Hicksville Injury Law Blog

Studies show that drivers get closer to bicyclists with helmets

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

Bike helmets are perhaps the most important safety equipment for cyclists all over New York. They reduce the odds of serious head injuries, brain injuries and even death. They do help, and every cyclist should wear one.

That said, there's one key way in which a helmet actually puts you at risk. Multiple studies have found that drivers will give you less space when they pass if you have a helmet on.

Your first home: What to look for

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Real Estate Law on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

You're searching for your first home. It's exciting, but you admittedly have no idea what to look for when you walk in the front door. You end up just looking for a home that is aesthetically pleasing, that suits your taste.

While this is where many people begin, it can be problematic. Remember, you can change the decorative style of any home. What you really want to look for is a home that is in good condition beyond that aesthetic appearance. Here are a few things to consider:

Forget about paint colors. This is the easiest thing to change. Never write off a house because you don't like the color scheme.
Check the roof for damage. If it's missing shingles or if you find water damage in the house, that's a massive red flag.
Consider the structure and functionality of the home more than how it looks. For instance, look for things like old wiring that needs to be replaced or damaged floorboards that have to be fixed.
Take a look at the home's systems and appliances. Check out the furnace, the water heater, the HVAC system and things of this nature. If they're old and outdated, that could be an expensive fix.
Test the pipes. Turn on the water in every room. Make sure it all works the way that it should. Remember that plumbing problems are common in older homes and can also be expensive to repair.

It's critical to know how to use lockout systems

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Workplace Accidents on Friday, July 19, 2019.

When using heavy machinery such as hydraulic presses, it's important to know how to use lockout/tagout systems to stay safe on the job.

The problem, essentially, is that workers can get injured when someone else starts a machine at an inopportune time. For instance, imagine that something gets jammed inside of a hydraulic press. A worker stops the press and steps inside to remove the jam. While this is happening, another worker starts the press, not knowing the first worker is still inside. They could be fatally injured in a split second.

Spinal cord injuries and unique treatment options

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Friday, July 5, 2019.

Among the most difficult types of injuries to treat are spinal cord injuries. In many cases, they do not heal, or the level of healing is very limited.

Part of the reason for this is a lack of regeneration by the nerve cells that were injured in the initial accident. They need to create these long nerve fibers to offer a full range of motion again, but they can't do it, in part because scar tissue grows at the injured places. This scar tissue blocks the nerves and they stop growing.

Will you know a trench collapse is coming?

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Workplace Accidents on Friday, June 21, 2019.

For trench workers, few things are as concerning as the possibility of a trench collapse. The weight of dirt and stone is far greater than many people realize -- up to 3,000 pounds per cubic yard, according to Safety and Health Magazine -- but workers are well aware of this danger. They know that a collapse can cause fatal injuries in mere seconds.

So, will they have any warning before this happens? They may. You can certainly see warning signs in some situations, such as water eroding the side of the trench, soil shifting under pressure or other things of this nature.

Can a brain injury impact your sense of smell?

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Depending on the type of brain injury you suffer from, it can have all manner of negative impacts on your health and your life. Some people struggle with their memory, their mobility and their emotional state. Even within these common areas, the specific issues someone suffers can vary dramatically from person to person.

So, as you may have guessed, it stands to reason that your sense of smell could absolutely be reduced thanks to a brain injury. In fact, some studies have looked at it and found that it's common in a majority of brain injury patients.

Top reasons you may find yourself in a dispute with your neighbor

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Real Estate Law on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

In an ideal world, you and your neighbor will get along. You may even become friends. You'll share dinners in the backyard or you'll talk over the fence.

Unfortunately, we do not always live in an ideal world. Many people end up having some serious disputes with their neighbors. If you're interested in why this happens, here are a few of the main reasons:

You do not agree on where the boundary lines are. The dispute revolves around who really owns a fence or a piece of land.
One of you has a pet that the other believes encroaches on their property or damages it.
Your neighbor is either too loud, leading to calls to the authorities, or they file noise complaints against you. Even if you stay on your own sides of the boundary lines, you can drastically impact each other's quality of life.
You think that your neighbor is violating health codes and doing something that actively makes you unsafe. This could be improper handling of hazardous materials, for instance, or the use of unlawful substances, like lead-based paint.
Your neighbor is violating the building codes. If he or she breaks fire codes, for instance, that could be a serious risk to you. This is only made worse if you live in a duplex or some other type of shared dwelling.

Personality traits and dangerous driving habits

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Some people seem to have dangerous driving habits that they just cannot shake. They make the same mistakes and take the same chances over and over again. If you have to ride with them or drive around them, you feel like an accident is simply bound to happen at some point.

This may not be as random as it feels. In fact, experts have linked these dangerous driving habits with a number of major personality traits.

Falling asleep at the wheel? These tips can help

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Monday, April 22, 2019.

Have you ever nodded off behind the wheel? If you have, you know how frightening it can be. In most cases, it just lasts for a second. But, as your eyes snap back open and you realize you almost fell asleep, adrenaline surges through your body. You know how close you were to a car accident.

The best way to avoid this, of course, is not to drive when you're tired. Unfortunately, it's something we all have to do from time to time. How can you keep from falling asleep? Here are a few tips:

Turn on the AC or open the windows. This is especially effective when it makes you uncomfortable. It keeps you awake.
Chew gum. Eating snacks may help, but then you risk distraction by eating while you drive. Chewing gum gives you a minor physical task that keeps you awake without the distraction.
Talk to a passenger. If you have someone in the car with you, just make small talk. Have them ask you questions to keep you engaged.
Focus on your health. Eat well. Drink enough water. Make sure your body has what it needs so that you're not extra sluggish and worn out.
Sing along with the radio or a playlist on your phone. While listening to music can make you tired, casually singing along keeps your brain working and keeps you awake.

How can workers avoid slip-and-fall accidents?

On behalf of Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

We often make light of slip-and-fall accidents, but the reality is that they can lead to very serious injuries on the job. They're also more common than many people realize. Risks that workers face include changes in flooring surfaces, unexpected hazards and a general sense that they need to hurry and rush to get a job done on time. All of those things can lead to an accident that puts a worker in the hospital.

To stay safe, here are a few things workers should do:

Never leave cables and cords lying across a walkway or cover them up if they have to be there.
Clean up anything that spills right away.
Sweep up and mop at the end of the day and whenever debris creates a hazardous condition.
Never leave clutter on the stairs or in the walkways.
If a rug or a mat does not lay down flat on its own, the workers should secure the corners.
Always close drawers for desks, file cabinets, storage containers and more.
Make sure that the walkways and working areas are well-lit at all times.