Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

What to know about buying a new car, Part II

Published on: September 4, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

As Labor Day draws near, many of our readers will be focused on having one last summer party or getaway before we unofficially turn to fall. (The actual start of fall is not for a few weeks). But for car salespeople and car buyers alike, this weekend in Syracuse, New York is going to be a banner event. Many people are going to be looking for markdowns on 2015 model year cars, and dealers will likely oblige so that they can make room for 2016 models.

In a post a few weeks ago, we highlighted a couple of things that car buyers should be aware of as they shop. While body styles, bells and whistles and financing options may make some cars attractive, car buyers should not lose sight of the safety issues that could arise after they drive off the lot. With that, this post will focus on additional safety tips for prospective car buyers.

Look for recall notices – While many recall notices have focused on cars already on the market, new cars may be subject to recalls, even though they have not been sold yet. It may be worth asking the sales people if they know of any, but they are not obligated by law to know of recalls. Checking recalls.gov is a good place to start.

Could your medical device be hacked?

Published on: September 2, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a prior post, we highlighted how some vehicles could be vulnerable to unauthorized users hacking into the car’s system to cause it to lose power, to have the braking systems operate (or cease to operate) without the driver’s knowledge. A user also described how his Jeep Cherokee was driven into a ditch by hackers.

If a car’s cruise control and braking system can be compromised, it is no wonder that people are afraid of medical devices being hacked in the same manner. It may seem a bit like science fiction, but it can actually happen.

According to a recent popularscience.com report, infusion pumps could be vulnerable to cyber attacks. These devices are responsible for introducing medicines into a person’s body as well as regulating certain functions. Essentially, hackers could take control of the device and possibly disable it, which could have an effect on a person’s health and well being.

Three things that won’t come out in insurance commercials

Published on: September 1, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

As we get closer to the start of the new college football season, it will be only a matter of time until you begin seeing commercials regarding insurance. Whether it is for automotive coverage, motorcycle coverage or renter’s insurance, companies will be vying for consumer dollars when the games kick off because so many more eyes will be on them…the games, that is.

Nevertheless, insurance commercials are popular; and they have to be given the level of competition between carriers. But for as much as insurance providers seem to be providing great deals, there are quite a few things that they are not telling you. This post will highlight a few of them.

Young drivers are destined to pay more – Despite what you may hear about “name your price” deals and safe driver rebates, drivers who are under 25 years old are more likely to pay more because they are more of a risk to ensure.

Important things teen drivers and their parents should discuss

Published on: August 31, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Part of the allure of a new school year for teens is the chance to meet new people or reconnect with people they have not seen all summer. This may include going to parties, football games and movie premieres. The new school year can be especially exciting for teens who recently received their driver’s licenses.

With that anticipation comes the potential for disaster; even with the application of graduated license rules. After all, teen drivers are more likely to be in an accident than any other group of drivers. Because of this, teen drivers and their parents have important conversations about safety that they must have. This post will highlight some of the rules that must be established.

No cell phone use while behind the wheel – As much as distracted driving is a problem in New York, teen drivers should not contribute to it. Because of this, teen drivers should not use their cell phones while driving. If a text or a call is important enough, pulling over is the right thing to do.

Why restaurants should be careful about throwing food

Published on: August 29, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

When you think about the diners and eateries featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives,” there are many quirky restaurants featured; but the common theme with all of these restaurants is that they have great food, great service and great stories about how they were founded.

One diner in the Ozark region of Missouri has a unique tradition of tossing rolls to its customers. The tradition at Lambert’s Café began when an overwhelmed owner could not reach everyone in the café with his trademark rolls. One customer said “hey, throw it to me,” and a tradition was born.

Lambert’s Café even began to be known as the “Home of the Throwed Rolls.” However, this moniker may change after a customer was injured by a thrown roll.

Sanitizing robots could be seen in hospitals before we know it

Published on: August 28, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In our last post, we highlighted how surgeries could soon be recorded, and that legislation was pending on making this mandatory for all surgical rooms. The increased use of technology in these venues is not likely to end with barcoding surgical instruments and recording procedures.

