New York state is known for having some of the most aggressive drivers in the country. Triggered by a bad morning, a personality quirk, or frustration with other drivers, the screaming, shouting and gesturing you often see on the road became known by a simple descriptor: “road rage”. And it kills. One study by the Affinion Group found that New Yorkers’ behavior was especially prone to agitation on the road and they were likely to provoke or intimidate other drivers through impulsive, often irrational behavior.

More recently, the gun violence focused non-profit news organization The Trace, reported that cases of road rage involving a firearm more than doubled from 247 in 2014 to 620 in 2016. In the three-year period examined, there were at least 1,320 road rage incidents involving guns, resulting in 355 injuries and more than 135 killed.

Aggressive driving is deadly in and of itself. When it escalates and turns into hostility with a target, the stakes on a drivers’ life are even higher. From an injury law standpoint, road rage can be more complicated than aggressive driving because most auto insurance companies won’t cover damages for injuries that are inflicted intentionally.

Specifically, the Insurance Information Institute cites that road rage incidents are often listed as an exemption in many auto insurance policies because it’s not considered a true “accident.” For this reason, as well as your own personal protection, it’s best to drive defensively, especially if you notice any signs of potential aggressive driving from surrounding drivers, such as:

• Tailgating
• Weaving through traffic
• Running stop signs/ lights
• Racing another driver
• Lane blocking
• Illegal passing
• Excessive speeding or erratic changing of speeds

Extreme acts of aggression between drivers are considered “road rage” and are a major cause of (often fatal) accidents.

There are several triggers for road rage. More drivers are on the road, and congestion can lead to delays and mounting frustration with traffic, and other drivers. Rushing is another cause; drivers that believe in the need for speed in order to make up lost time can often become the accident that causes rubbernecking traffic. That’s why it’s so important for drivers to give themselves as much time as they can to get to their destination. It will lower stress levels and decrease the chances of unsafe and aggressive acts behind the wheel.

Distraction is another cause for aggressive driving. Those on their cell phones aren’t paying close attention to their surroundings or their own actions. While their actions may not be intentionally aggressive, it can come across that way and it may spur frustration and aggression in other drivers.

In many cases, these actions aren’t intentional, and are simply impulsive responses to frustrating situations not personally aimed at another driver. Even if they are, responding with more aggression only escalates the situation. By being polite and courteous (even when the other driver isn’t) we help protect ourselves and those around us.

New York state does not specifically have an aggressive driving statute. However, as our Buffalo car accident lawyers can explain, New York Reckless Driving (V.T.L. 1212) outlines the consequences for reckless driving, which can include a fine of up to $500, and possible jailtime.

From a personal injury standpoint, reckless driving resulting in injury is likely compensable.

New York follows a “no-fault” system of auto insurance coverage, meaning if you are injured, you will first file a claim for damages with your own insurer through your personal injury protection (PIP) plan. Persons who suffer serious personal injury may take action against other covered persons at-fault in the crash.

If you’ve been injured by a reckless driver, you need a ruthless attorney on your side. Representation is key when it comes to receiving proper and deserved compensation for your injuries. We aim to help restore your quality of life, and get you the justice you’re entitled to. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. No charge, no risk, no focus on anything else but your needs.

A record number of people in the U.S. are dying in car accidents and the problem is getting worse, according to recent analysis. NPR has reported on this phenomenon, reporting on the biggest two-year increase in car accident fatalities in more than 50 years. There was a 14 percent rise in car accident deaths during that time frame.

This is more than just a statistic. It means lives have been lost, families have been shattered, and communities have suffered.

Awareness of the rising accident death rates may compel drivers to use greater caution. Motorists must also know their rights in case they are hurt in a crash that is clearly the fault of another driver. In those cases, they may be entitled to compensation. Those who have lost a loved one in a collision may have grounds to assert a claim of wrongful death against any drivers, companies, or government agencies that may have been at fault.

Car Accident Fatality Rates on the Rise

In 2016, there were more car accidents than we’ve seen in any year since 2007. The number of fatalities had been declining before 2015, attributed largely to higher unemployment and a weak economy.

Since then, the economy has improved, but this good news is tempered by the fact that roads have gotten less safe. As gas prices have fallen, so too has unemployment. Meanwhile wages have gone up. All this means people are more likely to be out on the road. This has resulted in many more car accident deaths.

