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Tag Archives: car crash

November 30, 2014 News
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Deadly car accident day after New York City’s Vision Zero plan kicks off

New York – A serious pedestrian accident occurred in Queens only one day after the mayor’s aggressive accident prevention program took effect. The car crash left one victim dead and two others suffering with multiple accident related injuries. Witnesses say that the vehicle jumped the curb and slammed into 3 pedestrians, trapping one man under the car. The man who was pinned under the vehicle had to be extricated by emergency workers while and was pronounced dead soon thereafter. The remaining victims suffered various injuries, including a head injury, possible leg fracture as well as neck and back pain. They were taken from the scene by ambulance with initial treatments for suspected spinal injury. Police were investigating the possibility that the crash was an assault and not actually an accident. Onlookers note that this fatal crash occurred after the start of the new Vision Zero program, which includes recent lowering of speed limits to generally 25 miles per hour, to prevent such accidents.

City safety activists point out that several additional deadly motor vehicle accidents occurred over the next two days, involving crashes in three different boroughs. One of those accidents killed an elderly man in Brooklyn as he tried to cross the street. A second crash caused fatal injuries for another senior citizen who was crossing the street in Queens. Only several hours later a middle-aged woman was hit by a car in the Bronx. Citizens continue to express their concerns regarding the safety of the city streets and demand that the police and administration take the necessary actions to crack down on safety violations. They worry that a dangerous driver must be removed from the roads well before he or she can cause additional injuries or death. Proponents have expressed their hope for the future, as the city continues to promote safety with the new program. However, they say that it will take serious efforts on the part of city lawmakers and police to follow through on their plans. Please see this article for more details about the recent rash of deadly pedestrian accidents.

Illustrative photo by Youngking11 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

August 12, 2014 News
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Fatal accident on New York Thruway involved wrong-way driver

New York – Earlier this morning a car crash occurred on a major highway, killing the drivers of both involved vehicles. According to officials, the driver of a pickup truck was driving the wrong way on the New York State Thruway in Rockland County, when his truck hit an oncoming SUV car. The car collision caused fatal injuries and sent emergency crews racing to the scene of the wrong-way accident. Reports show that the driver of the vehicle that had been driving on the wrong side of the highway was actually a New York City police officer, although he was off-duty at the time of the early morning truck accident. Video footage of the accident scene shows that the 2 vehicles apparently were involved in a head-on collision, causing severe damage to the front seat compartments, mostly on the driver’s side. Trauma specialists note that this type of car crash can be the most serious, involving 2 heavy vehicles that were both travelling at high speeds and hitting each other head-on. They explain that the velocities of the truck and the SUV add together to create a deadly motor vehicle accident. The types and severity of accident injuries are often also much more serious when this type of accident occurs.

Investigators are continuing their evaluation of the crash to determine what caused it. Possibilities include speeding, reckless driving, drug use and drunk driving, especially when the collision includes a wrong-way accident. An accident lawyer says that the at-fault driver, or in this case, the driver’s estate and car insurance company, faces a strong possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit. It is unclear if there were any other victims of the crash or the nature of any injuries. You can see more about the wrong-way collision here.

Illustrative photo by U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

July 13, 2014 News
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Garbage truck accident in Brooklyn causes injuries and death

New York – A car crash involving a BMW versus a garbage truck occurred on Wednesday, according to police. The truck crash apparently began when the driver of the car slammed into the privately owned and operated truck. Emergency services reported that one of the passengers from the car, a man in his twenties, died from massive trauma during the collision. At least 2 other people were injured in the motor vehicle accident, including another passenger and the driver of the car. Those accident injuries have required emergency treatment according to reports. The 2 workers that were in the garbage truck did not require transport to an emergency room but may require evaluation for possible injuries. Trauma doctors note that some injuries from an accident may only become evident hours, days or even weeks after the initial incident. This is why doctors recommend that anyone who is involved in a serious accident with injuries, should be evaluated soon after the crash, even if the injured victim was someone else involved in the incident. They note that if there was enough force to cause injuries to another person in the accident, then there’s a higher likelihood that other people also suffered an injury. This is even more so the case if there was someone killed in the accident. Such injuries can include a spinal injury, internal bleeding or even a broken bone.

While the injured victims are tended to, the police continue to investigate the cause of the truck collision. They have reported that the driver of the car may have been a drunk driver and this may have caused the accident. In fact, the driver had been charged with driving while under the influence (DWI) in the past and there was a warrant out for his arrest. The current DWI charge would bring a more severe penalty in light of the wrongful death in this case. Find out more about the drunk driving accident here.

