Social media has become part of the fabric of our daily lives. Especially at a time when we’re feeling distant from even our next-door neighbors, the desire to reach out to others is particularly strong. Oversharing during these challenging times is easier than ever. However, if you were injured in an accident and are thinking about a personal injury claim, you should be extremely cautious with what you choose to post. Many things can be open to interpretationIf your arm is in a cast, or if you have suffered burns or lacerations, it is visibly evident. But what about injuries that may not be so visible? Injuries to the back and neck or soft tissue injuries will not show up in your photos. You might be suffering from a back injury that makes movement painful. However, if you decide to take a skiing trip, an insurance representative or a jury will be likely to treat your claim with a healthy amount of skepticism. Similar rules apply if you’re seeking damages for pain and suffering. You don’t have to shut yourself off from the world. However, if you’re claiming that an accident has had a major impact on your life, you should think twice about posting evidence of you and your friends having a night on the town. People’s perceptions can have a significant impact on your claim. It doesn’t matter if those perceptions don’t reflect the reality of your situation. Think hard about what you’re postingYou should always consider what you’re putting out there for the world to see. That’s good advice for the estimated 70 percent of Americans who engage in some form of social media. However, this advice is especially important if you’re stating a claim for a personal injury. Do not post:
One of the potential problems with social media is that it involves other people. You should ask your friends and family members to keep you out of posted photos until your case has been resolved. It can be difficult to make these demands on yourself, much less others. However, the last thing you want to do is to damage your case inadvertently. Be careful how you use social media following an accident
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Winter weather presents its share of driving challenges. Often, driving can feel more like skating, albeit behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. Given these challenges, does winter weather reduce liability for accidents? Drivers owe one another a duty of careWhen you get behind the wheel, you owe other vehicles and pedestrians a duty of care. This is legalese for paying attention. It’s expected that you will obey traffic signals and yield to those who have the right of way. When another driver travels well above the speed limit or views stop signs as optional, they violate this duty. If an accident happens, they may be negligent and held liable for their reckless actions. But what if a driver is obeying the speed limit in the middle of a snow or ice storm, is unable to stop in time, and crashes into another vehicle or pedestrian? As long as they were obeying the speed limit, it’s not their fault, right? The duty of care is not static. It may change depending on weather conditions. You should always be adjusting your driving habits in light of the weather. For the most part, speed limits are set for dry, clear conditions. Traveling at 65 mph when the roads are icy and you can’t see more than 100 feet ahead of you isn’t wise. In fact, it would probably be considered negligent if you caused an accident. Other precautions drivers should take in less than ideal driving conditions include:
It’s possible for a storm to come out of nowhere, providing you with no time to adjust, resulting in an accident. However, in general, a failure to take adequate precautions could be a significant factor in determining liability in a car accident case. Does bad weather lessen the blame for car accidents? If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important that you educate yourself on what determines whether or not a driver was distracted. In the state of New York, the law prohibits the driver of a vehicle from using any portable electronic devices. This includes holding an electronic device and sending, reading, composing, accessing, transmitting, browsing, saving, or accessing electronic data such as text messages, email, webpages or images. Why distracted driving is dangerousWhen operating a motor vehicle, there is a lot that you need to focus on. Other drivers, the road, weather conditions, the operation of your vehicle, and any kind of warning lights or signs. Other factors that cause distracted drivingOver and above the legal definition, these activities can also cause a driver to become distracted: • Eating while driving Distracted driving is on the rise. The proliferation of personal electronic devices has added a new dimension to the driver’s experience, and the ability to “stay connected” while on the go is actually turning out to be a detriment to safety. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration 2,841 people died in 2018 due to distracted driving. What you can do to stay safeMake sure that you have minimized your distractions every time you get in your car. Turn down the radio, turn off your cell phone, and stay alert to changing road conditions and the actions of other drivers. If you have been injured in a car accident, it is in your best interests to contact an attorney. Distracted driving has consequences The roads around New York can be dangerous for drivers, especially inexperienced teen drivers. Drivers from the age 16 to 17 are three times likelier to be in a fatal crash than are adults. Perhaps you or your teenage son or daughter was in an accident. