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What is SUM/UM coverage, and why is it important to me? Supplemental Underinsured Motorist and Uninsured Motorist coverage is an important part of your automobile insurance policy. This portion of your policy covers you and your resident relatives up to the amount of coverage you purchase. This means that if the person who causes a car accident is uninsured, there is still coverage for you and your household relatives, up to the amount of coverage you purchase. This also means that if the person who causes an accident is underinsured, there may be additional coverage available up to the amount of your rider. Underinsured Motorist coverage does not provide coverage in the amount you purchase – it means that you have coverage up to the amount you purchase. In other words, any coverage the at-fault party has is deducted from the amount you purchase. For example, if the at-fault party has the New York State minimum liability coverage of $25,000, and you have a $100,000 SUM/UM rider, t...

Legionnaires disease was first identified in 1976, when more than 200 visitors at the Philadelphia American Legion convention contracted the potentially fatal strain of pneumonia. Which led to the death of 34 people. After an in-depth investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it became known to the public that Legionella pneumophila bacteria has the ability to manifest in man-made water systems around the world.   The Mystery Illness Within the days following the American Legion’s convention at the Bellevue-Stratford hotel, victims began coming down with a mysterious illness. The symptoms included fevers as high as 107 degrees, muscle aches, headaches, severe coughs, and diarrhea. Muscle pains and chest pains were also common. Most of the people infected had spent time inside the hotel, besides a bus driver who transported cadets who marched in the convention’s parade, and one bank teller who worked nearby. Within a few short weeks, three dozen ...

Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease are preventable, but requires meticulous cleaning of water systems and precautionary measures that do not allow the growth of Legionella bacteria. Implementing proper maintenance strategies for water systems in large buildings or structures is the best strategy for preventing infections. This is especially important in locations such as hotels, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, where Legionella bacteria are commonly found.  Preventative Measures for Legionnaires Disease Some of the strategies that should be enforced are:  Ensuring the water temperature in the system remains below 20ºC (68ºF) or above 60ºC (140ºF), since the bacteria survives in warm contaminated water.  Keep water clean of rust, algae, sludge, amoebae, slime, biofilm, lime scale, corrosion products or other organic matter, and other bacteria, as legionella prefers water that is contaminated.   Keep the water flowing, because legionella thrives in wa...

Legionnaires disease is a form of severe pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as, ‘Legionella,’ which naturally exists in freshwater but can grow and become dangerous in man-made settings if the water isn’t properly maintained. Thousands of people in the U.S. suffer from this lung infection and are hospitalized each year. If you experience any signs or symptoms of Legionnaires disease, it is extremely important to see a doctor immediately.  Signs & Symptoms to Watch Out For Legionnaires disease commonly develops 2-10 days after being exposed to legionella bacteria. The disease frequently starts with the following signs and symptoms: Chills Headache Muscle pain A fever that might be 107 F or higher By the second or third day, the infected person will develop additional signs and symptoms, such as: Chest pain Shortness of breath Confusion or other mental changes A cough, potentially with blood and mucus Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiti...

Legionnaires disease is most commonly brought on by inhaling mists that come from a contaminated water source containing Legionella pneumophila bacteria. People may be exposed to these mists from whirlpool spas, showers, hotel pools, and air conditioning cooling towers, but it is not passed from person-to-person. However, the bacteria can colonize and grow anywhere under the appropriate conditions and where water is present, such as drinking fountains and ice dispensers.  Where Is Legionnaires Disease Commonly Transmitted?   Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease are often associated with larger facilities that have complex water systems. Those include:  Hotels and resorts Long-term care facilities Hospitals Cruise ships Convention Centers Over 20 percent of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks may be associated with recent travel. Symptoms appear two to 14 days after exposure, and include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. What are the Chances of Being Infected...

Portable pools are affordable and easy to transport, but they can be just as dangerous as any other pool. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received an average of 35 reports of deaths of children under the age of 5 in portable pools each year. These pools account for 11% of all pool drownings for children that age. You can prevent these deaths. If a portable pool, either large or small, is in your plans or already in your yard, follow these simple steps: Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa, and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to avoid entrapments Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first Share safety instructions with family, friends, and neighbors Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those...

Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. The financial cost of these injuries is enormous – more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and workers compensation. The personal toll these accidents take on the injured workers is unimaginable. Often, the injuries are permanent. Take a moment to think about possible eye hazards at your workplace. A 1980 survey by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of about 1,000 eye injuries reveals how and why many on-the-job accidents occur. What contributes to eye injuries at work? Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. About 40 of the injured workers were wearing some form of eye protection when the accident occurred. These workers were most likely to be wearing eyeglasses with no side shields, though...

In New York, every year, more than 10 percent of all workers on a construction project will suffer an injury that results in lost time from work or a permanent disability. One reason for the high rate of injuries is the dangerous equipment required on building sites. One of the most dangerous is an unguarded table saw. Industrial table saws were designed for use on a level ground, with a safety guard covering the moving saw blade. Experienced workers know, however, that the ground on a typical building site is rarely level and the safety guarding on the table saw is usually missing. The most common table saw accident happens when the wood “kicks back” towards the worker. This unexpected and sudden movement causes the worker’s hands to jerk forward and strike the spinning teeth of the unguarded saw blade. The worker has no time to prevent catastrophe. An unguarded table saw is an accident waiting to happen. Mauricio Garcia was such a worker. He was injured by an unguarded table saw at...

by George Ilchert Less than a year after Revel launched their scooter rental service, the company has been hit by a deluge of lawsuits. “A new way to get around,” boasts the website. Not a safe one, according to lawsuits. All you need is a valid driver’s license and $5 and you’re clear to rent one of Revel’s electric scooters. Focused on the trendy areas of Brooklyn and Queens, the service has been popular with the young residents of NYC. Unfortunately, with absolutely no training required to ride away on electric scooters that can reach speeds of 30 MPH, accidents were a given. Multiple lawsuits have been launched against the company, claiming that Revel was reckless, negligent, and careless to set untrained cyclers off on what is essentially a motorcycle into the busy streets of NYC. One lawsuit is on behalf of a bicyclist who collided with a Revel rider and broke an ankle. Another is from a user of Revel, who claims a scooter failed mid-ride and caused him to crash and fracture ...

What inspired you to become an attorney? My family. My aunt and my godfather worked in a law firm my whole life, and I would often visit the office as a child. I always thought what they were doing seemed interesting. They were doing tax and real estate work, which is what I originally thought I wanted to do. During law school I worked for a personal injury firm, and that was very formative for me. That was when I realized that personal injury is what I really wanted to do. You’re a born and bred New Yorker. Tell us about growing up in Queens. I grew up in Flushing, which I believe is one of the most diverse areas on Earth. You can’t walk 10 feet without encountering people from 5 different cultures. Everyone was so close knit, and we all supported each other. It was a great way to grow up and definitely instilled in me a respect for all cultures. I’m proud to say that I have worked with clients from all over the world. Your family owned a construction business during your childhoo...

Three people died, and two were seriously injured in a wrong-way collision on Tuesday, Aug. 18, on eastbound Interstate 90 in Rochester. The New York State Police released the identities of those involved on Tuesday, according to My Twin Tiers . Charles Bargerstock, 81, was the wrong-way driver who died at the scene. He had been reported missing from Ohio the day before the accident after he failed to show up at a doctor’s appointment and then never returned to his residence in Ohio. Himel A. Joy, 24, and Mojammal H. Rasel, 30, both from Astoria, also died in the accident. NYSP reported that Bargerstock entered I-90 eastbound the wrong way at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. A semi-truck driver driving east spotted Bargerstock driving the wrong way and pulled over to avoid crashing into him. Right after the semi-truck pulled over, Bargerstock slammed head-on into the car driven by Rasel. The car driven by Rasel also carried Joy and two other occupants, Moshin Ahmed, 23, and Kenedy A...

One infant is dead after using Maison Terre’s Goldenseal Root Powder. Maison Terre has initiated a Goldenseal Root Powder Recall all lots of its Goldenseal Root Powder, purchased from Starwest Botanicals, Sacramento, CA, and repackaged to the consumer level due to microbial contamination. FDA laboratory analysis of product samples found these products to be contaminated with various microorganisms including: Enterobacter cloacae, Cronobacter sakazakii, Cronobacter dublinensis,  among others. The company that repackaged and distributed this product, Maison Terre, is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. According to the FDA Recall release : Risk Statement: The use of contaminated product in otherwise healthy patients can result in infections necessitating antimicrobial and potentially surgical treatment. In individuals with weak immune systems and infants, the use of the product can result in death. Maison Terre has received a report of one infant death associated with use of t...

