Spring 2012 / VOL 4 ED 2
O’connell & aronowitz
thesafetyreport.com
A Letter from the Firm Dear Friends, We are pleased to provide you with a copy of The Safety Report, a magazine that provides educational material about safety, health and well being. This publication is produced in collaboration with a growing community of respected legal professionals, industry experts and consumer advocates called The Injury Board, whose goal is to improve the quality of life and promote safety for all individuals by educating the public about dangers in our community. We are passionately devoted to fighting for and guarding a person’s civil and consumer rights. Our attorneys provide our clients with representation and services in a broad range of personal injury areas. We pride ourselves on collaborating with our clients every step of the way, putting a human face on the litigation process, and tailoring our approach to each individual’s circumstances. We strive to keep our clients informed at every step of the process and to work together to find the best possible resolution to every case. We are honored to be a part of The Injury Board’s new safety platform: 60 for Safety: End Distracted Driving Student Awareness Initiative. As part of this initiative, we will be speaking to groups, schools and at community events during the month of April, which has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month. We will be addressing the dangers of distracted driving, and ways to prevent distractions and keep you and your loved ones safe on the road. If you are interested in bringing this discussion to your organization, or know of a community event where this would be beneficial, please contact us at the number below. It is our hope that The Safety Report will serve as a guide to protect you and your loved ones from harm. The articles and safety tips will raise your awareness about potentially hazardous products or conditions, responsible product manufacturing and safe practices to prevent tragic injuries. If you have any legal questions or would like to speak with us, please visit us at www.oalaw.com or call us at 800-950-5601. Sincerely, Pamela A. Nichols Thomas J. DiNovo Stephen R. Coffey Personal Injury & Litigation Group Toll Free: 800-950-5601 www.oalaw.com
PUBLISHER Pamela A. Nichols pnichols@oalaw.com EDITORIAL Executive Editor Tom Young tyoung@thesafetyreport.com Managing Editor Stephanie Andre sandre@thesafetyreport.com Senior Designer Keith Woods kwoods@thesafetyreport.com
54 State Street Albany, NY 12207 206 West Bay Plaza Plattsburgh, NY 12091 1 Court Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
A Deep Commitment to Our clients and Our Community is the legacy of our founders.
Distracted Driving: It’s More Than Just Cellphone Use By Pamela Nichols
W
e have heard a lot about the dangers of driving while using a cellphone. We might believe that if we use a hands-free device to make calls, and never text while we drive, we are driving with our full attention to the roadway. Many of us drive distracted without even realizing we are doing so. As drivers, we are responsible for maintaining control of a vehicle of incredible force, weighing thousands of pounds and moving at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. Driving takes a tremendous amount of concentration, and there are plenty of distractions that can interfere with our ability to drive safely. Music. When listening to music, make sure that the volume is at an appropriate level. It should be low enough to allow your focus to remain on the roadway, and to hear sirens from emergency responders and horn blasts from other drivers. Also, use caution when changing the radio station. Billboards. Billboards, especially the newer digital billboards with ever-changing advertisements, beg us to keep reading, at the expense of keeping our eyes on the road. When reading billboards, we are not paying attention to other drivers, so avoid that temptation. Fatigue. Everyone has their own threshold for being able to sit behind the wheel. We need to remember that frequent rests are important, not only for health reasons, but in order to stay alert and focused. Passengers. Dealing with distractions arising from children or other passengers can also take our attention off of the road.
At O’Connell & Aronowitz, a deep commitment to our clients and our community is the legacy of our founders. O’Connell & Aronowitz is one of the area’s oldest law firms, having first opened its doors with two attorneys in 1925. Since that time, the firm has grown to more than 35 attorneys and is one of the Capital Region’s largest full-service firms, with offices in Albany, Plattsburgh and Saratoga. Our attorneys provide their clients with representation in a broad range of disciplines and practice areas, with our Personal Injury department being one of the busiest
Weather. Weather-related issues can impair your driving regardless of where you live. In areas where snow and ice are prevalent, ensuring your car is completely cleaned off, including the windshield, the back window, the roof and the hood, makes driving safer for yourself and everyone around you. If you can’t see to drive, pull over. If you are approaching an area that has flooded, turn back. GPS. When we program our navigation devices, we are unable to concentrate on driving. Make sure to do this before you leave for your destination. Drugs. We all know that driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is a threat to everyone on the road, but we sometimes forget that over-the-counter and prescription drugs can have the same effect. Be sure to read the labels before putting your hands on the wheel. This list certainly does not cover all the ways that we as a society have managed to avoid paying attention to the road. Because our lives move at such a fast pace, our cars have become more than a mere means of transportation. Our cars have become a place where we conduct our daily lives. We eat, fix our hair, apply makeup, drink beverages, work and talk on cellphones in our cars. We use the time in our cars as a way to accomplish many of our daily tasks that result in distraction. We need to slow down, make driving about driving, and save lives.
in upstate New York. O’Connell & Aronowitz offers its clients the resources of a big-city firm, with the comfort and familiarity you expect from your neighborhood lawyer. The result is a law firm with attorneys who possess a wealth of knowledge and experience and are in tune with the needs of today’s clients. If you believe you are in need of representation, contact us at 518.462.5601 or visit us online at www.oalaw.com.
SAFETY IS OUR FIRST CONCERN
CALL 911
IN AN EMERGENCY 511 America’s Traveler Information Telephone Number, providing current road conditions and construction/closure information, from your cellphone. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/511.htm Cellphone driving laws, by state: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/ cellphone_laws.html
VISIT US ONLINE
www.oalaw.com or call us at 518.462.5601
Important Emergency Numbers You Should Store In Your Phone: 1. ICE Store under ICE (In Case of Emergency), the number for the person to notify if something happens to you. Your spouse, parent, partner or close friend, for instance. Emergency workers are trained to look for this cellphone number if you’re unable to provide one.
2. Your home If someone finds your cellphone, make it easier to return it by providing them a way to contact you. Emergency personnel also use “Home” as an alternate if there’s no answer at your ICE number.
3. Local police We all know to call 911 in an emergency. Store the non-emergency number for your local police department to report a situation that may be less than life threatening.
4. State Highway Patrol See a motorist stranded on the side of the highway? Be a good sport and call a trooper. Of course, you’ll also want this emergency cellphone number if you have an emergency or need help when traveling.
5. Your car insurance company If you’re in an accident, you can quickly notify your insurance company and possibly get roadside assistance.
6. Your motor club If you’re locked out of your car, need a tire changed, run out of gas, have the number ready without having to look for your membership card.
TIP: Even if a cellphone is not on a service plan, it still will connect to 911, so keep your old phone charged and in the glove box as a backup.