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but there are mounting medical bills to deal with as well as lost wages and pain and suffering. You may be able to file a personal injury claim if the losses cannot be covered by your own insurer. Teen drivers and negligenceThe other side may put up a strong defense, though, especially if it was your teen who was driving. Teens are notorious for being negligent or reckless drivers, and a recent Traffic Safety Culture Index from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows what unsafe actions are most common among them. In the survey, 72% of respondents aged 16 to18 said they were unsafe drivers in the past 30 days. Of these, 87% mentioned speeding: 47% in a residential area and 40% on the freeway. This was followed by texting at 35% of respondents, running a red light at 32%, aggressive driving at 31% and drowsy driving at 25%. Seventeen percent admitted to not wearing their seat belt. Preparing for the 100 deadliest daysTeen driving crash fatalities rise each year between Memorial Day and Labor Day: what safety experts call the “100 deadliest days.” Between 2008 and 2018, there were over 8,300 such fatalities during this period. Parents are expected to encourage and instruct their teens so that they become safer drivers. AAA recommends having at least 50 hours of coaching sessions before the 100 deadliest days and setting up a parent-teen driving agreement. A lawyer focusing on personal injury casesUnder this state’s personal injury law, you may be eligible for compensation even when you are partially at fault. Of course, the damages you recover will be proportioned to that degree of fault. By hiring a lawyer who focuses solely on personal injury cases, you may be able to seek out the maximum possible settlement. The 100 deadliest days and what parents of teen drivers can do When it comes to a dog bite case, the dog owners will usually be held liable. This means they need to pay for your medical bills. In some extraordinary circumstances, the dog’s owner won’t have to cover these bills and might not be found responsible. Leaves visible scarring or disfigurement (these cases can involve settlements over $100,000) Results in permanent disability (these cases can involve settlements over $200,000) On average, people can expect around $40,000 for a severe but typical dog bite injury, though it all depends on the actual injuries and financial damages suffered. An injury settlement or award will generally reimburse an injury victim for their medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and other consequential damages. The severity of the injury There is no standard payment amount for pain and suffering. Your settlement offer will list an amount of money, and your personal injury attorney will accept or negotiate the offer. You can always ask for more or say you will not accept the offer. The post How Much Can I Sue for a Dog Bite? appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. How Much Can I Sue for a Dog Bite? Many people wonder if they need a lawyer to get workers’ compensation after a work-related injury or illness. The best answer is: "It depends." Your injury is relatively minor, like a sprain, strain, or cut If all of the above are true in your situation, you may be able to go through the workers’ comp process without a lawyer’s help. However, it’s still a good idea to meet with a workers’ comp lawyer who offers free consultations for guidance. The lawyer can give you an overview of the process and answer questions you may have. Your employer doesn’t agree that your injury or illness is work-related, or your claim has already been denied Why Do People Hire Attorneys for Workers’ Comp? Make sure all the correct forms are filed before deadlines Many people find that it can be very difficult to go through the workers’ comp process alone in more complex cases, or cases involving serious injuries or illness. Workers’ comp attorneys offer guidance and fight for fair compensation for their clients. The post Do You Need a Lawyer for a Workers’ Comp Case? appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Do You Need a Lawyer for a Workers’ Comp Case? Many adults who try to achieve justice for being sexually abused as children discover too late that they’ve run out of time to file a claim. The post Plaintiffs Look to D.C.’s ‘Lookback Window’ to Broaden Boy Scout Sex Abuse Suits appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Plaintiffs Look to D.C.’s ‘Lookback Window’ to Broaden Boy Scout Sex Abuse Suits Two Pennsylvania lawmakers don’t think it’s right that cops in that state can legally have sex with people in their custody. They’re proposing bills to prohibit it. The post Is It Legal for Police to Have Sex With Those in Custody? appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Is It Legal for Police to Have Sex With Those in Custody? We’ve all heard the confessionals by video game players who sacrificed their jobs, their relationships, or their educations to their gaming obsession. But can video games be truly addictive, like drugs? Encourage them to engage in more physical activity. The post Can Video Games Be Addictive? Fortnite Lawsuit Says Yes appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Can Video Games Be Addictive? Fortnite Lawsuit Says Yes For kids, no holiday can match Halloween for pure fun: Scary costumes, trick-or-treating, class parties, trips to haunted houses, and lots and lots of candy. Be sure that costumes fit properly to reduce the risk of tripping. Discourage dark costumes in favor of brightly colored ones. In addition, you should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If children are old enough to go alone, plan and review a route that is acceptable and specify a time when they should be home. The post Halloween Safety Tips appeared first on Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Halloween Safety Tips |
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