Toyota Agrees to $1.1 Billion Settlement Tied to Sudden Accelerations

DETROIT — Toyota Motor Corp. agreed on a $1.1 billion settlement toward the class-action lawsuit related to issues of sudden acceleration in its vehicles. A suit was filed in 2010 after numerous complaints were made that Toyota automobiles were accelerating suddenly and causing accidents and injuries.  Since then more then 8 million vehicles in the US have been recalled for problems related to floor mats that could become entangled with accelerator pedals, or pedals that could stick with the throttle open.

While there are still individual personal-injury and wrongful death lawsuits pending against Toyota, in addition to an unfair business practice case brought by the attorneys general of 28 states, the class-action case was the largest legal action related to economic losses by vehicle owners and is one of the largest settlements of its type in automotive history.   Once approved Toyota would make cash payments for the loss of value on these vehicles on up to 3.2 million cars.

The lawsuit was a lingering obstacle for Toyota which had long enjoyed a pristine reputation for quality, safety and reliability.  The settlement appears large but may be part of Toyota’s longer-term strategy to move beyond the acceleration scandal.  Christopher P. Reynolds, Toyota’s chief legal officer in the United States, said "This agreement marks a significant step forward for our company, one that will enable us to put more of our energy, time and resources into Toyota’s central focus: making the best vehicles we can for our customers,”.

Under the proposed settlement, Toyota agreed to:

1. Create a fund of $250 million to pay claims to former owners of cars affected by the acceleration recalls. The company also agreed to install so-called brake override systems on cars whose pedals could stick or become trapped in floor mats. The company said it had already installed the systems on 2.6 million vehicles but that an additional 550,000 cars had not received the equipment.
   
2. Provide a customer support program for more than 16 million current Toyota owners, who will be eligible for free repairs on certain parts for up to 10 years.
   
3. Contribute $30 million to finance automotive safety research related to driver behavior and unintended acceleration. 

The company’s sales in the United States have increased 28 percent this year, about double the pace of growth for the overall market. One industry analyst said the proposed class-action settlement would help Toyota continue to rebuild its reputation and market share. 

“Toyota wants to put its sudden acceleration recalls behind it once and for all,” said Jesse Toprak, an auto research analyst. “As costly as it may be, this settlement will allow them to remove most of the lingering financial uncertainty.” 

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the unintended/sudden acceleration defect in your car call the experienced defective product attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Toyota settled injury claim over sudden acceleration long before latest settlement

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Months before Toyota Motor Corp.’s $1.1 billion settlement of a class action lawsuit, the Japanese automaker settled a long and hard fought battle in Kent County Circuit Court over claims that their cars were prone to sudden acceleration.


In the summer of 2011, Toyota Motor Corp settled two injury cases brought after an August 2008 car accident in which a 2007 Lexus ES350, made by Toyota, careened out of control after its throttle stuck underneath a floor mat.  The runaway car struck a minivan injuring 65-year-old retiree Charles Harrell with a broken pelvis, eight broken ribs, a broken leg and a punctured lung that kept him in the hospital for nearly a month.

Toyota has taken a very aggressive defense stance throughout all of this even though countless lives have been put in danger.

Those injured by the car defect claim the vehicles should have been equipped with a throttle override that activated when his they stepped on the brake. They also argue the dealership should have fixed the defect that caused the floor mat to bunch up under the accelerator pedal.

If you or someone you know have been injured due to a defective car product call the experience product liability attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Historic 35 Car Pileup on LIE Leaves One Dead & 33 Injured

All eastbound and westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway re-opened Thursday morning following a 35 car pileup that killed one person and injured 33 others.

A 68-year-old woman died after her Toyota Camry was hit in the midst of a 33 car pileup that happened on Wednesday afternoon after a tractor-trailer hit cars in the eastbound lane.

Police said the truck crashed into several vehicles which then set off a domino effect of accidents involving 35 cars that spread out across several hundred yards of the eastbound lanes.

Police Deputy Inspector Kevin Fallon said the accident occurred at about 2:40 p.m. Five fire departments showed up at the scene as well as 19 emergency medical services agencies, police said.

The tractor-trailer was carrying debris from Hurricane Sandy and as a result of its crash caused at least three vehicles to catch on fire, including the 18-wheeler itself.  It is still unclear if the tractor-trailer's driver, Raymond Simoneau, 42, was among the injured.

