Author Archives: Morrison Wagner

December 15, 2016 News
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Another pit bull dog attack leaves victim with devastating injuries

New York – This recent dog attack has left a young woman fighting for her life in a local hospital. Reports show that the woman was mauled by what appeared to be a pit bull dog sometime after midnight on a city street. It is unclear as to why the dog was outside without a leash, as is required by law to prevent just this type of assault. Police say that the owner was unable to stop the dog from continuing the attack and they were therefore forced to shoot and kill the dog. Meanwhile, the assault victim suffered horrific dog bites all over her body, including a severe arm injury. Hospital officials say that doctors were forced to amputate her injured arm in order to save her life. She continues to remain hospitalized after the arm amputation in very serious but stable condition. Police and investigators continue to look into the situation to determine if there was any dog owner negligence that created a dangerous situation to the public. A top New York injury attorney warns that the dog owner can face both criminal charges and a personal injury lawsuit in such a case. The owner of the dog was hit by a bullet during the incident but it is unclear whether this was from a police bullet that ricocheted or if the man was caught in the path of fire. Investigators are also looking into these details. Find out more about this pit bull dog mauling here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Gromkey Blackwind [License]

November 30, 2016 News
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Baby strollers and carriers: Head injuries, traumatic brain injury and other hazards

Researchers looking at injuries caused by strollers and baby carriers have noted an increased number of children suffering a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). They compared statistics of accident injuries from 1990 until 2010 and saw a marked increase in these diagnoses following head injury. However, it is still unclear whether the spike is related to more dangerous stroller design and manufacturing. An alternative theory is that it can be attributed to more parents bringing their children to a doctor or emergency room for evaluation of possible wounds or more astute diagnosis by doctors. Public safety advocates say that some parents may be more aware of more subtle injuries than they used to, driving them in larger numbers to seek evaluation and treatment for their baby. Some believe that increased public education on the seriousness of head injury and the long-term effects of cognitive function following a concussion (post-concussional disorder) may have led to these changing statistics. Whatever the cause, activists say that continued pressure on manufacturers and government regulatory agencies is necessary to continue to improve child safety, prevent dangerous or defective products from being sold and maintain product liability to prevent negligence. Dangerous product recalls are one way that industry and governmental bodies maintain responsibility and prevent injury or death. You can see more details about the recent baby stroller hazard study here.

Illustrative photo credit: Matthew Yglesias [License]

November 15, 2016 News
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Two workers hit by a subway in Brooklyn train accident

New York — A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway train accident injured one worker and killed a second victim in Brooklyn. The two transit workers were setting up warning lights to warn subway traffic into the Fort Hamilton station that construction and repair work was underway. The MTA uses these warning lights to signal train operators to slow down or stop. This safety system apparently failed when the workmen we struck by the train as it rounded a bend in the track. One of the MTA employees was injured in the work accident and taken to the hospital for care. However, the other laborer was killed in the train crash after suffering extensive and fatal injuries.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the collision to determine if any negligence may have caused the wrongful death. Union and work safety advocates note that more rigorous safety precautions are needed to protect workers as well as the public. They say that safety protocols must be reviewed and additional safety equipment should be issued to prevent future accidents or injury. Some have also pointed out that proper preventative maintenance is necessary to prevent an accident. Negligent maintenance has become an issue in many fast-paced workplace injuries according to specialists. To find out more about this workers comp injury please see this article.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Barry Pousman [License]

October 26, 2016 News
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Horrific pedestrian accident with two child victims in Queens

New York – The driver of green Chevrolet car hit two child pedestrians as they crossed the street just two days ago. The accident victims were walking to school that morning when the car collided with them and caused severe injuries. The girls, only 13 years old, were thrown to the ground, with one of them suffering a serious head injury with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sadly, that girl died of the crash injuries while doctors feverously tried working on her in the emergency room. The other victim of the crash is being treated for a leg injury with possible broken bone or nerve damage. Local activists from the Ozone Park community have expressed their outrage about this accident with injuries and wrongful death. They say that better street signs, traffic signals and crossing guards are needed to prevent more collisions, injuries and deaths. They demand that the city council take immediate action to ensure the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers alike. Some have asked why it has to come to this, with a serious accident and someone getting killed before the authorities take appropriate safety actions. Check out this article for up-to-date information about this fatal pedestrian accident.

