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.
October 29, 2018 News
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Limousine crash kills passengers and pedestrians in New York

New York – The driver of a limo that ran through a stop sign is being blamed for the deadly car accident. However, the limousine company is also being investigated for possibly operating unsafe vehicles that may have contributed to the motor vehicle collision. Reports show that the car was speeding about 60 miles per hour when it didn’t stop at a stop sign and crossed straight through the intersection. It then slammed into a parked vehicle as well as several pedestrians in a parking lot. The pedestrian accident killed two of the pedestrian victims who were apparently shopping nearby. In addition, the car crash killed the driver of the limo and all of the 17 passengers in the rear of the vehicle. Unfortunately, none of the passengers in the vehicle were wearing seat belts during the impact. This left a total of 20 accident victims killed in the horrific collision.

Witnesses to the crash noted that it appeared the vehicle’s brakes may have failed. In fact, this is consistent with the fact that the limo company had racked up extensive safety violations, including negligent maintenance issues. At least one of their vehicles failed for not having properly working brakes in the recent past. Family and friends explain that at least one of the passengers in the limo messaged someone prior to the crash about the poor mechanical condition of the car. Investigators noted that the driver of the limo involved in the fatal accident did not have the proper driver’s license for the type of vehicle that he was driving. In addition, it has been noted that the very same driver was involved in a similar accident after he blew through a stop sign about three years ago. In that prior collision, one of the cars rolled over after being hit. Several people were injured at that time, including one with a head injury and another with a back injury. Find out more about these limo accidents here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: by Werner Vermaak (originally posted to Flickr as Immobilized Patient) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

October 12, 2018 News
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Students injured by escalator in Manhattan school

New York – High school students were injured in an escalator accident according to school officials. They say that at least ten injured students required emergency medical evaluation or treatment. Some of these were for a toe amputation, lacerations and for possible broken bones and arm or leg injury. It is unclear as to exactly what caused the school injury and safety inspectors were looking into the incident. Some people who are familiar with the injuries believe that it may have been caused by a mechanical malfunction. Parents fear that the injuries may have been due to negligent maintenance of the machinery. However, the possibilities that this incident started with a trip and fall accident or a child who’s clothing simple got stuck in the escalator haven’t been ruled out. Investigators will continue to evaluate the situation and will keep the escalator closed until the situation is deemed safe. See this article to find out more.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Brian [License]

September 28, 2018 News
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Traumatic nerve injury pain relief study

New York – Doctors have long struggled to adequately treat pain related to traumatic nerve injury. A recent study into the effectiveness of pain medications for various sources of pain looked into this further. They researched pain medications such as pregabalin, often marketed as Lyrica, that some doctors have tried using for patients who suffered an traumatic injury involving a nerve. Unfortunately, the study showed that this type of medication is not ineffective in treating this type of pain. These could be patients suffering with a laceration or torn nerve, radiculopathy from a neck and back injury, brachial plexopathy or the like. The causes of such nerve injuries often include motor vehicle accident, slip and fall injury, work accident, broken bones and fractures or assault. However, the medication is approved by the FDA for patients suffering from pain from a spinal cord injury. The doctors researching this medication did note that patients with chronic post-surgical pain may benefit from the use of the drug. This is good news for patients trying to get relief from chronic pain after surgery whether its related to routine complications or surgical error. You can read more about this injury and chronic pain research here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Zdenko Zivkovic [License]

September 18, 2018 News
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Increased construction injuries and deaths in New York City

New York – Construction accidents with injuries or deaths are on the rise according to statistics released by city officials. The Building Department says that there have been more reported deaths from construction accidents when comparing the current year of 2018 with reports from last year. Public safety experts blame the spike on the increased amount of building construction and renovations. Some have pointed out that the city safety inspectors haven’t been keeping up with the necessary inspections to ensure safety of workers and the public. Others believe that contractors and builders have taken advantage of the commonplace construction environment and have become lax about following safety guidelines. Workers sometimes complain about dangerous work conditions, including improper or lack of safety devices such as helmets, railings and harnesses. Even when equipment is available, workmen have noted negligent maintenance or lack of training provided to hardhats. They worry that profits make be a more important factor for employers than the safety of workers or the public. This situation can lead to a widespread hazardous condition and can easily contribute to a work injury or even wrongful death. Accidents include building collapse, falling debris, bone fractures and trip and fall accidents. See this article to understand more about the increased accidents.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Pete Jelliffe [License]

August 29, 2018 News
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Food poisoning involving salmonella-contaminated chicken

New York – At least one victim has died and nearly twenty more food poisoning victims fell ill according to reports from health department officials. Hospitals have reported that at least 8 people have been admitted to a hospital due to the severity of their illness. Chicken products produced by one company have been noted to be contaminated with salmonella and are being blamed as a likely source of this outbreak. The majority of the victims of this salmonella outbreak are from New York but other states have also been affected. This has led federal health and food safety inspectors to issue an urgent warning about the dangerous situation. The Empire chicken company has not issued a product recall at this time, leaving consumers fearing for their health and safety. Some feel that it would be negligent not to properly warn consumers of the health risk. In the meantime, safety advocates say that all food suppliers must make significant steps in ensuring the safety of the food supply, especially for fresh foods such as poultry, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Food poisoning victims are encouraged to seek urgent medical attention when necessary. In addition, someone who becomes sick due to someone else’s possible negligence can speak to a personal injury lawyer to discuss their rights. Family members of someone who suffered a wrongful death should also consult an attorney who specializes in malpractice and personal injury lawsuits. Read more about this health hazard here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Michael Eccles [License]

