UPDATE: More Elmira Pedestrian Accidents …. It’s Time for Drivers to Wake Up and Watch Out for Walkers and Bicyclists

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jim Reed

Two accidents involving pedestrians in the last 24 hours in Elmira serve as a stark reminder of the dangers facing pedestrians from inattentive or distracted drivers!

First, a mother and her 1-year-old child were injured, then a 17-year-old girl was struck 45 minutes later!

In the Elmira/Corning area where I live, there seems to be a growing trend of cars and trucks hitting pedestrians and bicyclists. I think this is a combination of more walkers/bikers and more cars/trucks sharing the roads together with a huge increase in the number of distracted drivers on the road.

These drivers are distracted by phones, radios, texting — or they are simply not paying attention.

In both Elmira pedestrian injury cases, the pedestrians were crossing the four-lane Clemens Center Parkway, which is a nightmare for pedestrians because they have to move quickly to get across safely before the light changes.

How many times have we seen pedestrians stranded unsafely in the middle of an intersection, waiting for the light to change again? This problem is especially obvious on a road like the Clemens Center Parkway, where the road is four lanes wide and there is a higher speed limit.

BUT REMEMBER: NY LAW REQUIRES A MOTOR VEHICLE TO YIELD TO A PEDESTRIAN! So regardless of the color of the light, if you see a pedestrian on the road, follow the law and give them a safe distance.

In one of the accidents, a mother and her 1-year-old child in a stroller were struck. They suffered minor injuries, police said.

According to news reports, the first accident occurred at about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Clemens Center Parkway and East Fifth Street, Elmira, NY. The mother and child were transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center and the driver of the pickup truck accused of striking them, Clayton Stevens of Lowman, was charged with Failing to Yield and Driving with a Suspended License.

A 17-year-old girl was hospitalized with internal injuries and possible broken bones after a second accident 45 minutes later involving a pedestrian at the Clemens Center Parkway and South Avenue on Elmira’s Southside. She is being treated at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. Police said the investigation continues.

See the news reports from WETM-TV and the Star-Gazette.

Remember the 17-year-old girl, and the mother and her 1-year-old child, the next time you’re driving on Clemens Center Parkway and SLOW DOWN. As you approach intersections, even if you have a green light, scan both sides of the road for pedestrians. Remember there may be people still trying to cross the road!

Finally, FOCUS ON THE ROAD — not your text messages or your missed phone calls or talk radio or talking with your passengers.

Someone else’s life may depend on you paying attention to the road!

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

Elmira Crosswalk Accident A Reminder Of Dangers Facing Pedestrians, Bicylists, NY Injury Lawyer Says

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Jim Reed

Too often motorists fail to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists.

This pedestrian car collision happened Tuesday on the very corner where our office is located in Elmira.

Police told the Star-Gazette that Verlyn Fortner, 41, was crossing a street in downtown Elmira Tuesday afternoon when he was struck by a car driven by Richard D. Matson, 61, of Elmira Heights. Police said Mr. Matson’s mirror struck Mr. Fortner as Mr. Fortner was in the crosswalk.

Mr. Fortner was hospitalized with possible broken bones and bruising, police said.

Mr. Matson was cited for Failure to Yield the Right of Way to a Pedestrian.

This is another in a long line of pedestrian and cyclist cases in Elmira in the last year where pedestrians/cyclists have been badly injured by inattentive motorists.

I am currently handling three of these cases where all three of the motorist defendants have the same excuse that they were looking the other direction for cars and simply did not look the other way to see if there were any bikes or walkers coming the other direction. I appreciate that motorists tend to look for BIG objects — other cars and trucks — but they have to also be looking out for smaller objects — walkers, runners, bikers, etc.

Driving is a privilege and one of the legal obligations that goes along with that privilege is the requirement to be attentive to ALL traffic conditions including motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Here, the driver will not only face the penalties of the traffic ticket but will also face the potential civil lawsuit if the victim, Verlyn Fortner, consults with an injury lawyer. Quite frankly, Mr. Fortner would be smart to immediately consult with a lawyer who can advise him of his legal rights and help him navigate the complexities of who will pay what are likely to be huge medical bills and other expenses he will incur. I hope Mr. Fortner will be OK and quickly recover from his injuries.

