Rochester Law Blog

How to protect yourself when walking in a parking lot

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, July 2, 2020.

You don't think much of it, but you probably walk through parking lots almost every day of your life. This happens after you park your car at work in the morning (and when you leave). It also happens when you visit the grocery store or shopping mall. And that's just the start.

While it doesn't necessarily seem like a dangerous place, parking lot accidents injure and kill many people every year. And for that reason, you must know how to protect yourself. Here's what you should do:

Keep your head on a swivel: The most challenging part of navigating a parking lot is that cars are driving every possible direction. And in many cases, they aren't obeying the law. For example, someone may drive the wrong way down a one-way aisle in order to secure an empty spot close to the building.
Watch where you walk: If possible, walk on a designated sidewalk or directly behind parked vehicles.
Watch for parked vehicles: Parked vehicles are just as dangerous as those that are moving. As you navigate the lot, watch for anyone who may be backing out of their space.

What are common injuries that a child suffers in car crashes?

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Friday, June 26, 2020.

Car crashes impact children and adults in different ways. Kids often get hurt in different and often more severe ways than their elders. Back, chest, organ or head injuries and concussions are the most common ailments that children suffer in crashes.

Children under age 1 are more likely to suffer concussions from auto accidents than older ones. Cuts, bruises and head fractures are more likely among children over a year old. Kids are 10 times more likely to suffer an incapacitating injury in a rollover accident than any other type of collision.

How common are bike crashes?

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Riding a bike is an excellent form of exercise, yet it can also be hazardous to your health. Sharing the road with motor vehicles can be very dangerous and unpredictable. Bicycle accidents have been on the decline in the last few years. Unfortunately, fatal accidents associated with bike riding have been on the rise.

As bike riding has become more popular, advocacy groups have become more successful in getting safety features added to the roadways to reduce the number of bicycle accidents. Some of those enhancements include bike lanes and protective medians. These safety precautions aren't uniform, however. They vary by jurisdiction.

What dangers do motorcyclists face on the road?

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that at least 80% of motorcycle crashes result in someone either getting hurt or killed. That same data reveals that motorcyclists often end up being ejected in these types of crashes. Motorbike riders face many other dangers, though.

NHTSA data shows that motorcyclists often suffer head injuries because they fail to wear helmets to protect themselves. They usually get hurt because they aren't able to avoid objects in the roadway. These objects often strike motorcyclists causing them significant injuries.

Remember these common causes of car wrecks

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC on Monday, June 8, 2020.

As people head out for summer vacations, it's imperative that all drivers take the time to brush up on their driving skills. One good thing to do when you're getting ready is to review the most common reasons for vehicle crashes so that you can ensure you don't fall into doing any of these while you're on the road.

While you can control your own actions, you can't control how others drive. If you see drivers who are operating their vehicles in an unsafe manner, you should try to avoid them and alert the authorities if the situation warrants it and it is safe for you to do so.

How safe is public transportation?

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

Statistics published by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that public transportation use is safer than driving. The federal agencies' data shows that it's ten times safer for individuals to use public transportation like trains and buses than being in a personal vehicle. Nonetheless, public transit safety is a concern for many people.

Public transportation crashes are rare. However, these accidents often result in multiple casualties when they happen.

Safety is crucial when getting on and off a boat

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

People who are nervous about boating often are most afraid about being out on the open water -- and, more specifically, the possibility of going overboard. However, you can also be seriously injured while getting on and off a boat.

Boat owners and operators are responsible for the safety of their passengers from the time they get to the dock to get on the boat (embark) to the time they get off the boat (disembark) and are back on the dock.

Can I sue in a no-fault auto insurance state like Michigan?

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in No Fault Insurance on Friday, May 22, 2020.

Michigan is a no-fault auto insurance state. This means that if you get into an accident, then you can file a claim with your insurance company under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. You're unable to sue the other motorist who may have struck you in a no-fault state like Michigan.

Insurance laws vary by state. There are many states require motorists to purchase no-fault insurance. Others don't even offer drivers the option to do so. In states like Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, motorists have the option to buy one type of insurance versus another.

Remember that pain after a car accident can have a delayed onset

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

If you have been involved in a car accident in the last few months, you may have initially thought that you had not suffered any major injuries. After the adrenaline wore off and the bruises went away, you may have been confident that you had managed to avoid any long-lasting injury or pain.

However, it's important that you do not simply assume this. Many extremely serious injuries that arise from car accidents can have a delayed onset. That means that serious injuries can take hours, days or even months to become apparent. This is why you should always be examined by a doctor after any car accident.

Pedestrians can minimize their risk of becoming a statistic

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Thursday, May 14, 2020.

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are struck and killed by motorists in this country. We all think that we're too careful for this to happen to us. However, even when pedestrians obey traffic signals and only cross the street in designated crosswalks, there's no guarantee that a driver won't hit them.

Too often, drivers are busy watching for other vehicles (or not paying enough attention at all) and don't see a pedestrian in the road until it's too late to avoid hitting them. Even though drivers are supposed to yield to pedestrians, don't assume that they will.

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