam M. Gee, Esq.
NY and PA Injury and Malpractice Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: agee@zifflaw.com

Disturbing Rates of Local Felony DWI Cases are Alarming Safety Concern, Says NY Accident Attorney

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

In the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin, the headlines seem omnipresent: there is a startling increase in local DWI cases. This is a great safety risk, and, as we are already starting to see, it is already leading to accidents.

A 30-year-old Whitney Point man was sent to the Broome County jail without bail after being charged with felony driving while intoxicated on March 8^th.

In a crash on I-88 last weekend, a 38-year-old Castle Creek woman was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Her car had “extensive damage” according to a Binghamton-based news report.

A 35-year-old Endicott man was arrested after driving with a blood alcohol content of over .18 percent. He was driving to the left of pavement markings, was unlicensed, and faces a variety of other traffic violations.

According to the Press and Sun Bulletin, on March 7^th, there was a four-car crash in Vestal, NY. Two of the four drivers involved now face ensuing DWI charges. One woman, Tonya Silvestri, faces a felony count of driving while intoxicated with a passenger younger than 15 years. The other driver, Stephen Hawkins, was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17, a rate that is more than twice the legal limit. Police then went on to make 5 additional DWI arrests in the same weekend—just in Vestal alone!

Last Sunday, Detective Captain John P. Shea of the Binghamton police was driving a city car when he was charged with driving drunk. You can read the comments posted by local citizens about this incident here.

These select incidents are only a few examples of the recent headlines in Binghamton. As an accident attorney, I know that DWI cases are a factor in many accidents and are present in any area. This uptick in DWI arrests, however, is an important trend, one of which others should take note. When more people drive drunk, accidents are bound to occur. When police are arrested for driving drunk in city cars, it is evident that reform must be made. Citizens—be it a mother driving with her young daughter or a police captain entering his night shift— need to take responsibility for their driving and make safety a greater priority.

What do you think about the recent drunk driving arrests? We would love to hear your comments below!

Thanks, Christina

_________________________________
Christina Bruner Sonsire, Esq.
NY & PA Injury & Malpractice Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, New York 14902-1338
csonsire@zifflaw.com
Office: 607.733.8866
Toll-Free: 800.ZIFFLAW (943.3529)
Web:zifflaw.com
Blog: NYInjuryLawBlog.com

Justice Served for Penn Yan Man after Crash Killed 6

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

: Photo courtesy of the Star-Gazette.

According to Yates County District Attorney Jason Cook, 42-year-old Penn Yan resident Steven Eldridge, “turned Pre-Emption Road on a nice summer day into a gruesome scene of death, destruction and human carnage—something one expects to see on the TV news from a third-world war zone.”

Indeed, last summer, Mr. Eldridge, high on cocaine and prescription drugs, crashed his car into a van carrying 14 Amish farmers from Steuben County. The farmers were expecting a peaceful, relaxing day touring farms in the Finger Lakes area. Instead, six people were killed and eight were injured.

According to the Star-Gazette, Mr. Eldridge was trying to pass a tractor in the rural town of Benton, NY, when he hit the farmers and pushed their van under the moving tractor. It is hard to imagine the acute pain and loss associated with that amount of gruesome brutality, and our thoughts and prayers still extend to the family, friends, and loved ones of the victims and the citizens in theYates County community, a place deeply shaken by one man’s tragic irresponsibility.

Today, Steven Eldridge was sentenced to 12-24 years in state prison for aggravated vehicular assault. For his recklessness and his total disregard for the safety of others, he is paying a price—one that, after driving under the influence of drugs and creating such unnecessary tragedy, he deserves. According to District Attorney Cook, Mr. Eldridge was more concerned about the damage to his car than the people trapped or killed by the crash. For his complete lack of conscience and respect, Mr. Eldridge is getting what is truly fair: time in prison.

Justice has been reached in this case, and I can only hope that it helps the victims and those affected by this accident find a greater sense of peace.

Thanks, Christina

When a Walk across the Street Becomes a Cause of Death: Examining the Pedestrian Accident on Broad Street in Waverly

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

The road was blocked off and a tent was put up after a pedestrian accident in Waverly. Photo courtesy of wetm-tv.com.

