Run a “Spring Forward” Safety Check to Protect Your Family
March 9 brought with it the switch to Daylight Savings Time, an event that many New York families use to update their household’s safety plans and equipment. But even if you’ve already changed your clocks, you can still take advantage of this time of the year to run a “safety check” in your own home.
First, check your smoke detectors. The batteries in smoke detectors should be changed twice a year, as should the batteries in carbon monoxide detectors. When you change the batteries, test each device to make sure it works.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month: Know the Facts
Brain injuries typically occur when there is a bump, jolt, or blow to the head that damages brain tissue. Because brain injuries affect over 2 million people in the United States each year, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and experienced New York traumatic brain injury attorneys recognize March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, a valuable time to help people understand and protect themselves from brain injuries.
According to the BIAA, 2.4 million U.S. residents suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. This number includes 475,000 children. Although about 1.3 million of these injured individuals will be treated in an emergency room and sent home, another 275,000 will require hospitalization for treatment of their injuries, and as many as 52,000 each year suffer a fatal injury. Brain injuries contribute to nearly one-third of all injury-related deaths.
Do You Suspect Government Fraud at Your Workplace?
When faced with evidence that an employer has committed fraud against the government, many people may feel reluctant to “blow the whistle” on the criminal activity. Will I lose my job if I report the falsified documents? Will my boss retaliate and find a reason to demote me? Taking action to expose wrongdoing in the workplace is never an easy decision, especially if it involves a government investigation that could create a hostile work environment or threaten your job.
However, defrauding the government is a serious crime. In fact, the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act, also known as “Lincoln’s Law,” encourages individuals to expose fraud by filing a qui tam lawsuit. When a qui tam case is settled, the relator, also known as the whistleblower, may be entitled to receive up to 30 percent of the funds recovered by the government.
What Actions Count as Fraud Against the Government?
If your employer has taken the following actions, you may have a valid qui tam case.
Understanding the Risk Factors of Distracted Driving
Despite recent attempts by New York and other states to curb distracted driving and to raise awareness of its risks, thousands of New Yorkers get behind the wheel every day in some form of distraction. Cell phone use while driving continues to be a primary source of distraction, and on average, nine people lose their lives nationwide every day due to distracted driving. Thousands more suffer severe injuries, requiring the assistance of dedicated New York distracted driving injury lawyers to help them protect their legal rights and to seek compensation for harms that could have been avoided.
A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 69 percent of drivers admitted to using their cell phone while driving, and that 31 percent of these drivers admitted to texting or emailing behind the wheel within the past 30 days.
10 Quintessential New York Movies
Like every New Yorker, the attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP are proud to live in the greatest states in the country. New York has even become one of the most iconic places in the world. As such, it has been home to thousands of films across the decades, with New York City, in particular, playing a major role in movies of every genre. But while NY is the backdrop to countless tales, there are some movies that are defined by being in New York, and vice versa, define the state.
So, in honor of our state and the numerous great movies that take place here, we present to you quintessential New York movies.
King Kong – The ultimate story of a stranger coming to The Big Apple? Only this time, it’s a giant ape. Images of New York on film don’t get much more iconic than King Kong hanging off the Empire State Building and swatting biplanes out of the sky.
Did You Know These Were Olympic Sports?
The 2014 Winter Olympics are well under way in Sochi, Russia, bringing a spirit of fun competition between countries throughout the world. And while the Winter Olympics are frequently a showcase for some of the oddest sports, like biathalon (cross country skiing mixed with shooting a rifle) or curling (ice shuffleboard), there are plenty more odd competitions to be found.
Throughout the modern history of Summer and Winter Olympics, athletes have competed in some of the strangest competitions known to man. Some have found underground popularity for decades. Others only graced us with their supremely odd presence for one year. In either case, they deserve the occasional spotlight.
Winter Walking Safety Tips for Pedestrians
In many parts of the United States, including New York, this winter has been one of the coldest and snowiest seasons on record. For millions of New Yorkers, the snow and cold make it tough to walk to work, school, and other destinations.
Those who are braving the cold on foot should practice some basic safety tips to protect themselves from injury or illness in the cold weather and when facing traffic on slippery roads.
What to Do If You Are Injured on the Job
If you’re injured on the job in New York City, you may be entitled to coverage by workers’ compensation. To protect your potential right to workers’ compensation, follow these steps if you are injured on the job:
First, seek medical attention. If you need emergency medical care, get it as soon as possible. Otherwise, apply first aid and seek treatment from a provider authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board. Your employer should be able to provide a list of authorized providers.
New York Premises Accident Causes & Injuries
New York premises liability cases involve accidents in which a person is injured on someone else’s property. It can be a business, residence, or public property. When an individual sustains an injury, the owner of the property can be held legally responsible for all damages that resulted from his or her negligence.
There are several factors that can contribute to a New York premises liability injury including, but not limited to:
- Broken sidewalks
- Broken stairs
- Poorly maintained or uneven surfaces
- Poorly marked or a failure to mark elevation changes
- Slippery floors
- Elevator floors that are uneven with the ground
Why Should You Seek Prompt Medical Attention After a Car Accident?
In the aftermath of a car crash, you will have to deal with many different complications. Insurance agencies, the police, passengers in your car, the person who caused the accident, the state of your car, and whether you’ll be able to work – all of these require your attention. But what about getting the medical attention you need?
There are a number of reasons why it is important to seek out immediate medical attention following a New York car accident. First, seeing a doctor immediately after a crash will likely increase your chances of making a quick and complete recovery. Some injuries, such as concussions and neck injuries, get worse over time if not immediately diagnosed and treated. If you are feeling sore, confused, uncomfortable, or nauseous, it is important that you see a doctor right away.