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.
November 30, 2015 News
0

New York City construction accidents on the rise with inadequate safety

New York – Fast-paced building and renovation work in the city with a disproportionate increase in construction injuries and deaths has been noted recently. Worker safety experts explain that there has been a notable increase in the amount of construction but they fear that safety has fallen by the wayside. This can create a hazardous condition for workers as well as innocent passersby. Inspectors point to the fact that they have recorded many more construction deaths as well as worker injuries on construction sites. However, the statistics show that the accidents and injuries are not proportionate with the increased work volume. In addition, they note that many of the injured workers are undocumented laborers without proper worker’s comp insurance coverage by the employers. It has been suggested that this may point toward bosses pushing their employees to work too fast and not spend time and money on safety precautions. Regulations mandate employers to provide a safe work environment to ensure employee protection and to mitigate on-the-job dangers. Not doing so can make indicate a negligent employer with respect to the injury of a worker or bystander, and therefore liable for bodily injuries and wrongful death.

For an example of recent construction site disasters, see this article about a collapsed ceiling that hurt two workmen. You can also refer to this article about the rise in work injuries in New York building zones.

Illustrative Photo Credit: John Hoey [License]

November 20, 2015 News
0

Multiple injuries after drag racing car crash on Long Island

New York – Police in Hempstead, NY responded to a car accident that was apparently caused by two vehicles that were drag racing on public streets. Nassau County police note that car racing on public streets is illegal due to the dangers that it creates for other motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The high speed nature of these types of motor vehicle accidents makes them even more serious, even deadly. According to experts, a speeding driver is bad enough, but add to it the adrenaline rush and competitive edge of the racing drivers, it makes for a dangerous cocktail that can injure and kill. Emergency medical responders arrived with several ambulances to treat the injured driver and passengers of the car accident. They report that one of the cars struck a utility pole and left several people in the vehicle with extensive injuries. The female driver suffered the most serious of the car crash injuries. Police have indicated that the other car fled the scene of the collision and that driver is being sought out by investigators. Public safety advocates say that reckless driving, including car racers, are an all-too-common problem on the highways and local streets. They have demanded more action by police and governmental officials to secure the roads against negligent drivers. The injured driver in this case has been charged with several violations, including reckless endangerment, reckless driving and others. The woman can also face a personal injury lawsuit from the other injured victims due to her negligence. See details about the car race collision here.

Illustrative photo by W. Robert Howell from Charlotte, NC, United States (still here.) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

October 28, 2015 News
0

Seat back failures during car crash can cause serious injuries

Research data shows that during a car accident, the back of the driver’s seat can break, causing severe injuries. The worrisome thing noted by experts is that this is true even of cars that meet the most current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines. The concern involves not just the driver’s seat but also the seat back of the front passenger, according to specialists. They note that the problem is not limited to any one car manufacturer and is a well-known dangerous condition that has been ignored for way too long. The car seat failure often occurs during a rear-end accident where the vehicle is hit from behind. The force of the crash is transferred into the seat back which then buckles and cracks under the pressure. The person sitting in the seat is then violently thrown and injured, even when wearing a seatbelt. Common injuries can include spinal injury, paralysis and internal bleeding from lacerated organs. Activists familiar with the problem explain that passengers in the rear seat of the vehicle, often little children, are also prone to suffer severe injuries and wounds due to the defect. Children have been known to suffer facial injuries, head injury and even death after being struck by pieces of the seat. Cases have been documented of the headrest breaking off and striking the back seat passenger as well.

Car safety advocates have expressed outrage over the fact that the federal government and car makers haven’t properly fixed the hazard. They insist that the federal regulations must be changed to force factories to reinforce the seats so that they don’t collapse or snap during a high force impact of a motor vehicle collision. Some have pointed out that not doing so may be considered negligence and expose the negligent parties to accident lawsuits. You can read more about the weak federal safety standards and deadly problem here.

Illustrative Photo (Altered to obscure license plate): Joe Shlabotnik [License]

October 16, 2015 News
0

Police officer arrested for hit-and-run accident in Long Island

New York – The driver of a pickup truck that hit a motorcyclist in Suffolk County, NY was arrested for fleeing the scene of an accident with injuries. Reports show that the arrested driver was, in fact, a police officer who was off-duty at the time of the motorcycle accident. He apparently fled the scene and left the injured motorcycle driver in critical condition. The cop turned himself in to police the next day and charges are being assessed by prosecutors. The police investigation includes looking into whether or not the officer was drunk driving or possibly driving under the influence of drugs, leading to the vehicle crash.

