Category: Personal Injury

Spinal cord injuries are the result of traumatic damage to the spinal cord, a long bundle of nerves that runs down the vertical axis of the back and conveys messages between the brain and the rest of the body. When an accident damages the spinal cord, the resulting disruption of these messages can result in paralysis. Spinal cord injuries often occur as a result of severe accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions, falls, or sports injuries.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries come in two primary types: complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury prevents feeling or movement below the injury level. With an incomplete injury, a patient might retain some feeling or movement below the injury. The impacts of a spinal cord injury can vary depending on where the injury happens along the spinal cord and how severe the damage is. All types of spinal cord injuries can lead to serious problems, like loss of the ability to move, breathe independently, or control the bladder or bowels.

Common Spinal Cord Injury Accidents

Spinal cord injuries can result from a range of traumatic events that damage or put severe pressure on the spine. Here are some common types of incidents and accidents that can cause spinal cord injuries:

• Car Accidents: Car wrecks are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. The force unleashed by vehicles traveling at high speeds can cause severe damage to the spine. Drivers and passengers might get thrown around inside the car or even ejected, leading to injuries.
• Falls: Slip-and-falls from significant heights, like from ladders, roofs, or stairs, can lead to spinal cord injuries. The impact from the landing can severely damage the spine, especially in older adults whose bones are often weaker.
• Sports Injuries: Accidents during high-intensity sports activities like football, rugby, and diving can also lead to spinal cord injuries. Sudden impacts or wrong movements can compress or twist the spine and damage it.
• Acts of Violence: Violent attacks involving guns or knives can damage the spinal cord if the spine is affected. Spinal cord injuries from acts of violence are often severe because they can involve direct cuts or damage to the nerves in the spinal cord.
• Workplace Accidents: Jobs that involve heavy lifting, climbing, or working with machinery can lead to spinal cord injuries. Traumatic accidents can happen if equipment fails or workers fall from heights in ways that cause trauma to the spine.

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Claims

An accident victim who suffers a spinal cord injury for which someone else is at fault can seek compensation from that person to cover the costs and impacts of their injuries. This can include money for:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Home modification costs
• Long-term care expenses
• Legal fees

How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help

An experienced injury lawyer in Syracuse, New York, is a critical ally for those pursuing spinal cord injury claims. They can help by:

• Investigating the details of the accident
• Gathering evidence to support a personal injury claim
• Consulting medical experts to understand the extent of the spinal cord injury
• Filing all necessary legal documents correctly and on time
• Negotiating with insurance companies on their client’s behalf
• Reviewing settlement offers to ensure they account for present and future needs
• Representing their client in court, if necessary
• Coordinating with witnesses who can testify on their client’s behalf

Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Syracuse, New York

If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in Syracuse, New York, contact Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC, for a free consultation. We want to listen to your story and determine whether we can seek fair compensation for what you’ve suffered.

Riding a bike is a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors in Syracuse. However, sharing the road with cars and trucks can lead to dangerous situations, accidents, and severe injuries. At CDH Law, our Syracuse bicycle accident lawyers have seen many cyclists come through our doors after an accident. This experience has taught us a lot about what causes these scary events.

In this blog, we’ll share the eight most common reasons why bicycle accidents happen. Whether it’s a car not seeing a cyclist or tricky road conditions, understanding these causes can help keep you safer on your next ride.

Distracted Driving

When drivers take their eyes off the road to check their phones, adjust the radio, or use a navigation device, they might not see a nearby cyclist. This lack of attention can lead to devastating accidents, especially at intersections or when drivers make turns. Cyclists, being much smaller and less protected than cars, have a high risk of severe injuries if a vehicle hits them. It’s crucial for both cyclists and drivers to stay alert and aware at all times to avoid these dangerous situations and keep our roads safe for everyone.

Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way

When drivers don’t yield the right-of-way, they can create dangerous situations for cyclists. This often happens at intersections, roundabouts, and when drivers make turns. They might not notice a cyclist or could misjudge their speed, leading them to pull out without leaving room for the cyclist or turn directly into the cyclist’s path. This can cause the cyclist to swerve unexpectedly, brake hard, or collide with the vehicle.

