Articles Posted in Personal Injury

Pedestrian-Safety-scaledWalking is a great way to get around and get some exercise in the process. Pedestrians can help reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying some fresh air. No wonder walking has become increasingly popular in recent times. However, if you prefer walking, being aware of the risks of being involved in a pedestrian accident is crucial. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a recent year alone, there were roughly 6,300 pedestrians killed in traffic-related accidents. When on foot, you are approximately 1.5 times more susceptible to being fatally injured in an accident than car occupants. 

Every 9 minutes, a pedestrian suffers injuries caused by contact with a vehicle. Given the vast difference between the weight and velocity of your average vehicle and a pedestrian, it is understandable why foot-travelers are so vulnerable, especially considering they lack all protections. Consequently, pedestrian accident injuries are rarely just minor cuts and bruises. 

Common Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents

Dont-Tailgate-Blog-scaledIf you or a loved one were involved in a car accident, there is a one-in-three chance it was a rear-end collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-enders account for over 32 percent of all car accidents. While many of these accidents occur at low speeds, rear-end collisions still cause severe injuries and deaths.

You may be wondering why fender benders occur so often. Most rear-end collisions are caused by driver error. Although you cannot change how other motorists behave, you have complete control over your driving. In this blog, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s battle-tested car accident lawyers will discuss essential tips to avoid rear-end collisions. 

Safety Measures That Will Lower Your Risk

How-to-Handle-Road-Rage-A-Defensive-GuideRoad rage refers to a driver’s intense anger, typically sparked by another’s provoking behavior and manifested through aggressive or violent actions. In recent years, road rage incidents have hit record highs throughout the United States. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), experiencing aggressive driving has become all too common, with approximately 80 percent of motorists reporting at least one incident within the past month.

Aggressive driving frequently escalates into all-out road rage, such as forcing other vehicles off the road, brake checking, or even ramming into others. It typically involves intimidation and attempts to damage cars or injure other drivers. Unfortunately, road rage accidents result in much more devastating injuries due to aggressiveness, high speeds, and violent impacts than other collisions. Over 30 victims’ lives are senselessly taken in road rage-related incidents yearly.

Why Do Drivers Experience Road Rage

Driving-in-bad-weather-scaledWhile car crashes can happen just about any time, the risk of being involved in a collision significantly increases in bad weather. In fact, bad weather conditions are notorious for causing devastating car accidents throughout Western New York. Heavy rain, intense snowfall, poor visibility, and slick roads can all easily cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Driving in poor weather conditions is even more dangerous when drivers fail to take proper safety precautions to prevent unnecessary accidents.  

Safety Tips For Avoiding Inclement Weather-Related Crashes

All motorists have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care while driving in unfavorable weather conditions, which includes taking the appropriate safety precautions and driving more cautiously. Below, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s battle-tested lawyers have listed the best practices to minimize your risk of being involved in a bad-weather car accident:

HIT-AND-RUN-BLOG-scaledThe streets of New York State have become a battleground for a disturbing trend: hit-and-run collisions. In a perfect world, every motorist would adhere to the law, stopping and exchanging information after a collision. But alas, some drivers seem to have a knack for playing hide-and-seek with responsibility. They strike another vehicle, a cyclist, or even an innocent pedestrian, only to vanish into thin air, leaving victims stunned and vulnerable. As hit-and-run accidents increase in Western New York, it’s time to arm yourself with knowledge and protection. The renowned legal experts at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. are sounding the alarm and urging you to join the ranks of the prepared. In this guide, we will unveil the secrets to safeguarding yourself from these evasive culprits so that you can confidently and safely navigate the roads.

Are You In Danger Of Being Involved In A Hit-And-Run?

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the following factors could increase your risk of being a victim of a hit-and-run accident:

ERIE-DROWSY-DRIVER-scaledDiscover the hidden epidemic sweeping our nation’s roads, threatening the lives of countless innocent individuals: drowsy driving. In a sleep-deprived society where the average American gets less than 7 hours of rest each night, the consequences can be dire. Astonishingly, despite the universal understanding that driving while drowsy is a recipe for disaster, a staggering 40% of drivers openly confess to embarking on their journeys in a fatigued state. Brace yourself for an even more alarming statistic: a shocking 20% of motorists, in the past year alone, have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel.

Sleep-deprived drivers can quickly doze off for a few seconds without realizing it. While this might seem harmless, at 65 miles per hour, you could drive the length of an entire football field in that time. Additionally, being awake for over 20 hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent. In a recent year alone, drowsy drivers were responsible for at least 684 known fatalities. Sadly, most devastating accidents could have easily been prevented with proper due diligence and reasonable care.

Crucial Tips To Avoid Drowsy Driving

DICTIONARY-scaledEach year, tens of millions of accidents occur throughout the United States, such as rear-end collisions and falls down the stairs. Jed Dietrich, Esq., understands that you may face physical, psychological, and financial troubles. We may be able to seek monetary compensation for all of your damages in a personal injury lawsuit. Many of our clients become overwhelmed with the new terms they encounter during the duration of their injury claims. Understanding relevant words and phrases can help reduce your stress level. Below, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s attorneys have defined some important personal injury legal terms that our clients frequently ask about:

  1. Negligence: Most injury claims are based on the legal theory of negligence. Negligence involves a breach of the duty of care or a failure to act reasonably to avoid causing an unnecessary injury. 
  2. Causation: An element needed to prove a defendant’s negligence. Causation pertains to a causal link between the defendant’s conduct and the plaintiff’s injuries. This element provides a critical means of connecting the defendant’s specific action(s) with its impact on the victim. 

10-Meanest-Dog-Blog-scaledEvery year, more than 4.7 million victims throughout the United States are bitten or attacked by dogs. Roughly 20% of those attacked by canines require urgent medical care. Although usually born good-natured, dogs can become mean if mistreated or in dire circumstances. Dogs also tend to be aggressive if they feel they are defending themselves or their owners. Many negative behaviors are caused by inadequate training, improper socialization, and lack of exercise. Certain diseases and genetic mutations can also cause canines to behave overly aggressively.

The Top 10 Meanest Dogs According To A-Z Animals

  1. Basenji: While Basenjis are extremely intelligent and usually bond tightly with their owners, this breed is notorious for being aloof towards strangers. This breed requires a lot of socialization to make them more tolerant of others.

What-Happens-Now-scaledThe Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s battle-tested attorneys have seen the devastating impact serious accidents can have on victims and, ultimately, their loved ones. After suffering severe injuries in a personal injury accident, it is not unusual for victims to have many unanswered questions. Our elite team has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding injury claims. Below are our answers to the most common questions about accident claims.

  1. Do I have a personal injury case? Suppose you believe you have suffered an injury caused by another’s negligence or recklessness. In that case, you might be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim.
  2. What are the most common causes of personal injuries? The most prevalent types of personal injury cases our attorneys encounter are car collisions, motorcycle crashes, slip and fall accidents, dog bite injuries, product liability claims, and medical malpractice cases.

Causation-scaledIn a personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove the defendant was negligent by demonstrating liability. To accomplish this, the plaintiff must establish the four legal elements of negligence. Causation is the third legal element needed to prove the defendant’s negligence. The legal term causation refers to the causal link between the defendant’s conduct and the plaintiff’s damages. In other words, causation provides a crucial way to connect a specific action or inaction by the defendant with its effect on the victim. The defendant’s conduct must have led to the victim’s injuries to prove causation. 

The Two Facets Of Causation

The two main aspects of causation include:

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