Lozner & MastropietroBrooklyn Personal Injury Attorneys | New York Car Accident Lawyers2026-07-31T07:28:11Zhttps://www.lmlawnyc.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1401314/2020/10/apple-touch-icon-75x75.pngOn Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[What hours can junior learners drive in NYC and Long Island?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505452026-07-31T07:28:11Z2026-07-31T07:28:11ZWhen does New York City allow junior drivers?
Your child may drive with a junior learner permit in New York City’s five boroughs from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. A parent, guardian or driving instructor must supervise from the front passenger seat. The supervisor must be at least 21 and licensed to drive that type of vehicle.
The car must have dual controls, including dual brakes. Your child cannot drive from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. or on streets inside city parks. Junior permit holders also cannot drive on bridges or through tunnels run by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
Stricter rules apply after your child receives a Class DJ or MJ junior license. These licenses do not allow driving in New York City. A 17-year-old who completes an approved driver education course may qualify for a Class D license instead.
What are the driving rules in Long Island?
In Nassau and Suffolk counties, your child may use a junior permit from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. with direct supervision. You may give another qualified adult written permission to supervise. Permit holders cannot drive there from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Junior license holders generally need supervision on Long Island. Your child may drive alone on a direct route between home and certain work, school, farm or driver education activities. Daytime rules permit more trips. At night, only limited school, farm and driver education exceptions apply.
Help your young driver stay prepared
Consider reviewing the route and schedule with your child before each drive. Planning ahead may help your child avoid license violations, but even careful young drivers can suffer injuries when others act carelessly. In that situation, learning about your legal options may help you decide what to do next.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[What Brooklyn pedestrians need to know about crosswalk laws]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505432026-07-23T16:31:58Z2026-07-23T16:31:58ZPedestrian signals tell you exactly when to cross
Under New York State law, a steady “Walk” signal grants you the right of way and authorizes you to cross. A steady “Don't Walk” signal means you must not begin crossing.
If the “Don't Walk” signal starts flashing while you are already in the street, continue moving toward the nearest sidewalk or safety island without hesitation. If the signal begins flashing before you have stepped off the curb, wait for the next “Walk” cycle before proceeding.
A crosswalk does not have to be marked to be legal
You may assume a crosswalk only exists where there are painted lines on the road. Under New York law, the area connecting the curbs on opposite sides of any intersection qualifies as a crosswalk, whether the road carries visible markings or not. At intersections without working traffic signals, the law requires drivers to stop or slow down and let you cross safely.
Where you cross affects who has the right of way
If there is no crosswalk at your location, the safest place to cross is at an intersection. Outside of marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, you may cross mid-block, but you must yield the right of way to vehicular traffic. However, drivers still have a legal duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with you.
Sidewalks and road shoulders have their own rules
If a sidewalk is available and safe to use, you are required to use it. Walking in the road when a sidewalk exists is not permitted. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder facing oncoming traffic, staying as far to the left as possible. This makes you more visible to drivers coming toward you.
What to do if a driver injures you
Even when you observe every rule, a negligent driver can still inflict serious harm. If you were struck by a motor vehicle at a crosswalk or intersection in Brooklyn, you may have grounds to pursue compensation.
Consulting an experienced attorney can clarify what your claim is worth, who bears legal responsibility and what steps to take before evidence is lost or filing deadlines expire.
]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[How does speeding affect your ability to stop a car]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505242026-06-15T12:50:26Z2026-06-15T12:50:26ZSpeed reduces the margin for a safe stop
Stopping a vehicle takes more than pressing the brake pedal. A driver must first see the danger, recognize it and respond. Higher speed can make each step harder because the vehicle keeps moving during those brief seconds.
Those extra miles per hour may affect stopping ability in several ways:
A car travels farther before braking begins: At higher speeds, the vehicle covers more ground before braking even starts.
Brakes require more distance to stop the vehicle: The stopping distance increases rapidly as speed increases. For example, a vehicle traveling at 25 mph can stop about 45 feet sooner than one traveling at 30 mph. That extra distance can determine whether a driver avoids a crash or strikes a hazard.
Less room remains for sudden hazards: Fast driving leaves less space to respond when traffic stops, a pedestrian enters a crosswalk or another vehicle changes lanes.
Vehicle control becomes harder in an emergency: A driver may need to brake and steer at the same time. Higher speed can make those movements less effective.
Beyond these limits, speed also affects the force of impact. When a collision occurs at a higher speed, the body often absorbs more crash energy. Pedestrians, bicyclists and e-bike riders face added danger because they have little physical protection.
These safety concerns have prompted lawmakers to look for ways to reduce repeat speeding violations. In New York, the Stop Super Speeders Act requires certain repeat speeding offenders to install speed-limiting technology after repeated speeding violations. The measure reflects ongoing efforts to reduce crashes linked to excessive speed.
