Recent Blog Posts in May 2009

During the 2008-2009 hockey season, Cellino & Barnes partnered with Derek Roy to help support Juvenile Diabetes. Each time Derek scored a goal during the regular season, Cellino & Barnes agreed to donate $1,000 to help fight Juvenile Diabetes.

Cellino & Barnes is proud to announce that Derek Roy scored 28 goals this season, which resulted in $28,000 being donated to Juvenile Diabetes.

Recently, Ross Cellino delivered checks to Mary Ann Fox, Executive Director of the Rochester Chapter and Karen Swierski, Executive Director of the WNY Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes. Each Chapter received a check in the amount of $14,000.

At Cellino & Barnes, we believe water safety is very important. Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for many New Yorker's to open their pools for the swimming season and to gather at area waterways. The following safety tips may help keep you and your loved ones safer around the pool and at the beach.

Pool Safety Tips

1. Place a fence or wall around your pool, at least 4 feet high.
2. Keep furniture that could be used for climbing into the pool area away from fences.
3. Don't leave pool toys and floats in the pool. They may attract young children to the water.
4. Make sure ladders are secured and locked or removed from the pool when not in use.
5. Invest in a pool alarm.
6. Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.
7. Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.
8. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
9. Learn CPR.
10. Keep rescue equipment by the pool, including a telephone.

Beach Safety Tips

1. Learn to swim
2. Swim near a lifeguard
3. Never swim alone
4. Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present
5. Don't rely on flotation devices, such as rafts, you may lose them in the water
6. If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free, don't swim against the current's pull
7. Don't consume alcohol and then go swimming
8. Don't dive into unfamiliar waters go feet first
9. If you are in trouble, call or wave for help
10. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering unfamiliar water.

If you are hurt in a car accident, it is important to choose the right personal injury attorney to represent you.

Cellino & Barnes has put together a list of important things to consider when choosing a car accident attorney.

Auto Injury Experience. Experience is important in any profession, but particularly when you're looking for a car accident attorney. Make sure the firm you choose has vast experience with auto injury litigation and uses the best experts in the country.

Trial Experience. It is important to hire a law firm with extensive trial experience. No one knows, when a case begins, if that case will go to trial. Be prepared from the start and make sure the law firm you choose has extensive trial experience.

Record of Success. Do some research into the results a law firm has achieved. Results are important. They give you an idea of what a firm has been able to accomplish for their other car accident clients.

Resources. It is important to choose a law firm with the resources necessary to hire the best experts in the country to review your case and to testify at trial.

No-fault. If you live in a no-fault state, such as New York, it is important to hire a law firm that will take care of your no-fault claim. Following the deadlines and communicating with insurance adjusters can be very demanding. Having a law firm handle the day to day issues will allow you to focus on getting better.

Professionalism and Compassion. Being involved in a car accident can affect the life of an injured person and their family. Make sure the law firm you choose has a reputation for showing their clients respect and for treating them professionally and with compassion.

Free Consultation. Before you schedule your initial appointment, ask if the consultation is free. Although most personal injury firms do not charge a fee for a consultation, it's still important to ask.

Cellino & Barnes is available 24/7 to answer your questions. If you have been in a car accident, we are here to help you.

Have you ever been behind the wheel and found yourself dozing off?

Sadly, for two 19-year-old college students, driver fatigue cost them their lives when the driver of a tractor-trailer fell asleep and veered into their lane, hitting them head one.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that driver fatigue is the primary cause of approximately 100,000 accidents reported to the police each year.

Know the warning signs.

If you experience any of the following, you may be suffering from driver fatigue:

• You yawn or find yourself daydreaming.
• You experience blurry vision and have difficulty keeping your eyes open.
• You feel exhausted and want to lay down.
• You don't notice a vehicle until it passes.
• You don't recall driving the last few miles.
• You wander over the center-line or shoulder of the road.

How Can You Avoid Causing an Auto Accident

• Don't drink any alcohol. Even one glass of alcohol can add to drowsiness.
• Avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
• As soon as you become sleepy, pull over and rest, even if it's just 20 minutes.
• Take frequent breaks if driving for long periods.
• Check to make sure over-the-counter medication doesn't cause drowsiness.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent other drivers from falling asleep at the wheel, but you can make sure you take the right steps to keep yourself and family safe.

Cellino & Barnes - 800-621-2020

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that has affected many people in Western New York.

The primary cause of mesothelioma is from exposure to asbestos fibers. These fibers get trapped in the lungs where they remain throughout your lifetime. Many people who inhaled asbestos are not diagnosed with mesothelioma for 20-40 years after the exposure.

Steel workers, pipefitters and construction workers often brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing, which may have exposed their families to asbestos as well.

Mesothelioma is hard to detect and frequently confused with other conditions. More alarming is that there is no known cure. If you are suffering chronic respiratory symptoms and have worked in a ship yard, steel plant, construction site or other industry that exposed you to asbestos, you should discuss this with your doctor and ask to be tested.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have the right to seek compensation from companies who knew the dangers of asbestos, but failed to warn their workers.

Cellino & Barnes - 800-621-2020

Avandia (Rosiglitazone), was created and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, and was designed to treat people with Type 2 Diabetes in helping to control their blood-sugar level.

Although Avandia has been greatly beneficial for many people, it has also brought unwanted side effects to some.

In 2005, GlaxoSmithKline performed an Avandia study and reported preliminary results to the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). Then, in August 2006, they provided the FDA with a more complete version of the study, which showed a 31% higher risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, due to obstruction of blood flow.

GlaxoSmithKline was aware of the dangers posed by Avandia and various studies were made available to them as well. In May, 2007, Dr. Steven E. Nissen, a prominent cardiologist associated with the Cleveland Clinic, published a study in the New York England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Nissen's study revealed a 43% higher risk of heart attack for those taking Avandia compared to people taking other diabetes drugs or no diabetes medication. Further, Dr. Nissen's analysis showed a 64% elevated risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Between August 20 and November 13, 2007, an inspection was conducted at GlaxoSmithKline. The inspection revealed a failure to report data relating to clinical experience, along with other data and information for Avandia.

Based on the representations made by GlaxoSmithKline and the information on the Avandia label, millions of people ingested Avandia believing that the drug would be safe and effective.

"As a result of GlaxoSmithKline's representations, our clients ingested Avandia, suffered heart-related problems, such as heart attacks, and sustained physical and financial damages including pain and suffering", stated Ross Cellino. "Cellino & Barnes has already filed many lawsuits for our Avandia victims, with more being evaluated and prepared for suit," stated Steve Barnes.