This is especially true when it comes to sanitizing these venues. After all, more than 1 million hospital based bacterial infections are reported each year. Complications from these infections lead to nearly 100,000 deaths across the United States annually. As such, infection related deaths are one of the leading causes of death across the country.

Because of the liability and increased health care costs, along with the shortfalls that humans have in sanitizing hospital surfaces, more medical providers are looking towards robots to complete sanitation duties.

Could future surgeries be recorded?

Published on: August 27, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The increased use of body cameras by police agencies across the United States has been a hot button issue in 2015. Some departments may see it as an expensive proposition to protect what the integrity of their work when it is not necessary, while civil rights groups believe it will level the playing field when making excessive force claims.

This new use of cameras may also find its way into the medical field in protecting doctors against medical malpractice cases. The use of cameras in surgical rooms may become mainstream as state legislatures contemplate how to procedures could be recorded and preserved.

In New York, such a law is being proposed. It is named “Raina’s Law” after 19-year old Raina Ferraro who went into cardiac arrest after the negligent application of anesthesia during a surgery.

FDA approves the use of OxyContin for young patients

Published on: August 26, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a prior post, we highlighted the practice, as well as the dangers of off-label marketing. For those unfamiliar with the practice, off-label marketing (or use) is when doctors prescribe medications for uses that they were not intended for, or approved of by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Because of the long and arduous process of gaining approval through the FDA, off-label marketing and uses has become commonplace. A prime example of a successful off-label use is Viagra, which was initially intended as a drug to lower blood pressure, but is now the most famous erectile dysfunction drug in the world.

Another example of off-label use is OxyContin for juveniles. OyxContin is a version of oxycodone, which is a powerful, opiod-based painkiller. Because OxyContin is so powerful and highly addictive, the FDA had not previously approved it for use in young people under the age of 18.

However, the drug’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma LP, conducted clinical trials and submitted data to FDA regarding its findings on OxyContin use in young people. Essentially, since the drug has been reformatted, it is less likely for it to be abused by being crushed or dissolved so that it may be taken through the nasal passages or intravenously. As such, the FDA has approved it for young people.

What to know when buying a car – Part I

Published on: August 24, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Labor Day weekend is known for different things depending on who you are. If you are thinking about the last summer holiday, Labor Day represents the last opportunity to get out to a vacation hotspot before fall begins. If you are a student, classes have likely started and after this holiday the only break you will get is during Thanksgiving.

If you are a car salesman, you have an incentive to sell as many 2015 models so that the 2016 models will have a place on the lot. If you are in the market for a new car, you want to take advantage of these Labor Day weekend sales. But when shopping for a new car, it is important that you know exactly what you are getting into (literally and figuratively). With that, we offer the following tips for prospective new car buyers.

Do more than just one test drive – The first 30 seconds of the test drive probably drew you into the car, and you probably loved it. This is understandable, and the salesman wants you to be impressed. But when you are making a decision that will affect you for years to come, it is important to know what you like, beyond the initial selling points.

85,000 Chrysler 200’s to be recalled

Published on: August 18, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

As we near the end of August, it is common for dealerships to advertise steep discounts for prior model year vehicles in an attempt to make room for new cars as they are introduced by automakers. This year is no different. As Chrysler dealerships make room for 2016 Chrysler 200 models, 2015 models will generate a discount, and sales of the prior model will expectedly go up.

However, the 2015 models are not without their flaws. According to recent media reports, Chrysler-Fiat will recall more than 85,000 new Chrysler 200’s because of an electrical problem that could cause the cars to stall unexpectedly. Essentially, the car could suddenly shift from drive to neutral or the engine could shut down by itself.

Chrysler-Fiat maintains that the problem was based on a supplier’s post production tests and that it will honor any repair request based on the recall. So far, the company does not know of any accidents or injuries based on the electrical defect.