Distracted Driving

Published on: August 2, 2012

Multi-car Accident Could Have Been Much Worse

by Stephen Bilkis

Several cars were involved in recent multicar accident Staten Island which started after a flatbed truck collided with another vehicle. The chain reaction continued and eventually eight cars were involved in the pileup. In total, five vehicles, many with multiple passengers inside, were damaged in the incident, states a witness.

The car accident started near a construction side which may or may not have been the cause of slowing traffic at the time of the event. The truck driver was unable to slow down quickly enough to avoid hitting the vehicle immediately in front of him. The truck’s stopping time was longer than usual because there was sand on the portion of the road where the accident took place.

The midday accident might have been worse if it had happened during rush hour when more cars would have been on the road. Of the eleven people who were spread amongst the five vehicles, only three escaped without any noticeable injuries; the other eight people were sent to hospitals to receive treatment for a wide variety of minor injuries. At least one of the people involved in the accident was a toddler, who was properly placed in his car seat at the time of the incident.

Published on: July 27, 2012

Recent SUV Rollover Accident Claims Life of Composer’s Brother

by Stephen Bilkis

During a recent musical tour the brother of Aasdesh Shrivastava, a famous composer, was killed when there was a crash during a convoy as the tour moved between cities. The brother was working as a manager for a renowned Pakistani singer. The brother was riding a vehicle directly behind the performer’s the when the incident took place. The headline singer escaped unharmed.

While the group traveled between events, the driver of the lead vehicle an SUV, lost control of the vehicle and rolled the car several times. SUVs tend to be top heavy and are more prone to toppling over or rolling than smaller cars which are lower to the ground, explains an expert .

It is unknown, pending further investigation by the police, what caused the driver to be distracted at that moment. Unfortunately, when driving an SUV, a momentary distraction that causes a vehicle to go off course followed by a sudden correction when the driver realizes their error can often lead to these types of accidents.

Published on: July 25, 2012

Single Car Accident Litters a Highway and Median

by Stephen Bilkis

Pieces of a sedan involved in a recent car accident were strewn across the highway and into the median as crews attempted to clean up the scene. The single car accident resulted in the death of the woman driving the vehicle and the hospitalization of her husband, who was also in the vehicle at the time, reports a witness.

The woman briefly lost control of her SUV; it is unknown what caused her to swerve to the side of the road and hit the guardrail. After attempting to correct the course of the vehicle, the woman overcorrected and caused the vehicle to roll. Because SUVs are more top heavy than sedans, they are much more likely to the roll when they change direction suddenly.

The woman was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled because she was not wearing her seatbelt at the time. The woman’s husband was also not wearing his seatbelt but he remained with the vehicle as it rolled although his body did partial leave the SUV. This situation exemplifies the importance of wearing seatbelts, explains a policeman.

Published on: July 15, 2012

Seymour Gutin while driving north on the East River drive with his wife had their windows open

by Stephen Bilkis

Seymour Gutin while driving north on the East River drive in Manhattan with his wife had their windows open. It was a dry day that is why they had it down. After passing the 95th street, he notices pieces of concrete came in through his open window and one of them hit his eye. Near the 96th street intersection was the time he realized that he was bleeding. He hurriedly drove to the 116th street, which was the nearest exit and asked a policeman for help. It was found out by a reporter, that the police officer drove Mr. and Mrs. Gutin to the hospital where they removed his eye because of the extent of the damage.

The car was examined by the police, and they found four pieces of broken concrete. A suit was filed against Frank Mascali & Sons, Inc. They are the company that was incharge of the construction of an overpass between East 92nd Street and East 99th Street along the East River Drive. Checking on the contract, a Lawyer said that they were paid to make sure of the safety in the highways with respect to the construction and maintaining the traffic. There was a power house that was in that location which was part of their contract to demolish and use any product that can be used as filling for the road. Some of the by-products needed to be broken to smaller pieces before they can use it.