Unsafe Lane Changes or Turns by Vehicles

When drivers change lanes or turn without properly signaling or checking their blind spots, they risk colliding with a cyclist who is legally occupying the lane beside them. Cyclists might have little time to react, leading to crashes that can throw them off their bikes or into the path of oncoming traffic. Such maneuvers are particularly risky in busy urban areas where cyclists and vehicles share close quarters.

Opening Car Doors into a Cyclist’s Path

When drivers or passengers open their car doors without checking for oncoming cyclists, it can lead to a “dooring accident.” This occurs when a cyclist collides with an abruptly opened car door, potentially causing severe injuries or throwing the cyclist into traffic. Dooring accidents are common in urban areas where cars can park alongside cycling lanes or roads.

Poor Road Conditions or Hazards

Unlike cars, bicycles have thinner tires and less stability, making them more susceptible to accidents resulting from uneven surfaces. When cyclists encounter hazards like potholes, broken pavement, or debris in the road, they may lose control and crash or swerve suddenly into traffic to avoid them. Such situations can lead to devastating accidents, especially if there’s oncoming traffic or the cyclist is moving at a high speed.

Low Visibility Conditions

Low visibility conditions, such as nighttime cycling, fog, or heavy rain, significantly increase the risk of bicycle accidents. In such conditions, it’s harder for drivers to see cyclists and for cyclists to spot hazards in their path. Reflective gear, proper lighting, and brightly colored clothing are crucial so that cyclists can increase their visibility. However, even with precautions, reduced visibility can lead to close calls or accidents if drivers don’t pay extra attention.

Impaired Drivers

Impaired driving, including drunk or drug-impaired driving, is a significant danger to cyclists. An impaired driver’s reduced reaction times, impaired judgment, and altered perception significantly increase the risk of not seeing a cyclist or misjudging their speed and distance from the vehicle. This can lead to tragic accidents, as impaired drivers may swerve into bike lanes, run stop signs, or fail to yield the right-of-way.

Intersection Conflicts

Intersection conflicts occur when drivers and cyclists misunderstand each other’s intentions or ignore traffic signals. Cyclists may have the right-of-way, but drivers making a quick turn may not see them or could misjudge their speed, leading to collisions. Similarly, cyclists who don’t adhere to traffic signals can surprise drivers, causing abrupt and dangerous reactions.

Contact Our Syracuse Bicycle Accident Attorneys Today

If you sustained injuries from a negligent driver while riding your bike, the team at CDH Law can represent you in your fight for fair compensation. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation.

Black Friday, known for its amazing deals, can also bring unexpected dangers in crowded retail environments. This article explores the potential liabilities of retailers in the event of injuries sustained on their premises. From inadequate security measures to poor crowd management, retailers might be held accountable if they neglect their duty of care to shoppers.

Can You Sue a Retailer for a Black Friday Injury?

The bustling chaos of Black Friday, marked by eager shoppers hunting for the best deals, can sometimes take a dangerous turn. In the midst of the frenzy, injuries may occur. This raises the legal question: can retailers be held responsible for Black Friday injuries? Let’s take a look at the legal implications surrounding retailer liability in New York and shed light on the factors that may determine whether a retailer is accountable for injuries sustained during the Black Friday shopping extravaganza.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season with massive discounts and promotions. As retailers strive to attract throngs of customers, the responsibility to ensure a safe shopping environment becomes paramount. In legal terms, this duty of care requires retailers to take reasonable measures to protect their customers from foreseeable harm.

One of the primary concerns on Black Friday is the potential for overcrowding and stampedes. Retailers must implement effective crowd management strategies to prevent injuries. In the event of insufficient crowd control measures leading to injuries, the retailer may be held liable. This could include failing to establish orderly queues, neglecting to control entrance and exit points, or ignoring occupancy limits set by local authorities.

Inadequate security can also be a concern. Maintaining a secure shopping environment is a fundamental obligation for retailers. Inadequate security measures, such as a lack of trained personnel or failure to monitor surveillance systems, may contribute to incidents like theft, assaults, or trampling. If a retailer’s negligence in providing adequate security directly results in injuries, they may be held legally responsible.

The arrangement of merchandise and display structures can also play a role in Black Friday injuries. Retailers must ensure that their product displays are stable and safe, reducing the risk of accidents caused by collapsing shelves or falling items. Failure to maintain a safe shopping environment may lead to liability if injuries occur as a result of poorly placed or unstable merchandise.