Simoneau was driving east on the LIE just past the William Floyd Parkway exit when he lost control of the rig and slammed into several cars, Suffolk County Police said. The car involved in the initial collision with the tractor-trailer "was incinerated beyond recognition, with its tires punctured and paint burned off its body."

The LIE remained closed in both directions between exits 66 and 69 until shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, in time for the morning rush. It is not clear what caused Simoneau to lose control of the tractor-trailer and investigation into the matter continues, authorities said Thursday.

The injured were taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The incident occured in the same week as a 60 car pileup near the Oregon stateline, where a semi-truck driver lost control over black ice and crashed his truck into a concrete median. Cars crashing into each other extended for more than two miles.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident call the experienced New York Car Accident Lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

14-Year-Old Struck by Vehicle in Medford

MEDFORD — A 14-year-old from Bellmore was struck by a vehicle and hospitalized, according to Suffolk police.

The teen was struck in the left leg Friday night on Patchogue Yaphank Road, police said. The driver was a 66-year-old man from North Patchogue, sources said.

No information has been provided so far on the victim’s condition. No charges have been filed.

If you or someone you know has been struck by a vehicle call the experienced personal injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Hospira Recall - potential for serious injury

December 14, 2012 - Lake Forest, Ill - Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), issued this press release today to further inform the general public about a previously communicated voluntary user-level recall of three lots of Carboplatin Injection due to visible particulates identified during a retain sample inspection. Findings have identified the particles as Carboplatin crystals. Hospira customers were notified of the issue in early November 2012.

In the event where particulate matter is injected into a patient, there may be the potential for serious and/or life threatening patient injury. In general, if particulate matter from crystallization is injected, it may potentially become lodged in and obstruct blood vessels, potentially causing local infarction, thromboembolism and vasculitis. Chronically, following sequestration, granulomatous formation in the lungs is possible.

Carboplatin Injection is indicated for the initial treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma in established combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents. Carboplatin Injection is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma recurrent after prior chemotherapy, including patients who have been previously treated with Cisplatin.

The affected lots were distributed Nationwide and in Puerto Rico between the dates of March 2012 and September 2012.

Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events or product quality complaints known to be associated with the issue for these lots. This recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure.
Hospira has initiated an investigation to determine the root cause and corrective and preventive actions.
Anyone with an existing inventory should stop use and distribution, quarantine the product immediately, and call Stericycle at 1-877-650-8362 between the hours of 8am and 5pm EST, Monday through Friday, to arrange for the return of the product. Replacement product from other lots is available.

For medical inquiries, please contact Hospira Medical Communications at 1-800-615-0187. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Any adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Events Program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA3500 available at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the FDA.

About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Through its broad, integrated portfolio, Hospira is uniquely positioned to Advance Wellness™ by improving patient and caregiver safety while reducing healthcare costs. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 15,000 employees.

If you or someone you know has suffered serious injury due to a defective drug call the experienced defective drug attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

OPERATION REBUILD HOPE - Hurricane Sandy Relief Event

Our firm, Buttafuoco & Associates, has teamed up with WLIX Hope Radio, GodisAble.org and ORLI (operation restore long island) to bring to long island OPERATION REBUILD HOPE this saturday, december 15th from 10am-3pm at Bethpage Assembly of God.

Superstorm Sandy destroyed or left uninhabitable more than 2,000 homes in Nassau and Suffolk.  The homes are part of about 100,000 Long Island residences that officials estimate were severely flooded, damaged or destroyed by the storm leaving thousands of families struggling to rebuild and recover.

The mission of our event is simple. Raise support for those deeply affected by Hurricane Sandy while providing people a fun atmosphere perfect for the whole family.

In addition to the Sandy Supply Drive, live music and children's activities at the event our firm (Buttafuoco & Associates) has committed at least $10,000 that will be given away in $500 gifts to those deeply affected by Sandy.

If you would like to donate at item to our cause please visit GodisAble.org for a complete list.

If you would like to get involved or learn more information about the event visit the facebook event page: OPERATION REBUILD HOPE

BMW Recalling 30,000 X5 Sport Utilities

BMW is recalling almost 30,000 of its diesel-powered 2009-12 X5 sport utilities because the power-assist for the steering may fail, according to a report from the automaker posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

BMW says it is possible that a bolt could loosen “due to a number of unfavorable contributing factors, including very low ambient temperatures.”