Illustrative photo by Kevin.B (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

July 04, 2014 News
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Motorcycle accident kills woman in Queens, New York

New York – A car crash involving a car and motorcycle left the female motorcycle driver dead. She was apparently hit by a car as she was crossing through an intersection. The crash victim was thrown from the bike and suffered a serious head injury. Ambulance and paramedic personnel raced to the scene and found the woman with a multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI). They attempted to treat her severe wounds and transported the victim to the closest hospital emergency room. Hospital officials say that the injury victim was treated for the injuries but died despite best medical efforts. Cause of death appears to be the TBI but further investigation was underway. Trauma specialists explain that a motorcycle accident can cause a variety of life threatening injuries besides a TBI, including spinal injury, internal bleeding, broken bones and arterial hemorrhaging. They say that helmets may prevent some head injuries but not in all circumstances. More serious bike accidents often involve a speeding driver, drunk driving and with reckless drivers. Police would need to examine the circumstances of this car versus motorcycle collision in order to determine who was at fault. See this article for more about this fatal New York bike crash.

Ilustrative photo by Werner Vermaak (originally posted to Flickr as Immobilized Patient) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

June 03, 2014 News
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Research shows high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in child accidents victims

A Swedish medical research study has shown that approximately 30% of children that are involved in an accident, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The condition is a well-described psychological disorder that leaves victims with a range of symptoms that can even become debilitating. Signs and symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating or getting along with others, mood swings, and recurrent thoughts of accidents. Some people develop difficulty breathing, a rapid heartbeat, sweating and phobias of places that resemble the scene of the accident. The diagnosis of the psychological injury usually comes from a psychologist or psychiatrist but can also be made by an astute family doctor, neurologist or trauma specialist. Doctors say that medications and intense therapy are often necessary to treat more severe cases of the disorder. However, specialists say that even more mild cases should be diagnosed and treated appropriately in order to avoid worsening of the condition. PTSD can certainly present differently in children compared to adults. The condition is also not necessarily associated with physical accident injuries. Therefore, experts note that a medical or psychological professional should examine children that were involved in an accident to screen for the condition even if the victim did not suffer outwardly visible physical injury. Trauma specialists explain that events that may cause PTSD can include a car crash, bicycle accident, pedestrian injury, drowning or even a slip and fall accident. They further note that child accident victims may interpret even minor accidents differently than an adult. That may explain the reason for the high incidence of the psychiatric injury in children. See this informative article about post-traumatic stress disorder for more details about the condition.

Illustrative photo by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael C. Barton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

April 07, 2014 News
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Queens car crash into creek kills multiple accident victims

New York – This past Friday night ended with four passengers of a car accident dead after the vehicle sank into a creek. Police say that the car ran into the water after hitting the wooden barrier at the end of a dead end street. The car slammed into the barrier and then plunged into the cold water in the Astoria section of Queens, NY with only the driver being able to escape. Only several hours after this deadly accident, another vehicle also fell into a small section of the East River less than a mile away from the first crash. This time it was an SUV that hit a thin chain linked fence on the dead end street and then rolled over into the river. The SUV accident ended happier, with the four victims escaping alive. Details of the injuries that they suffered in that roll-over accident are still unclear. Fire Department of New York divers took part in both rescue and recovery operations.

Police investigators are continuing their search for the causes of these motor vehicle collisions. They are currently reviewing security camera footage from the initial collision and believe that the driver may have been speeding. Regarding the second accident with injuries, there has been speculation that a drunk driver may have been behind the wheel. A drunk driving accident would help explain why the one vehicle accident occurred. However, concerned citizens worry that regardless of the cause of the accidents, New York City should be doing more to prevent these types of calamities. Specifically, some have pointed out that the road safety division should have known that stronger barriers and better signs were necessary at the ends of these dark dead end roads. They note that the water hazard is serious enough to warrant more than a low wooden barrier or simple chain linked fence. Improved lighting could also help prevent motor vehicle accidents but require city funding. Public advocates have warned that the government officials and land owners in these dangerous areas are responsible to secure the roads and public. They explain that improper planning and safety preparations may constitute negligence. See this site for more about the fatal collision into Steinway Creek.

Illustrative photo by ecksunderscore from New York City (FDNY boat) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

March 26, 2014 News
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Long Island police SUV rear-ends car in multi-vehicle accident

New York – A car crash last week is being at least partially blamed on the acting police commissioner of Nassau County. The acting commissioner was reportedly driving too close to the car while he was driving his police vehicle, and investigators believe that this may have contributed to the car accident. The woman who was driving the car explained that she was stopped in traffic when the police SUV rear-ended her, causing her car to be pushed into the car in front of her. The SUV accident left at least one injury victim, with the woman complaining of neck and back pain. It was unclear if any other accident victims were injured but medical experts note that some accident injuries do not become fully apparent immediately following a crash. Pain management specialists say that some car crash injuries, such as spinal injury, knee and shoulder injuries and nerve damage, can take weeks or even months until they can be identified. They express the importance of seeing a doctor for evaluation soon after a motor vehicle collision, especially after being rear-ended and then pushed into another vehicle in front. This type of rear-end collision creates multiple impacts and the possibility of various injuries that may be subtle at first. Medical testing is advised and injured victims are entitled to healthcare even if they initially refused care at the scene of the crash. Some accident victims find it necessary to seek legal advice from a seasoned personal injury lawyer in order to determine their rights after being injured in an accident. Check out more about the police car accident here.

