NYC, Bronx, Albany, Poughkeepsie and NY Statewide Accident Injury Law Blog

It seems so simple: If the light is red, all traffic has to stop. There are exceptions, such as when you're making a right turn, but even then, you have to stop first, check to see if the way is clear and then turn. There's never a situation where you can just blow through a solid red light.

And yet, people do it all the time. They cause accidents, they put other people in the hospital and they even take lives. Why does this happen? A few reasons include:

• The driver was distracted and never saw the light at all. For instance, some drivers have admitted to reading or writing emails while they drive, taking their attention away from the road.
• The driver was attempting to beat the red light by speeding up, rather than slowing down, when it turned yellow. If they timed it wrong, then they could go through the red at a high rate of speed.
• There were no other cars around or so they thought. Some drivers will run a red light if they can't see any traffic passing through, but that can lead to a crash when they simply overlook an oncoming vehicle.
• They were thinking about something else. A busy person with their mind on their work or a conversation with a boss or a loved one may run a red light while simply thinking about everything else in their life and driving on autopilot.

You know that nursing home neglect can often lead to dehydration. It's not intentional abuse -- at least, not all of the time. It's just the fundamental neglect of the person's basic needs. That could mean not bringing them food and water as often as they need it, even though they are dependent on the care of others.

When you help your loved one move into a nursing home, you begin to worry about neglect and vow to watch out for the most common signs and symptoms. That starts with dehydration, so exactly what should you be looking for? A number of the most common symptoms are:

• Headaches that linger, even if they're mild
• Constipation due to a lack of fluids to soften the stool
• Irritability that has no other cause
• Excessive cramping, which is most often in the legs and arms
• Dark yellow urine
• Urinary tract infections
• A general sense of dizziness, which may get worse whenever they stand up
• Fatigue and excessive sleepiness
• Repeated complaints about thirst -- although it is important to note that many elderly people have a decreased sense of thirst and may not know how thirsty they are
• Weakness and trouble with physical tasks that should be possible
• A face that is flushed with warm, dry skin
• The onset of various sicknesses, such as a fever

A 38-year-old motorist struck and killed one pedestrian and critically injured another in the Town of Ulster early on the morning of Jan. 6.

The Saugerties' motorist had apparently been driving his 2010 Subaru Legacy along an unlit portion of Ulster Avenue near the Route 199 overpass in the moments before the crash occurred. He pulled over and called police to report the incident just after 12:39 a.m.

Property owners, such as the owners of hotels, restaurants and shops -- could be liable if they neglect to maintain safe premises and their negligence results in an injury to those who visit their properties.

That being said, many people who suffer serious injuries on a property are completely unaware of their legal rights and options after they get hurt -- and they never seek the financial compensation they deserve. As such, we want to answer a couple important questions that premises liability plaintiffs commonly have: