Staten Island Injury Law : New York Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Frank Dito : Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola Law Firm : Traffic Accidents, Transportation Safety

Many Staten Island residents woke to a sprinkling of snow on the ground and on their cars this morning. Those in the more northern and western areas of the City received up to 4" of unexpected snowfall. Along with the pretty-looking snow comes the all-too frequent car accidents caused by cars and trucks not being able to stop in time or skiddingand losing control. Many drivers of SUV's or all-wheel drive cars seem to believe that they are able to drive without any change to their normal speed under snow conditions. Unfortunately, this is not true at all and the lesson is usually learned the hard way by SUV drivers.

All-wheel drive will definitely provide you with more traction under slippery conditions, allowing you to pull out from your driveway or start up from a red light but you still will have just 4 wheels on the ground to stop with. Despite all-wheel drive and traction control, its the 4 "contact patches", where the tires meet the road, that help you to stop. Having all-wheel drive does not mean that you have any better braking or steering ability than a similarly equipped 2-wheel drive car. Despite having the most technologically advanced car, nothing will stop your car from skidding if you hit a patch of black ice. In fact, as SUV drivers tend to drive faster, they are more commonly involved in rear-end collisions during snow and/or ice conditions.

As Staten Island seems to be dominated by hulking multi-passenger SUV's that seem to drive too fast when its not raining or snowing, the potential for accidents during the winter driving season is extreme. As we are unable to prevent SUV's from driving in bad weather, except in the most extreme snow-emergencies where the streets are closed, driver's need to change their behavior. Tailgating a slower moving car in a snow storm will only lead to an accident when the car in front slows down. Remember, you will not be abel t stop any quicker. Driving after a snow storm, especially when ice has had the opportunity to melt and re-freeze, may cause you to encounter black ice, which is nearly invisible but very dangerous. If you are driving too quickly, you may not be able to stop or lose control all together, endangering yourself and other drivers and pedestrians on the roads. We cant stop mother nature but we can all do our best to stop reckless winter driving. Lets slow down and enjoy the snow. Better yet, don't drive unless you absolutely have too.

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In what can only be called a troubling sign of the times, the Fire Department of the City of New York has announced a "crash tax" that will take affect next summer. The crash tax essentially charges anyone involved in a car accident needing FDNY assistance from $365 - $490, depending on the severity of the accident. The FDNY has said that the purpose of the crash tax is to relieve the burden of the taxpayer from footing the bill for emergency response and to place it on those that were at fault and their insurance company. Despite the FDNY statements, all drivers are going to be charged, regardless of whose fault the accident was. Ambulances in New York City already charge $400 - $500 for transportation to a hospital and the crash tax will double that bill.

Will this lead to some other, outside determination of liability or fault by a City of New York agency? Will they review the police reports and try to determine fault? If such a panel is ever created, that would create a third forum in which fault is decided, adding to the arbitration agreements between your insurance company and any lawsuits resulting from the car accident.

Some have questioned whether car insurance would actually cover the cost of the crash tax. In New York State, each and every car insurance policy includes coverage for economic losses resulting from a car accident. This coverage, known as no-fault, currently pays for the ambulance bill, regardless of who was at fault. I would see no reason why the current no-fault law would deny payment of the crash tax.

Will your insurance go up? Probably. Will there be an outcry for tort reform, blaming accident lawyers for your increase in insurance premiums? Absolutely. What is really happening here is that a cash-strapped municipality is seeking to close a budget gap by going after insurance. The City of New York is one of the most aggressive in defending lawsuits for personal injuries, frequently stating that settlements are passed on to the taxpayer. They are now forcing consumers into the same predicament as insurance carriers are definitely going to pass on the increase through higher premiums. Although the City has the opportunity to defend themselves before they have to pay money, they have magically taken away your right to do so, charging everyone. Is that fair?