If the bolt fails, the vehicle would suddenly lose the power assist to the steering. That would require greater effort to turn the vehicle, which the automaker said “may increase the risk of a crash.”

BMW says the recall was prompted by an investigation earlier this year by Transport Canada, the Canadian counterpart to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There was no mention of any accidents related to the defect. In an e-mail, Matthew Russell, a BMW spokesman, said the automaker wasn’t aware of any accidents related to the loss of steering.

In June, BMW recalled about 2,600 X5 diesel models from the 2012-13 model year because those vehicles could suddenly leak power-steering fluid. That would result in the loss of power assist, and it could lead to a fire in the engine compartment. BMW said the steering gear was not correctly machined.

If you or someone you know has suffered injured due to a faulty product call the experienced personal injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Doctor in Pharmacy Killer case charged in overdose deaths

Stan Li, who prescribed more than 2,500 pain pills to Medford pharmacy killer David Laffer, is being arraigned Thursday morning in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Li already faced charges of reckless endangerment and criminal sale of a prescription.

Dr. Stan Li as he is arraigned in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Seated to his right is his attorney, Raymond Belair. (Dec. 06, 2012) 

If you or someone you know was seriously injured after being prescribed the wrong medication or wrong dosage call the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) recalled after glass discovered...

Ranbaxy Laboratories (generic drug maker) will stop manufacturing its version of Pfizer Inc's cholesterol fighter, Lipitor, while it gets to the bottom of the cause of a recent recall.

Earlier this month, after the company discovered contamination with tiny glass particles, Ranbaxy recalled certain lots of the widely used cholesterol lowering medicine known generically as atorvastatin at doses of 10 milligrams, 20 mg and 40 mg.

During its first six months on the market, when it enjoyed marketing exclusivity, atorvastatin generated sales of nearly $600 million for Ranbaxy, according to Bhagwan Singh Chaudhary, a research associate at the brokerage IndiaNivesh

FDA said it will continue to oversee the recall process and work with the Ranbaxy to resolve pharmaceutical quality issues.

The recall is the latest in a series of manufacturing problems at Ranbaxy, which is operating under heightened scrutiny due to past problems that nearly derailed it ability to sell atorvastatin in the United States.

In 2008, the FDA banned the company from importing about 30 drugs after it found manufacturing deficiencies at two of the company's facilities in India, and Ranbaxy was later accused of falsifying data used in drug applications.

Under a proposed settlement earlier this year, Ranbaxy agreed to engage a third party to conduct a review of its facilities, implement procedures to ensure data integrity in its marketing applications, and ensure it meets good manufacturing practices.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury due to a defective drug/medication call the experienced defective product attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Every 46 minutes a child is injured by a Bounce house in U.S.

According to a new study inflatable bouncers (Bounce houses, castles, moonwalks, etc) are injuring U.S. children at "alarming" rates.

Just a few short months after pediatricians sounded the alarm on trampoline injuries, a study from the November 26th issue of Pediatrics outlines the number of injuries from bouncy castles and similar party fare has climbed 15-fold over the past 17 years.  These injury traps have been responsible for more than 5 injuries per every 100,000 American children. (child injury statistics)

"The medical and public health community has yet to provide recommendations on the safe use of inflatable bouncers," study author Dr. Gary A. Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, who is also a professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.   "The growing epidemic of inflatable bouncer injuries make it clear that it is time to do so."

After analyzing records between 1990 and 2010 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, Smith and colleagues identified almost 65,000 injuries tied to inflatable bouncers.

The rate increase was more rapid in recent years, with the annual injury rate doubling between 2008 and 2010, with 31 children treated daily in a U.S. emergency room for an injury caused by a bouncer. That's one child every 46 minutes nationally.

Falls accounted for 43 percent of injuries, followed by stunts and collisions. Forty-four percent of the injuries occurred at a recreational setting and 38 percent occurring at home. More than 27 percents of injuries were fractures, with another 27 percent reported as strains or sprains; nearly 33 percent occurred to the lower extremities, while nearly 30 percent occurred to the upper ones. About one in five injuries occurred to the head and neck, which could lead to potentially serious problems like concussion.  About three percent of all injuries required hospitalization, mostly for broken bones. The majority of patients were male (about 55 percent) and average age was about 7-1/2 years old.

"It is time for us to take action to prevent these injuries," said Smith. "Ensuring that parents are aware of the potential risks, improving surveillance of the injuries, developing national safety guidelines and improving bouncer design are the first steps."

