Archive for February, 2012

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29
Feb

New York Teen Charged in Fatal Golf Cart Crash

February 29, 2012

Just because you are not driving in an automobile does not mean you can’t be charged with drinking and driving related offenses. New york state law allows an offender to be cited with DUI and other charges for operating any type of vehicle–even a golf cart–while under the influence.

According to Buffalo News, an 18-year-old girl is being charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and driving while ability impaired by alcohol and drugs in a golf cart accident that left another teen dead.

The accident happened on November 27, 2011 along the northbound lanes of Route 237. The girl and her passenger were driving the golf cart along the road when a car driven by a 19-year-old female crested a hill the golf cart had just gone over. By the time the teen driver saw the golf cart, it was too late. She rear-ended the cart, ejecting the two passengers into the middle of the road.

The victims were taken to the University of Rochester Medical Center, where the passenger later died.

Upon further investigation, law enforcement determined that the golf cart driver had been drinking prior to the crash. She was initially charged with drunk driving, but officials announced an increase in the charges Tuesday.

The New York auto accident attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers would like to remind citizens to stay off the roads, no matter what the vehicle, after drinking.

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27
Feb

Intoxicated New York Driver Breaks Leandra’s Law

February 27, 2012

A DUI law that is used under special circumstances was put to good use over this past weekend. Reports from the Buffalo News say that a 19-year-old man was arrested in Clarence, New York, yesterday morning for breaking Leandra’s Law.

Leandra’s Law–or the Child Passenger Protection Act–a New York law that makes it an automatic felony offense–even for first time offenders–for drivers who are caught behind the wheel while under the influence with a child 15-years of age or younger in the vehicle with them.

A person convicted of breaking Leandra’s law faces:

  • A prison sentence of up to four years
  • A fine of $1000–$5000
  • Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for a term of at least six months
  • Automatic suspension of license pending prosecution
  • The person will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment and their license will be suspended for a minimum of twelve months

Deputies with the Erie County Sherriff’s Department say that the teen was arrested at around 2:30 AM on Sunday after being caught driving under the influence of narcotics with a 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle.

The Buffalo car accident lawyers with William Mattar Injury Lawyers are also working to eliminate drunk driving in the area by partnering with organizations, such as Designated Drivers of Rochester and Buffalo, to offer free ride homes to those who have too much to drink.

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24
Feb

Bus Driver Accused Of Negligent Homicide

February 24, 2012

A 60-year-old bus driver from Yardville, New Jersey, was in an upstate New York courtroom this week facing charges related to a bus crash that occurred two years ago. According to reports from The Sacramento Bee, the accident happened on September 11, 2010, along the Onondaga Lake Parkway.

Testimony from the courtroom says that the driver and his passengers ended up on the road because a vehicle was blocking the bus’s normal route. The driver was updating information in his GPS when the bus plowed into a low-hanging overpass. Four passengers died as a result of the accident.

The driver was charged with four counts of criminally negligent homicide for his part in the crash and chose a non-jury trial, which began Monday.

Defense attorneys for the driver stated during his opening arguments that blame for the crash should be put on railroad and Onondaga County officials, since they chose not to make changes to the overpass after accidents happened prior to the events in question.

The bus driver faces up to 16 years in prison, four years for each count, if convicted on all charges.

The New York bus accident attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers know that bus drivers operate under strict regulations in order to prevent accidents like this from occurring. If a driver breaks any of these rules and an accident results, the driver runs the risk of facing both criminal and civil penalties.

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22
Feb

Icy Roads Blamed For Two Rollover Crashes Near Buffalo

February 22, 2012

While the snow associated with the recent burst of winter weather is beautiful, it can create some very hazardous driving conditions. An article released by Buffalo News says that two drivers were involved in separate rollover accidents within minutes of one another this morning in Orleans County, New York.

Deputies with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department say that the first accident happened at approximately 7:00 AM along East Lee Road in Clarendon. A 51-year-old woman was driving her 1995 Land Rover east along the ice-splotched road when she hit a slick patch and skid off the right shoulder of the road. The vehicle then hit two trees, causing it to flip and land beside the riverside. Luckily, the woman was wearing her seat belt and only suffered minor scratches and bruises. She was treated at the scene by paramedics and released.

Fifteen minutes after the first crash occurred, a 61-year-old man driving a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck was heading east down West Lee Road when he hit a patch of ice and ran off the right shoulder. The vehicle went into a ditch before flipping end over end. The man was taken to Medina Memorial Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The Buffalo Car Accident Attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers encourage drivers to stay off of roads in icy conditions if at all possible. If you must venture out, drive slowly and buckle up!

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20
Feb

Drunk Driver To Blame For Rochester Crash

February 20, 2012

A drunk driver is being blamed for a three-vehicle accident that left four people injured in Rochester, New York, last week. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that the crash happened at around 9:30 PM last Thursday night on the eastbound lanes of the inner loop off of Interstate 490.

Reports from New York State Police state that a 38-year-old Rochester woman was driving her vehicle the wrong direction along the interstate when she struck another car driven by a 28-year-old man from Batavia, New York. The impact caused the man’s car to then collide with another vehicle.

The woman was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in serious condition where it was later determined she was under the influence of alcohol during the accident. The Batavia man was also taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was last listed in satisfactory condition with a broken femur, as wheel as head and facial injuries. Two occupants of the third vehicle involved suffered minor injuries.

The drunk driver now faces charges of driving while intoxicated as well as vehicular assault.

The New York auto accident attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers focus on helping those who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. Founding attorney, William Mattar, discusses why the firm has chosen this specific direction in a recent interview.