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Once again, Hylan Boulevard was the scene of 2 serious accidents over the Thanksgiving Weekend, resulting in the death of an 82 year old woman and leaving a 72 year old driver in serious condition. The accidents occurred at opposite ends of Hylan Boulevard, Steuben Street in Grasmere and Woods of Arden Road in Eltingville. What both areas have in common is that the traffic usually thins out in those areas, allowing cars to go racing along at highway speeds. What can be a close call for cars traveling at the 35 m.p.h. speed is a tragic accident when a car is traveling at 50 m.p.h. and above.

Once again, my previous posts about how Hylan Boulevard is more akin to a highway than a street, allowing cars to drive recklessly at speeds rivaling that of Staten Island highways. These accident were not caused by a faulty road design, a blind spot or even the need for a traffic light where there is a stop sign. Instead, these accidents are solely the fault of driver's speeding along Hylan Boulevard. Again, police have set up patrols in an effort to slow people down but to no avail. People need to change. No longer is it acceptable to tailgate that car going 35 m.p.h. because you want it to go faster. Its the speed limit. Its the law. We all need to follow the law as its our only way to prevent more accidents from occurring in the short term.  

The City of New York has said that a red traffic arrow, in addition to the already present green traffic arrow, stopping cars from making a left hand turn will help to prevent accidents at the Steuben Street location. Over the last 18 months, 3 fatal accidents have occurred at the intersection. The cause of the accidents has been attributed to the same cause, namely cars trying to make a left hand turn across Hylan Boulevard. Since the City is obviously aware of the problem and has even proposed some sort of remedial action, my question is, "When?" How long does it take for the City to add a 2nd arrow to the light?  This is the 3rd death in little over a year -  do we have to wait for a 4th? The City needs to move faster to solve this problem, especially since they know the answer already.

In the meantime, will all the speeding along Hylan Boulevard - those 5 minutes you may save - be worth it if you kill someone in an accident? Could you forgive yourself? What if someone took the life of your family member because they were speeding. How would you feel? Please, please, slow down!

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The temperature is dropping and its starting to get dark by 6:30 which means that fall is upon us. Along with the changing of seasons, a new danger is presented to Staten Island drivers: falling leaves. Leaves on a roadway normally present little problem. However, add a little rain to those leaves and driving may becomes somewhat more of a challenge. Wet leaves can make steering, stopping and braking very difficult, especially when approaching an intersection or stop sign. Add an incline and it is even difficult to accelerate away from a stop sign without skidding. I know many auto body repair shops that look forward to this time of year and the accidents that the falling leaves cause.

To help make your fall driving safer, make sure that you change your wiper blades and check your tires and brakes. Falling wet leaves can stick to your windshield and old blades may not sufficiently clear the glass, obstructing your vision. Also, a check of your tires will ensure that they have enough tread on them to keep in contact with he pavement. When approaching an intersection, start to slow down well before you need to stop if you see leaves on the ground. When pulling away from a stop sign, be cautious as you may lose traction, compromising your ability to merge into approaching traffic.

With most cars on the road today being equipped with anti-lock brakes, it is important that you don't pump the brake pedal when you are on a slippery surface. Pumping the brakes will only reduce traction as the car's computer system will automatically adjust the braking pressure to compensate for the slippery surface. Anti-lock braking systems also allow you to steer while you are braking, enabling you to steer around a potential accident. 

Even without rain, leaves can obscure potholes, curbs and other street markings from view. Fall is a difficult time for driving as earlier sunsets make seeing pedestrians much more difficult at twilight, especially children who are coming home from after-school events. Please be careful and make sure that your car is properly maintained. The few dollars that you spend in buying new wiper blades may prevent a serious accident.

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The Appellate Division has ruled that the family of a 17-year old Elm Park resident killed in a January 9, 2005 car crash can continue with their lawsuit against the City of New York for keeping their son's brain, without notifying the family, after the autopsy. The City Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Jesse Shipley, at the family's request, and determined that the cause of death was the result of multiple blunt impacts to the head. The brain was removed from the body and placed in a jar preserved in a formaldehyde solution for further testing. Unbeknownst to the family, when the Jesse's body was returned for burial, the medical examiner withheld the brain. After a wake and a funeral, the family buried Jesse on January 13, 2005, without his brain.