80-year-old Norma M. Ivester was always concerned about the traffic on her road. Often discussing it with her neighbor, Genevieve Babcock, Ms. Ivester even said, “The way some people drive, someone will get hit out here.” Ironically, Ms. Ivester died this week in a fatal pedestrian accident outside her home on Broad Street in Waverly.

On March 14, Ms. Ivester walked across the street to get her morning paper at Ted Clark’s Busy Market. At 8:17 a.m., on her way back across the street, she was hit by a passing car.

The incident has deeply affected many in Waverly. In a WETM-18 News story, resident Joe Carnrike said, “I’m thinking, why do things like this always happen to the nicest people?” Family and friends unanimously have named Ms. Ivester as “one of the nicest and [most] caring women they ever knew,” according to the article. Ms. Babcock described “a caring woman who couldn’t do enough for anybody,” and Ms. Ivester’s sister-in-law said simply, “She was a kind and loving person. She was a good neighbor and a good family member.”

So, what happened? How could a short trip to get a newspaper turn into a death sentence for a woman described as “careful” and “always looking out for others”?

While the investigation of this particular case is ongoing, part of the accident may lie in Broad Street itself. The area is full of pedestrians, with shops ranging from office product stores to thrift shops to coffee houses. Broad Street also extends into a less populated area where the speed limit increases. For cars rushing to join highways like the nearby Southern Tier Expressway, speeding may seem inconsequential for a relatively small few blocks on Broad Street. With pedestrians and nearby New York State Bicycle Route 17, however, temptation can turn into tragedy.

Charges have not yet been filed in Ms. Babcock’s case and it is unclear if the driver of the 1997 Mercury that hit her was driving distracted or even speeding. What is clear, however, is that this story is representative of a larger, more dangerous trend: the lack of caution among drivers on Broad Street. Ms. Ivester’s own warning about drivers stands in grave poignancy, foreshadowing a death for a beloved community member.

Ms. Ivester’s sister-in-law said, “Everyday she went across the street for her paper, and this shouldn’t have happened to her.” Indeed, a trip to get a newspaper across the street should not be a cause of death. Stricter enforcements are needed to ensure safety on Broad Street.

Thanks, Christina

NY Accident Attorney Comments on Rising Rate of Teen Driving Deaths

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

According to USA Today, a recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows that teen road deaths in the first 6 months of 2011 went up 11%, marking an increase for the first time in 8 years.

Experts attribute this increase to two main factors:

1.) The improving economy means that more drivers—including teens— are hitting the roads

2.) The effect of graduated driver licensing programs, or GDLs, is leveling off

So, given these factors, what can be done to combat the rate of teen driving accidents? While a wide variety of factors go into safety, I was struck by a recent AAA study saying that the average parent spends less than 2 hours per week in the car with their teen while he or she is learning how to drive. Most of those hours include little practice in more difficult driving conditions, like inclement weather or darkness.

While both teens and parents are incredibly busy, the importance of a teen having driving experience with a parent cannot be overstated. If parents spent more time in the car with their teens, the rate of teen driving deaths would be far more likely to decrease.

NBC Nightly News, the source that featured information about the AAA study, also showed footage of accidents avoided when a parent drove with their child.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. 16 teens per day die in car accidents, making a startling 6,000 deaths per year. Parents can help decrease this number just by sitting in the front seat.

This experience is especially important when teens get behind the wheel by themselves. Teens are 50% more likely to crash in the first month of driving than at any other time. Parents should try to ride along with teens when possible—even after an official license is issued.

There are so many factors that go into dangers on the road. The best thing that parents can give a child when they hand over the keys is the gift of experience with a practiced, trusted driver. It could save your teen’s life.

Thanks, Christina

Elmira Car Crash Results in Minor Injuries? It’s Too Soon to Tell says NY and PA Accident Lawyer

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Adam Gee

Elmira police said an accident Thursday morning involved just minor injuries, but accident victims should always be checked my medical professionals to be sure their injuries are not serious.

A hit-and-run accident Thursday morning on Elmira’s east side has the Elmira Police Department looking for witnesses after receiving conflicting information about the color of the fleeing vehicle.

Police also said there were apparently just minor injuries suffered in the accident, and that phrase “apparent minor injuries” always worries me.

The accident occurred Thursday morning at East Church Street and Madison Avenue, not far from our office at 303 William St.

