Halloween dog bite injuries and how to stay safe

The topic of dog bite injuries is important to me for two reasons. First, because as an injury attorney I have seen the pain and suffering caused from this type of injury. Second, because I am a dog owner, so I understand that your dog is part of your family and it can be difficult to imagine him attacking someone. Halloween creates a unique situation that can increase the chances of an animal attack. I hope these tips for both trick-or-treaters and pet owners can help lower the risk of an injury occurring. In this post I’m focusing on the…

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A newborn baby sitting in a car seat in a hot car.

What to do if you see a child or pet in a hot car.

Children and pets being left in hot cars is a topic which has been getting more attention recently, and for good reason. No one sets out in the morning to put their child or pet at risk in a hot car, and yet in 2018, 52 children died in hot cars. It was the deadliest year on record for the past 20 years, according to The National Safety Council (NSC). When can it get too hot inside a car? We all know that it gets hot inside of a closed vehicle in the summer, just think of when you open…

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Child in a car seat

Bulky coats are a danger for children in a car seat

As we prepare for the cold winter ahead in Putnam County, there is one important issue that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. I’m talking about winter car seat safety. While I’m happy to see so many parents using the proper car seats for their children, the seat can’t do its job in protecting a child if it’s not used properly. The issue I’m talking about is with heavy winter coats. In order to fit a child wearing a heavy coat into his or her car seat, it means loosening the straps. Those loose straps may fail to…

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Parent walking hand-in-hand with child

Useful tips for talking to your kids about back-to-school safety.

As we approach the beginning of a new school year, it’s easy to get caught up in all the things that you need to do. New clothes and school supplies are important, but even more important is having a talk about safety. I often write about safety, because as a member of the Putnam County community, my first concern is always for my neighbors and friends. If you read through my blog, you’ll find posts on keeping your kids safe on the school bus, bullying, and swimming pool safety, among other topics. In this post, I’m sharing three useful resources…

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Two people fighting over an item at a Black Friday Sale

An injury at a Black Friday sale may entitle you to more than a discount

The holiday season is a wonderful time to break the routine of our daily lives and enjoy time with our families. With Thanksgiving behind us, we are now looking forward to Christmas and the New Year. Tradition has it that Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It is known as the busiest shopping day of the year and brings in around $50 billion of sales for stores. Black Friday dangers Retailers offer huge discounts and people get very excited about picking up a bargain. Sometimes this excitement can turn into a frenzy,…

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Dashboard Camera

Dash cams: the perfect eye witness

Many people associate dashboard cameras with the police. Police departments across the nation have adopted dash cams as a way to protect both the officer and the public. What some people don’t know is that this technology has been falling in price and has reached the point where many private citizens are installing them in their vehicles. Should you install a dash cam? You might be wondering why you would want to install a camera in your car. There are several ways that you can benefit from having a visual and audio record of everything happening, particularly in the case…

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Picture of a biker holding a helmet in front of an open road.

Helmets protect you and your compensation

One of the best things about riding a motorcycle is the feeling of being free and unrestricted. Some riders feel that a helmet takes away that feeling, and therefore avoid wearing one. Even on short trips around your neighborhood, it’s illegal to ride without a helmet in New York State, and even more important than that, it’s always a risk that’s not worth taking. A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that as recently as 2015, 36% of motorcyclists do not use DOT-Compliant helmets. If you or someone you know is one of those people, I have…

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Burning Sparkler

Who is responsible for firework injuries?

For most Americans, the Fourth of July is one of the best days of the year. It has become synonymous with fireworks, barbecue and having fun with family and friends. This post isn’t another safety lecture, because I know you’ve heard the warnings, maybe so often you’ve become immune. I just want to provide some useful information for those out there who will be injured, and according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there will be many. 230 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday. That…

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Baby playing with a toy car

​Driveway accidents involving children: who is liable?

We are all used to parking our car in the driveway, and we tend to think of it as a safe place. However recent studies have shown that driveways, particularly for small children, can be very dangerous places. A shocking 50 children per week in America are injured after being hit or run over by a car that is backing out of a driveway. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 42% of non-traffic related child deaths are due to back-over accidents. And what is more alarming is that the majority of children are injured by a…

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School Bus Safety

Keeping your kids safe on the school bus

Putnam County students will be going back to school in a few weeks. This means the end of summer and an exciting time for both children and parents. Riding a school bus is a safe and convenient way for your child to get to school. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting children back and forth to school. The following graphic illustrates just how much safer your child is on the school bus than riding with a friend or parent. Just 1% of student fatalities during normal school…

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