In early March, more than 2 months after the autopsy report was signed, students from Jesse's school, Port Richmond High School, went on a field trip to the Richmond County Mortuary. During their tour of the Mortuary, some of the students observed a human brain held in a formaldehyde solution. In a surreal coincidence, the students realized that Jesse's name was on the jar. Word quickly spread upon the student's return to school and eventually, Jesse's sister, also a student and was also in the car crash that killed him, found out that Jesse's brain was still in the Mortuary and informed her parents.

A lawsuit seeking recover for damages for emotional injuries that the family suffered as the result of the mishandling of Jesse's remains under the right of sepulcher. Sepulcher is the right of decedent's next of kin to bury the remains of their decedent. The Coroner's failure to return the brain or to inform the family that he was holding the brain pending further testing necessitated a second funeral and burial. The City of New York moved to dismiss, arguing that the medical examiner's actions were immune from liability as they involved a discretionary act.

The Appellate Court held that the although the Medical Examiner has a right to perform an autopsy and to remove and retain body parts for further testing, they also have the obligation to turn over the decedent's remains to his next of kin for proper burial once the further testing has concluded. If the medical examiner had informed Jesse's family that his office was retaining the brain for further testing, the right of sepulcher would have been satisfied as the family could have made a decision as to postpone the burial until the remains could have been buried completely.

The result of this decision is that the lawsuit will continue and be resolved at an eventual trial. Damages differ under this theory as the likelihood of emotional injury is deemed so inherently genuine that neither proof of the plaintiff's accompanying physical harm nor of a specific medical diagnosis is necessary to a successful prosecution of a claim. In an ordinary personal injury action, the plaintiff is required to prove their injury by medical evidence and treatment.

Unfortunately, besides a lack of common sense and courtesy,  this terrible situation resulted from the City's budget cuts and Staten Island's continued reduction in services. The pathologist that performed the examinations on the preserved brains wasn't called until there were six brains, which could take months to accumulate. Again, Staten Island doesn't rate the same service as the other boroughs, allowing something as terrible as this to happen.

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An 83-year old widow was struck by a car on Friday as she attempted to cross Forest Avenue on her way to the beauty parlor. Accidents do happen but the circumstances surrounding this one clearly show Staten Island driver's lack of common courtesy and their sense of entitlement to drive a car.

Margaret Walsh was attempting to cross Forest Avenue when a passing driver decided to stop her car and extend common courtesy by allowing Ms. Walsh to cross in front of her,  As all too often happens, while one driver is courteous, another driver is bound to be in a rush or too distracted to realize what is occurring. These drivers switch lanes and pass the stopped car on the left or right hand side, usually with tragic consequences. We have all seen an accident happen or almost happen when driver's in the opposite direction stop to let a car make a left turn in front of them. As always, there is always another driver that is too distracted or impatient to let the car make the turn. They cross over into the right hand lane and shoot past the stopped car. If the car making the left  has started already to turn, it may be too late to avoid the accident.

In what is becoming an all too common occurrence, the driver of the other car was driving with a suspended license. This news no longer bring about the shock that it once did as serious accidents involving drivers with suspended licenses has become all too common. Peter and Lillian Sabados and Roxanne Murano were struck and killed on Staten Island by drivers with suspended licenses. The papers are filled with scores of accidents involving drivers with suspended licenses that fortunately have not resulted in the loss of life.

Also, the license plates on the car that hit Mrs. Walsh were from South Carolina, which usually means that although the car is registered in South Carolina, it is probably used primarily on Staten Island. Cars insured in other states generally have lower insurance costs than New York. South Carolina requires that every car insured in the state have minimum policy limits of $25,000/$50,000. This is the same minimum as required in new York State. However, some states, such as Virgina, allow drivers to drive uninsured cars, simply by paying a $500 fee! Because more and more drivers are driving without insurance or without enough insurance, you need to check your own insurance policies. Please read my free book, A Lawyer's Guide to Car Insurance, and contact me for a FREE insurance policy review. Do so now before its too late.