Thanks for reading.

Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY Car Accident 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

NY Malpractice Lawyer Discusses “Wrong-Site” Surgery Cases: Did We Operate on the WRONG Leg?

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Jim Reed

It's up to you to be vigilant when you or someone you love faces surgery!

As a New York medical malpractice lawyer who has handled “wrong-site” surgery cases, I wasn’t too surprised to see the news report that estimates that 40 times a week (that’s more than 2,000 times a year!), doctors mistakenly operate on the wrong site.

Huh, the wrong site? Yup, that happens when a doctor is supposed to operate on a RIGHT knee and he operates on the LEFT knee. Or the doctor was supposed to operate on the left eye and he operates on the right. Can you say “Ooooooppppsss”?

But this is NOT funny. The victims of wrong-site surgery suffer all the dangers of surgery (bleeding, infection, scarring, disability, etc.) with none of the benefits of the surgery they were supposed to receive. In fact, many times, the patient is so weakened by the wrong-site surgery that they don’t have the strength to undergo the surgery they were supposed to have.

The Washington Post reported this week that seven years after the Joint Commission, the group that accredits our nation’s hospitals, unveiled mandatory rules to prevent surgery errors, the problem may actually be getting worse!

The good news is that progressive hospitals and doctors are implementing strategies to combat wrong-site surgery, according to the report. Some strategies are simple: require the doctor to physically mark the site of the surgery during the pre-operative preparation; make both doctors and nurses double-check one another as to the proper site of the surgery, and so on.

Medicare is also creating a very strong incentive for doctors and hospitals to ensure that they do not perform surgery at the wrong site by refusing to pay any of the expenses associated with the incorrect surgery. Nothing like hitting someone in the pocketbook to make them pay attention!

And finally, the prospect of an expensive medical malpractice lawsuit is also a strong deterrent to this sloppy mistake that simply shouldn’t occur. In NY and PA, where I routinely practice, it is medical malpractice for a doctor to perform surgery at the wrong site because the standard of care for proper surgical practice always requires the surgeon to confirm the proper site for surgery BEFORE operating.

According to the Washington Post report, based on state data, Joint Commission officials estimate that wrong-site surgery occurs 40 times a week in U.S. hospitals and clinics. In 2010 alone, 93 cases were reported to the accrediting organization, compared with 49 in 2004.

“Attention to the problem comes at a time of increased focus on the broader issue of medical errors, which a recent study found affected one-third of hospital patients,” the report said.

The federal government recently introduced a program aimed at reducing medical mistakes, the Post reported. Medicare requires reporting and does not pay for wrong-site surgery, and many insurers have followed suit, the Post added. Next year, Medicaid will begin a similar policy.

Wrong-site mistakes have multiple causes, experts told the Post: mixing up the left and right sides; operating on a patient who was accidentally given test results belonging to someone else; marking the incorrect vertebrae in spinal surgery; neglecting to mark the site at all. Some occur even though a member of the surgical team thinks something might be wrong but fails to speak up, fearful of slowing the process or challenging the surgeon in charge.

Please remember when you or someone you love is facing surgery – be watchful and ask questions!

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

Elmira Star Gazette Photo Features Ziff Law “Instructor”

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Christina Sonsire

Talk about a small world.

Two years ago Ziff Law Attorney Jim Reed and I spent several days shadowing Dorothy Clay Sims, an exceptionally bright and fiery attorney from Ocala, Florida. Dorothy and Jim had met through a national Medical Malpractice organization, and she generously invited both of us to come to Ocala, stay in her home, and shadow her to learn her very particular method of building lawsuits and cross examining doctors.

Today, I opened by copy of the Elmira Star Gazette and saw a picture of Attorney Sims seated right next to Casey Anthony at counsel’s table! Yes – that Casey Anthony. Turns out Attorney Sims joined the defense team last fall and is expected to use her skills in cross examining doctors to help poke holes in the prosecution’s case and support the theory that Caylee Anthony drowned in her grandparent’s swimming pool. Although Attorney Sims has not had a large role in terms of presenting the case, she has been photographed embracing Casey several times and cross examined Lee Anthony, Casey Anthony’s brother.

