New York City Personal Injury Blog

More black women face harassment on the job

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. posted in Sexual Harassment on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

While sexual harassment cases in New York and across the country may be declining, African-American women are continuing to face escalated amounts of harassment on the job. According to one study, white women and younger women have benefited primarily from campaigns against sexual harassment in the workplace. Instead, researchers say, workplace harassers are targeting women of color and specifically black women. The study gathered data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stretching from 1997 to 2016.

The study's results highlight concerns that many worker advocates and legal scholars have brought to the fore: The particular type of discrimination experienced by black women. Black women may experience workplace harassment that is tinged both with sex and race discrimination, leading to a different experience than that of black men or white women. Analysts emphasized the importance of including anti-racist and race-aware curricula as part of sexual harassment education and training programs on the workplace. When training classes do not focus on the increased risks to African-American women in the workplace, they may be ineffective in creating a management culture that responds specifically to the problems suffered by black women. Some experts recommended training on implicit biases as a way to promote a more inclusive approach.

Historical patterns of police brutality

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Friday, July 5, 2019.

Law enforcement officials in the United States have certain rights in regard to making decisions relating to arrests, restraint and the use of force. While the vast majority of decisions that law enforcement officials make are responsible and just, occasionally errors in judgment occur.

If you have had an experience with law enforcement that you believe was violent, unfair or unjust, it is important that you understand the legal definition of police brutality as well as the historical significance. By understanding the laws in New York, you will be able to take action to defend your rights adequately.

Experts say ADAS prevent vehicle damage and injuries

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are preventing crashes, especially ones with other vehicles and with pedestrians. A 2018 study from J.D. Power shows that new car owners are largely satisfied with the performance of these devices. New York motorists should know that more than half of the respondents said that ADAS helped prevent a crash for them within the first 90 days of having their vehicle.

Blind spot alert, which warns drivers when the sensors pick up vehicles in the blind spot, helped prevent a crash for 49% of respondents. For 42%, the backup cameras and parking sensors were what helped, while 35% gave a nod to their forward collision warning system or their automatic braking.

Talking to your manager about sexual harassment

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

Sexual harassment in the workplace should never be tolerated, and should always be reported to the relevant manager so that it can be put to a stop. However, the act of making a complaint about sexual harassment can ignite fear in many people. Recounting an uncomfortable or traumatic event can be very difficult to do, especially in the work environment. Many sexual harassment victims also worry that reporting the incident could have negative implications on their career.

If you have experienced sexual harassment at work, it is important that you take the time to understand your rights. As a victim of harassment, you are legally protected from any form of retaliation. This means that if you suffer in any way due to reporting the instance of sexual harassment, you will be able to take legal action against your employer.

Property maintenance is critical for avoiding slip-and-falls

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Running a business or owning a rental property is a time-consuming and expensive venture. Physical stores and offices can cost a lot more than just providing remote or digital services. That's because of the risk involved with allowing people onto a property that you own or maintain.

Those who make physical locations accessible to the public not only have to worry about how those facilities represent their business but also the potential liability those facilities represent. If someone were to get hurt while visiting a business or a property, the owner of the building or the property manager could find themselves in a legally vulnerable position regarding the costs associated with that accident.

The common causes of slip-and-falls in the workplace

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

If you have tripped or fallen in the workplace, you may have faced significant injuries, yet you still may worry about making a claim. It is important to remember that as long as you have suffered measurable damages as a result of an injury that occurred while fulfilling work duties, no workers' compensation claim is too small.

Many victims of workplace injuries are quick to blame themselves, and they use this as an excuse to not take action. You should take the time to understand how the law is in place to protect you, and remember that workers' compensation does not take into account who was at fault. It only measures the damages that occurred and provides monetary compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

Drowsy driving and the risk for car crashes

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Monday, May 20, 2019.

In New York and across the U.S., drowsy driving is becoming an epidemic. In a AAA survey, nearly one-third of respondents said that at least once in the past month, they drove while having trouble keeping their eyes open. Many drivers are not getting the seven hours of sleep every night that the CDC recommends, and some may have a disorder like obstructive sleep apnea that makes them tired even when they get seven hours.

Others ignore the side effects of medications like antidepressants, antihistamines and muscle relaxers. Others may take prescription sleep aids and yet ignore the direction that says they should sleep seven to eight hours afterward. A 2018 Consumer Reports survey found that one in five Americans who take sleep aids drive within seven hours of taking them. Some medications will interact with each other to induce sleepiness.

What is the definition of quid pro quo sexual harassment?

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

If you have had a disturbing experience at work and think that the experience qualifies as a type of sexual harassment, it is likely that you have started to conduct research on the matter. The law on sexual harassment in the workplace can often be confusing at first glance, but this should never discourage you from taking the appropriate action.

The phrase, "quid pro quo" refers to a specific type of sexual harassment. Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase that translates loosely into "something for another thing." In the context of sexual harassment in the workplace, the phrase refers to a person's abuse of their employment power in order to gain something of a sexual nature.

Drizzle linked to fatal car crashes

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Car accidents in New York can be devastating and may cause people to sustain catastrophic injuries and even die as a result. Many factors, from increased distraction due to smartphones to outdoor weather conditions, can combine to make driving on the roadways a more dangerous experience. One study revealed that even light rainfall can significantly increase the risk for a dangerous or fatal crash. Rain, snow and ice can make roadway fatalities 34% more likely, according to a study from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Even simple drizzle, where pedestrians may not even carry umbrellas, could raise the risk of fatal car accidents by 27%. The study analyzed data from 125,012 fatal crashes that took place in the continental United States between 2006 and 2011. The researchers also assessed factors like the volume of traffic on the road in order to isolate the impact of weather. The researchers used precise radar data to determine the severity of the weather conditions when each crash took place. This enabled the researchers to detect the rise in deadly collisions linked to rain falling even at a rate of a 1/10 of an inch each hour.

Swimming pool safety for older children

On behalf of Godosky & Gentile, P.C. on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Parents of young children are typically extremely vigilant when their child is near a swimming pool. Younger children tend to have lower swimming proficiency, and they are of a much higher risk of drowning or slipping when in or near the pool.

However, older children with a relatively high swimming proficiency can also be at risk of poolside injuries. In addition, the tendency for parents to be less vigilant around their older children can increase their risk of injury. The following are some key guidelines on pool safety, as well as the actions you can take if your child was injured at a public pool.