Illustrative Photo Credit: COD Newsroom [License]

October 10, 2016 News
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Long Island Railroad train accident injured tens of passengers

New York – This week’s train collision involved a passenger commuter train and a maintenance train. Long Island Railroad (LIRR) officials reported that there were approximately 600 passengers on the train at the time of the crash. The initial investigation reveals that the maintenance train got in the way of the commuter one as it was traveling on a nearby track. The closer-than-normal proximity of the 2 trains caused the train accident and led to the train derailment. As the trains collided and then derailed, victims were sent flying in all directions. Emergency responders reported that at least 33 accident victims were injured in the train crash. The injured people were extricated from the wreck and evacuated to area hospitals.

Commuter safety specialists and passengers alike have expressed their outrage. They complain that the train companies must tighten their safety standards to prevent such tragic accidents. They note that vehicles as large and fast as a train require the highest level of safety and accident prevention. Some have contended that safety enforcement has become too lax and has led to negligent maintenance of the equipment. They also warn that engineer drivers often speed and disregard safety directives. Many have pointed to the recent New Jersey train crash that killed one passenger and injured over 100 people on the train and in the train terminal. Federal investigators don’t believe there’s any relationship between these 2 incidents. However, public activists point to the overall environment of lax safety compliance as proof of a more systemic danger that has created a hazardous condition. You can see more about the recent train derailment with updates on the investigation here.

Illustrative photo credit: Metropolitan Transportation Authority of NY [License]

September 28, 2016 News
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Official New York City vehicles increasingly involved in accidents

New York – A comparison in car and truck accident data from 2015 to 2016 involving city vehicles and employees shows some frightening results. The report shows that there was an over 10% increase in the number of collisions involving city municipal vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks, garbage trucks, buses, city inspector cars and others, but excluding police cars. The most significant intensification in truck and motor vehicle crashes involved ambulances that are owned and managed by the FDNY. Ambulance accidents went up by more than 30% compared to last year. Unfortunately, further data regarding the numbers and types of accident injuries from these collisions has not been made available as of yet. New Yorkers have expressed concern regarding these new statistics, saying that this puts citizen’s lives and health at risk. They note that many of the city vehicles involved in these crashes are emergency vehicles that are speeding or reckless driving, leading to both more accidents as well as more serious injuries and deaths. An ambulance carries extra weight with all of the emergency equipment and the force of these accidents can cause irreparable damage. This holds true even more so for garbage and fire truck and bus accidents. Citizens are quick to point out that they appreciate the many emergency workers and city employees who do their work diligently and watch out for public safety. However, they demand that the city government and agencies work even harder to eliminate the dangers and problems that obviously still exist.

The city has reportedly worked to deal with the dangerous driver issue within their employees but even additional driver safety training has yet to solve the near-epidemic. Some experts wonder if the problem lies with the initial hiring and vetting process within the city’s agencies. Are they doing their due diligence to weed out reckless drivers and other hazards? Has the city done its part in preventing city officials from hiding behind their credentials and agencies when doing something illegal or dangerous? Citizen activists complain that many city workers speed, make dangerous U-turns and park in dangerous locations with impunity. Many questions are yet unanswered but one thing is clear – much more needs to be done to prevent further collisions, injuries and wrongful death. Check out this article for more on the increased city vehicle collisions.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Ethan [License]

September 14, 2016 News
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I Was in An Accident :: What Should I Do?

New York – Car accidents have become an unfortunate reality in this fast-paced world of distracted drivers, speeding drivers and a driver who’s always late for something. What should you do to protect yourself in case you’re involved in a motor vehicle crash? Experts say that it is always appropriate to first address any accident injuries, even if it’s only a potential wound. Simply call 911. An accident victim is often distracted by the legal and monetary aspects of the collision and sometimes overlook an injury. If there is any question of injury, you should tell the 911 operator and they will send both police and an ambulance. The ambulance crew and hospital staff can evaluate you for serious injuries and document your wounds. This can assist in your urgent and long-term care and help smooth out some potential insurance coverage problems for your car crash injuries later down the line. Don’t worry – the police can deal with the car and investigation of the accident while you’re taken to an emergency room for evaluation. Police can also meet you at the hospital, if necessary, to follow up. Police can also meet you at the hospital, if necessary, to follow up. All of these guidelines are applicable to any type of accident – including car collision, motorcycle crash, bicycle accident or even a slip-and-fall accident.