Illustrative photo by Kevin.B (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

December 17, 2013 News
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New York injury lawyers applaud new road safety initiative

New York – A Queens hospital held a conference to discuss traffic accidents and injuries this past Thursday. The hospital’s head of the neurosurgery department organized the meeting in an attempt to prevent car crashes, bicycle accidents and pedestrian injuries that have become so common on the local roads. Neurological and neurosurgical injuries that are often treated by the hospital can include a traumatic brain injury with hemorrhage, concussion, spinal cord damage and vertebral fractures as well as nerve damage. Soon after the hospital’s conference, a New York City transportation safety advocacy group held an awareness demonstration. At the rally and march, the activists demanded improved road safety with enforcement of traffic laws and education of both drivers and pedestrians. In addition, they explained the importance of proper road and sidewalk design to prevent car accidents but also to protect people in case of a collision. A top New York accident law firm has applauded the safety efforts of everyone involved, noting that an injury suffered by an accident victim can leave the person disabled and unable to care for him or herself. Many injuries can even be fatal.
Raising further concern, the Fire Department of New York’s Emergency Medical Services branch shared some of the horrifying statistics regarding crashes and injuries in the city. More than 14,000 pedestrians and bicyclists were hurt in a road accident last year. The police department has been criticized by some for their lax policies on investigating accidents and issuing tickets. Some improvements with their policies are pending and these will hopefully improve the situation, as we’ve discussed in this forum in the past. In the meantime, many injury victims find it necessary to speak to an accident lawyer to help advocate for their rights.

Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Granger Jr. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

October 27, 2013 News
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Car crash lawsuits settled after jury awards victims $3 Million

A wrongful death lawsuit and simultaneous personal injury lawsuit ended with an Oklahoma jury awarding the victims and their families $3 Million late last week. The plaintiffs contended that the Toyota Camry accelerated unexpectedly due to a faulty accelerator that should have been recalled several years before the crash. The car accident killed the passenger of the vehicle and seriously injured the driver. Multiple lawsuits and complaints were filed against the car manufacturer with claims that the company was negligent in not fully investigating the dangerous situation and issuing a dangerous product recall immediately. The car company allegedly knew about the hazardous condition but apparently avoided recalling their cars for replacement or repair of the defective parts. Experienced personal injury lawyers believe that many other injured accident victims have yet to step forward. Some note that the car acceleration problem may have contributed to other motor vehicle accidents and this needs to be further investigated.

The recent win for the Oklahoma plaintiffs comes in stark contrast to the New York and California cases that resulted in the car company not being held liable for the car accident injuries. Toyota has reportedly decided to settle the punitive damages aspect of the case in light of the jury’s decision in favor of the plaintiffs. The corporation is likely trying to limit the damage to their image and amount of money that they will need to pay the injured woman and the family of the woman killed in the accident. Consumer product safety specialists explain that this was not just a major win for the accident victims but for all citizens who should be protected from negligence on the part of large corporations. This case will set a legal precedent for injury victims across the country. It should also serve as a warning to companies and factories about the need for proper manufacturing of products as well as prompt investigation and recall of dangerous products. More about the sudden car acceleration lawsuits and product liability case here.

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

September 18, 2013 News
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Long Island man killed during car crash while walking his dog

New York – A pedestrian who was walking his dog on a suburban street in Nassau County, Long Island was struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident. The injured man was rushed to the closest hospital emergency room but doctors were unable to save his life. The victim’s accident injuries were so severe that he went into a traumatic cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving in the hospital. According to reports from the car accident scene, the man driving the vehicle hit the pedestrian victim and his dog just after midnight. He apparently fled the scene of the accident, which is a felony when the car accident involves personal injuries. A New York accident attorney notes that the charges can be even more severe when the car crash kills the victim. In this case, police say that the driver who caused the accident initially left the scene but then returned for an unknown reason. Police arrested the driver and report that he tested negative for alcohol or drugs. These factors can improve the chances that the man can avoid more serious criminal charges, such as drunk driving. However, according to the accident lawyer, this does not protect the driver from a civil lawsuit such as a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

It will now become the job of investigators to determine what caused the deadly accident. Common causes that will need to be further investigated include the man being a distracted driver due to talking on a cell phone, texting while driving and eating while behind the wheel. Experts also explain that the driver may have become tired and fell asleep behind the wheel, possibly more likely due to the hour at which the motor vehicle accident occurred. Public safety advocates say that drivers are responsible to pull over to the side of the road for a rest period if they are tired. Driving while tired can be a form of negligence that endangers the safety of everyone else on the road. Reports show that the man had just finished work in a local hospital when and was on his way home when the car collision occurred. Police may need to speak to his co-workers and his supervisor in order to determine more about the man’s behavior prior to getting into his car to drive home. Check out more details about this deadly car accident here.

Photo by U.S. Navy photo by Tom Watanabe. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons