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12
Jan

Accused hit-and-run doctor due in court

January 11, 2012

A New York doctor charged in a hit-and-run is due in court this week on the issue of a court-ordered blood draw, which is up for discussion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The doctor’s attorneys have questioned whether suburban Buffalo police had enough reason to request the court-ordered blood draw, which showed that the doctor was driving drunk.

The Getzville doctor was indicted by a grand jury in September. He is accused of striking and killing an 18-year-old female as she skated home from her pizzeria job one night last July.

There have been questions about what the doctor did after the alleged crash, and prosecutors claim that he was drinking heavily at a party beforehand.

His attorneys say that Amherst police may not have had enough evidence to order the blood draw after the alleged accident. Prosecutors say the draw was legal and showed that the doctor was drunk at the time of the accident.

The doctor has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter, second degree manslaughter, leaving a deadly accident scene, and tampering with physical evidence.

An Erie County Court judge will decide the issue on Friday.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of a automobile accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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9
Jan

4 killed in Airport Road car accident

January 9, 2012

On Sunday a head-on collision on Airport Road in the Town of Maine has led to four deaths, reports News Channel 34.

A 55-year-old man of Endicott, New York, was driving a 2000 Dodge minivan. He drove it into the northbound lane and struck a northbound 2003 Chevrolet SUV head-on. The SUV was being driven by a 56-year-old woman of Binghamton, New York.

The driver of the minivan died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson, City, New York, where she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The passengers of the minivan included a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy, who both died Sunday night at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.

The only other occupant of the vehicle was an 8-year-old girl who was admitted to Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City. All of the children were from Endicott, New York.

The investigation into the cause of this fatal accident is being conducted by the New York State Police.

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If you or someone you know was the victim of an automobile accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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6
Jan

New York teen critically injured by hit-and-run driver

January 6, 2012

A Brooklyn teen was struck and nearly killed by a hit-and-run driver on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. in Flatlands, reports the New York Daily News.

The 14-year-old boy was crossing busy Flatlands Avenue, near East 54th Street, on his way to the store for his mother when a 2011 Ford Econoline van plowed into him, witnesses and officials said.

The 41-year-old male driver of the Ford sped off after the incident.

“We heard a loud BAM!” said a 26-year-old bystander. “We came out, [and] the car kept going.”

Claiming to be a nurse, a woman appeared and started chest compressions, even though “there were no signs of life,” the witness said.

The driver of the Ford was nabbed a block away from the scene at the corner of Avenue 1 and 55th Street, police said.

The boy was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition, police said.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of a pedestrian accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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4
Jan

DWI accident closes road in Westmoreland

January 4, 2012

A hit-and-run accident on Tuesday morning sheared a telephone pole in half and closed a portion of a Westmoreland street, reports WKTV News.

Sometime before 12:30 a.m. a 26-year-old Westmoreland man was heading east on West South Street and lost control of his vehicle, striking a pole and shearing it in half. He was able to regain control of his vehicle and left the scene of the accident, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s.

The pole fell across the roadway, making it impossible for the snow plows and drivers to get through. A portion of the West South Street was closed to traffic early Tuesday morning.

The deputies noticed the man’s pickup truck with front-end damage at the Nice N Easy Grocery Shop on West Main Street and Route 233. After questioning the driver about the damage, they were then able to link his truck to the accident.

The driver of the truck is charged with DWI, failing to keep right, leaving the scene of an accident, and not wearing a seat belt.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an auto accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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3
Jan

Move Over Law saves lives

January 2, 2012

New York State’s Move Over Law is being expanded to include more vehicles, according to Hudson Valley Your News Now.

In an effort to keep all workers safe, New York lawmakers have amended the year-old Move Over Law to include, not only emergency vehicles like police cars and ambulances, but also maintenance, utility, and tow trucks.

“All drivers need to understand that they have a responsibility to keep roads safe. Slowing down and moving over for emergency and hazard vehicles on the highway needs to be one of those responsibilities,” State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said.

The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has 100 work zones set up across the state each day. There were 100 accidents involving drivers at those work zones last year.

“When you’re working to hook that vehicle up or load that vehicle on a tow truck, if you’ve got traffic passing by you, it’s hazardous, it’s dangerous, and it’s one more worry,” said tow truck operator Doug Rowland.

A big part of the amended law will be enforcement. Anyone caught violating it could face a $275 fine, three points on their license, and potentially jail. Troopers issued roughly 16,000 citations for the Move Over Law in its current form last year.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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28
Dec

William Mattar offers free safe and sober rides home on New Year’s Eve

December 28, 2011

Drunk driving accounts for numerous deaths and injuries year after year. That’s why William Mattar Law Offices are partnering with Designated Drivers of Buffalo and Rochester to offer free rides home for people who have been drinking or who need a safe way home on New Year’s Eve.

Too many tragedies occur on New Year’s Eve because of drinking and driving. Don’t be another statistic. Get a free ride home.

William Mattar challenges us to set an example for our family, friends, and peers this New Year’s Eve by not drinking and driving.