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For the school aged children of Staten Island, summer vacation ended today. And with the Department of Education's recent decision to take away bus service for 7th and 8th graders, we can expect our streets to be more crowded with thousands of children forced to find new ways home. Besides the increase in pedestrian traffic, you can be rest assured that hundreds more cars will be on the streets. As driver's, we need to be aware of our surroundings and to expect these additional school children to be out on our roads at dismissal. In the mornings, the drop-offs will no doubt be congested with more people trying to drop off their children. Much confusion will result and despite the "rules" that come with dropping off our children, you can expect many parents to totally disregard the rules, putting our children in danger. As I have blogged about before, we as driver's and residents, need to change our habits and to obey the rules. They are there for our and our children's safety. Many Staten Island driver's feel that laws and rules don't always apply to them, especially when dropping off or picking up our children.

Despite all the improvements to traffic flow on Staten island, driver behavior is still the leading cause of accidents on Staten Island streets. For instance, the public's steadfast refusal to follow traffic directions and lane markings is incredible,  no more so demonstrated than in a typical fast food parking lot. Take for example the parking lot of the McDonald's at Hylan Boulevard and Midland Avenue. The designers placed clearly marked lanes and arrows in the parking lot, directing traffic smoothly to the drive-thru and in and out of the parking lots. Despite the markings, customers still refuse to follow directions, instead preferring to make a u-turn in the parking lot versus following the markings to the drive-thru. Another prime example is the drive-thru at the Dunkin Donuts on Forest Avenue and Broadway. The parking lot has two lanes, one clearly marked "24 Hour Drive-Thru" and being to the right of the entrance. The outside lane has two purposes; the first is to allow cars parked in the lot to be able to exit their parking spots without having to wait for the cars in the drive-thru line to move. Secondly, the right lane makes the turns required to be less severe and easier to pull up to order at the drive-thru. Not surprisingly, most drivers ignore the markings and enter the drive-thru through the left hand land, blocking any cars that attempt to pull out of their spots. Numerous other examples include the Wendy's on Hylan Boulevard by Cromwell Avenue and most banks.

Remember, laws are enacted for our safety. Don't pass a school bus with the red lights on and the stop sign out; A solid white-line on the street means that you are unable to switch lanes; the speed limit on streets if not posted is 30 m.p.h.; no left turn means no left turn. Until we obey these laws, many people will continue to be injured or killed based on driver behavior alone.

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It looks like the Verrazano Bridge isn't the only bridge that presents a danger to Staten Island commuters. Newly released data from the Port Authority shows that a whopping 2,400 accidents, or 55% of the Port Authority total, happened last year on the Goethals Bridge. Many of the accidents were rear end collisions and sideswipes, caused by the bridge's narrow lanes and the lack of a shoulder.

The lanes on the Goethals Bridge are only 10 foot wide, compared to 12 foot wide on newer bridges. In fact, AAA voted the Goethals Bridge as the 3rd worst bridge in New York because of the narrow lanes and the presence of deep grooves in the pavement from the heavy car and tuck traffic that the bridge experiences. With a replacement years, possibly a decade, away, the Port Authority is scrambling to find a temporary fix.

Recently, the lines on the bridge were repainted from dashed to solid, which prohibits lane-changing, in an effort to reduce sideswipe accidents. However, it seems that the change has not brought about any reduction in the amount of accidents that happen on the span. Besides the new solid lines and an eventual resurfacing of the roadway, the only real fix is the construction of a new span, with 3 wide lanes that will enable traffic to move safely across. Until the time that a new bridge can be built, drivers need to take care when driving across the bridge. Don't switch lanes unless its an emergency and take care to leave enough space between you and the car in front of you so that you can safely stop in an emergency. Be prepared when driving over the bridge because for the next 5 to10 years, we are the only ones that can protect ourselves from this dangerous bridge design.