Smith's study recommends keeping kids under 6 out of the bouncy houses and castles, allowing only one child in the bouncer at a time, and having parental supervision at all times. If more than one child will be on the bouncer at the same time, make sure they are about the same age and size.

"Because children are the end users and because companies typically do not provide the supervision on rented inflatable bouncers, the burden of safety falls ultimately on the parents' shoulders," Dr. Tigran Avoian, an orthopedic surgeon at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital who was not involved in the research.  He said bouncers can be fun and safe when used properly. "Parents should be familiar with the risks and dangers and should receive proper supervision instruction."

If your or someone you know was injured on an inflatable bouncer call the experienced injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Driver accused of hitting motorcyclist, leaving scene

A Garden City man was arrested for allegedly driving off after hitting and seriously injuring a motorcyclist.

James Gallagher, 69, was trying to make a left turn east onto Old Country Road from Linden Street in his 2001 Nissan Pathfinder when he hit a motorcyclist who was traveling east in the right lane of Old Country Road.  Gallagher kept driving although the motorcyclist, 29, had been injured.

The motorcyclist who had internal injuries and a partial amputation of his right foot was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car or motorcycle accident call the experienced injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-Now-Hurt

Limo kills passenger in NYC

After exiting a limo a passenger in Brooklyn was killed when it rolled backward, according to police. 

Viktor Avaveyev, 53, was pinned between the limo and another vehicle during the accident at Kings Highway and Bedford Avenue on Sunday night in the Midwood neighborhood. 

Avaveyev was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Yan Krainert, 50, of Brooklyn was taken into custody and charged Monday with vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and DWI, according to police.  

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident call the experienced injury attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Salmonella-linked Peanut Butter Plant forced to shut down

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has shut down Sunland Inc. peanut butter plant in New Mexico whose products, under many brand names, were subject to a wide recall in recent months because of salmonella contamination.  The items were sold by Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway and others.



The company's peanut butter products have been "linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 41 people in 20 states," the FDA said.

The initial voluntary recall began after salmonella was detected in a lot of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter, which had an SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number 97111, according to the FDA.

Sunland is the nation's largest processor of organic peanut butter products, the AP said.

The FDA order – which suspends the registration of the plant in Portales, NM, and prohibits it from distributing food for sale – marks the first time the agency has invoked its new authority to suspend the registration of a food production facility, the FDA said.  The FDA said the widespread illnesses "coupled with Sunland’s history of violations led FDA to make the decision to suspend the company’s registration."

Sunland had ceased operations at the plant and intended to restart Tuesday, in hopes of resuming sales of peanut butter products by the end of this year.  Sunland officials said they were surprised by the federal order, are cooperating with the FDA and hope to be back in operation soon, the AP reported.


FDA inspections at the plant in September and October found salmonella in "28 environmental samples (from surfaces in production or manufacturing areas) and in 13 nut butter product samples and one product sample of raw peanuts," the agency said.

The FDA also cited Sunland's own testing results showing salmonella in 11 product lots of nut butter between June 2009 and September 2012.

If you or someone you know become seriously ill or suffered injured due to a defective product or negligence of another call the experienced product liability attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Boat fire in Babylon (fire island avenue) leaves teenager injured

A Thanksgiving fire that began on a boat near the Babylon Village Docks on Thursday has left one man injured and property damaged.  The incident occurred at the Babylon Docks near Fire Island Avenue at Cedar Lane.  Official say several boats are on fire in Babylon.  An unidentified 17-year-old man was burned and was airlifted to the hospital.  He suffered first and second degree burns to his face and arms.

A Suffolk County police officer responding to the fire call was injured in an unrelated crash. According to reports, the officer’s patrol vehicle was struck by an SUV, which was traveling southbound at Robbins Avenue. The driver’s side door of SCPD Unit 116.

If you or someone you know was injured by a boating accident or fire call the experienced boating accident lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Ulster County teen killed in two-car crash in Newburgh

NEWBURGH - A Plattekill teenager was killed in a horrifying two-car accident Monday night on Route 32 in the Town of Newburgh.  The teen has been identified as 15-year-old Alana Tadry. 

Newburgh town police say Tadry was ejected and killed instantly around 7 p.m. when the Audi she was riding in split in half after colliding with another car about a half mile north of Mill Street. The two sections of the Audi wound up about 175 feet from each other. 