On the heels of a Salmonella Onion outbreak and a listeria fruit panic, we now have concerning news about peaches. There is a new multi-state outbreak of Salmonella linked to peaches. So far 68 people in 9 states are sick – 23 of which reside in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several other states, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to peaches supplied by Wawona Packing Company. If you recently purchased and/or ate fresh, whole peaches supplied by Wawona Packing Company and purchased at retail locations including Aldi and Target in Minnesota, read on and check your kitchen. Here is everything we know about this Peaches Salmonella Outbreak: About the Peaches Salmonella Outbreak Twenty-three Minnesotans have been identified as part of this outbrea...

Recent Atlanta Legionnaires Disease Outbreaks: CDC Atlanta Legionnaires Disease Investigation In the latest Atlanta Legionnaires disease investigation, the CDC has closed several buildings it leases in Atlanta after their cooling towers have tested positive for Legionella.  “During the recent closures at our leased space in Atlanta, working through the General Services Administration (GSA), CDC directed the landlord to take protective actions,” the CDC said in a statement to CNN .  “Despite their best efforts, CDC has been notified that Legionella, which can cause Legionnaires’ Disease, is present in a cooling tower as well as in some water sources in the buildings. Out of an abundance of caution, we have closed these buildings until successful remediation is complete.” Legionella bacteria thrive in stagnant or warm water and have caused recent Atlanta Legionnaires disease outbreaks.  With COVID closing down building plumbing systems for months, dormant building wate...

Costco Salmonella Recall Costco operates a chain of membership-only warehouse clubs.  Costco is the second largest retailer in the world, after Walmart.  Costco is the world’s largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods, rotisserie chicken, and wine.  Costco is ranked #14 on the Fortune 500 rankings of largest US corporations. Here are the latest Costco Salmonella Recall notices: Costco Salmonella Recall — Onions Here is everything you need to know about the Costco Salmonella Onion Recall. In August of 2020, Costco issued the following Salmonella onion recalls: Cobb Salad – Item Number 10741 Spinach Salad – Item Number 38578 Jumbo White Onions, Hartley’s Best Label, 8 pound bag – Item Number 7003 Jumbo Red Onions, Hartley’s Best Label, 8 pound bag – Item Number 88436 Red Onions, Hartley’s Best Label, 25 pound bag – Item Number 31297 Jumbo Yellow Onions, Hartley’s Best Label, 10 pound bag — Item Number 67245 About Salmonella Salmonella can prese...

When you are a huge retailer like Publix, it is typical that you are involved in food recalls, and sometimes outbreaks. On its website, Publix Salmonella Recall provides recall information. Without further ado, here are the latest Publix Salmonella Recall notices: Publix Salmonella Recall Onions Publix is among the retailers involved in the latest Publix Salmonella Recall linked to onions . According to their website, Publix is recalling Thomson International, Inc. onions. The recall includes onions sold May 11, 2020 – August 3, 2020: 2-pound bags of red onions 5-pound bags of medium sweet onions 40-pound bags of jumbo yellow Vidalia onions 25-pound jumbo red onions bulk Sold at Publix:  Yes Sold at GreenWise Market:  No Publix recalls red onions due to possible Salmonella risk. Florida stores not impacted by recall. LAKELAND, Fla. – Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for red onions, packaged by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc. This recall i...

When you are a huge retailer like Fred Meyer, it is typical that you are involved in food recalls, and sometimes outbreaks. On its website, Fred Meyer Salmonella Recall provides recall information. Without further ado, here are the latest Fred Meyer Salmonella Recall notices: Fred Meyer Salmonella Recall Onions Fred Meyer is among the retailers involved in the latest Fred Meyer Salmonella Recall linked to onions . According to their website, Fred Meyer is recalling Thomson International, Inc. onions. The recall includes onions sold May 11, 2020 – August 3, 2020: 2-pound bags of red onions 5-pound bags of medium sweet onions 40-pound bags of jumbo yellow Vidalia onions 25-pound jumbo red onions bulk In addition, these products were recalled: DELI JARLSBERG CHEESE DIP, **3964; MURRAY’S BACON CHIVE JARLSBERG DIP, **1009; DELI RANCH CHEESE SPREAD KIT, **2242; DELI SOUTHWESTERN JARLSBERG DIP, **1614; AFIN JARLSBERG CHEESE SPREAD KIT, **2243; DELI BUFFALO BLUE CHEESE SPREAD KI...