A Queens policeman assigned to the corner where the crane was used to break the concrete to smaller pieces testified that they utilized the ball to pound on the concrete to break it. A witness mentioned that the officer could cite a similar incident two weeks before what happened to Mr. Gutin because he had it recorded. He said he had warned the operating of the crane and some supervisors about the method. In the examination Frank Mascali & Sons, Inc.’s construction engineer confirmed the use of the ball to get the product they needed. He was not presented in the trial. In the trial, the concrete pieces found in Mr. Gutin’s car were also entered into evidence. The defense presented a receipt to counter the allegations. The receipt said that the delivery was delayed because the crane was not working. There were three signatories in the receipt but not one of them was the one who wrote that the delay was due to the malfunction of the crane. The crane operator signed a statement that he was operating the crane on the day of Mr. Gutin’s accident and noticed a blue car, the color of Mr. Gutin’s car near the intersection. The operator though says he can barely recall it. He testified though that he wouldn’t sign the document unless he was sure.

Published on: July 10, 2012

Local Teacher Killed in Car Accident

by Stephen Bilkis

A local woman from Manhattan was killed last weekend after her car went off the side of the road and struck a light pole. After the woman’s car hit the pole, the vehicle then flipped over. The driver was then throw part way through the window of the vehicle, explains a witness. The police report did not state whether or not the woman was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the car accident. The woman was dead by the time that rescue crews arrived on the scene.

At this point it was unknown what caused the woman’s vehicles to leave the road while traveling at such high speeds. Police did not immediately suspect alcohol as a factor in the incident. There are many other possible distractions that might have caused the erratic driving, says a reporter.

The woman, who was in her mid-twenties, was a much loved local school teacher. Her students spent the last few days sharing their memories of her and writing remembrances. The school had some grief counselors available for students to talk so that they could sort out their feelings.

Published on: July 8, 2012

Patricia Bono, driving her vehicle was hit by Philip Rose

by Stephen Bilkis

Patricia Bono, driving her vehicle was hit by Philip Rose, who was driving his truck. This happened at the intersection of Boyle Road and Hawkins Road in the Town of Brookhaven. Mr. Rose’s truck hit the passenger side of the Ms. Bono’s vehicle. Around a week before July 16, 2007, Mr. Rose took his vehicle to Halben’s Tire City, Inc. because he was experiencing problems with his breaks. He left his vehicle there with the assurance that someone will call him to let him know what the problem was. At the time that he went back to get his truck, which was July 13, 2007, he was told that the vehicle needed more work done, and he would need to go back to have them do it. Mr. Rose said that when he took his vehicle, he was told that the breaks would be fine in the 2-3 days before he takes it back to them. He said that when he drove off it was okay. The second day after it a bit more difficult to break and on the third day of having the truck, which was the day of the car accident, he said that the break was failing. A reporter got hold of his testimony at his deposition that stated that he noticed he had problems stopping, but he eventually did prior to hitting Ms. Bono’s car.

A case was filed against Halben’s Tire City, Inc. also doing business as Theo’s Car Care Center. In the petition of Ms. Bono, she stated that Halben’s Tire City, Inc. was liable for her injuries because of their negligence. According to a witness, she alleged that their negligence showed in sending a dangerous vehicle on the rods without warning to the owner. They are saying that they violated their agreement with Mr. Rose as they did not fully repair the breaks of the vehicle.

There was no case filed against Mr. Rose because Ms. Bono has already settled her claim with Mr. Rose. The papers presented say that Mr. Rose gave $100,000, the full coverage of his insurance policy. This payment was the condition that released Mr. Rose from any other claims that may arise from the Brooklyn accident.

Published on: July 5, 2012

Events Surrounding Two-Car Accident Being Examined

by Stephen Bilkis

An SUV and a sedan collided on Tuesday when the driver of the SUV ran a stop sign, witnesses report. The driver of the sedan had to be removed from her vehicle by the firefighter who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Police are still investigating the witness’s accounts of the events to determine if the SUV really did run through the stop sign, reports a source.

The woman, after being removed from the vehicle, was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for her injuries; as she was loaded into the ambulance, the woman complained of injuries throughout the majority of her body. Police have not released any further updates on the woman’s condition and it is unknown whether or not she is still hospitalized.

The driver of the SUV was injured in the accident, but received only minor injuries which did not require hospitalization. The woman driving the sedan was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the incident while the driver of the SUV was not. A Lawyer explains that the relative sizes of the vehicle probably provided greater protection to the SUV driver. The woman’s injuries would have been more severe if she had not been wearing her seatbelt, and, without the seatbelt, she might have been thrown from the car.