I can honestly say I have never met anyone quite like Dorothy Clay Sims. She has the energy of five people, and is seemingly always engaged in several different activities — all at the same exact time. When Jim and I were in her office she asked us to observe her take a doctor’s deposition by phone. Although I vowed not to give away her secrets to success, trust me when I say I have never seen anything like it. Her ability to find a way to get the information she needs when she needs it is unparalleled, and she puts the hammer to witnesses with just enough charisma to keep them talking.

Dorothy’s book, “Exposing Deceptive Defense Doctors” is a bible for a good deal of the plaintiff’s bar — and a must-read for anyone who handles medical malpractice cases. My copy rests within arms reach, and I find myself consulting with it more than I do with any other source. The trip was well worth the tiem and expense. There is simply no substitute for learning from the best.

My husband is a prosecutor at the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office. He has been following the Anthony trial very closely — and was floored when I told him we had stayed at Sims’ house. Looks like her star is truly rising. I am very excited to see what she can do for Casey Anthony. If I were the state’s attorney, I would take notice that Dorothy is on deck.

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

NY Car Accident Lawyer Explains Why Lawsuits Can Be GOOD and Save Lives!

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Jim Reed

'02 Monte Carlo Driver Airbag Deployment

These days, it’s popular to blame trial lawyers for almost EVERYTHING bad. However, it’s important to remind folks of the GOOD that comes out of lawsuits that have served to make our lives safer.

Trial lawyers have helped in changing safety standards in everything from flammable pajamas that needlessly killed thousands of children to seat belt laws to safer workplaces to safer cars to safer highways….

The bottom line is that consumer lawsuits have saved countless lives because corporate America responds to one punishment– HIT THEM IN THE WALLET AND THEY WILL RESPOND! Sad to say but corporate engineers are constantly weighing the costs of improving a product to make a product safer versus the possible costs of lawsuits for people who are injured or killed because a less safe design was used. Because of this cold, hard, dollars-and-cents analysis, the costs of a possible lawsuit have the direct effect of making products safer. And that is GOOD for all of us!

A recent op-ed in the Washington Post about safer automobiles got me thinking about how trial lawyers have made a difference in all of our lives.

Gibson Vance, the president of the American Association for Justice, reminds us of the role litigation has played in improving safety for motorists. In the April 15, 2011, op-ed “How our cars got safer,” Mr. Vance said new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figures show that traffic deaths are at their lowest since 1949.

Mr. Vance observed that better technology, better regulations and better-informed consumers all made an impact, then he made this important and often-overlooked point: “History shows that litigation and the civil justice system have served as the most consistent and powerful forces in heightening safety standards, revealing previously concealed defects and regulatory weaknesses and deterring manufacturers from cutting corners on safety for the goal of greater profits.”

Rather than cave to ongoing pressure from auto manufacturers to ease regulations and limit liability, legislators must continue to hold manufacturers accountable and protect consumers’ access to the civil justice system.

Mr. Vance cites as an example the litigation that drove American automakers to universally implement safer switches on power windows. The deaths of seven children in a three-month period in 2004, killed by power windows in cars, and the litigation that followed, led U.S. automakers to change the switches from ones you push down to raise the window to ones you have to lift up to raise the window. Children no longer get trapped accidentally in the windows by leaning on the switches.

Mr. Vance also said the auto industry has, for years, “worked to undermine regulations and limits its liability by pushing for complete immunity from lawsuits when their vehicles comply with minimum federal safety standards.”

As he correctly points out, this would be DEVASTATING for consumers.

He concludes: “… Without the civil justice system, gas tanks would still explode in rear-end collisions, seat belts and airbags would not be standard, and cars would roll over onto roofs that would be easily crushed.”

An important report:

To learn more about the role of litigation in safer automobiles, read the American Association for Justice report, “Driven to Safety: How Litigation Spurred Auto Safety Innovations.” I think you’ll find it interesting, important and eye-opening reading.

Thanks for reading, 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

An Injury Lawyer Can NOT Be Afraid to Go to Trial!

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Jim Reed

A fellow injury lawyer friend of mine from Oklahoma, Clayton Hasbrook, recently posted a question we hear all the time: “Are we going to have to file a lawsuit for my car accident?”