Chief Michael Clancy said Tadry was riding in the backseat and that back section of the car wound up in the woods not far from the accident scene. Her body was thrown about 25 feet in the woods. 

Clancy said the Audi's driver, Edward Lier, 20, of Wallkill was heading southbound and attempted to pass cars on a straight section of the two-lane road. As he was cutting back, he was struck by a northbound Chevy Malibu driven by John Dyer, 49, of the town of Newburgh. Dyer was taken to St. Luke's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Christopher Giamnarino, 19, a passenger in the Audi, was flown to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries requiring surgery. Lier and Nicole Galgan, 18, of Newburgh, a front seat passenger in the Audi, were taken to St. Francis Hospital with serious injuries. 

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident call the experienced auto accident attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Car with dad and kids crashes into building

vehicles driven into houses and buildings

It was a harrowing ride for a father and his two young children when their out-of-control car crashed into a building in Hauppauge on Tuesday morning after being rear-ended by another vehicle, police said.

The man and the two children, ages 1 and 4, were not injured in the crash, which saw the car careen through a window and into an office, Suffolk County police said.

At least 28 people injured in 3 crashes near and in Lincoln Tunnel

At least 28 people were seriously injured in three multiple vehicle crashes near or in the Lincoln Tunnel. 


A 7:15 a.m. accident on Rt. 495, outside the entrance to the tunnel, involving two buses left at least 22 people injured, according to Port Authority officials.

A 9:15 crash involving a tractor trailer and an NJ Transit bus a couple miles west, near the New Jersey Turnpike/Route 3 split, left at least one person injured.

Then at about noon, five people were injured in a crash involving eight vehicles -- three cars and five trucks -- in the north tube of the Lincoln Tunnel.

If you or someone you know was injured in a car, bus or truck accident call the experienced motor vehicle injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Eastbound lanes of LIE close after car accident

Two people were critically injured Thursday in a two-car rush-hour crash near Exit 40 on the Long Island Expressway, Nassau County Police said.

A 34-year-old man with four others in his Nissan Pathfinder was eastbound on the LIE (New York) when the driver lost control and struck the center median about 8:40 a.m. Thursday. The vehicle spun across the left and center lanes and collided with a Ford Explorer driven by a 30-year-old woman, detectives said.

Three of the four passengers and the Pathfinder's driver were transported to area hospitals; the fourth passenger refused medical attention at the scene.

The driver and one of the passengers are listed in critical condition, police said.

The driver of the Explorer was also transported to local hospital on Long Island for non-life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed in the accident, which closed the LIE's eastbound lanes during the morning rush hour for a while and impacted traffic near Exit 40, the ramp for Jericho Turnpike at Syosset, throughout Thursday.

If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident call the experienced car accident lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Person struck, killed by Long Island Railroad train in Queens

Service on the Long Island Rail Road Babylon Branch was temporarily suspended in both directions Monday evening after a pedestrian was struck and killed on the tracks in Massapequa, according to a Nassau County Police spokesperson.

The LIRR has temporarily resumed limited eastbound service and says customers should expect delays of up to one hour.

The investigation is ongoing.

 

Another person was struck and killed by a Long Island Railroad train in Queens late Thursday night, fire officials said. 

 

The unidentified person was struck by the train around 11:30 p.m. at the Queens Village LIRR station near Jamaica Ave. and Springfield Blvd., officials said.

 

The person died at the scene, officials said. 

 

Five pedestrians were reportedly be struck by an LIRR train since Friday. The conditions and identities of the other three have yet to be confirmed.

If you or someone you know was injured by a train call the experienced train injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Bus Accident Near Lincoln Tunnel Injures 20

Two buses collided near the Lincoln Tunnel Monday morning, injuring about 20 people — at least two seriously — and snarling traffic for New Jersey commuters entering Manhattan.

Around 7:15 a.m., a New Jersey Transit bus and a Martz Trailways bus collided in an express bus lane approaching the Lincoln Tunnel on the New Jersey side, said Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

About two hours later, also on the New Jersey side, a bus and a truck were involved in another accident, causing at least one serious injury, Mr. Marsico said.

The accidents arrived on a day when some travelers in the state appeared poised for an easier commute, after nearly two weeks of stifling gridlock since Hurricane Sandy.