Doctors explain that the nature of the collision was quite severe, with a large pickup truck striking the much smaller motorcycle. The truck accident investigation will also likely focus on the evidence found on the truck. The driver of the hit-and-run vehicle faces criminal charges as well as a civil personal injury lawsuit. The fact that he left the accident scene with a person who had suffered bodily injuries opens him up to several charges. In the meantime, he has been suspended from his job as a police officer. Check out more about this police officer involved in the accident here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Chris Yarzab [License]

September 25, 2015 News
0

Dog attack injure man on his way to work in the Bronx

New York – Two pit bull dogs attacked a man while he walked along a city street in Belmont. The assault was captured on video when bystanders watched in horror and some tried to help the victim. The assault victim explained that he was walking along and saw the pair of dogs walking without a leash. He said that he was not afraid and thought they were friendly, even reaching out his hand as if to say hello. According to some reports, the owner of the dogs began yelling at the man and that’s when the dog mauling began. The pit bulls jumped on top of the man and repeatedly attacked and bit him all over his body. He suffered extensive injuries, including dog bites to his face, chest and both arms. Trauma surgeons later had to repair the man’s injured ear, which had been amputated. After many attempts by bystanders, the man was finally rescued but the dogs apparently attacked some of the other people at the scene as well.

New York City residents were in an uproar over the dangerous incident, saying that police and city officials haven’t done enough to ensure their safety. Note has been made that the 911 dispatcher needed to be told and retold the location of the dog attack many times before actually responding. A recording of the 911 call reveals that the caller, while understandably upset, had clearly reported the address of the emergency call over and over again. However, police and rescuers appear to have been delayed due to the dispatcher re-asking the same questions. Ultimately, it was bystanders who had to step in and come to the victim’s aid since police had not arrived more quickly. In addition, some public activists have noted that the owner of these dogs has been reported in the past for similar problems. They complain that city officials have not done enough to remove the animals from her charge, creating a very serious and hazardous condition for everyone else. The dangerous dog owner was arrested and charges assessed. You can find out more about this assault and her arrest here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: maplegirlie [License]

September 13, 2015 News
0

New York City wall collapsed during deadly construction accident

New York – One workman was killed and two more workers were injured in a construction accident in Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago. The family of the killed worker report that he had often complained about the hazardous condition in and around the work site. The building was undergoing renovations and complaints have arisen surrounding the structural safety prior to the partial building collapse. The specific wall collapsed on top of the three construction workers while they were apparently not properly protected according to accepted safety standards and regulations. The injured victims were extricated by fire fighters and emergency rescuers, then rushed to the emergency room. Unfortunately, one of the workers died of multiple crush wounds with severe internal injuries. Doctors in the hospital explain that they performed all possible procedures but were unable to save his life. The remaining injury victims were treated for various work-related injuries and are expected to survive.

Construction safety specialists note that this accident is far from being the first in the city. They point to several other construction and work accidents and injuries, as discussed here. Activists warn that employers and contractors must be held accountable for not adhering to safety regulations and placing the health and lives of workers and bystanders at risk. You can also read about a recent elevator accident that killed a worker who fell several stories down an elevator shaft and died.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Martin Pettitt [License]

August 27, 2015 News
0

Bus crash in Queens, New York after driver loses control

New York – A bus accident in Rego Park has left at least six injured victims according to police reports. Investigations into the cause of the collision shows that the bus driver may have swerved to avoid colliding with a car but then the driver lost control of the bus. The bus then slammed into the side of a building, injuring the driver as well as multiple passengers. The people were extricated by the New York Fire Department and rushed to the hospital with varying injuries. The specific nature of the injuries are unclear at this time. However, witnesses to the aftermath of the motor vehicle accident note that the injury victims were secured with neck collars and spine boards due to concern for spinal injuries. Evidence shows that the bus hit a brick-faced wall of a building, possibly an apartment building. This demolished the corner of the building and sent heavy bricks and other debris flying all around. Witnesses describe a car being pinned under the bus, with the driver suffering critical injuries.

