What you might not realize is that the number one contributing factor to New York traffic accidents is driver inattention or distraction, which contributed to 35,546 traffic accidents in 2006 (the last year for which complete data is available).  What about the factor that contributes to the most fatal traffic accidents?  By far that would be excessive speed, which was responsible for 29% (384) of all fatal accidents in New York in 2006.

Failure to yield the right of way came up surprisingly high on the list, and contributes to both the second highest number of traffic accidents and the second highest number of traffic fatalities.  All in all, so-called human factors (as opposed to vehicle or environmental factors) are responsible for 73% of all traffic accidents.

More information about these statistics can be found in our library article, ?What Causes Traffic Accidents and Fatalities in New York??  Additional information about protecting yourself from auto accident injuries can be found in our library, as well as information on keeping babies and children safe.

Happy ? and safe ? driving!

The inspection into the March 15 accident is still ongoing, but construction industry experts are already wondering if the city has the right resources to adequately improve safety.  Not only do existing crane inspectors probably lack the right training to spot crane problems before they cause accidents, but how can residents be certain that even more construction regulations will make a difference?  Construction sites and city inspectors seem to have problems following the existing regulations, so is even more regulation really the answer?

You can read more about the latest New York City building regulations intended to improve crane safety in our library article, ?Fatal Crane Accident Raises Safety Concerns ? Again?.

Leave us a comment and let us know what you think ? will the new crane regulations reduce construction site accidents in New York?

DOB plans to not only enforce existing building and zoning rules, but they?ve issued some new guidelines as well, aimed at preventing more deaths and injuries in the city?s booming construction business.  The Commissioner promises that DOB building inspectors won?t hesitate to issue Stop Work Orders if they come across a building site that fails to follow building regulations, or if improperly trained workers are found.  The hope is that the threat of a costly Stop Work Order will be all the impetus needed to get building contractors and designers to comply with all codes and regulations.

We hope so, too.  It is about time somebody stepped up and did something to reduce the number of the city?s construction accidents.  Twelve fatalities and 52 injuries in one year are completely unacceptable.  We hope that as the year progresses, we?ll see the DOB keep to their word and hold builders responsible.

You can read more about the increase in construction accidents in our library, as well as a more detailed report about the recent DOB announcements.

Do you think that the recent announcements by Commissioner Lancaster will make a difference?  Leave us a comment and let us know.

As informed consent documents are a patient?s best way to find out exactly what will be done to them during their medical procedure, it is very important that they understand what they?re agreeing to.  Not only should the procedure itself be detailed, but possible adverse reactions, alternative treatments, potential risks from the procedure, and risks if the procedure is not performed should also be included.

Some hospitals are starting to embrace technology in order to improve their informed consent process.  The most popular software on the market today is the iMedConsent software package, which presents all the consent information to the patient on a computer screen and captures their signature electronically.  Hospitals are hoping that these electronic forms will improve patient understanding, and if patient understanding is improved then we bet they?re hoping the number of medical malpractice lawsuits they see will shrink.

If you?ve signed an informed consent document in the past, did you understand it?  Do you think that standardized, electronic informed consent forms will help?  Are you worried about your signature being captured and stored electronically?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

You can read more in our library article, ?Do You Really Understand that Informed Consent Document You Signed??

We disagree.  How can the wind be at fault for a man?s death?  Isn?t the real problem here the fact that construction companies aren?t making worker safety a priority?  What really troubles us is that earlier in the day the City Department of Buildings had issued a warning to builders and contractors to secure tools and materials or to stop construction until the high winds had subsided.  If management in this case had listened to the warning, a man?s death could have been avoided, and another man?s serious injuries would never have happened.

This particular building ? on Clinton Avenue, in Clinton Hill ? has previously been cited for six violations.  How many more injuries and deaths will it take before builders and managers put safety before profit?

This new legislation is intended to force outpatient medical facilities to follow the same standards as hospitals.  Many patients of these types of outpatient facilities might be surprised to find out how little oversight the State had prior to this new legislation.  We think it?s about time that office based surgeries received the same scrutiny and oversight as surgeries performed in hospitals.  Why should the location of the surgery make a difference in the quality of care that a patient receives?

Have you had surgery recently in an office-based practice?  Do you think this new legislation will make a difference?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it, then check out our article about avoidable surgical errors.