Most people don’t enjoy the litigation process – it’s stressful and time consuming. I certainly understand that concern. When I am asked that question I always answer that I frankly cannot predict those cases that will require me to file a lawsuit and those that can be settled before a lawsuit needs to be filed. Likewise, of the lawsuits I file on behalf of my injured clients, I cannot predict those that will have to go to trial versus those that can be settled prior to trial.

Unfortunately, despite 25 years handling NY and PA injury and malpractice cases, I do not have a crystal ball and there are simply too many variables in every case to be able to accurately predict what will happen in YOUR case.

What I CAN tell you is that I get paid only when you get paid and the more I get for you, the more I get for me! Because my fee depends 100% on winning and because my fee is one-third of the total recovery, I have a direct, personal incentive to resolve your case as quickly as I can AND for as much as I can.

Unfortunately, sometimes you can’t have it both ways– a fast settlement AND a maximum recovery. You can have it fast if you are willing to accept mere pennies for what your case is really worth. But if you want full value for your case, you might have to wait a little longer because the insurance company is going to insist on doing things the hard way.

The key thing for you as the client is that you have an attorney who is willing to do things the hard way if need be.

Your attorney cannot be a cut-and-run artist who is willing to accept the first dollar bills that are waved under his nose! He cannot be afraid to file a lawsuit. He cannot be afraid to take your case to trial.

As you’ll notice on our New York Personal Injury Settlements page, our attorneys actually try cases. We are prepared to go to trial on EVERY case we accept. That does NOT mean that we DO go to trial on every case. Quite frankly, in most cases, if you are well-prepared and do your homework, the insurance company will ultimately make a reasonable settlement offer. However, in those cases, where the insurance company or their defense lawyer refuses to make a reasonable offer, we know the only way to get full value for our clients is to take their case to trial.

Our firm has a similar position to that of Clayton’s:

We KNOW insurance companies facing attorneys who won’t “go the distance” will value those car accident claims much lower. Insurance companies smell fear and if they know an attorney is afraid to take a case to trial, they will low ball the case and offer mere pennies on the dollar……

Insurance companies carefully track opposing attorneys and know the attorney’s track record. One summer while I was in law school, I worked for the Dark Side, the defense side, for a firm that defended claims. One of the things I got to see first-hand was the report that a defense attorney was required to file with the insurance company for whom they worked. One of the questions on the report requested the defense attorneys “evaluation” of the attorney representing the injured party. Is that lawyer experienced? Well-prepared? Intelligent? All of these factors, together with the lawyer’s reputation in the courtroom, was all taken in to consideration when the insurance company was deciding how to handle the claim.

So, if you are sitting down to make the important decision about what personal injury lawyer you are going to hire to handle your injury case, make darn sure you pick someone who you trust will work hard on your case for as long as it may take…..

Thanks for reading!

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

How Long Will My New York Auto Accident Case Take? (zifflaw.com)

Ziff Law Firm Hires Ace Paralegal from New York City

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Jim Reed

Talented paralegals are essential to the smooth workings of a law firm. In our Ziff Law newsletters and staff descriptions online at ZiffLaw.com, I’ve always wanted to emphasize the smarts and dedication of our paralegals. They make us lawyers look great, they inspire confidence in our clients, and they manage a million details to make cases move forward smoothly.

Now there is a new name and face to add to our staff roster: Paralegal Corinne Acampora is joining Ziff Law.

Corinne recently moved to Ithaca from Manhattan with her husband, Brian, who is a 2012 Cornell Johnson School MBA Candidate.

In New York City, she had a stellar paralegal career with the powerhouse litigation firms of White & Case and Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman.

After interviewing with many other firms in the area, Corinne decided to join the Ziff Law team, and we are so pleased that she did so.

Corinne grew up in Framingham, MA, a suburb of Boston, but has been visiting family in upstate New York since she was born. Corinne is a graduate of a great upstate university, Syracuse, where she studied history and political science. She also spent a semester in China in the university’s prestigious program there, AND co-founded and edited Chronos, the Syracuse University Undergraduate History Journal.

