Albany Personal Injury Law Blog

Any car accident is difficult enough for a family to deal with; however, fatal car accidents where negligence may be involved can add stress to an already inconsolable situation, such as one New York family recently learned. In Oct. 2011, a state transportation engineer driving a state-owned car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with the vehicle of a woman heading to her daughter's birthday party, killing both drivers in the car accident. Toxicology reports indicated that the man driving the state-owned vehicle had a blood-alcohol level of .12 percent, which is legally drunk by New York law, as the legal limit is .08.

Imagine you are driving through the backroads around Albany, New York, and you come around a corner and get into a car accident. It's a scary scenario, but a simple one as well that many New Yorkers have had to deal with in their life. For those who have not (and even for those who have), one question you probably wouldn't consider is, if the injuries you suffered in the car accident are serious, how should you be transported to receive medical care?

According to a new study, you may be better off getting a ride from a helicopter than a ride in an ambulance.

Truck drivers have difficult jobs. That may sound crazy to many New York residents who incessantly work 9-to-5 and dream of an apparently low-key position such as driving a truck all day. But truck drivers work long shifts (often at odd hours) and have almost no room for error. Crashing a massive big-rig isn't going to cause a minor fender-bender -- the accident is going to cause serious damage.

Considering the working conditions of operating a truck, a major issue facing the industry is the amount of sleep drivers are getting. The National Sleep Foundation performed surveyed a variety of transportation employees. Truck, plane, train and other vehicle operators were asked about their sleeping habits. Truck drivers came back with results that only confirmed what many knew -- they don't get enough sleep.

New York City and its surrounding area is home to about 20 million people, and at some point, each one of those people will need medical care. May it be you or a loved one, the expectation is that the medical care received is thorough and correct. Doctors and hospital personnel have a high standard to live up to because, ultimately, they are holding your life in their hands. Their diagnosis, advised treatment and surgical procedures all greatly affect your wellbeing.

When these standards are not met, serious medical complications can be suffered by a patient. When you are harmed due to the negligence of a medical staff member, they are liable for your condition. A medical malpractice suit protects you (and, to a greater extent, the community at large) from lazy or reckless actions by doctors and hospital staff alike. Such is the situation at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, New York -- a hundred times over.