Lead Found In NYC Tap Water

Just a few days ago, The Sanders Firm shared information on contaminated water on Long Island. Today, a new report was released by The NYC Independent Budget and states that Riverdale is one of the neighborhoods with high levels of lead in the tap water.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection's website, the city monitors a selection of homes that have lead service lines, fixtures or solders. The department also says it adds phosphoric acid, a common food preservative, to the water that reduces the release of lead from household plumbing.

However, The DEC has expressed their own concerns and has offered these tips to protect the public:

• It's costly but property owners should replace their lead pipes.

-According to the study, there are currently no requirements to mandate removal of plumbing materials in private buildings, regardless of the lead concentration in the water.

• Run tap water until its cold. Use cold water for drinking, cooking and baby formula.
• Do not boil water to remove lead, and make sure to clean faucet screens.
• Test water frequently. You can receive a free lead testing kit to anyone who requests one.

The study shows that lead levels in tap water have been trending down, and the issue is only affecting a small percentage of small, old buildings.

The City provides guides for tenants and landlords about Local Law 1. Local Law 1 of 2004 is a comprehensive law concerning the prevention of childhood lead poisoning through the fixing of lead paint hazards in housing and day care facilities.

Click here for the guide: https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1952/lead-law-guide

The brochure Fix Lead Paint Hazards: What Landlords Must Do and Every Tenant Should Know explains landlord responsibilities, rules for repairs which may disturb lead paint, and tips to prevent lead poisoning.

For the @News12 story click here: http://bronx.news12.com/story/39180950/dec-offers-tips-after-lead-in-nyc-water-study

Everyone is entitled to have clean, safe water. The presence of lead in New York City drinking water is caused by corrosion, a reaction between the water and the metallic pipes or solder. When water comes in contact with plumbing that contains lead, the lead can be absorbed into the water. No matter where your drinking water comes from, it can become contaminated.

It takes a substantial amount of resources for a law firm to go up against property owners, management companies, large corporations or municipalities who are harming people. The Sanders Firm has a history of helping people and successful battles. As a nationally recognized law firm, The Sanders Firm has been dedicated to holding irresponsible parties accountable for over 50 years. If you suspect lead in your water or contamination and need legal advice, please call 1.800.FAIR.PLAY or visit our website: www.TheSandersFirm.com

Car Accident Information That May Surprise You

5 Statistics About Car Accidents That May Surprise You

 

Auto accidents affect many people in the United States each year and are something that every driver on the road worries about. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) puts out an annual report compiling statistics about the year’s traffic accidents. The report shows good and bad trends and addresses areas of concern. Here are 5 statistics about car accidents that might surprise you.

• America is leading the world in car accident deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans die from car accidents than any other high-income country in the world. While other countries have seen a steady decrease in traffic accident fatalities over the past decade, the United States has had a steady increase. In 2017, around 92 people died every day from injuries sustained in a car accident.

• Seat belt use is improving, but it’s still not great.

As of August 2018, American seat belt use was estimated to be 83 percent. That number may seem high, but it places the United States as third lowest among high-income countries. This percentage is alarming because around half of the fatal accidents in 2017 involved a person who was not wearing a seat belt. Seat belts cannot prevent every fatality, but it can prevent many of them.

• 44% of teenagers admit to texting while driving.

Distracted driving is dangerous, and texting while driving is one of the worst offenses. Not surprisingly, it’s most common among teens, but it’s a problem among adults as well. Cell phone use while driving accounts for over 1.5 million crashes each year, with around a quarter of those related to texting. An alarming percentage of both teens and adults say that they can easily manage texting while driving, despite significant evidence to the contrary. Texting while driving causes you to spend an average of 4 times as much time with your eyes on your device instead of the road, and that is a huge concern for both pedestrians and other drivers.

• Temperature makes a difference.

The weather can have a big impact on driving. People spend more time on the road during warmer weather. The NHTSA has found a positive correlation between temperature and car accidents. Tough winter road conditions might mean that fewer drivers are on the road, but the people who are out driving are at higher risk for accidents. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that on average, 22% of all vehicle accidents are weather-related. It’s not just snow and ice that are of concern; fog and wind speed are also contributory factors to crashes.

• Older adults are at particular risk.