After your health and safety has been addressed, you can deal with the rest. Of course, you should always be honest with police and medical personnel, but don’t admit guilt. Many factors must be taken into consideration by investigators into the accident. They will assess for a possible drunk driver, reckless driving and other illegal or negligent activity that may have caused or contributed to the crash. Remember, you have the right to consult with a top New York accident lawyer to determine your rights. You can also read this article for more details about what you can do in the event of a motor vehicle collision.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Morgan [License]

September 01, 2016 News
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Another boat crash with serious injuries, this time in Manhattan

New York – Tuesday evening’s boat accident on the Hudson River left multiple injury victims scrambling for their lives. A ferry boat from NY Waterway backed into a group of kayakers. At least five of the kayakers in the group suffered various injuries during the collision. Doctors in the emergency room reported that one of the most severely injured boaters had suffered a partial arm amputation. Other injury victims from the accident had wounds ranging from a head injury with a concussion, to rib fractures and a punctured lung. The head injury victim had reportedly lost consciousness, an indication of possible traumatic brain injury, according to neurologists.

The initial investigation revealed that the ferry boat captain followed protocol by sounding his horn before backing up. The kayak crews apparently did not move away in time but it is unclear as to why. Officials now believe that sun glare prevented the captain of the ferry from seeing the much smaller kayaks even though the kayakers tried raising their paddles to make themselves more visible. Further investigations are underway to determine if any negligence contributed to this serious accident with injuries. So far, police say that the captain was not drunk driving. However, several other ferry boat captains and companies have stepped forward to relate how dangerous the situation has become on New York’s busy waterways. This boat collision is reminiscent of the boat accident that occurred on Long Island less than a month ago. Read more on the recent Manhattan boat injuries and investigation here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Walter Burns [License]

August 16, 2016 News
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Long Island hit-and-run boat accident

New York – A woman was seriously injured in a boat crash last week in a Long Island waterway channel. The woman was sailing with her family and friends when a man “speeding” in another boat rear-ended hers. Witnesses explained that the collision occurred in a slow zone with signs posted declaring a speed limit of 5 MPH. They reported that the man who caused the accident was speeding much faster than the posted limit. The man fled the scene of the accident with injuries, which is a felony under New York State boating laws. The injured woman was rushed to a hospital for treatment of multiple injuries. Her injuries included burns, a spinal injury, a head injury and multiple burns and contusions. While the woman was the most severely injured, reports show that other passengers on the boat, including children, suffered wounds as well during the collision. Nassau County Police have now reported that they made an arrest in this hit-and-run accident case. The man, who lives in Island Park in Long Island, faces criminal charges and may also face a personal injury lawsuit from the injured victims. Investigators will need to also look into the cause of the accident, including possible drunk driving, distracted driving and reckless driving of the boat. To find out more about this boat accident, check out this article.

Illustrative Photo Credit: KOMUnews [License]

July 27, 2016 News
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Motorcycle accident kills one and injures another crash victim

New York – This morning’s motorcycle crash in the Lincoln Tunnel is being investigated by Port Authority police. According to reports the motorcycle accident ended in the death of a woman passenger on the back of the bike. The motorcycle driver suffered multiple accident injuries and was taken to a New York City hospital for treatment. It is still unclear how many other vehicles were involved in the deadly collision or if anyone else was injured in the accident. Accident specialists note that motorcyclists and bicyclists face many risks of accidents and injuries, especially on busy roads and highways. Reckless driving and distracted drivers are abound and the bikers have minimal protection from even minor collisions. However, some public safety advocates explain that motorcyclists and bicycle riders share responsibility by weaving in and around traffic and running through red lights. Speeding can also become a significant factor that can cause a crash or worsen its effects. You can read more about this bike accident here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Dan Souza [License]