There were more than 40,000 people killed in auto accidents in 2016 alone. This was up six percent from the number of fatalities in 2015.

The increase in car accident fatalities cannot be attributed solely to the fact there are more people on the road, although that is a big mitigating factor. The issue is that not only that more people are out and about in their vehicles, but also that people continue to engage in unsafe behaviors. In some cases, they are engaging in even more unsafe behaviors than ever before.

Drugged driving deaths are on the rise, according to USA Today, with so many more people dying in drug-related car accidents that regulators are alarmed. Relaxing attitudes towards marijuana may be playing a role in rising fatalities, and the opioid crisis is likely contributing to this problem and may make drugged driving accident rates go up even further.

Motorists need to be aware that they are likely to encounter more crowded roads, and that the collision risk on those roads is rising. Drivers should be as careful as they can to try to avoid accidents. Those who have been injured in an accident should know their rights if another motorist has caused a crash that resulted in a personal injury. A qualified car accident attorney can help protect those rights.

States including New York are considering regulation of a device called Google Glass, which looks like a pair of glasses and allows users to surf the Internet, take photographs, check-email and even watch videos – all with a blink.

The technology is pretty amazing – but perhaps not so much while driving. State lawmakers have requested direction from the department of motor vehicles on how a behind-the-wheel ban on the devices might be enforced.

Buffalo accident lawyers at The Law Offices of James Morris recognize that as it stands, distracted driving is a major factor in automobile collisions.

How many accidents are caused by distracted drivers?

The issue of driver distraction may be even more serious than previously anticipated. New research indicates that many crashes caused by distraction are instead categorized simply as “careless driving” in traffic citation records.

There may be some instances wherein drivers are cited for prohibited use of a handheld device (New York state bans texting and the use of all handheld cell phone devices while driving), more often than not, distraction can be difficult to prove.

For one thing, it’s not like drunk driving, where a test can determine whether drivers were negligent at the time of a crash. Phone records, witness statements and other evidence may be used to piece it together, but there is often no definitive determination.

Plus, there are more forms of distraction today than ever.

Let’s start with cell phones. In May of 2011, 35 percent of Americans owned a smartphone. By May 2013, 56 percent of people owned a smartphone.

Then there are devices like Google Glass. While it offers features like navigation, these elements have proven distracting to the person behind the wheel. But again, it can be tough to prove. A woman in California was pulled over and cited by a state trooper for “having a TV screen visible while driving.” Some 37 states and the District of Columbia have laws against it. However, the ticket was eventually tossed because there was a lack of evidence to prove the device had been enabled while she was driving.

Studies shed light on dangers of in-dash vehicle technology

More than ever, technological devices are coming standard-issue with the latest models of vehicles in the form of “infotainment” centers build right into the dash. Common features include GPS mapping technology, hands-free dialing and speech-to-text, Internet searches and even videos and games.

While car manufacturers have promised that these systems are safe and will actually help to reduce distractions, the research that is emerging suggests those assertions fall short of the truth.

For example, a recent AAA study indicates that speech-to-text phone or e-mail systems, the kind that are common in the latest infotainment offerings, are even more dangerous than listening to the radio or using a handheld cell phone.

Where companies are working on ways to integrate even more speech recognition software into vehicles, AAA warns that this will make the roads inherently more dangerous.

Anytime your hands are off the wheel or your eyes and attention are off the road, there is a danger. It need not be technologically-driven. Distraction comes in many different forms, be it your children in the back seat, the pets in your lap or the Google Glass on your head.

For the most part, whatever it is can wait until the car is in park.

Contact a Buffalo accident attorney at the Law Offices of James Morris at 1-800-477-9044.  Attorney advertising.

                Upon entering secondary education, every child fears the worst; getting picked on. Images of being chosen last for dodge ball or being stuffed in a locker used to correspond with the word “bully.” Today however, bullying leaves a much more lasting effect on teenagers, causing serious emotional and physical issues. Bullying destroys lives long after the bullying stops.