In New York City, Corinne earned a Master of Arts in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and the History of the Art Market from the famous auction house Christie’s.

She started her law-related career as a legal assistant with White & Case, where she managed the documentation, including trial preparation, for several cases. She was recruited by the firm of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman as a paralegal and given a lot more responsibility, experience I know will be valued here at Ziff Law.

While at Kasowitz, Corinne was the lead paralegal on cases involving issues from an intellectual property litigation to an international art restitution case, and even anti-trust class actions. Her responsibilities included hearing and trial preparation, coordinating pleadings, correspondence, and client documents. Being a good communicator is an essential skill for a paralegal, and Corinne’s editing experience stood her in good stead as she was responsible for editing legal briefs.

As she was managing all this, Corinne was also in charge of developing and implementing a training program, The Paralegal Institute, for the 45 or more paralegals working at Kasowitz.

At Ziff, Corinne will be working with Christina Bruner Sonsire on medical malpractice and personal injury cases.

In her spare time, Corinne likes to cook, hunt for antiques and is excited to explore the Ithaca art scene.

For our part, we are very glad she chose our firm and we look forward to working with Corinne.

“Speaking with Jim and Christina made my decision very easy. I could tell right away that the culture at the firm was one of integrity, professionalism and respect,” Corinne says. “On top of those qualities, people here truly care about work/life balance which I think is very important.”

Our motto is “Local lawyers, big city results!” Now we have a big-city paralegal joining the team.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Personal Injury Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062
Toll Free 1-800-943-3529
mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

That is blog post #1. Then I need a follow-up blog post in a couple days with my video interview from WETM-TV Law Talk last week embedded. I will send you the video file via SendThisFile. Hopefully, it won’t be too hard to embed the video. Just take a look at the video and you will see my reaction to the idea from some Elmira City Councilpersons who thought it would be a good idea to require licensing and insuring of skateboarders, bicyclists, pedestrians, motorized wheelchairs and baby strollers. Talk about idiocy! This is a classic example of blame the victim. The skateboarder (like the other two pedestrians) was well within his rights to use the road and rather than focusing on the conduct of the innocent victims, why aren’t the politicians focusing on the careless drivers?That is blog post #1. Then I need a follow-up blog post in a couple days with my video interview from WETM-TV Law Talk last week embedded. I will send you the video file via SendThisFile. Hopefully, it won’t be too hard to embed the video. Just take a look at the video and you will see my reaction to the idea from some Elmira City Councilpersons who thought it would be a good idea to require licensing and insuring of skateboarders, bicyclists, pedestrians, motorized wheelchairs and baby strollers. Talk about idiocy! This is a classic example of blame the victim. The skateboarder (like the other two pedestrians) was well within his rights to use the road and rather than focusing on the conduct of the innocent victims, why aren’t the politicians focusing on the careless drivers?

Ziff Law Hires Ace Paralegal from New York City

Now there is a new name and face to add to our staff roster: Paralegal Corinne Acampora is joining Ziff Law.

(Corinne, I saw a different last name on your resume. Did you just get married? Congratulations if you did! May I mention your husband’s name and what he does?)

Corinne recently moved to Ithaca from Manhattan.

(What brought you to the area?)

In New York City, she had a stellar paralegal career with the powerhouse litigation firms of White & Case and Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman.

After interviewing with many other firms in the area, Corinne decided to join the Ziff Law team, and we are so pleased that she did so.

(Corinne, are you from upstate? What’s your hometown?)

Corinne is a graduate of a great upstate university, Syracuse, where she studied history and political science. She also spent a semester in China in the university’s prestigious program there, AND co-founded and edited Chronos, the Syracuse University Undergraduate History Journal.

In New York City, Corinne earned a master’s degree in modern art, connoisseurship, and the history of the art market while interning at the famous auction house Christie’s.

She started her law-related career as a legal assistant with White & Case, where she managed the documentation, including trial preparation, for seven cases. She was recruited by the firm of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman as a paralegal and given a lot more responsibility, experience I know will be valued here at Ziff Law.

While at Kasowitz, Corinne was the lead paralegal on cases involving issues from intellectual property litigation to an international art restitution case, and even anti-trust class actions. Her responsibilities included coordinating pleadings, correspondence, attorney’s paperwork, and client document files. Being a good communicator is an essential skill for a paralegal, and Corinne’s editing experience stood her in good stead as she was responsible for editing legal briefs.