If you or someone you know was injured in a bus accident call the experienced bus accident attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

How to Drive in the Snow and Ice - Driving Safety Tips

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.  Snow, sleet, ice and rain have caused millions of car accidents around the country resulting in serious injuries and even death to passengers, drivers and innocent pedestrians. 

Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.  There's a higher rate of car accident injuries at the beginning of a snow season...practice caution.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads (help avoid car accident injuries)

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in an accident caused by inclement weather call the experienced Personal Injury Lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Singer Natina Reed hit and killed by car

Authorities say R&B singer Natina Reed, known as a member of the female group Blaque, was killed after being struck by a car in the Atlanta metropolitan.

Reed was hit by a car late friday while in the roadway at an intersection on U.S. 29 near Lilburn.  Police say the driver called 911 for help, and someone tried to revive Reed on the scene.  She was later pronounced dead at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Blaque's hits included "808" abd "Bring it All to Me" in the late '90's.  Reed also was in the movie "Bring it On".

If you or someone you know was injured after being hit by a car call the experienced personal injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Cops: Woman accidentally shot self in Nassau County

A woman taking a firearms training course accidentally shot herself in the right thigh yesterday morning at the Nassau County Rifle and Pistol Range in Uniondale, according to Nassau police and a county spokeswoman.

She was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow with a nonlife-threatening flesh wound.

The accident occured about 10:40am when the woman, not a law enforcement officer, was in the process of putting her weapon into the holster.

The course was taught by an outside contractor, and the rifle and pistol range "operates standard safety procedures."

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the negligence of another called the experienced long island personal injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

MONSTER Energy Drink cited in 5 Deaths

Monster Beverage Corp.'s energy drinks have been cited in the deaths of five people in the past year.

The Food and Drug Administration received five death reports that said the victims consumed Monster drinks, Shelly Burgess, and FDA spokeswoman, said yesterday.

The FDA reports are being used by parents who sued Corona, California based Monster last week, claiming the drinks led to caffeine toxicity that killed their 14-year-old daughter.   

Anais Fournier, died on December 23, 2011 from a heart attack brought on by 'caffeine toxicity' after drinking two 24-ounce Monster cans within 24 hours. 

The FDA reported people had adverse reactions after they consumed Monster Energy Drink, which comes in 24-ounce cans and contain 240 milligrams of caffeine - or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.

The wrongful death suit, filed in California Superior Court in Riverside, said that after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy on consecutive days, Anais went into cardiac arrest.

An autopsy revealed the teenager, from Hagerstown, Maryland, died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that impeded her heart's ability to pump blood.

People are asking the FDA to consider caffeine limits on energy drinks after emergency room visits involving such products jumped 1-fold from 2005-2009.

If you ore someone you know has been injured called the experienced defective product attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF DWAI - Injures child

A Long Island school bus driver is accused of drinking before driving a bus full of children to a field trip.  He crashed the bus during a field trip in Cold Spring Harbor, injuring a 12-year old passenger.

Cops say James Sommer was taking Plainedge 7th graders and a teacher to the Cold Spring Harbor Labs when he backed into a tree limb. The district attorney says he had an open bottle of bourbon in the bus when he was arrested. 

His arrest follows two unrelated incidents this month on Long Island in which school bus drivers were charged with drunken driving.

A girl from the bus accident was taken to Huntington Hospital with minor injuries following the bus accident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident call the experienced injury attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Construction Worker seriously injured in fall - Syosset, NY

A construction working in Syosset who fell 8 to 10 feet yesterday is in the emergency unit at Nassau University Medical Center.  

The unidentified worker is expected to be admitted to the medical-surgical floor in serious but stable condition.

The police responded to the construction site after getting an emergency call at about 10:49pm.  Fire officials say the worker was taken to the hospital by medivac helicopter.

They say the worker fell off a beam and into a foundation that was being built.  He was airlifted to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

The site of the construction injury is located on Jericho Turnpike near Florence Avenue.

If you or someone you know has been injured on a construction site call the experienced injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Contaminated steroid injection claim 23 victims injury nearly 300

Twenty-three people have now died and more then 280 have been sickened in the nationwide meningitis outbreak tied to contaminated steroid injections produced by a Massachusetts specialty pharmacy, U.S. health officials reported Saturday.

Fungus found in steroid injections produced by this Massachusetts specialty pharmacy matched the fungus linked to the outbreak. The officials said they'd confirmed the presence of the fungus, Exserohilum rostratum, in unopened vials of a steroid produced by the New England Compounding Center.