August 14, 2018 News
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Medical malpractice more likely if the doctor is fatigued

Research has now documented something that many have long suspected about medical errors by doctors. The recently presented paper shows that a physician that is burnt out or fatigued is more likely to have reported a serious medical mistake. Experts say that this makes sense in light of what we know about fatigue in healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and technicians. Significant fatigue and burnout can obviously lead to a tired healthcare worker that slow the thinking process. However, the fatigue and burnout can also create irritability and dulled clinical senses, leading to poor concentration and critical decision making. All of these can easily lead to various medical malpractice issues, such as a surgical mistake, wrong medication prescriptions or dosing, and even missed or delayed diagnosis. Patient safety advocates have long demanded that medical professionals maintain proper safety precautions, including ensuring proper sleep habits, maintaining safety protocols and monitoring for and dealing with risk factors for medical errors. Stories of surgical error or other malpractice issues are always a cause to take note and make serious changes to prevent recurrence. It is crucial to speak to an injury lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice lawsuits if you or someone you know suffered from an error due to the actions or inactions of a healthcare professional. This study further describes the association between medical mistakes and doctor fatigue or burnout.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Army Medicine [License]

July 26, 2018 News
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Concerns regarding possible delayed recall of defective car seat

Potentially dangerous defective child car seats were recalled by the manufacturer several months after the company performed its own collision safety tests. Federal investigators have now been examining whether the manufacturer of the seats possibly delayed reporting the defective product and instituting the recall. Guidelines require companies to report safety problems within five days to the appropriate government agency, in this case the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, evidence has shown that the business that produced the child restraint system had information several months earlier about the dangerous condition. This was based on safety problems that were evident on quality and safety testing that the company had conducted on the seats during a car accident. Product liability is a responsibility that manufacturers and distributors must take seriously. Concerned parents and safety advocates have voiced concerns regarding the situation, saying that this breech of public trust leaves the public in danger. Some have pointed out that negligent reporting of safety problems must be dealt with harshly. The potential dangers in this case could include head injuries leading to traumatic brain injury, internal organ bleeding, fractures and nerve injury. You can refer to this article for more about the car seat safety product recall.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Tetris L [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons

July 13, 2018 News
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Injured worker from hit-and-run accident on Long Island

New York – A workman who was collecting garbage was hit by a car according to the victim’s report. The driver of the car admits that his vehicle made contact with the worker but he described in as a minor accident. He explains that this was the reason he left the scene of the accident with injuries. Police then looked into the hit-and-run collision and questioned the driver. The driver has placed the blame for the pedestrian accident on the sanitation worker. He noted that the side mirror casing of the car is what hit the victim. The worker who was injured on the job has reported that he suffered a hand injury. Trauma specialists explain that this type of mechanism of collision can lead to various injuries, including broken bones or fractures, ligament and tendon injury or even nerve damage or vascular wounds. Further investigation into both the injuries and liability for the crash is necessary to determine fault and a causal relationship. However, some believe that the driver may have been negligent and that his fleeing the scene of the crash was criminal. A top New York personal injury lawyer notes that the employer most likely is required to carry worker’s compensation insurance. This worker’s comp carrier often must pay for medical care while the victim works out the legal aspect in court. See this article for more about this work injury.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Chuck D [License]

June 28, 2018 News
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Bicycle accidents, broken bones and traumatic brain injuries

As warm weather moves in, increased bike accidents become more common and lead to serious accident injuries. Statistics show huge increases in the numbers and severity of these accidents despite safety efforts. Experts note that children and adults are wearing helmets and other safety equipment more than in the past. None-the-less, some have pointed to worsening speeding drivers, reckless driving and hazardous conditions that contribute to injuries and wrongful deaths during road accidents involving bicycles. They explain that a car crash involving a bicyclist is much more likely to cause serious or life threatening injury when the vehicle is speeding or if there is a distracted driver behind the wheel. Studies into bicycle collisions show wounds that range from lacerations that can cause nerve damage, to broken bones, to neck and back injuries and even head injury with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Doctors say that helmets have improved the outcomes for accident victims injured in a bicycle accident. However, high speed motor vehicle collisions can still lead to these injuries. This article explains more about the recent research into bike accidents.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Luc Coekaerts [License]

June 13, 2018 News
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Can a spinning class cause a car accident-like or crush-like injury?

New York – A team of medical researchers from Westchester, NY have discovered a possible link between spinning class exercise and a type of muscle injury that can lead to kidney damage. The nephrologist doctors noted multiple cases of people being injured with a condition called rhabdomyolysis after taking a spin class, especially people who are new to this type of intense exercise. The condition is normally found in severe trauma victims, for example, those involved in a car crash, victims of a slip and fall accident from a height or crush injury patients. The rhabdomyolysis condition is caused by massive muscle injury that leads to dangerous levels of myoglobin protein being deposited into the victim’s blood stream. This can then lead to kidney injury and even kidney failure and death according to doctors. Public safety specialists are now asking about the qualifications of those who recommend and teach spinning classes, wondering if they are educated about the dangers involved. They explain that this is just one type of spinning class injury. Activists have noted that the spin instructors must take responsibility by becoming educated, obtaining medical clearance when necessary and ensuring student safety for all of their classes. If you think that you might have been injured by someone, you have the right to discuss your case with an accident attorney who specializes in personal injury lawsuits. Please see this article for more about the research into rhabdomyolysis and spin exercising.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Dawn [License]