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A tragic car crash early Sunday morning took the lives of 19 year old Daniel Peluso of Great Kills and 20 year old Jeffrey Capretta of Woodrow and injured 4 others. Apparently, a Nissan Altima owned by Peluso was being driven by one of the car''s occupants at the time of the accident. The 6, of which only 2 were of the legal drinking age, were coming from the Clubhouse Lounge, a bar on Arthur Kill Road. The car, estimated to be going almost 90 m.p.h., fishtailed and wrapped around a utility pole, ejecting two people from the car.

I can't imagine losing a child and the pain that their families are going through right now is unbearable. My condolences go out to the Peluso and Capretta families in their time of mourning. I hope that the other occupants of the car are not seriously injured and recover quickly, although the mental pain and anguish that they have suffered will most likely never go away.

For those of you that are reading this blog post, please always wear your seat belts, wherever you are sitting in a car. Its not known if seat belt use could have prevented the tragedy that occurred that night but statistics have shown that seat belts save lives; its not open for argument anymore. Don't drink and drive and don't get into a car driven by anyone who has been drinking. It is yours or your child's life that can be at risk. Make sure that they know the dangers. I am not naive enough to believe that we can stop underage drinking but we can make sure that our children know the consequences.

Our children need to be made aware of what can happen when driving a car, without the tragic examples that have become all too common on Staten Island. Speeding, drinking while driving, running red lights and other reckless behavior seems to be an all too common occurrence on Staten Island. Please speak to your children about driving. The conversation that you have with them just may save a life. Do it today before its too late.

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The recent accident involving a 4-year old Arden Heights boy underscores the need for back-up cameras to become standard equipment in all cars, especially SUVs.  The website, KidsandCars.org, reported that as many as 62 children could sit on the ground behind some SUVs without being seen by the driver in the rearview mirrors. Most of these "backover" accidents, in which a car backing up strikes a person behind the car, happen in the one place where you would least expect them - in your driveway. At least 100 children are killed each year in driveway backover accidents and another 2,400 are seriously injured the same way.

The blind zones behind new cars and SUV's are shocking. A blind zone is the distance behind the vehicle until the driver can actually see the ground. Consumer reports measured the blind zone (pdf) of a Jeep Commander as an incredible 69 feet! Other SUV's and pickup trucks ranged from 13 feet to 35 feet. These distances are sometimes longer than the driveway the cars are parked in. The good news is that the installation of a backup camera virtually eliminates the blind zone behind the car.

Too often, a back up camera is included as part of a more expensive equipment package that makes a vehicle too costly to afford for many people. However, with the passage of the Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, vehicle manufacturers are required to be in compliance with federal rearward visibility standards. Although no technology is mandated to be in compliance with the standards, many manufacturers are providing rear-view cameras as standard equipment in new cars. The inclusion of the technology in new cars helps to reduce the occurrence of backover accidents but it still leaves tens of thousands of cars on Staten Island that are without a camera. These include the Hummer SUVs, large pickup trucks, Jeep Commanders and Cadillac Escalades. Many of these vehicles that are on the road today do not have backup cameras and still pose a great danger to small children and pedestrians walking behind them. Since the federal legislation is not intended to be retroactive, older cars and trucks will be exempt from the new federal standards.

Those who own a car or SUV with restricted rear visibility should consider the installation of an aftermarket backup camera. Backover accidents are a very real danger that does not receive the necessary attention necessary for real change. These cameras, wired or wireless, are cheap, safe and reliable and easy to install. For a price under $100, you could potentially save a life, possibly your own child, from a backover accident. Please consider installing an aftermarket camera if you live on Staten Island.

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Silive is reporting that a police car was involved in a crash with an SUV today in the Eltingville section of Staten Island. No life-threatening injuries were reported but the police officer was transported to the hospital. The facts and circumstances of the accident are unknown at this time, except that a police car was involved.