Actions speak louder than words: do not drink and drive. Encourage your friends with your words and your actions by getting a free ride home for you and your car this New Year’s Eve (January, 1, 2012).

Rides are available in Buffalo from 12 a.m. until 4:00 a.m. Just call 716-713-7703.

Rides are available in Rochester from 12 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Just call 585-880-0380.

Put these important numbers in your phones now! Some restrictions apply.

Find out how you can get a FREE ride home this New Year’s Eve!

If you or someone you know were the victim of an accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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27
Dec

Leray car crash kills 1, injures 5

December 26, 2011

At about 10:50 a.m. on Goulds Corners Road on Christmas morning, one woman was killed and five others were injured in a two-vehicle crash, reports the Watertown Daily Times.

The crash occurred near Waddingham Road when a Kia Sorrento traveling north cut across Goulds Corners Road. It hit  a southbound Chevrolet Avalanche head on, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies said.

The Chevrolet moved to the west in an attempt to avoid the collision.

The 51-year-old driver of the Kia was flown by helicopter to University Hospital in Syracuse to be treated for serious injuries. His passenger, a 59-year-old woman, was taken to Samaritan Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 11:35 a.m. They were both from Evans Mills.

In the Chevrolet were a husband, wife, and their two children. The driver, a 49-year-old Evans Mills man, along with a 46-year-old Evans Mills woman, and two children, nine and 14 years old, were all taken to Samaritan Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The Evans Mills Fire and Ambulance, Fort Drum Ambulance and Federal Police, Pamelia Fire Department, Black River Ambulance, Guilfoyle Ambulance, Indian River Ambulance, Mercy Flight, and the New York State Police Department assisted at the scene.

The investigation of the crash is being continued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office accident reconstruction team and detectives.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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21
Dec

Goggles simulate drunk driving

December 21, 2011

New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission and Division of Highway Traffic Safety offered shoppers visiting Bridgewater Commons a chance to experience firsthand the simulated dangers of drunk driving, reports Central Jersey.

Whether it was a 16-year-old or an 81-year-old, once the person strapped on a pair of specialized goggles to simulate alcoholic intoxication, the results were identical. Neither could take a single step without awkwardly stumbling around. Each person had to be kept upright by a state police sergeant.

“That was weird,” the 16-year-old said. “It’s like you think you’re standing in one place, but you’re actually in a completely different place.”

“It was tough. I just lost my balance,” said the 81-year-old. “And if you can’t put your foot in front of you, how the hell are you going to get behind the wheel?”

In the U.S., nearly one-third (32 percent) of all traffic-related deaths last year occurred as a result of alcohol-related car accidents, accounting for 10,839 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Especially at this time of year, we know how people are. They’re under pressure. . . . But when people are driving, they should be focusing on the task at hand,” the Motor Vehicle Commission’s chairman and chief administrator, said Tuesday, while watching shoppers participate in the simulations. “The goal here is not to write more tickets. . . . It’s less crashes, less injuries, less fatalities.”

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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19
Dec

17-year-old pedestrian killed by drunk driver

December 19, 2011

A high school senior died after he was struck by a drunk driver while standing on a Brooklyn street divider on Friday around 9:40 p.m., reports the New York Daily News.

The 17-year-old man was standing on a Cropsey Avenue traffic island at Bay 37th street in Gravesend when a 2000 Dodge minivan jumped the curb and struck him.

The young man, who lived with his parents just a block away, was taken to Lutheran Medical Center, where he later died.

“He was a senior, a top student at Stuyvesant,” said his father. “He wanted to study environmental science. He believed he could make a difference. His message was always work hard, always be generous.”

The father said that his son was returning home from his school’s Board Game Society, of which he was the president.

“He stayed late on Fridays to be with his friends,” the grieving father said. “That was his fun night.”

The young man had won scholarships to a handful of colleges, including a four-year merit scholarship to Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, his parents said.

The 46-year-old van driver came to a stop after he ran the van into a light pole. He was cuffed at the scene and later charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and speeding.

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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16
Dec

New York state already bans hand-held cell phones while driving

December 16, 2011

The National Transportation Safety Board  (NTSB) recommended on Tuesday, December 13, that drivers be banned not only from texting while driving but also from placing hands-free calls, reports PC magazine.

“More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents,” NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said in a statement. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving.”

The NTSB is recommending that there be a nationwide ban on electronics while driving, but the agency focused on state efforts rather than an overarching ban from the federal level.

“A combination of enforceable state laws, high visibility enforcement, and supporting communication campaigns can reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers distracted by the use of portable electronic devices,” the NTSB concluded.

It remains to be seen what state lawmakers might do with the NTSB recommendations. Different states have different laws regarding cell phone use in the car. No state bans cell phone use outright at the point. Many do require hands-free devices or ban texting.

Along with eight other states, New York already requires hands-free mobile use while driving a vehicle, but will it ban cell phones altogether as the NTSB recommends?

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If you or someone you know were the victim of an auto accident, the New York auto accident lawyers at the William Mattar Law Offices may be able to help you.

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