#vulnerable code 
                             private View getViewOnRecyclerItemIndex(ViewGroup recyclerView, int recyclerViewIndex, int itemIndex){
		final long endTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis() + Timeout.getSmallTimeout();
		View view = recyclerView.getChildAt(itemIndex);
		
		while(view == null){
			final boolean timedOut = SystemClock.uptimeMillis() > endTime;
			if (timedOut){
				Assert.fail("View is null and can therefore not be clicked!");
			}
			
			sleeper.sleep();
			recyclerView = (ViewGroup) viewFetcher.getIdenticalView(recyclerView);

			if(recyclerView == null){
				recyclerView = (ViewGroup) viewFetcher.getRecyclerView(false, recyclerViewIndex);
			}
			
			view = recyclerView.getChildAt(itemIndex);
		}
		return view;
	} 
                            #location 18 
                            #vulnerability type NULL_DEREFERENCE
#fixed code
                             private View getViewOnRecyclerItemIndex(ViewGroup recyclerView, int recyclerViewIndex, int itemIndex){
		final long endTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis() + Timeout.getSmallTimeout();
		View view = recyclerView.getChildAt(itemIndex);

		while(view == null){
			final boolean timedOut = SystemClock.uptimeMillis() > endTime;
			if (timedOut){
				Assert.fail("View is null and can therefore not be clicked!");
			}

			sleeper.sleep();
			recyclerView = (ViewGroup) viewFetcher.getIdenticalView(recyclerView);

			if(recyclerView == null){
				recyclerView = (ViewGroup) viewFetcher.getRecyclerView(false, recyclerViewIndex);
			}

			if(recyclerView != null){
				view = recyclerView.getChildAt(itemIndex);
			}
		}
		return view;
	}