Category Archives:News

Welcome to the news from the New York Injury Lawyer blog. Here we present interesting and relevant news stories involving our areas of specialty, including personal injuries, slip and falls, medical malpractice and brain injury claims. Have an interesting injury story? Tell us.
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]

July 08, 2016 News
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Child fell from a window of New York City housing project

New York – A 3-year-old boy fell out of a window in a tenement housing project in Harlem last week. Reports show that the child was able to push right through the loose window guard before falling to his death. The broken window guard was found on the ground next to the injured child. Officials examining the scene are trying to determine if the window guard was broken or possibly not installed correctly. Complaints from neighborhood activists say that negligent maintenance and installation of safety equipment is a known problem in many apartment buildings. Some have contended that management of these apartments routinely ignore requests for repair of broken equipment and safety hazards. However, others have explained that someone moved an air conditioner unit from that window and didn’t replace the window guard correctly. Investigators will need to determine if proper safety instructions in the use of the window guards were adequately explained to the family and residents of the apartment complex. They will also conduct tests to determine if faulty equipment failure played a roll in this fatal accident. The child fall victim plummeted 13 stories to the ground and possibly struck an object on the way down. He suffered fatal injuries, including a serious head injury, according to witnesses. Read more about this child who suffered fatal fall injuries here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Paul Sableman [License]

June 26, 2016 News
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Multiple car crash pile-up in Staten Island being investigated

New York – As many as twelve vehicles were involved in a horrific car accident in a busy Staten Island intersection. Police believe that the multi-car pile-up began when an elderly woman crashed her car into a pick-up truck on Victory Boulevard at a traffic light. Witnesses note that the senior citizen was speeding through the intersection when she lost control. This set off a chain reaction where her car then slammed into additional vehicles at the red light, causing more cars to crash into one another as well. The woman suffered a severe head injury and subsequently died in the hospital. One of the vehicles that the elderly woman’s car hit was an SUV being driven by a 75-year-old man. That SUV driver died of the injuries from an accident, according to emergency responders. Officials note that at least 12 other accident victims were injured in the incident and received emergency treatment. Several of those injury victims have been listed as suffering with serious or even critical wounds.

One of the things that has road safety experts concerned is that the intersection was a known hazard zone, so the speed limit was lowered to only 25 miles-per-hour and designated as a “slow zone.” However, some believe that at least some must have been speeding cars or reckless driving, as evidenced by the severity of the collisions and damage to the cars. The initial cause of the fatal accident needs additional investigation but experts explain that there may have been several negligent drivers that contributed to the collision. See this article and video for additional information.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Rian Castillo [License]

June 15, 2016 News
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Elevator accident leaves injured worker with arm amputation

New York – An elevator repairman was working on a recently installed elevator when a terrible accident occurred, injuring the worker. According to witnesses, the technician was in the middle of repairing the broken down elevator when something came loose. The man began screaming for help and a bystander called 911. Police, fire rescue and emergency medical services units raced to the scene and rescued the injury victim, treating him for an amputated arm and a leg injury. The wounded man was taken in to surgery in an attempt to reattach the severed limb. Trauma specialists explain that many times an amputation can be reattached but the victim can still be left with severe pain and suffering as well as a permanent disability.

An investigation into this case is underway, with building code and work safety officials looking into the cause of the accident. They will need to look at the training and safety equipment provided as well as the protocols being followed to determine if any negligence took place. In addition, they will need to see if any equipment failure or negligent maintenance of both the elevator and tools could have led to this horrific work injury. See this article for more details.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Aaron [License]

May 31, 2016 News
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Preventing a work injury and knowing your rights if you are injured at work

New York – Work accidents are common but often avoidable, according to a New York City worker’s compensation injury lawyer. However, many employees and employers alike are unaware of how to go about preventing accidents, injuries and death in the workplace. There are several areas of responsibility that are shared between employer and worker to ensure safety while on the job. These include work-sponsored trainings that involve both formal and informal instruction on how to use equipment and avoid injury in all necessary settings. Also included is the responsibility of the boss and managers to provide safety equipment, such as helmets, secure scaffolding, rigging, harnesses, gloves, eye goggles, ear protection and the like. They are required to make sure that the equipment is not only available but also not broken and with proper instructions. Unfortunately there is sometimes employer negligence when it comes to these necessary safety points, which can lead to an unsafe work environment and even a hazardous situation. Negligent maintenance of equipment is an easily overlooked danger when employers and managers place heavy pressure of deadlines and productivity on their workers. However, a major concern also exists for jobs that involve repetitive motions, slip and fall hazards, overexertion and falling from a height. There are things that employees can do to protect themselves and prevent accidents but some employers try to shift the burden of safety entirely to the worker. This is a concern and should be discussed with a work injury lawyer.

Beyond work accident prevention, work staff should become familiar with their responsibilities and rights if they’re injured on the job. This can include immediate notification of the supervisor or boss of the injury, calling an ambulance, going for emergency or immediate medical treatment, if needed and filing all necessary paperwork about the accident and injury. Employers are usually required to maintain a worker’s comp insurance policy to pay for medical treatment of the injury. The worker also has the right to speak to an accident lawyer that specializes in workman’s compensation injuries for assistance. An experienced law firm can assist with obtaining insurance benefits, hospital, doctor and treatment coverage as well as filing a worker’s comp lawsuit, if necessary. This informative article can explain more.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Bill Jacobus [License]

May 25, 2016 News
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Severe injuries from Long Island Expressway motor vehicle accident

New York – Police and rescue crews worked all night on Monday to investigate and remove a car accident in Nassau County. The initial reports from the crash scene indicated that a man was standing on the highway when a car hit the pedestrian. However, it now appears that the first car was involved in a single car crash when it hit the road guardrail and then the median divider. Two people got out of the car and were then hit by a car that was being driven by an off-duty police officer. That pedestrian accident ended in the death of both crash victims. In addition, the SUV driven by the off-duty police officer rear-ended the first car and caused serious injuries to two other passengers.

Police needed to investigate several aspects of the car crash, including the initial collision, the subsequent pedestrian accident and the rear-end collision by the SUV. They will continue to look into the accidents to determine if any negligence or dangerous driving was involved. The routine probes include looking into the possibility of drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs, speeding driver and reckless driving. However, mechanical failure will also be looked at, such as brake failure. See updated information about this SUV accident and pedestrian killed in this article.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Dan4th Nicholas [License]