Long Island, Manhattan Accident Attorney Blog

Holiday Season Brings Many Car Accidents

Don’t become a victim of a New York car accident this holiday. Read this blog to learn some important safety tips.

Watch Out for Aggressive New York Drivers

Aggressive driving is a serious problem and a serious threat to drivers on New York roads.  It is an activity that most of us are probably guilty of at one point or another.  According to the AAA, “any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety, can constitute aggressive driving.”  Speeding, running a red light, tailgating, failing to yield the right of way and not allowing other vehicles to pass are all examples of aggressive driving.

A study was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that looked into the link between aggressive driving and fatal auto accidents.  Researchers came to the conclusion, after studying fatal crashes from 2003 through 2007, that aggressive driving was a factor in 56 percent of the accidents.

People are concerned about aggressive driving, but it is interesting that their worries seem to be associated with other drivers, not their own driving behaviors.  According to a 2005 telephone survey by ABC News and The Washington Post, when people were asked what they thought was the biggest threat to their safety on the road, 32 percent of respondents felt that it was aggressive drivers.

If you have been injured in a New York auto accident caused by an aggressive driver, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for a free legal consultation regarding your case.

A Spinal Cord Injury Is Not Always Obvious

You would think that a spinal cord injury would be apparent following a serious New York accident, but the truth is, it can take time for the symptoms to develop.  Unfortunately, if a spinal cord injury is not identified, the complications can become more severe and the recovery may be more difficult.

It can take several days or even weeks for the symptoms of a spinal cord injury to surface.  The warning signs of such an injury appear when there is an increase in bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid in and around the spinal cord.

Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injury and to blame for about half of all new spinal cord injuries every year.  Violent acts, falls, diseases and sport injuries are also factors in numerous spinal cord injury cases.

The spine has nerve fibers that carry messages to and from the brain.  When the spinal cord is injured, it can lead to muscle impairment and nerve damage below the site of injury. This type of injury can result in permanent paralysis.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury resulting from an auto accident in Long Island, New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn or other area in New York, you may be able to recover compensation.  You may also be entitled to damages if another negligent event, besides a car accident, led to your condition.  Contact Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for more information.