To mitigate the risk of liability and prioritize customer safety, retailers should consider implementing the following best practices:

• Robust crowd control measures: Establish clear entry and exit points, enforce orderly queues, and communicate with customers to prevent overcrowding.
• Adequate security personnel: Employ trained security personnel to monitor the premises, deter criminal activity, and respond promptly to incidents.
• Regular safety inspections: Conduct routine safety inspections to identify and address potential hazards, including unstable displays and overcrowded areas.
• Emergency response plan: Develop and communicate an effective emergency response play, ensuring that staff is well-prepared to handle various situations, including medical emergencies and evacuations.

Central New York Personal Injury Attorneys

In the event of Black Friday injuries caused by a retailer’s negligence, legal avenues may be pursued to seek compensation. The team at CDH Law is here to help you enforce your right to be fully compensated for your injuries. Contact us today.

Sometimes, if there is a drinking and driving accident or a hit and run, there will be a criminal case coinciding with a personal injury case. For instance, if a drunk driver gets into an accident that injures someone else, the intoxicated driver will likely go on to face criminal charges as well as a civil suit where the injury victim will pursue compensation for the harm they have suffered. This blog will discuss what injured clients should consider when navigating the civil lawsuit system at the same time as a criminal case. Should you wait until after the criminal case wraps up to go forward with your personal injury suit? We will answer this question and more.

What Happens When a Criminal Case and Personal Injury Case Are at the Same Time?

Criminal cases and civil cases have different purposes. The purpose of a criminal case is to punish the criminal offender for their unlawful behavior. The purpose of a civil case is to compensate the party injured by negligent or wrongful behavior. Another big difference between criminal cases and civil cases is the burden of proof. The burden of proof in a criminal case is much higher than it is in a civil case. In fact, it is the highest legal burden there is and that is the “beyond a reasonable doubt” burden.

So, where would a criminal case and a personal injury case overlap? Well, when criminal behavior ends up injuring someone else, two separate cases can develop. In the instance of a drunk driving accident, the drunk driver can be charged with a DUI. If the drunk driver caused an accident resulting in injury to another, the charges can be raised to a more serious level. On the other side of things, the injury victim can bring a civil suit pursuing compensation for the losses they sustained in the accident. A civil suit, however, will only be necessary if the insurance provider for the drunk driver fails to make an acceptable settlement offer on the victim’s claim.

Will the criminal case impact the civil case or vice versa? Not likely and, if at all, not really. The two suits will likely overlap significantly, however, in terms of the evidence presented. Much of the evidence the district attorney brings in the criminal case is likely going to come into play during the civil case. Evidence will include things like proof of the drunk driver’s level of intoxication. This would involve blood alcohol content test results, eyewitness accounts of the accident and the drunk driver’s reckless behavior, accident reports, and more. If the criminal case results in a criminal conviction, this may be used as evidence to support the drunk driver’s reckless behavior and support the liability assertion in the civil case. It may even help support an award for punitive damages, which are only awarded in exceptional cases of driver recklessness or gross negligence.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, however, you should not wait for the criminal case to proceed or wrap up. Time is of the essence in personal injury cases and the sooner you can retain legal counsel and begin the process of bringing your claim, the better.

Central New York Personal Injury Attorneys

After being injured by a drunk driver, do not delay. The team at CDH Law is here to begin immediate work on investigating and building your personal injury claim to help ensure your legal rights are protected. Contact us today.

There has been a recent recall over potentially explosive airbag parts. Over 33 million people in the U.S. could be driving vehicles with airbag inflators that, in rare cases, explode in a collision and send dangerous shrapnel flying. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has demanded that the manufacturers of these vehicles recall the approximately 67 million airbag inflators that have this explosion risk. Amidst these recall demands, a broader conversation over airbag safety has given way. It is important to know that airbags, in most cases, will save lives rather than endanger them. That being said, there is a risk of air bag injuries and that is what we will discuss today.

Understanding Air Bag Injuries

Airbags are usually located in the steering column of a vehicle. They can also be commonly found in the dashboard in front of the passenger’s seat as well as the sides of the driver and passenger seats. Made of light fabric, airbags are connected to a crash sensor that, upon detecting a collision, will trigger an igniter that fills the airbag with gas. The deployment and expansion of the airbag take only a fraction of a section and happen with a significant amount of force. The bag expanded with the gas is meant to cushion the impact of a crash if you are thrown forward or to the side of the vehicle and avoid being thrown into the hard surfaces that surround you in the vehicle.