Understanding your options after a serious collision
After a fatal crash, questions often arise about legal responsibility. Determining liability can require a careful review of the driver's speed and witness accounts.
If a speeding driver injured someone you care about, an attorney can examine the facts and preserve important evidence. Professional guidance can also help you understand what legal remedies may be available.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[Hidden injuries after a car accident can be life-threatening]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505192026-06-12T19:51:26Z2026-06-12T19:51:26Z a car accident, most people look for what they can see: cuts, bruises, swelling and broken glass. The greater danger is often what you cannot see. Internal injuries can be severe and life-threatening while showing little or no immediate symptoms. Adrenaline, shock and delayed inflammation can mask pain, and some conditions worsen over hours or days. While car crashes are a leading cause, similar risks can follow other serious accidents or falls as well.
Internal injuries to watch for
Even a “minor” collision can generate enough force to injure the body internally. Symptoms may be vague, intermittent or easy to dismiss, which is why awareness matters. Below are common internal injuries associated with vehicle impacts.
Internal bleeding
Organ damage, from impacts and/or punctures
Bone fractures
Brain swelling
Muscle tissue tears and deep tissue tears
Treat any unusual pain, dizziness, confusion, abdominal tenderness, shortness of breath or worsening soreness as a reason to seek urgent medical attention. Remember that the absence of obvious pain does not rule out serious harm.
Why a prompt medical evaluation protects your health and your case
Early assessment can identify hidden trauma, reduce complications and create a clear plan for treatment and recovery. Delaying care can allow injuries to progress and can also create avoidable disputes about what caused them. Medical care provides a record of the injuries for use in a court case. The record can properly track the injuries to the accident, mitigating the risk the other party tries to argue that something else is responsible for the injury in an attempt to invalidate the claims. Internal injuries after a car or other accident are often silent at first but can quickly become dangerous. The safest approach is simple: get evaluated promptly and follow medical guidance. It protects your health and, if a claim becomes necessary, it helps preserve the credibility of your case.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[The master guide to tires: choosing the right set for New York roads]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505162026-03-18T05:20:19Z2026-03-18T05:17:21ZChoosing the right category
Using the right tire for the specific road conditions is the most effective way to prevent avoidable accidents.
Summer tires: Engineered for maximum grip in temperatures above 45°F. Their specialized rubber compound provides superior braking on both dry and rain-slicked asphalt. However, using these in a New York winter is hazardous; the rubber stiffens and loses all traction on ice.
Winter tires: Essential once temperatures consistently drop below 45°F. They feature high "sipe" density (tiny slits) that dig into snow and ice. Unlike other sets, their rubber remains flexible in freezing conditions, significantly reducing stopping distances on slushy NYC streets.
All-weather tires: A hybrid solution for year-round use in moderate climates. While convenient, they may lack the extreme specialized grip required for heavy Hudson Valley snowfalls or record-breaking summer heatwaves.
Other options are 4x4/off-road tires, which are recommended for unpaved terrain. However, they often provide less traction and more noise on paved city highways.
Run-flat technology: safety in transition
Run-Flat tires feature reinforced sidewalls that support the vehicle's weight even after a complete loss of air pressure. This allows you to continue driving at a moderate speed (typically up to 50 mph) for a limited distance. This technology is a vital safety feature, allowing you to reach a repair shop without the danger of changing a tire on a high-traffic bridge or a narrow highway shoulder.
Size and fitment
It is critical to ensure you are buying the exact tire size recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Installing the incorrect size or an inappropriate seasonal type can disable essential safety features like Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control. Consult your vehicle’s manual or door jamb sticker to verify the width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter before purchase.
The legal cost of negligent maintenance
In New York, maintaining your tires is a non-negotiable "duty of care." Under state law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with tires having less than 2/32 of an inch of tread.
If an accident occurs and your tires are found to be unsuited for the season, you face severe legal hurdles:
Negligence per se: Violating safety statutes serves as direct evidence of your liability in a civil case.
Pure comparative negligence:A court may reduce your compensation by the percentage they determine your poor maintenance contributed to the crash.
The serious injury threshold: To pursue a claim beyond "no-fault" benefits, you must prove the other driver was the primary cause. Substandard equipment gives the defense an opening to argue that your negligence caused the impact.
In addition to inspecting your tires and choosing them accordingly, you have to be aware of state laws and how they work. A lawyer can review your case if you are involved in a car crash.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[Do teen drivers overestimate their driving ability?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505122026-02-20T15:54:44Z2026-02-20T15:54:44ZPhone habits show up more than parents expect
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation USA surveyed young drivers ages 14 to 20 across 25 states and Washington, D.C. About two-thirds said they did not use a device while driving in the past 30 days. Still, the remaining group reported frequent phone use. That pattern matters because teens ages 16 to 19 face the highest crash risk.