Further investigations will be needed to determine the exact cause of the crash. Police will examine the mechanical condition of the bus, including brakes, steering, tires and other essential equipment to determine if proper maintenance was performed. Records show that the bus was owned and operated by a casino company, who may bear some or all responsibility for the accident. The driving record and training of the driver may need to be examined as well. Officials will simultaneously need to determine if the driver of the other car was negligent and possibly caused the crash. Read more about the accident and injuries here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Chris Yarzab [License]

August 17, 2015 News
0

Brooklyn Bridge motor vehicle crash leaves multiple injured victims

New York – A 3 car pile-up car accident on the Brooklyn Bridge reportedly began when a broken down car was rear-ended by a second vehicle. The disabled car had been parked in the right lane of the roadway when it was struck by the second vehicle. However, a third car then slammed into the second, causing that second vehicle to roll over. The roll-over accident then caused a passenger to be ejected from the car. Police believe that the driver of the car that flipped over was drunk driving, possibly causing the first collision. The suspected drunk driver was arrested and brought in for further investigation according to officials. By the end of the triple vehicle car crash, there were at least seven injury victims who required emergency evaluation and treatment. Several of the victims suffered with neck and back pain, which may indicate spinal damage, according to medical specialists. They explain that the spinal injury could be simple muscle aches but could also be indicative of fractured vertebrae, herniated discs, disc bulges or even spinal cord damage.

This accident was reminiscent of a recent ambulance accident where the ambulance also rolled over. That collision also occurred in Brooklyn, very close to the exit for the Brooklyn Bridge. The accident involved an SUV truck that was hit by the ambulance, that was travelling with emergency lights and sirens as it was responding to the scene of an unrelated crash. There were four people with injuries in the accident, including the two EMTs working on the ambulance. See details about the multi-vehicle Brooklyn Bridge accident here.

Illustrative photo by: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

July 24, 2015 News
0

Dangerous furniture falls, killing children

New York – Product safety specialists have long warned about the dangerous condition caused by tall furniture that isn’t properly secured. Reports show that two children were crushed to death under heavy dresser drawers from Ikea, a popular furnishings retailer. The store has now issued repair kits to allow consumers to secure their furniture to various types of walls, in case they have not done so thus far. The wall anchor set will be issued for specific pieces of furniture that meet the criteria set by the business, as they are likely to fall over and injure or kill an unsuspecting person. Experts say that all furniture should be checked for safety or a fall hazard by manufacturers and stores before being sold. They note that proper instructions and equipment should be included with all products to ensure secure installation of the furniture. Ikea has included wall anchors with some of their products for several years but it is unclear if the specific units that caused the deaths of these kids had them included. Safety activists warn that the concern is not just regarding these specific accidents or even this specific company. Rather, they note, there are some companies that are more negligent when it comes to consumer safety than others. Explicit warning labels, instructions and equipment as well as constant after-market research is necessary by manufacturers and stores to prevent accidents, injuries and wrongful death. Effort must also be made to prevent heavy, unstable objects, such as a television set, being kept on furniture without proper safety precautions that prevent the object from being pulled or falling onto a victim. Businesses that do not do this may face a negligence lawsuit for manufacturing or selling a hazardous product. Additional information on this topic and the fatally injured children is available here.

Illustrative photo by: BeckyF [License]

July 16, 2015 News
0

Minivan accident blamed on driver under the influence of drugs

New York – A young child suffered a severe head injury during a collision where the van that she was in was rear-ended by a car. The van accident occurred in Hauppauge, Long Island and police there have charged the driver of the car with driving while impaired. They note that they detected signs of illicit drug use that could have made driving dangerous to others on the road. Sources say that the man was reckless driving, causing him to hit the back of the minivan and then jump the curb. Officials believe that the man’s drug use may have contributed to the reckless driving, causing multiple injuries to the victims in the minivan crash. The 7-year-old girl passenger in the van is listed as the most serious injured in the accident. The nature of the other injuries are unclear and doctors will have to do more extensive medical testing. However, trauma experts explain that injuries from this kind of motor vehicle accident often include traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, fractures and internal organ damage. They warn that some types of injuries are not even apparent for days to weeks after a crash, sometimes even longer. Legal experts in New York say that a driver who is under the influence of drug or is drunk driving when he or she causes a crash, they can be charged with criminal violations of the law as well as be sued in civil court. The civil lawsuit could deal with personal injury or wrongful death as well as property damages. For more information about this car crash, see this article.

Illustrative Photo Credit: MilitaryHealth [License]