Airbags do save lives and can prevent far more serious injuries from being incurred by a vehicle occupant, but the force and nature of an airbag deploying can cause injury in and of itself. The gas used to inflate the airbag has been known to cause or exacerbate respiratory problems. Other common airbag injuries include:

• Facial bruising and fractures
• Chest injuries
• Heart injuries
• Burns on the chest, arms, and face
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head injuries
• Eye injuries from chemical irritation
• Eye injuries from airbag impact
• Internal organ damage

While these injuries are absolutely serious, they are often still better than what could have been without airbag deployment. There are, however, instances when airbag sensors malfunction and the airbags deploy when they shouldn’t. There are also instances when an airbag defect renders the airbag unnecessarily dangerous or ineffective. In these instances, you may be able to recover compensation for the harm you suffered from the hazardous airbag from parties such as the airbag or automobile manufacturer or anyone who was responsible for inspecting, maintaining, or replacing the airbag after you purchased the vehicle. You would be bringing a product liability claim and, in order to be successful in your claim, you would need to prove that the airbag was defective and that this defect was the direct cause of the harm you suffered.

Central New York Personal Injury Attorneys

Injured in a crash? Injured by an airbag? At CDH Law, we got you covered. We will help you pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries from the responsible parties. Contact us today.

Severe burns can play a big role in a number of different types of personal injury claims. For starters, those involved in vehicle accidents, whether it be a car, truck, or something else, can sustain severe burns for a number of reasons. Others may sustain a severe burn due to a dangerous property condition that led to a house fire or a defective product such as a space heater. Regardless of the specific cause, a severe burn can have devastating and lasting implications for a person’s health and well-being. The full extent of the impacts that can come with such an injury should be accounted for in any personal injury damage award pursued to help ensure the victim is properly compensated.

Symptoms and Effects of Severe Burn Injuries

The immediate symptoms of a severe burn can be really painful and uncomfortable in and of themselves. Such symptoms include:

• Blistering
• Pain
• Swelling
• Pale and clammy skin
• Weakness
• Peeling skin
• Decreased alertness

While many who suffer even severe burns make a successful recovery with minimal long-term impacts beyond scarring, many of these kinds of injuries have effects spanning a person’s entire lifetime. In fact, the health risks associated with a severe burn have led some medical experts to advocate for this type of injury to be classified as a chronic disease. The fact that severe burns have been linked to increased risks for so many other serious health conditions means that classifying it as a chronic disease would help healthcare providers monitor a patient’s condition to more effectively and efficiently identify when these other health concerns arose.

Severe burns have been shown to increase the risk of:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Circulatory system disease
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Anxiety and depression
• PTSD
• Hypermetabolism
• Nervous system conditions
• Infectious disease
• Chronic and persistent pain

In addition to having an increased risk for all of these serious health conditions, burn victims also face the potential to have persistent and long-term health problems associated with the burn injury itself. For instance, those who have suffered severe burns often have continuous problems with the burn site after it has healed. Hypertrophic scarring, for instance, is a really common complication to experience with a burn injury. This refers to the raised skin that forms around the original burn during the healing process. This scarring can have a serious impact on the burn victim’s ability to function, however. It can also have seriously detrimental impacts on their body image, leading to depression.

Contractures are also complications that arise as a result of a burn that has healed, but the scar continues to develop. As the scar continues to mature, it thickens and tightens which leads to a constriction of movement. This is particularly a problem when the scarring is happening over a joint. When these types of scars develop on the joints of the lower extremities, it can be difficult for the person to take a seat and walk around. When these types of scars develop on the upper extremities, activities of daily living can become very difficult if not impossible. Those tasks requiring fine motor skills can be particularly difficult depending on where the scarring has occurred. 

Central New York Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have suffered a severe burn injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, make sure the full extent of your injury’s impacts is taken into account. At CDH Law, we fight to help ensure our clients are fully compensated for the harm they have suffered. Contact us today.

New Yorkers wait through a seemingly endless amount of snow days, cold days, and overcast days until we get to summer. It really is a magical time for the state and you will see people out in droves to enjoy the season. While you are out enjoying the fine weather and the school break with your family, be sure to take care and be aware of some of the risks that summer brings along with the nicer weather. This can be a critical step towards keeping everyone that much safer.