As the number of licensed drivers 65 and older continues to increase, the number of accidents involving this population is also on the rise. According to recent statistics, over 500 older adults are injured in crashes each day, and around 18 seniors die from traffic accidents each day. While older drivers are just as likely to be in crashes as younger adults for any number of reasons, there are also some specific contributory factors for older adults, such as physical and cognitive health challenges. The NHSTA has put out a special report for this at-risk population as well as offering tips for how to minimize the risk.

Of course, not everyone will get into a car accident but knowing who to trust if you or your loved one is injured is important. The Sanders Firm is available for all your legal concerns. 1.800.FAIR.PLAY

For the most current information form the NHSTA click here:

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/#/

Extensive Resources Can Produce A Better Outcome

Jane Doe is a 47 year old female who was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street to get to work. Interesting facts:

·       This is a Worker's Compensation case even though she wasn’t technically on the clock because her employer requires her to park in the parking lot across the street. Since she was injured crossing the street to get to work it is an “on the job” injury.

·       We determined that the defendant lied at her EBT about looking both ways before turning prior to striking our client who was a pedestrian crossing the street. We refuted this with surveillance video we obtained soon after the accident occurred (and prior to it being destroyed as many of these videos are only kept a week or 2 then taped over). Investigation is integral in proving liability.

·       Client sustained serious injuries including tears in her hips, knees, shoulder, neck and back injuries requiring implantation of a spinal cord stimulator. These costs were in excess of the $100,000 policy that the carrier offered to tender.

·       We did not immediately accept the tender. The Sanders Firm continued to investigate and persisted to determine if there were other applicable policies and were finally able to ascertain that there is an additional coverage of $250,000 with a $4 million dollar umbrella. 

The case is not yet settled but The Sanders Firm attorneys feel confident about the outcome. The client is now contemplating back surgery which will only add to the expenses and health issues. One of the primary factors in determining the value of the case is the the amount of medical bills incurred from the date of the accident until the time of settlement. These developments can continue for years. These cases can require large sums of money to prosecute. Few firms have these resources which can force them to settle cases too early, or for less than they are worth.

The Sanders Firm has been representing people for over 50 years and has a team of over 50 professionals. The large support of our attorneys, legal assistants, administrators, investigators and retained experts can result in a better outcome than a smaller firm with less resources.

If you need a powerful team of professionals who care, contact The Sanders Firm: 1.800.FAIR.PLAY

For verdicts and settlements read here:

https://thesandersfirm.com/verdicts-settlements/

Ageism and Malpractice

Ageism & Malpractice:  Rampant in Healthcare  (and the Courts) While no one enjoys spending time in a hospital bed, recent research has revealed what many already suspected: for the elderly, hospitals are not only unpleasant, but can be downright dangerous and life-threatening. It has been reported that hospital staff can fail to feed older patients properly, get them out of bed enough, or control their pain adequately. Providers frequently restrict their movements by tethering them to beds with oxygen tanks and IV poles. Doctors have even been reported to subject them to unnecessary procedures and prescribe redundant or potentially harmful medications. Caregivers can deprive them of sleep by placing them in noisy wards or checking vital signs at all hours of the night. Even more troubling, research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has exposed that one-third of patients over 70 years old and half of all patients over 85 leave the hospital in much worse condition than when they entered; if they leave at all. Moreover, upon discharge from the hospital, elderly patients frequently suffer from disabilities that make them unable to complete the tasks of daily living-disabilities that they didn't have before they were admitted. The magnitude of this problem is highlighted by the fact that patients over 65 already make up more than one-third of all discharges from U.S. hospitals. Furthermore, nearly 13 million seniors are admitted to U.S. hospitals each year and these numbers will only grow. At The Sanders Firm, we are confronted with the issue of ageism and malpractice in healthcare time and time again. To put it bluntly, ageism is directly responsible for incomplete examinations, delayed diagnoses, and the under-treatment of elderly patients. Medical malpractice is a medical error is a preventable adverse effect of care, whether or not it is evident or harmful to the patient. This might include an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis or treatment of a disease, injury, syndrome, behavior, infection, or other ailment. What is clear malpractice in the case of a younger plaintiff is often less clear when the plaintiff is elderly. Causation, too, becomes cloudier. The presence of other medical conditions, along with the weakness and fragility of old age, can complicate the case. There are many challenges when representing clients of malpractice but despite these challenges, The Sanders Firm  takes these cases. Why? Because the elderly deserve justice, everyone deserves justice and we know how these cases can be won. If you or a loved one was a victim of medical malpractice (no matter what your age), we want to hear from you.  Call 1.800.FAIR.PLAY for your free case evaluation today.