Published on: June 20, 2012

Thirteen people died in a car accident

by Stephen Bilkis

Thirteen people died in a car accident when a farm vehicle transporting field laborers crashed into a truck that was pulling a trailer. The farm vehicle, a conversion van which was over 15 years old, had not been properly inspected for several years, states a N York Car Accident Lawyer. The van crumpled upon impact leaving only two of the fifteen people in the car alive; the two survivors suffered severe injuries as a result of the collision.

The driver had a history of mostly minor traffic violations. The majority of which were moving violations although he was charged with driving while intoxicated several years before the accident. He was driving without a license at the time of the injuries. Although unknown with certainty at the time of this accident, it is suspected that many of the victims in this accident were not United States citizens.

All of the people in the van were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Although in general passengers in vehicles are required to wear seatbelts, the law in Long Island does not apply to farm vehicles which are subject to less stringent safety regulations.

Published on: June 18, 2012

Teen Dies After High Speed Chase

by Stephen Bilkis

Three teenagers were in a speeding vehicle which was the instigator in a recent car accident. The three passengers were in high school at the time. It was the younger of the two boys who was killed as the car the boys were driving collided with an SUV. The police have formally charged the boy who was driving at the time of the accident; although more charges may be forthcoming, reports a witness, as the police continue to investigate the event.

The three teenagers were out driving and had just filled up the car at the time of the accident. The older boy’s girlfriend was pregnant at the time of the car accident accident. The young man was probably dealing with the many emotions that surround impending fatherhood when he was recklessly drove the vehicle through the college town that both boys called home.

It has been alleged that the boys had put gasoline into their vehicle and then driven off without paying for the gas. The car was traveling at approximately 90 miles per hour at the time the car smashed into the SUV. The car had been driving somewhat suspiciously when a police car spotted them and began to follow the car. When the driver decided to accelerate to such dangerous speeds was immediately after the police officer attempted to pull over the vehicle.

Published on: June 6, 2012

On August 9, 2003, Elizabeth Jaynes was walking near or at the intersection of Station Road and Hampton Avenue in Bellport, New York.

by Stephen Bilkis

On August 9, 2003, Elizabeth Jaynes was walking near or at the intersection of Station Road and Hampton Avenue in Bellport, New York. This was around midnight. While trying to cross Station Road, she hit by a car being driven by Justine M. Wilkens. The vehicle which was owned by Steven P. Wilkens was going north on Station Road. Ms. Jaynes was thrown off onto the southbound lane. While lying on the road after the hit, she was struck by another vehicle, this time the one being driven by Joseph B. McPartland. This vehicle was leased by Joseph B. McPartland’s father, Michael E. McPartland from Chase Manhattan Automobile Finance Corporation.

Ms. Jaynes did not remember anything that happened in the accident. According to Ms. Wilkens, she has been a licensed driver for about a month before the accident happened. She said that she has driven in that road at least ten times before. In her statement, she also said that it was misting but the road was dry. She did not need the wind shield wipers, and her headlights were on. She further stated that the area was not well lit. She first saw Ms. Jaynes and the friend as they were stepping of the sidewalk. She said that she was travelling at thirty miles per hour. A Lawyer found out that in her sworn statement after the accident at the scene she said she was driving at about 35-40 miles per hour. The speed limit in that road is thirty miles per hour. She said that Ms. Jaynes and her companion were walking and Ms. Jaynes suddenly crossed her path while the other woman was on the untraveled path. She then hit her brakes but did not swerve of sound her horn. Ms. Jaynes hit the hood of the car and flew to the southbound lane of the road. She pulled over at the side of the road and tried to call 911 but she said her phone failed. Her friend Robert McGuiniss was driving behind her, and they were conversing when Ms. Jaynes was struck again. They saw a blue pick-up travelling south and there were no other vehicles in front of it.

Mr. McGuiniss testified that he learned of the car accident when he saw Ms. Wilkens brake and pull over on the side of the road. According to a witness, he said that he thought she hit a bag of garbage that flew over the car. He also said that he did not see Ms. Wilkens apply her brakes until after the intersection of Hampton Avenue. He said that after talking with Ms. Wilkens, he walked towards where Ms. Jaynes lain, but before he could get there was a blue pick-up that passed. He said that he had to jump back in order to avoid getting hit. In his statement, he also mentioned that there were no other vehicles that passed other than the pick-up. He said that the pick-up hit Ms. Jaynes with the driver’s side, the brakes were applied and the vehicle skidded over Ms. Jaynes.