Police told the Star-Gazette that an eastbound vehicle was struck from behind, and the striking vehicle fled the scene. The police added that it appeared that there were just minor injuries, but there were several ambulances on the scene, so it’s premature to say that the injuries were not serious!

Please remember this if you are ever involved in a motor vehicle accident:

As an experienced accident lawyer, I can tell you that sometimes minor injuries suffered in car accidents can develop into serious injuries. If you are injured in an accident, always get checked by an emergency room doctor of your personal doctor. What appears to be minor at that moment may take your life later!

Police said they received conflicting information from the scene about the color of the striking vehicle. Anyone with information about the striking vehicle should call the Elmira Police tip line at 607-271-HALT.

Thanks for reading.

Adam
__________________________________________

Adam M. Gee, Esq.
NY and PA Car Accident Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: agee@zifflaw.com

NY Accident Attorney Discusses Ideas to Prevent Accidents among Elderly Drivers

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

NBC Nightly News recently featured a story highlighting accident rates among elderly drivers.

It is something with which so many of us can identify: the independence that comes with driving a car. It is this feeling of freedom, however, that can often be the cause of safety concerns among elderly drivers.

NBC Nightly News broadcast a report last week entitled, “Too Old to Drive?” The segment featured some alarming statistics: according to the most recent studies, 600 drivers over age 65 are involved in an accident every day in the United States. Nine of those drivers die.

In a world in which drivers aged 65 and older are one and a half times more likely to get into an accident than middle-aged drivers, it is time to acknowledge the gravity of these facts and work to take action to prevent accidents. Americans aged 65 and over are the fastest growing age group in the country. By 2030, these citizens are expected to be 25% of the driving population. In his or her own small way, each person can work to ensure that this 25% is responsible and safe.

It is important to acknowledge that I want to avoid blanket statements; not all elderly drivers are inherently unsafe. It can be challenging, however, to gauge when and if the time comes to surrender the keys to a car— and the freedom and confidence that comes with it.

It is important to take precautions: if you have a loved one whose driving concerns you, ride along with them. Look for a slow reaction time, the driver getting lost, or trouble merging. This can help you to engage in an honest, open discussion.

Another great way to better ensure safety is stricter state restrictions in regard to elderly drivers. 33 states, including Pennsylvania, have enacted tougher driving requirements for elderly drivers. By giving a basic driving test or having people answer simple health questions, an objective, official opinion can be brought into a family’s discussion about safe driving. This is a great step to avoid accidents, and I hope that New York follows Pennsylvania’s example.

The topic of when to take the keys away is incredibly difficult. It involves so many emotions and a sense of pride and independence. I can certainly empathize with this, but I hope that the above statistics are a wake-up call and a reminder of what is truly at stake when a driver of any age gets behind a wheel. Discussing driving with an elderly loved one may be hard now, but I sincerely believe that it can save lives.

Thanks, Christina

NY Attorney Comments on Startling Accident on Market Street

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Christina Sonsire

A car is visible inside a Market Street storefront in Corning on Tuesday morning.

A car crash took place in the Market Street storefront of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes this morning. Photo courtesy of the Elmira Star-Gazette.

As an accident attorney, I have become accustomed to seeing a wide range of accident scenes and scenarios. Today, however, I was nevertheless surprised to hear about a car crashing through a Market Street storefront.

86-year-old Rosario Miller crashed his car into the storefront of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Luckily, neither the female passenger in the car nor the four employees working inside the office at the time were injured. Mr. Miller was taken to various local hospitals for treatment, and our thoughts and prayers are certainly with him.

What struck me most about this story- and, judging from the readers’ comments on the story in the Elmira Star-Gazette and the Corning Leader- was how such an accident can occur in a time and place when we least expect it. As trite and cliché as that sounds, 10:30 A.M. on Valentine’s Day on a popular street known for pedestrian traffic and quaint storefronts, is a startling reminder of the abrupt and shattering nature of accident scenes.

Hopefully, this story will serve as a reminder to stay alert both on the roads and while walking on sidewalks. Who knows? You could be strolling along Market Street, focusing simply on finding a card on Valentine’s Day, and an accident could occur right in front of you!

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable- and safe- Valentine’s Day!

Thanks, Christina