In New York City, you may be surprised to learn that in order to hold a police vehicle liable for causing the accident, their actions must be "reckless." Courts have held that "mere violations of the rules of the road do not rise to the level of recklessness" to hold an emergency vehicle liable. If an emergency vehicle proceeds through a stop sign or red light without stopping and does not have its lights or sirens on, a jury could conclude that the driver showed a reckless disregard. If the lights and sirens are on, and the police vehicle is in pursuit, courts have held that the driver's behavior is not reckless even if they are speeding (50 m.p.h. on a City street) or fail to stop at a red light or stop sign.

Police vehicles, ambulances and Fire Department vehicles are emergency vehicles as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law 114-b when driving in an emergency operation. The courts have held that emergency operation includes pursuing an actual violator of the law, transporting a sick or injured patient or responding to a fire.

When you are involved in an accident with an emergency vehicle, it is very important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will have to notify the appropriate New York City agency to preserve the records of the emergency call that the vehicle was responding to. These records may help to prove that the emergency vehicle was not in an emergency operation. The City retains these records for a short time and your lawyer must seek to preserve them immediately.

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Staten Islander's awoke this morning to the tragic news of another fatal accident on Hylan Boulevard. A woman was killed when the mini-van she was riding in (it's not yet clear if she was the driver or a passenger) flipped over after colliding with a late model BMW 745i. The woman, Nadwa Fayad, was apparently ejected from the mini-van, which then rolled over on top of her.  The mini-van was making a left turn from Hylan Boulevard onto Stueben Street when the accident happened. The 27-year old driver of the BMW and the other occupants of the mini-van were taken to the hospital with non-life threating injuries.

As I have blogged about numerous times, please always wear your seatbelt, no matter where you are sitting in the car. Almost 40,000 people are killed each year on the nation's roads, about 1/2 of which may be preventable if seat belts were worn. From 1975 - 2007, seatbelt use has saved the lives of over 240,000 people. Seatbelts save lives - its no longer open for debate. Buckling up should be as routine as starting the car before driving.

I tell jurors all the time not to "pre-judge" the case before they hear all the facts. but in this case, it's hard not to pre-judge. We have a young driver, in a very expensive car, with at least 325 horsepower, on Hylan Boulevard, a street more akin to a highway than a "Boulevard." We are all going to think that the BMW was speeding, and that the driver of the mini-van saw him too late. The high rate of speed made it impossible for anyone to avoid the impact.

Last year, this same intersection claimed the life of another Staten Island resident. In fact, residents have labeled this intersection as dangerous and suggest putting in a dedicated left-turning lane. The all too frequent accidents on Staten Island have lead some residents to start their own facebook page, Hylan Boulevard - Staten Island Death Trap, in an effort to help stop the frequent accidents on Staten Island's "Boulevard of Death." Please, we all need to slow down and be aware of what is going on around us. We all drive in a world of too many distractions, causing driver's to lose their focus for a precious few seconds, which can be the difference between avoiding an accident or ending up in tragedy. This Island is over-crowded with too many cars and too many people. This is a combination that all too often results in accidents. Staten Island is no longer a piece of the country like many native residents felt it was. The overall attitude about driving needs to change - its not acceptable to run a red light or speed along Hylan Boulevard, no matter what time it is. There are only so many police officers to go around - the change needs to come from within.

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As we approach the height of the summer driving season on Staten Island, many may not be aware of the dangers that could be lurking in our cars, SUV's and mini vans. Everyday items that you keep loose inside the cabin of your car, such as portable DVD players, suitcases and even an empty child booster seat, may become missiles when you are involved in a serious car accident. A 20-pound object hits with over 1,000 pounds of force in a 55 miles per hour car accident. That is enough force to break off the arm of a crash test dummy. The injuries that a passenger could sustain would be deadly.  Even simple things like an empty child booster seat have the potential to cause serious injuries if you are involved in a car accident. In one car accident, a booster seat flew forward and hit a front seat passenger in the face, causing multiple facial fractures. The same problem happens when your rear seat passengers are unbelted; in an accident, they can be thrown about the car, causing you serious injury.