Young drivers reported distracted actions such as:
Texting while driving a few days per week or even daily
Checking social media while driving a few times per week
Using phone GPS features while driving
Watching video content while driving
Taking selfies and other photo-related actions
This mix shows how distraction can happen in different forms, not just texting. Each glance and tap steals attention from the road. That split focus can turn a normal drive into a life-changing crash.
Teens misjudge what counts as a risky distraction
Respondents labeled texting, social media and selfies as highly distracting. Yet they rated eating or drinking and talking with passengers as less distracting. Many even viewed GPS as less distracting, even though GPS still demands attention and quick decisions. The survey also found many teens missed the mental strain from hands-free tools, including talk-to-text.
Parents shape teen driving more than peers do
When young drivers picked their top influence, parents ranked first by a wide margin. Friends came in a distant second. However, many teens said they saw parents use devices at least sometimes while driving. If you want your teen to drop the phone, your own habits can send the strongest message.
A calmer path forward for safer teen driving
This research points to a clear problem: many teens overrate their skill and underestimate distraction. You can help by modeling phone-free driving and setting firm expectations before they drive alone. Talk about why hands-free still pulls attention. When you lead by example, you give your teen the best chance to drive with care.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[Do safer cars really lead to lower insurance costs?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505102026-02-10T15:51:23Z2026-02-10T15:51:23ZShopping for a car often starts with price, style and fuel economy. Yet, safety ratings can shape your costs in ways that are not always obvious. You may hear that a five-star crash rating leads straight to cheaper insurance. The reality unfolds with more nuance.
Insurance companies build rates around risk, repair expenses and driving data, so the effect of safety features often depends on how each insurer reads the numbers.
What insurers really measure
Insurance pricing often connects to two big questions: How well does a car prevent crashes and how much does it cost to fix after one? Features that reduce injuries or help you avoid collisions can sometimes support lower premiums. For example:
Having automatic emergency braking can reduce rear-end crashes in stop-and-go traffic.
Using adaptive headlights can improve visibility on dark Brooklyn streets.
Installing lane departure warnings may lower the risk of drifting into another lane on highways.
Research supports the impact of these systems. One U.S. study found that vehicles with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking had nearly 50% fewer front-to-rear crashes compared with similar vehicles without these features.Still, advanced systems can be costly to repair. Replacing a bumper with built-in sensors can cost far more than fixing standard parts. Because of this, some insurers focus on crash prevention, while others weigh repair costs more heavily. Comparing quotes can show how different companies treat the same model.
Why safety pays off anyway
Even if the insurance savings stay modest, the safety benefits remain meaningful. Choosing a vehicle with a strong frame, side curtain airbags and crash-avoidance technology can reduce injury severity during a case of serious motor vehicle collision. Fewer injuries can mean lower medical costs and less time away from work. When serious injuries follow a crash, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you explore options for seeking compensation linked to those losses.
Safety that pays off where it counts
The value of a safer car goes beyond monthly premiums. Strong crash ratings and well-designed safety systems can lessen the force of impact in a collision, helping protect you and your passengers. That kind of protection can make a real difference in reducing serious injuries and preserving your overall well-being.]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[What is the difference between aggressive driving and defensive driving in New York?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505082026-01-22T17:30:04Z2026-01-22T17:30:04Z driver shares a common, unspoken goal: to reach their destination safely. No one wants their commute to end in a crash. Instead, drivers try to drive in a way that reduces the risks on the road. This could include maintaining safe following distances, adhering to speed limits, signaling turns, and striving to remain alert and focused, all in an effort to avoid the chaos and danger of a crash. These choices are an important part of safe travel, but they also bring up an important distinction: when does driving go beyond defensive and enter into aggressive?
Why does the difference matter?
While defensive driving can reduce the risk of a crash, aggressive driving not only increases crash risk but can also lead to criminal charges. In New York, the difference matters for safety, liability, citations and insurance costs. It is pretty common for a car crash to lead to a legal dispute about who caused the crash. Documented aggressive behavior makes that dispute harder to win, harder to settle and more expensive to insure.
What are some examples of defensive driving behaviors?
Defensive driving means anticipation, space management and speed control. The goal is prevention first, damage reduction second. The behaviors below reflect what insurers, investigators and courts often view as reasonable care:
Following at a safe distance, leaving a buffer for sudden stops
Maintaining lane discipline, signaling early, executing smooth lane changes
Obeying speed limits, adjusting speed for traffic, weather, visibility
Yielding when required, avoiding escalation, letting hazards clear
These habits can reduce the likelihood of an accident and serve to help build a case against another, more aggressive driver in the event of a crash.