Summertime and Personal Injuries: What Is the Correlation? 

It seems that, yes, summertime does have a heightened risk of personal injury. This is the season that has traditionally proved to show increases in the number of accidents and personal injury claims. So, as you make those summer plans and enjoy all that the season has to offer, be aware of those factors that seem to contribute to that increased risk of personal injury in the summer and take precautionary steps accordingly.

One type of personal injury incident that seems to increase in the summer is the occurrence of motor vehicle crashes. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the time frame between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a primary time for motor vehicle crashes across the country. This is likely due to a number of factors. Consider, for instance, the fact that summer brings an increased number of drivers onto the road. The weather is nice and people are on vacation, driving roads they may be unfamiliar with. They are taking trips and getting out to enjoy the weather. There also tends to be more road construction in the summer as well as more teen drivers and more drinking and driving.

Bicycle accidents also tend to be common in the summer month. Bicycling can be a great way to enjoy the beautiful summer months and, thus, tends to be a more popular pastime and form of transportation in this season. More bikes out there, more cars out there, and more pedestrians out there, combined with other factors like increased road construction, however, all contribute to the chances of a bike accident occurring. If you plan to be out on your bike this summer, be sure you are fitted with the proper safety gear, such as a helmet, and familiarize yourself with your biking route as well as the relevant laws applicable to bike riding.

Slip and falls are also a problem in the summer months. While winter may bring ice and snow, summer brings rainy days, cracks in concrete, and hazards littering lawns everywhere, including ladders, landscaping equipment, and toys. Kids are outside running around. Adults are running around trying to wrangle them. Take care when you are out and about. 

Summertime also is a common time for other personal injury accidents including:

• Dog bites
• Pedestrian accidents
• Electric scooter accidents
• Amusement park accidents
• Pool accidents

Central New York Personal Injury Attorneys

Enjoy this summer season as safely as possible. Should you be injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can count on the team at CDH Law to protect and enforce your legal rights. Contact us today.

The fact is that, even on the best days, a construction site is a dangerous place to be. Workers are doing intense physical labor that is often highly skilled as well. There are powerful machines. Often, work is done at great heights or on the side of the road. Because of this, there are inherent risks to working construction jobs. Construction workers injured on the job can often be living with serious injuries, constant pain, and financial problems exacerbated by steep medical bills and missed work.

Fortunately, the law provides a variety of legal protections to help injured workers seek proper compensation for the harm they have suffered. Understanding your rights and how to access them is critical. Our team at CDH Law can help you do just that and help secure you full and fair compensation for your construction site injuries.

What Are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in a Construction Accident?

Because of the range and variety of dangers present on construction sites, there is also a range and variety of injuries that commonly take place in construction work. Often, however, the injuries are severe. Some of the most common injuries sustained on construction sites include:

• Broken bones
• Knee and other joint injuries
• Spinal cord injuries (in severe cases, this can include paraplegia or quadriplegia)
• Shoulder injuries
• Vision impairment or blindness
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Chemical exposure injuries
• Electrocution

It may also come as no surprise that these injuries are often caused by the most common types of construction site accidents. Among the most common types of accidents that occur on construction sites, falling from significant heights is among the most prominent. Workers on construction sites often find themselves at elevated heights. This may be working in a building or on scaffolding. Sometimes, the use of machinery elevates workers to significantly above ground level. Falling from any one of these things can easily be fatal or at the very least lead to significant injuries.

Workers can also fall into pits, holes, and ditches located throughout many construction sites. There are also trenches dug for various reasons and it is not uncommon for these trenches to collapse. Workers in collapsed trenches risk having their air supply cut off. Furthermore, there is the risk of sustaining injury by being crushed in the trench collapse.

As previously stated, the big machines on a construction site can be a big risk to workers. Between the power tools and machinery, as well as working with generators and electrical wiring, it is understandable that electric shock is also among one of the most common construction site accidents. Workers can suffer serious electrical burns as a result. This can lead to both external and internal damage to the body as the electric current may run through the body.

Central New York Construction Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured on a construction site, understanding your rights to compensation can be critical to helping you get back on your feet. You may be able to pursue compensation through a third-party lawsuit. The team at CDH Law is here to help. Contact us today.