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17
Feb

Multiple Vehicle Crash In Upstate New York Kills One, Injures Three

February 17, 2012

A distracted driver is being blamed for a multiple vehicle crash in Philadelphia, New York, last week that left one man dead and three other individuals injured. An article released by the Watertown Daily Times stated that the accident happened last Tuesday on Route 11, just north of town, at approximately 4:40 PM.

New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Spokesman Michael J. Marvin stated that a 23-year-old driver was heading southbound when he became distracted, crossed into the oncoming lane, and slammed into the front end of a tractor-trailer. The impact sent the tractor-trailer into southbound lanes where it struck a vehicle and killed its driver on impact. Then the  semi-truck ricocheted back into the northbound lanes where it struck another vehicle. A third car avoided the collision by slamming into a guardrail.

Three other motorists were taken to local hospitals for treatment to various injuries, none of which were life threatening.

The 23-year-old driver was ticketed for failing to keep right when he became distracted.

In many states, being distracted behind the wheel is considered negligence and can result in serious criminal charges, such as vehicular assault or homicide, if an accident with injuries occurs.

The New York truck accident lawyers with William Mattar Injury Lawyers are here to help you if you have been seriously injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer that was not your fault.

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15
Feb

Speed Is A Contributing Factor To Fatal New York Car Crash

February 15, 2012

Speed and possibly alcohol are being called factors that contributed to a fatal accident in Knox, New York, early this morning. According to reports from CBS 6 News, the crash happened at around 4:00 this morning along Route 146, near the border of Albany and Schoharie Counties.

Spokesman for the Albany County Sheriff’s Department, Sherriff Craig Apple, stated that his department was able to determine that a white pickup truck was driving above the posted speed limit when it crossed the double yellow lines in the center of the road and hit a ditch. The impact at such high speeds caused the vehicle to roll several times before hitting two trees and catching fire. By the time rescue crew were able to pull the driver from the wreckage, he was deceased.

Although no toxicology report can be conducted due to the condition of the body, Sheriff Apple did confirm that several beer bottles were found in the vehicle following the crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speed is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes. These speed-related fatal crashes have an estimated cost to US taxpayers of roughly $27.7 billion per year.

This is why the Albany auto accident attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers ask that we all do our part to keep ourselves, and other motorists, safe on the highway by always obeying the posted speed limit.

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13
Feb

Loophole In New York Law Allows Multiple DUI Offenders To Keep Licenses

February 13, 2012

A loophole in state law is allowing multiple-offense drunk drivers in New York to get their licenses again and get back out on the road. According to reports from ABC 10 News, state legislators and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) officials are working to introduce a new bill before the Senate that will end the problem.

As the law stands now, it is not the total number offenses that are examined when a person goes to reclaim their license after a DUI, but instead how many offenses they have had in the last five to eight years. This means that a person could have 10 previous DUI offenses, but if they have not occurred in the last eight years, the previous offenses will not be considered.

Lawmakers are hoping to change this policy by creating a set number offenses a driver can commit before having to surrender their license for good. They are also asking that the commissioner of the DMV be required to examine a driver’s entire driving history before restoring an offender’s privileges.

A larger problem being reported is inconsistency from the DMV. One attorney says that he has seen a drunk driver suspension overturned after just several weeks if the driver completes a drunk driver education program early.

The New York Auto Accident Attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers are hopeful that the laws can be changed to better protect citizens of New York from drunk drivers.

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10
Feb

Seat Belts Are Required Because They Save Lives

February 10, 2012

It is a well-known fact that seatbelts save lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the devices have saved as many as 147,246 lives over a 26-year period. One life that may have been saved by the devices is that of a 53-year-old Glen Park, New York, man who was killed in a single-vehicle accident this past Monday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, homeowners along Route 53 in Jefferson County reported hearing a loud noise at around 12:45 AM Monday morning, but thought nothing of it after not seeing any sign of an accident. It wasn’t until nearly six hours later that the crash scene was discovered when a New York State Police (NYSP) Captain drove by. He noticed a car in a wooded area and upon further investigation, found the body of the driver several feet from the vehicle.

An investigation into the crash determined that the driver hit a tree. The man behind the wheel was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

New York State Law requires that:

  • A driver and each passenger in a vehicle must wear a seat belt, one person per belt.
  • All children under the age of eight-years-old must be retrained in a child safety or booster seat regardless of height or weight.

The New York Auto Accident Attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers ask that all motorists require everyone in the vehicle to buckle up before driving.

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8
Feb

Saratoga Springs Man In Serious Condition After Crash

February 8, 2012

A woman following to closely struck a man driving his Chevy pickup truck, which lead to the serious injury and near death, of the 41-year-old man from Saratoga Springs, New York. According to reports from ABC 10 News, the accident happened Monday morning at around 5:35 AM on Route 29, just east of Schallehn Road.

Reports form the Saratoga Springs Police Department indicate that the victim was driving west when he was struck from behind. Police were able to determine that the woman was following too closely when she struck the pickup, causing the truck to fishtail before striking and rolling over a guardrail. The driver was ejected as the vehicle plummeted into a nearly 40-foot ravine next to the highway. The Porsche spun out and was slapped against the guardrail.

While the driver of the Porsche only suffered minor injuries, the pickup driver was in critical condition upon arriving at the Albany Medical Center. Today, he was upgraded to serious condition.

Police say that their investigation into the crash is still ongoing and that charges are pending.

The New York Auto Accident Attorneys with William Mattar Injury Lawyers would like to remind motorists that tailgating is not only extremely dangerous, it’s illegal. TIf you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by someone following too closely, call us today for a free consultation of your case.

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