The vial came from one of three lots recalled by the Framingham-based company last month, officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The CDC and state health departments estimate that roughly 14,000 patients may have gotten steroid injections from the three lots, and nearly 97 percent of them have been contacted for medical follow-up.

The steroid, methylprednisolone acetate, is injected into patients for back and joint pain.   However, the contaminated steroid was also used on patients  for pain in their knees and shoulders. The company has since shut down operations and stopped distributing its products, health officials said.

Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

On Friday, the New England Journal of Medicine published two articles on the outbreak, including a report on what's believed to be the first case in the outbreak -- a man in his 50s with a history of back and joint pain. He showed up at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville complaining of head and neck pain. Despite a series of medical interventions, he died after a 22-day stay at the hospital.

An autopsy revealed the presence of the fungus Aspergillus fumigates. It's the only case of this type of fungus detected in the outbreak so far; all other cases apparently involved the fungus Exserohilum rostratum, the journal said.

At this point, the best treatment seems to be at least three months of antifungal therapy, the doctors who wrote the commentary said.

The FDA said it was advising all health care professionals to follow up with any patients who were given any injectable drug from or produced by the New England Compounding Center. These drugs include medications used in eye surgery, and a heart solution purchased from or produced by the company after May 21.

Health officials said they expect to see more cases of the rare type of meningitis, which is not contagious, because symptoms can take a month or more to appear.

Infected patients have developed a range of symptoms approximately one to four weeks following their injection. People who have had a steroid injection since July, and have any of the following symptoms, should talk to their doctor as soon as possible: worsening headache, fever, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, new weakness or numbness in any part of your body or slurred speech, the CDC said.

Infected patients must receive intravenous drugs in a hospital.

Buttafuoco & Associates is now accepting meningitis cases caused by this contaminated steroid.  If you or someone you know have suffered injury due to a defective drug call the experienced Attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Drunk Driving caused more Deaths then War in Iraq/Afghanistan

In the wake of the tragic death of Nassau County Police Officer Joseph Oliveri,  drunk driving is once again at the front of all our minds.  It appears that driving while intoxicated is the root cause of this tragedy.  One thing is clear...the carnage drunken driving causes has to be curtailed.

The nation has lost 6,500 service members to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the decade since we began fighting there.  In that same span of time we have lost more then 120,000 lives in accidents where a driver's blood-alcohol level was at or exceeded the .08 limit, more than 700 of these accidents on Long Island.

If we believe putting alcohol-interlock devices in every car would go too far, then we must go further ourselves.  Innocent victims killed by drunken driving have far more right to their lives than motorists have to drive without proving their sobriety.

If you are someone you know have been injured due to a negligent drunken driver call the experienced car accident attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Plane Crashes in Suffolk County on the rise

Investigators began examining the wreckage of a single-engine airplane (1946 two-seat Globe Swift GC-1A) that crashed into Moriches inlet on Saturday afternoon.  Two men were killed.  Cyril McLavin, 51 of Fresh Meadows, Queens and Andrew Messana, 72, of Bayside, Queens, were in the cockpit when the plane sputtered and plunged into waters not far from East Moriches' Spadaro Airport, where it had just departed.

Susan Spadaro's father, Bart Spadaro, said that the plane had spent months undergoing a full inspection and rebuilding, and departed from the small airport minutes before it crashed.

Suffolk County offers more opportunities to fly using visual flight rules without communicating with air  traffic controllers, Mike Busch said (an aviation writer).  Suffolk is far away from the complicated air space surrounding LaGuardia and Kennedy.

Saturday's fatal crash is the third small-plane crash with deaths or injuries since August.

Spadaro Airport is a popular destination for recreational pilots because it is low-key, lacking a control tower and widely known as hassle free to land at and leave from.

Experts would not speculate on what caused Saturday's crash, but said there are hazards associated with small planes on Long Island, including flying over water.

RECENT CRASHES
Aug. 26 - An M2OC Mooney crashed at East Hampton Airport.  Bystanders rescued the pilot and his passenger, who were hospitalized.

Aug. 19 - A Socata TB10 taking off from Brookhaven Calabro Airport crashed in a Shirley residential area.  A Goshen couple died, and another man was critically injured.

If you or someone you know has been injured or died in a airplane crash call the experienced airplane crash attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Court: Cellphone, tumor tied

Italy's top court has ruled that a businessman developed a benign brain tumor because he held a cellphone to his ear for hours daily for his job and deserves worker's compensation.