As she was managing all this, Corinne was also in charge of developing and implementing a training program, The Paralegal Institute, for the 45 or more paralegals working at the large Kasowitz firm.

At Ziff, Corinne will be… FILL JOB DESCRIPTION

(Do you know which attorneys you will be working with … or all? I know some of the paralegals specialize and assist particular attorneys.)

In her spare time, Corinne likes to FILL INTERESTS

(Would you like to list any hobbies? Or In their spare time, Corinne and her husband like to…)

For our part, we are very glad she chose our firm and we look forward to working with Corinne.

“FILL QUOTE” (Corinne, could you tell me one factor in your decision to take the job at Ziff? What gave you a favorable impression of the firm?)

Our motto is “Local lawyers, big city results!” Now we have a big-city paralegal joining the team.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

FILL JIM TAGLINE

Injury and Malpractice Attorney Carl T. Hayden Selected for National List of Super Lawyers

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Jim Reed

The other week, my colleague Adam Gee congratulated me here on the NY Injury Law Blog for my being honored as a New York Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. Now I’m writing to share that I’m not the only Ziff Law Firm attorney to be selected for the distinction. Carl T. Hayden, who also represents plaintiffs in personal injury and medical malpractice, was also named to the 2011 Super Lawyers list of leading peer-rated attorneys.

Carl and I are the only injury and malpractice lawyers in the Elmira area to have been selected for the 2011 Super Lawyers list.

What does it mean to be named a Super Lawyer?

Super Lawyers Magazine is a national publication that reaches 13 million readers. One of the magazine’s most important and popular features is the state by state, region by region, Top Lawyers List. The list is updated every every year, so anyone searching for a qualified and talented lawyer has the information they need to find the right attorney.

Attorneys earn a place on the list through a point system based on peer nominations and 12 categories of effectiveness, as well as independent research. You can’t buy a spot on the list, only earn it.

Carl’s career record has certainly merited his selection to the Super Lawyer’s List. Carl has been in practice at the Ziff Law Firm since 1971. Carl is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a distinction that, like the Super Lawyers honor, makes him part of a small, select group. Only 1 percent of trial lawyers are invited to join FACTL. Carl is the only attorney in Chemung County to have been so honored.

In addition to an exemplary law career, Carl has a history of community involvement, holding positions of great responsibility with local and state organizations including 12 years of service on the NY Board of Regents. On our firm’s website, you can read more about Carl Hayden’s work record as well as his affiliations and honors.

I was very honored to have been named to the Super Lawyers list again. I think, however, to have been selected in company with Carl makes me realize it as even more of a distinction.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.

NY & PA Personal Injury Lawyer

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

William St., Elmira, NY 14902

Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062

Toll Free 1-800-943-3529

mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com

E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:

NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

Elmira Attorney Jim Reed Honored by Super Lawyers Magazine; Named to National Top Lawyers List

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Jim Reed

I want to congratulate my colleague and the Ziff Law Firm’s managing partner, Jim Reed, on a great – and well-deserved honor. Jim was – once again, actually! named to the annual list of New York Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Jim and fellow Ziff Law attorney Carl Hayden were the only injury and malpractice lawyers in the area selected for the 2011 honor.

Super Lawyers reaches more than 13 MILLION readers in all 50 states. The magazine stakes its reputation on finding and recommending the finest lawyers across the country. Super Lawyers are chosen by peer recommendation, professional achievement, and independent research. These top lawyers are outstanding achievers in more than 70 practice areas.

I asked Jim how it felt to be named a NY Super Lawyer for the 4th time. “It really is humbling to be picked by your fellow lawyers as being one of the best injury lawyers in New York. It truly means a lot to me.”