What are examples of aggressive driving behaviors that increase crash risk?
Aggressive driving reduces reaction time; increases stopping distance and creates unpredictable conflict points. In New York, aggressive conduct can also support citations for speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, failure to yield or reckless driving. Other examples of aggressive driving can include:
Racing to lights, passing on the right, weaving through lanes
Tailgating, brake checking, blocking merges, refusing to yield
Rapidly accelerating, hard braking, sharp lane changes, erratic turns
Studies consistently link higher speeds to higher crash rates. Faster speeds also increase the severity of damage to vehicles and injuries for occupants due to higher impact forces. This is more than just conjecture; data supports these statements. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that almost 30% of all crash fatalities are connected to speeding. This translates to over 11,000 deaths.Defensive driving practices can lower the risk of an accident and help protect those within the vehicle. Avoiding aggressive driving and focusing on defensive driving practices can reduce the risk of a car accident, potential citations, and increased insurance costs. ]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[How do no-fault laws work in NYC?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505062025-12-21T01:55:41Z2025-12-21T01:55:41ZNew York City operates under a no-fault insurance system, which can significantly impact the ways in which crash victims seek and receive medical care and financial support after an accident.
Understandably, many people misunderstand what no-fault means, assuming that it prevents them from pursuing claims against negligent drivers. In reality, no-fault laws simply determine how certain benefits are paid in the immediate aftermath of a crash, regardless of who caused it. The system is designed to ensure that injured people receive prompt medical treatment and reimbursement for basic economic losses without having to wait for an investigation or court decision. With that said, seeking compensation within a no-fault system isn’t always easy. As a result, seeking legal guidance promptly after a crash is generally wise.
The ins and outs of seeking crash compensation in NYC
After most collisions in NYC, an injured person first turns to their own insurance company for coverage under Personal Injury Protection benefits. These benefits generally cover medical expenses, a portion of lost wages and certain out-of-pocket costs up to the policy limits. The goal is to keep treatment accessible and minimize disputes over fault during the early stages of recovery. A no-fault approach applies to vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists hit by a motor vehicle, though there are some exceptions for motorcyclists and individuals engaged in intentional misconduct. To receive benefits, a claimant must file a no-fault application quickly, often within thirty days, or risk losing eligibility for compensation.While no-fault covers economic losses, it does not compensate for pain, suffering or long-term impacts on quality of life. To pursue these damages, an injured person must meet New York’s “serious injury” threshold. This threshold includes specific categories such as significant disfigurement, fractures, permanent loss of use of a body system or a medically determined impairment that affects daily activities for at least ninety out of the 180 days following the crash. Once the threshold is met, the victim may file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver or other responsible party to seek full compensation beyond what a no-fault approach affords. Fault matters in these cases, even though initial benefits are paid without regard to responsibility. A skilled legal team can guide injury victims through both the no-fault system and any potential liability claims. Even though this system is relatively straightforward, the ins and outs of any particular case are generally not. ]]>On Behalf of Lozner & Mastropietro<![CDATA[Are the rules about scaffolds in Brooklyn about to change?]]>https://www.lmlawnyc.com/?p=505022025-11-07T17:11:29Z2025-11-07T17:12:16Z is not uncommon to need to navigate through scaffolding structures while walking the streets of Brooklyn. While these important tools for construction have long been a staple of the borough's skyline, change is on the horizon. The New York City Council has enacted new legislation targeting scaffolding, with the goal of revitalizing the streets of New York. Three important changes include a shortened permit duration period, enhanced lighting requirements, and penalties for delays.
#1: Shortened permit duration
The changes reduce the duration for sidewalk shed permits related to façade repairs from one year to three months. Exceptions are available if the delay is linked to demolition, building alteration, or new construction.
#2: Enhanced lighting requirements
The changes also require LED lighting under sidewalk sheds. These lights must be adjustable to prevent excess brightness in nearby homes.
#3: Penalties for delays
There are also new penalties for property owners who delay necessary repairs to sidewalk sheds, with increased fines for prolonged shed presence. The penalties would apply when the property owner seeks a permit renewal. Property owners are also required to provide proof of work done since the last time they had a renewal for the sidewalk shed or documentation to explain delays.The Council has made it clear that they are no longer allowing scaffolding to stay up for years on end. Councilmembers further state that their push to “restore beauty” to the city will not come at the cost of safety. It is important to follow how the city applies these new rules to determine if this is true. These changes do not impact the New York Scaffold Law. Construction workers, pedestrians, and others injured as a result of a fall can still use this legal tool to hold responsible parties financially accountable for their injuries. ]]>