Innocente Marcolini, whose face is partially paralyzed, argued that using his cell and portable phones six hours a day for 12 years while dealing with clients caused the tumor on his trigeminal nerve in his head.

His lawyers presented doctors who testified that excessive cellphone use increases risk of such tumors.

Numerous large scientific studies have failed to find a casual link between cellphones and brain tumors.

If you or someone who know has suffered serious injuries due to a defective product call the experienced lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Sunscreen recall: Banana Boat spray-ons can catch on fire

Energizer Holdings, the maker of Banana Boat sunscreen, is recalling about 500,000 defective product bottles of spray on lotion after reports surfaces that a handful of people have actually CAUGHT ON FIRE after applying the product and coming in contact with an open flame.

Makers of product think the problem is caused by UltraMist's spray valve, which is over applying the product.  As a result the lotion is taking longer to dry thereby raising the flammability risk, says the company responsible for the Banana Boat Sunscreen Recall.

"If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite." the company said.

Of the several reported cases, one involved a man standing near a barbecue grill, the other a woman working with welding equipment.  Both cases resulted in second and third degree burns.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to a defective product call the experienced attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Police Officer Joseph Olivieri fatally hit on LIE

A Nassau County highway police officer was struck and killed while investigating a car accident on the Long Island Expressway (LIE)  in North Hills early on Thursday morning, police said.

Police Officer Joseph Olivieri, 43, was a 13-year Nassau County veteran.  He was fatally struck at about 5 a.m., as he was assisting the driver of one of three cars involved in an accident on the eastbound lanes of the LIE.

If you or someone you know has been hit by a car and injured call the experienced personal injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

14-year-old girl on bicycle struck by a car in Cutchogue

A 14-year-old girl from Cutchogue was riding her bicycle when she was suddenly hit by a car.  She was taken to the hospital Saturday morning after the accident, Southold Police said.

Emily Gatz was struck by Henry Oman, 74, both from Cutchogue, as he was traveling south on Skunk Lane at about 9 a.m., police said.  Ms. Gatz was taken by Cutchogue Fire Rescue to Eastern Long Island Hospital (ELIH) for treatment of an ankle injury, according to the report.

According to Police, Mr. Oman was recently involved in another accident with a pedestrian in Southold. Just last month on Sept. 25, he struck a 72-year-old Southold man who was crossing Main Road near the IGA store, police said. Mr. Oman, who was turning east onto Main Road from Youngs Avenue, claims he did not see the man due to sun glare.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the negligence of another call the experienced Personal Injury Lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

School Bus involved in massive Four-Car Accident

A school bus, having no students on board at the time, was involved in a four-vehicle collision in Holtsville on Wednesday morning.

The driver of a Ford F250 was taken to a hospital with injuries, police said. The extent of the injuries sustained by the driver was not immediately known.

The four-car accident, which was reported at 9:26 a.m., occurred at the intersection of North Ocean Avenue and Expressway.

If you or someone you know has suffered injuries due to a vehicle accident call the experienced Long Island Car Accident lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Black SUV crashes into divider on LIE

At approx. 9am this morning a black SUV veered off of the LIE and crashed into two dividers just short of the service road.

The car was traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway a few exits short of Rt. 110 when it lost control of the car in the wet conditions and smashed into the side of the road.

Traffic was backed up for several miles as police authorities attended to the accident.




If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries in a car accident call the experienced lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Fatal Car Accident Statistics on Long Island

With stretches on Long Island roads grossly nicknamed "Blood Alley" two things are clear:
1)  Drivers are more aggressive
2)  Long Island roads are unsafe.

Robert Sinclair, spokesman for AAA New York said "The Southern State Parkway is the exemplar of the poorly engineered roads typical of our area.   It's lanes are too narrow, the road is too twisty and too hilly.  The on and off ramps are too short to allow for adequate acceleration and braking."

The Southern State Parkway is more deadly than the other state parkways in the county according to the fatal crash database maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Long Island Fatal Car Accident Statistics between 2008-2010

• Southern State Parkway: 15 fatal accidents
• Wantagh Parkway: 13 fatal accidents
• Northern State Parkway: 8 fatal accidents
• Meadowbrook Parkway: 6 fatal accidents

If a friend or loved one has been in a fatal accident call the experienced car accident lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878