March, 2018 - Braunfotel and Frendel

Dangerous driving can lead to death on the road

For drivers in New York, getting behind the wheel can sometimes have unexpected consequences, especially as a result of a car accident. Auto collisions can lead to serious personal injuries and even fatalities on the roadways, and working to reduce the dangers on highways is a major priority for public officials. There are several leading causes of car crashes that play a role in severe accidents that lead to death or major injuries.Unsafe driving is one major factor in car accident injuries For example, drunk and impaired driving leads to a large number of fatalities each year. When drivers are intoxicated, their reaction times are slowed, and they may be unable to handle the split-second changes needed when driving on the highway. While drunk driving is particularly dangerous, even drowsy [...]

Dangerous driving can lead to death on the roadjames2018-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Can my employer’s workers’ compensation insurer deny my claim?

Workers' compensation coverage in New York is close to universal. The law regarding this no-fault insurance requires that employers provide it. By virtue of the law, workers who get hurt on the job are supposed to have assurance that the immediate medical care they require is paid for. If you can't work temporarily or permanently, the coverage is meant to provide wage replacement and possible retraining.The no-fault nature of the coverage is the trade off under the system. When coverage is delivered under a workers' compensation claim, the employer is largely shielded from further personal injury liability. This does not mean automatic approval if you do suffer a work injury. You have to file a claim, and because the insurance company wants to protect its profits, it will look for [...]

Can my employer’s workers’ compensation insurer deny my claim?james2018-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

More than wear & tear: Repetitive strain injuries at work

Workplace injuries are not always the catastrophic accidents that make headlines. In many cases the injury stems from a lifetime of repeated motions.For workers facing increasing aches and pains, the problem could actually be a repetitive strain injury (RSI). These types of injuries impact the soft tissues of hands, arms, neck, back and shoulders. The injuries are often progressive, resulting in crippling pain and limited use.Simple movements over and overAn RSI is most often caused by awkward or forceful movements made by the worker over a period of time. The action that leads to a RSI does not need to be hazardous or physically straining on its own. Rather, it is the repetition of the action for prolonged periods that causes the strain.Workers in industries that require heavy lifting or [...]

More than wear & tear: Repetitive strain injuries at workjames2018-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

How hotels can preserve guest safety

Hotels owners in New York must balance providing a friendly atmosphere with ensuring the safety of guests. This may be done in part by making sure that room keys are only given to registered visitors. Security should also do its part to ensure that only guests have access to the building. Taking these steps may reduce the odds of theft occurring on the premises.Staff members should be given adequate training in key distribution and other safety measures the hotel wants to implement. Ideally, they will be allowed to intervene to protect guest safety and security when necessary. Furthermore, guests should be encouraged to take steps toward protecting their items.For instance, they could be told not to give their keys to someone else or announce their room numbers at a loud [...]

How hotels can preserve guest safetyjames2018-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

How are larceny, robbery and burglary different?

Many people use larceny, burglary and robbery interchangeably when describing crimes of theft. However, in the world of criminal justice, there are significant differences between each of these terms. Each theft crime has its own set of elements that prosecutors must prove to get a conviction.Additionally, a person convicted of burglary may face very different consequences than someone who committed petty theft. Experienced New York criminal defense attorneys generally know the specific defenses that can be raised for each of these crimes.Theft or larceny is a general crime that refers to the unauthorized taking of property from someone with the intent of permanently depriving the owner of the property. Larceny can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of the items stolen and other factors surrounding [...]

How are larceny, robbery and burglary different?james2018-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

Companies who built collapsed bridge have problematic histories

New Yorkers might have heard about the deadly pedestrian bridge collapse that happened in Florida on March 15. The bridge, which had just been installed on March 10, suddenly collapsed, crushing at least eight cars and killing at least six people. Authorities believe that more people might be buried in the rubble.According to news sources, the two construction companies that were involved in building the bridge have both been fined repeatedly by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety violations. The companies are Munilla Construction Management, which is based in Miami, Florida, and FIGG Bridge Group, which is based in Tallahassee, Florida.Since 2013, MCM has reportedly been fined more than $50,000 for 11 violations of safety regulations. MCM has also reportedly been the target of several negligence lawsuits. In [...]

Companies who built collapsed bridge have problematic historiesjames2018-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

Soft tissue injuries and their symptoms

New York residents who have been in a car accident should know that soft tissue injuries often result from them. Even more importantly, they can be hard for physicians to detect as they do not appear on X-rays, and their symptoms can appear days after an accident, misleading some into thinking that they are unrelated.These injuries affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other non-bony parts of the body. Soft tissue damage is different from hard tissue injuries, which affect the bones and cartilage. The impact of a collision causes the soft tissues to stretch and become strained, sprained or torn. Victims experience pain, swelling and sometimes bleeding and a loss of motor and sensory function in the neck.In rear-end collisions, when the head snaps back and forth, the neck tissue [...]

Soft tissue injuries and their symptomsjames2018-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

Drunk driving defense strategies can protect your rights

A drunk driving charge is a serious legal matter that should not be underestimated. Though the outcomes of drunk driving cases can vary greatly based upon the facts that led to the arrest and the criminal histories of the arrested parties, any person who has been charged with drunk driving should understand what is at stake if they are convicted.A drunk driving conviction can result in the loss of one's drivers license and operating privileges. A person who depends on the use of their car to get to and from work may suddenly find themselves without a reliable mode of transportation and may face issues with maintaining their employment.A drunk driving conviction can result in jail time for a driver. Imprisonment for a drunk driving charge is possible and can [...]

Drunk driving defense strategies can protect your rightsjames2018-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

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