                The modern bully is a lion, pouncing on its prey at the mere scent of weakness and attacking any flaw of character or lifestyle. The trouble with this lion is that it hunted its way out from the confines of the classroom jungle and into the open world of the internet.  While we’re all familiar with the tragic tale of Jamey Rodemeyer—a 14-year-old boy from Williamsville who cut his life short in the bloom of his youth due to years of psychological abuse both in person and online throughout middle and high school—his story is one fish in a sea of recent teen suicides at the hands (and words) of bullies. Even more disturbing is the account of Ashley Billasano. Huffington Post reported last week that Ashley, a victim of molestation and forced prostitution by her own family, tweeted 144 cries for help before killing herself, receiving not a single response from any of her 500 Twitter followers. And if you think it can’t get much worse than that, Huffington reported just days ago that 10-year-old Ashlynn Connor hung herself with a scarf in her closet after being called a “slut” by her elementary school classmates. Amidst these tragedies however, peeks a ray of sunlight.

                Parents are beginning to turn to the justice system to combat this incessant wave of bullying.  After their son suffered a traumatic brain injury, the parents of David Osama Hadaad pressed charges against Lake Central School in Indiana for not intervening while David was brutally attacked in the hallway due to his Middle Eastern descent.  According to the Huffington article that ran last week, the family has accused the school of not only failing to intervene, but of violating David’s civil rights as well.  None of the attackers faced punishment and David was suspended 10 days for the single defensive punch he threw.

                Don’t let your children be victims any longer. It’s time to stand up against bullying. Call the Law Offices of James Morris now, 716-855-1118.

Hello fellow bloggers. My name is Brett Perla and I am the newest weapon in the Law Offices of James Morris’ arsenal. I have been hired as a social media / marketing specialist and intend to post more frequently than before on this blog as well as on our different social media platforms. I will be back soon with more informative posts, but for now I just wanted to introduce myself. Please take a minute to “Like” the James Morris Law page on facebook if you haven’t done so already (http://on.fb.me/tcF32L) and follow us on twitter for frequent updates and daily tips @jamesmorrislaw (heres the link to our twitter page http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmorrislaw). Happy Halloween!

The Buffalo News reports that there have been 10 motorcycle deaths in Western New York since April of this year. Alcohol and excess speed have been factors in some cases. The failure of other drivers to see the motorcyclist have caused other accidents. Please look for motorcycles and keep a safe distance. Motorcycle enthusiasts please enjoy the summer riding season without alcohol or excess speed.

Summer is upon us. The higher temperatures can cause truck tires walls to schred or fly apart. The tire temperatures can reach 200 degrees at 70 mph. The torn apart tires are called “gators”. Accidents occur when drivers hit or swerve to avoid the “gators”, because they will bite you! Be aware of this risk when driving behind an 18 wheeler.

Buffalo, New York has long been famous for its harsh winters. Buffalo is the seventh snowiest city in America, receiving an average of 93 inches of snow per year. The snowiest major city (population over 50,000 people) in America is Syracuse, with 115 inches of snow on average each year.

This winter, Buffalo has already received more than 86 inches of snow. And while some cities throughout the Northeast have received most of their snow from three major blizzards, Buffalo’s snow has been produced by 51 different storms this winter, according to the National Weather Service.

All those storms mean lots of shoveling to keep Buffalo’s sidewalks clean. Buffalo takes a tough stance against property owners who fail to shovel their sidewalks. Buffalo’s snow removal law requires property owners to clear sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of the end of a storm. Property owners who fail to do so must reimburse the city for any shoveling work done by the city on public sidewalks.

Buffalo sidewalk accidents can easily happen on slippery, snow-covered walkways. Each year, slip and fall accidents cause more than one million injuries and kill more than 17,000 people nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Buffalo slip and fall accidents demand serious attention. Have you been injured on a dangerous sidewalk? Don’t be a victim. Fight back. Contact a law firm that works hard to get results. Contact the Law Offices of James Morris. When you choose James Morris, you get a Buffalo law firm that thoroughly understands New York’s complicated legal system. Our experienced attorneys know what it takes to win dangerous sidewalk cases throughout New York. We fight tirelessly to get our clients the justice they rightfully deserve.

Choose a law firm that get results. Contact James Morris. We mean business!

The information contained in this communication is provided for informational purposes only and should not be constituted as legal advice on any subject matter.