As you head out on your summer drive, make sure you follow some simple rules. Always make sure that everyone in your car buckles up. If you are traveling with an unoccupied child safety seat, either buckle it in or put it in the trunk. Be careful how much weight that you decide to lash to the roof of the car. Heavy weights on the roof of your car or SUV can change the center of gravity, making the vehicle more susceptible to rollover. Those anchors and tethers in the back of your SUV are there to help secure your suitcases, coolers, beach chairs, etc. Even your cell phone or sunglasses should be kept close at hand but put away in the front console or glove box. Left out, the cell phone may slide down into the driver's foot well, interfering with the operation of the brake or gas pedal.

It is also a good idea to check your tires before heading out for a long drive. Make sure the tires are at the correct pressure as listed on the sticker on the sill of the driver's door. The sill sticker is the only location where the correct tire pressure is located. The owner's manual contains only general instructions as to tire pressures, not the specific pressures as to the style and size of tire on your vehicle. Also make sure that you have sufficient tire tread depth a few days before you plan to leave on your trip. You can check the depth by placing a quarter into the tread, as recommended by the Tire Rack.

Summer is wonderful family time and creates wonderful memories of time spent together on vacation. Please make sure that your car is safe, loaded properly and you are not distracted while you are driving.

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Accidents happen every day. People who haven't been involved in a serious car accident or a slip and fall often expect that an insurance company will take care of their bills and compensate them for the pain and suffering they've endured. But for many, the nightmare is just beginning. The physical pain from your injuries caused by the accident becomes almost secondary to the unfair treatment the victim receives from the insurance companies. The insurance companies have only one objective - Settling for as little money as possible.

Dealing with an accident is, thankfully, a new and unfamiliar experience for most people. That's why I have written this book. Its intended to serve a reference tool that can help you deal with insurance companies and the often inevitable and complicated litigation that results in their unfair treatment of you.

I think that this book is necessary because you are at a natural disadvantage when you deal with insurance adjusters who handle injury claims everyday. Read this     book and help level the playing field between you and the insurance companies.

UPDATE

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All too often do you hear about a driver getting ticketed for going around a stopped school bus. I am not sure of their reason. I can't believe that driver's don't see the school bus - after all, its big, yellow, has flashing red lights and even its own stop sign. So if seeing the school bus isn't the problem, it has to be that drivers just don't care about the potential consequences and choose to ignorethe law. This callous and reckless disregard of traffic laws permeates the Staten Island driving culture, from passing a school bus, driving through a red light or not stopping at a stop sign.

I was driving the other day and was stopped at a red light at the end of Richmond Road and Morley Avenue, waiting to complete my right turn. While I was driving, I had previously noticed a car behind me trying to pass other cars. When I was stopped, I noticed the car pull out from behind me and continue straight, as if to make a left hand turn onto Richmond Road. The light was green in that direction but instead of making a left turn, the car proceeded to make a right turn. Obviously, the traffic laws don't pertain to that driver. I am sure that the driver simply couldn't be bothered to wait for the light to turn red and made up their own rules.

As a parent, I take my child to the bus stop every morning. I always notice that approaching drivers seem tentative about stopping for the bus. The rules are very simple. You must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its red light son and its stop sign deployed. Its not a judgment call - you must stop. If you don't, the consequences can be severe. Severe in that a child could be killed.

Last week, a driver apparently felt that she didn't have to stop for a school bus and proceeded to drive around the cars that were lawfully stopped. That driver clipped a 12-year old girl getting off the bus, thankfully she sustained only minor injuries - cuts and bruises on her legs. The driver fled but was followed a by a good Samaritan, who called police. The driver didn't have a good excuse for what she had done - she was just going to meet her boyfriend. What if the girl had been killed? What if that was your child getting off the bus? Stopping for a school bus is the law. We need to obey it. If we don't, we are going to need harsher penalties to stop people from passing the school bus. This attitude that the law does not apply to "me" must change before more people are hurt.

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