Risk of Teen Drivers Dying in Crash DOUBLES if Friends are in the Car

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Finkelstein & Partners

The AP has published that a teenage driver’s risk of dying in an accident increases dramatically when there are other teens in the car. This was part of the findings of a new AAA study in Washington based on an examination of government data on teen crashes from 2007 and 2010. The study was released in conjunction with a rally in Washington to kick off Global Youth Safety Month.

Compared to driving with no passengers, a 16-or-17-year-old driver’s risk of death per mile driven increases by 44 percent when carrying one passenger younger than 21 (and no older passengers). The risk doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21, and quadruples when carrying three or more passengers that age. Conversely, the risk of a teen driver dying in an accident when there is a passenger aged 35 or older looking on decreases by 62 percent.

“Like cell phones, the presence of other teens can be extremely distracting to young drivers,” said Jackie Gillan, the present of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

While researchers have long been aware that the presence of other teens is distracting to novice drivers, previous studies on the issue are more than a decade old and do not reflect changes in the state driving laws that began in the mid 90s. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of 16-and-17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes each year fell by more than half.  Graduated licensing laws—as well as greater seat beat usage, better safety equipment in cars, and anti-drunk-driving campaigns—have been credited for the decrease. However, 40 percent of the 2,191 younger teen drivers killed during this time span had at least one passenger under 21 in the vehicle. And preliminary data for the first six months of 2011 shows a small uptick in teen driving deaths. “Just because states have graduated licensing laws doesn’t mean everyone is obeying them, “ said Jonathan Adkins, a spokesperson for the Governors Highway Safety Association.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in a vehicle accident, contact us for a free appraisal.

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Highway Death Rate Has Fallen to a 60-Year Low

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Finkelstein & Partners

According to figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on May 7, highway fatalities have dipped to the lowest record in 60 years. This report was preliminary; final results will be available later this year.

Bloomberg News reported on May 8 that “the number of people killed on U.S. highways fell in 2011 for the sixth straight year, the longest streak of declines in the nation’s history.” Crash fatalities dropped 1.7 percent from 2010 to an estimated 32,310 in 2011. USA Today observed that the 2011 estimate of 32,310 deaths came in a year when the number of vehicle miles traveled fell by 35.7 billion, a 1.2 % decrease.

The Washington Post noted on May 8 that the decrease was “initially attributed to the economic downturn, but the decline has continued even as Americans rebounded from a 2009 low and began driving more miles in 2010 and last year.” Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, contended that a variety of factors can explain the decrease, including “high seat belt use, safer cars and safer roads,” as well as efforts to curb drunken driving. In addition, continued high gas prices and high unemployment may make optional trips, like those taken by teens, less frequent. The AP reported that Jackie Gillan, the president of the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, welcomed the trend but cautioned against complacency.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in a highway accident, contact us for a free appraisal.

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New Technology Makes Drunk Driving Obsolete

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Finkelstein & Partners

About the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety

The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS, was initiated in 2008. The technology, which is being developed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will check a driver’s blood alcohol level. If the driver exceeds the legal limit, the car simply will not start.

Drunk Driving Statistics

While there have been improvements in the past several decades, alcohol remains a major factor in automobile fatalities. About a third of drivers killed in car wrecks have blood-alcohol levels of 0.08 and above, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Future of Alcohol Detection

Blood alcohol testers already exist, installed in cars as a punitive measure for drunk-driving offenses. The driver blows into a tube, and its presence feels awkward and obvious. The new technology will be subtle, so you won’t notice it at all. Until you try and drive under the influence, that is. Will the public support DADSS? Will it go extinct, like the seat belt interlocks of the 70s, which prevented drivers from driving without safety belts engaged? Stay tuned.
If you or your family has been injured by a drunk or distracted driver, contact us for a free appraisal.

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Live Injury-Free

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Finkelstein & Partners

Injuries Are Everyone’s Problem
Raising awareness for diseases is a noble cause, but there’s another critical health threat that deserves our attention. According to the CDC, injuries are a leading cause of death for people of all ages.

Injuries don’t discriminate. It’s very likely that you or someone you know has been affected by a fall, accident, act of violence, or some other kind of injury.

Shocking Statistics
Annually, 50 million people are injured severely enough to require medical intervention. In 2007, more than 180,000 Americans died from injuries, many of them preventable.

Practically everyone suffers an injury at some point, regardless of age, gender, race or economic status.  Most of us believe that injuries are an inevitable fact of life, but that’s simply not true. There’s a great deal we can do to take control of our own safety.

Preventing Injuries
Leading up to National Public Health Week April 2-8, we’re posting a series of articles to help you Live Injury-Free. Please join us as we explore some of the different ways to prevent injuries, and discuss what everyone can do to Live Injury Free.

To learn more about National Public Health Week, visit http://www.nphw.org/

If you or someone you care about has been affected by an injury, contact us for a free appraisal.

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Andrew Finkelstein named to advocates forums

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Finkelstein & Partners

Read more about Andrew’s accomplishment:

http://blog.timesunion.com/onthemove/attorney-andrew-finkelstein-named-to-advocates-forums/3413/#.T0-ELWXBzuU.email

Andrew G. Finkelstein, managing partner of Finkelstein & Partners LLP, was certified as a life member of both the Million Dollar and the Multi-Million Dollar advocates forums.

The announcement was made by the California-based Million Dollar Advocates Forum Del Mar. Founded in 1993, the forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements. Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. lawyers are members.

Forum membership acknowledges excellence in advocacy and provides a national network of experienced colleagues for professional referral and information exchange in major cases.

“It’s an honor to be named to both the Million and Multi-Million Dollar advocates forums and counted among the nation’s top trial attorneys,” said Finkelstein. “This recognition is testament to the service, commitment and results we’re able to provide to our clients at Finkelstein & Partners.”

Finkelstein is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School. He specializes in personal injury law, including cases of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries from defective products, car crashes and construction site injuries.

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