Jim has more than 24 years of experience as a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney. He’s won a number of multi-million-dollar settlements for injured clients. That earned him a place in the Multi-Million-Dollar Advocates Forum. And Jim contributes regularly to this blog, the NY Injury Law Blog, sharing his legal knowledge with readers. He also appears on local news station WETM-TV to present a weekly “Law Talk” segment at noon on Wednesdays. He’s also the author of two books, Learn the Five Deadly Mistakes that can KILL Your Accident Case! and Learn the Five Secrets to Buying Auto Insurance in NY

So Jim is always ready to share his expertise with people. For an attorney who is willing to do that – and is at the top of his game, I think the Super Lawyers recognition is is only just.

The annual list of Super Lawyers are named each year, with selections are made on a state-by-state basis. The purpose – to create a reliable and extensive list of outstanding attorneys. The list is a great resource for attorneys and potential clients, for referrals or for finding legal counsel.

Visit the Super Lawyers website for complete details on the selection process, and please join me in congratulating Jim on this recognition.

Adam
_______________________________
Adam M. Gee, Esq.
NY and PA Injury and 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
www.zifflaw.com

Visit the NY Biker Law Blog at www.NYBikerLawBlog.com!

Rear-Ending Driver Causes Major Collision on Route 86 in Horseheads

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Jim Reed

The most common type of accident case we handle at the Ziff Law Firm is the rear-end collision. These accidents usually occur because the driver who causes the accident is either not paying proper attention (i.e. talking on their cell phone, adjusting the radio, doing their nails—no kidding!) or unsafe driving (i.e. going too fast, following too closely).

Just yesterday, there was a bad accident in Horseheads because a Lowe’s truck driver was following another car too closely. WETM-TV covered the accident with a televised and an online story: “Tailgater Causes Multi-Car Crash on I-86.” Follow the link to read the story or check out the text included below.

As a New York personal injury attorney for more than 20 years I have handled more than my share of these cases. Rear-end collisions are tough on those not to blame – I mean what safe recourse do you have to stop someone from following you too closely? You can tap your brakes, which just seems to egg on some tailgaters, you can let them pass or speed up yourself. It doesn’t seem fair that you should have to compromise your safe driving habits because someone else is acting recklessly – and you shouldn’t. All you can to is take yourself out of the situation when it’s safe to do so – like letting an antsy driver pass you.

Thankfully, no-one was hurt in this I-86 accident. But to top off the aggravation of this incident, the Lowe’s driver was driving with a suspended license! You might think that a clean license would be a requisite for the job!

Thanks for reading,

Jim

_________________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.
Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062
Toll Free 1-800-943-3529
mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

Tailgater Causes Multi-Car Crash on I-86

Reported by: Meagan Kolkmann

Email: meagankolkmann@wetmtv.com

Last Update: 5/17 12:39 pm

HORSEHEADS- A tailgater created a big mess for commuters on I-86 West this morning.

Around 9 a.m., a three-car crash brought traffic to a near standstill.

Cars were back up for about an hour while police and emergency crews worked to clear the road.

State police say it all started when a Lowe’s truck was following a Volkswagen in front of it too closely.

When the truck crashed into the back of the Volkswagen it sparked a chain reaction.

That’s when an R.V. smashed into the back of the truck.

Luckily nobody was injured in the crash.

State police say the driver of the Lowes truck was driving with a suspended license.

These drivers are distracted by phones, radios, texting — or they are simply not paying attention.

BUT REMEMBER: NY LAW REQUIRES A MOTOR VEHICLE TO YIELD TO A PEDESTRIAN! So regardless of the color of the light, if you see a pedestrian on the road, follow the law and give them a safe distance.

Finally, FOCUS ON THE ROAD — not your text messages or your missed phone calls or talk radio or talking with your passengers.

Someone else’s life may depend on you paying attention to the road!

This is another in a long line of pedestrian and cyclist cases in Elmira in the last year where pedestrians/cyclists have been badly injured by inattentive motorists.

Driving is a privilege and one of the legal obligations that goes along with that privilege is the requirement to be attentive to ALL traffic conditions including motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Please remember when you or someone you love is facing surgery – be watchful and ask questions!

An important report:

The key thing for you as the client is that you have an attorney who is willing to do things the hard way if need be.

Your attorney cannot be a cut-and-run artist who is willing to accept the first dollar bills that are waved under his nose! He cannot be afraid to file a lawsuit. He cannot be afraid to take your case to trial.

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Tailgater Causes Multi-Car Crash on I-86