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Tag Archives: dangerous situation

February 13, 2022 News
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Redefining accidental injuries, fatalities and responsibility

An important but under-recognized movement has developed to truly improve ‎safety and prevent “accident injuries.” For way too long designers, manufacturers and society ‎leaders have ignored the well-known dangerous situations and hazardous conditions that exist ‎in the modern world. This sometimes manifests by poor road design, dangerous construction ‎site planning or manufacturing of faulty products. Once someone – or many people – have ‎been injured or were killed by poor design or negligent implementation, the people ‎responsible for the tragedy write it off as an “accident.” Many refuse to take any blame of ‎negligence and refuse to take the opportunity to declare a faulty product recall. More ‎importantly, they don’t make full efforts to redesign their product or re-do their design to ‎prevent further injury or death. It is no secret that some roads and highways are dangerous ‎and are more prone to car crash or pedestrian accidents. Likewise, some high-intensity ‎electrical products are known fire hazards. Yet others pose a serious risk of choking hazards or ‎other similar dangerous situations that need to be corrected. The concept of a wrongful death ‎lawsuit developed in an attempt to hold offending parties accountable for their actions or ‎even inactions. Personal injury lawsuits are likewise used as a tool to not only compensate ‎injury victims but to also create change in the world of those who design, develop and ‎manufacture consumer products or facilities.
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A recent book ‎was written about this topic, bringing to the forefront the idea of how to make necessary ‎changes before tragedy strikes. A top New York law firm has a long history of fighting for the rights of people ‎injured in a “car accident” that may not have actually been exactly just an accident after all. ‎This team has a tried a true history of fighting to change the reality and protect victims of faulty ‎products, work injury, slip and fall injury or even medical malpractice. The time has come to ‎make sure that designers, manufacturers and companies are held responsible for their actions.‎

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Billie Grace Ward [License]

February 04, 2022 News
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Protocol, equipment failures led to deadly fire in Bronx apartment building

New York – Fire officials say that their initial investigation into a fatal apartment fire has shown significant equipment ‎failures. In addition, protocols meant to prevent such tragic disasters were not properly followed. The ‎deadly fire in a residential housing building in the Bronx claimed the lives of at least 17 fire victims. Of ‎these victims, reports show that 8 of them were children who died in the fire. Investigators note that ‎the initial cause of the accidental fire was a faulty malfunctioning heater that was left on after ‎residents left the apartment. The portable electric faulty heater apparently shorted and sparked, ‎causing it to catch on fire. Public safety experts say that sale of such a dangerous product should be ‎banned, as it easily can contain defective parts. The use of such a well-known fire-prone heating ‎device has long been discouraged, especially when used in a room that in unattended. Safety ‎protocols say that such a device should be turned off when one leaves the area in order to prevent a ‎dangerous situation that can lead to melting, malfunction and fires. ‎

Spread of the deadly smoke from the fire was caused when the automatic closing arm of the door was ‎broken. That equipment failure led to the quick envelopment of the building in smoke that suffocated ‎multiple residents. Firefighters reported that they found several of the smoke inhalation victims ‎collapsed in the stairwells. Safety experts say that building codes normally include venting of potential ‎smoke from a building fire out of the stairwells. They explain that this is important to provide a mode ‎of egress from a multi-story building fire like this one. See this article for more information and videos ‎about the equipment malfunctions and errors that led to these multiple fire deaths.‎

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit via Mike Goad [License]

September 26, 2021 News
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Horse carriage versus car accident on New York City’s streets

New York – The dangers of slow moving horse drawn carriages using the same streets as fast moving ‎cars has become much more apparent this week. A car crash involving a horse pulled wagon took ‎place in Midtown Manhattan. Differing accounts of the accident have created some confusion as to ‎who caused the collision with injuries. Some have noted that the car was possibly speeding or reckless ‎driving. Witnesses have reported that the car slammed into the side of the horse and wagon causing ‎the horse to trip and fall and suffer serious injuries. However, another account of the accident explains ‎that the horse charged into the car and then collapsed. In any event, this horse accident has brought ‎to the forefront about the dangers of having horses on public city streets. Some have charged that ‎such a dangerous situation is intolerable and can be expected to lead to accidents and injuries or even ‎possible wrongful death. This includes the dangers not only to drivers and passengers in cars and in the ‎carriage but also pedestrians, bicyclists and the horses themselves. According to officials, this horse ‎was actually on his first day on the job at the time of the work accident. This raises the question about ‎whether or not the horse and driver of the carriage had sufficient safety training before starting work. ‎See this article for more about this collision.‎

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Public domain via Greenville Daily Photo [License]

April 21, 2021 News
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Tesla car crash raises safety concerns with autopilot and electric car battery fires

The horrific fatal Tesla car accident has many public safety specialists quite concerned. The car collision killed two men who were both passengers in the vehicle at the time. Both men were sitting in passenger seats at the time of the fatal accident. The most obvious concern is with regards to the autopilot function that the Tesla car comes equipped with. The company insists that the autopilot function does not mean that the car can fully driver itself. Rather, the driver must actively monitor and maintain control of the vehicle. However, this is certainly not the first Tesla accident that has been blamed on the autopilot and the manufacturer is well aware of this dangerous situation. Some have questioned the sales tactics and safety claims made by the Tesla company. Road safety and consumer advocates say that the car manufacturer is shirking its responsibility by creating a hazardous condition but then just telling drivers that it’s their responsibility to maintain control over the vehicle. The company’s clear message has been that their car is safe and that the autopilot program is accurate and can prevent collisions.

Another major safety concern that has come to light in this Tesla electric vehicle accident is that of an uncontrollable car fire. The world of the electric car has grown faster than safety agencies believe is safe. They have expressed concerns regarding the dangerous car battery fires that have reignited after being put out by firefighters. The fact that quite a few car battery fires were caused by a car accident and were then more difficult to extinguish than a traditional gas-fueled vehicle has raised concerns. These car battery accidents have been well documented to cause internal damage that can lead to a fire hazard. The training and experience of firefighters have not been sufficient to prevent dangerous spread of a fire. In addition, some feel that car and battery manufacturers have ignored the safety hazard and have not provided sufficient training and advice on the matter. You can read more about the safety concerns surrounding electric vehicles here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Chris Yarzab [License]

March 27, 2020 News
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Coronavirus protection plan in the workplace :: Employer’s responsibility?

New York – Many people are concerned about their own health as well as that of the people around them during this coronavirus outbreak. A common question that comes up is, what is the responsibility of the employer during these perilous times? Can an employer require workers to come in to work? Should they? Some jobs are vital for society and the well being of everyone. However, other jobs are less so and this should be taken into consideration by a boss. The driving force in decision making should involve the health and well being of employees and customers, and not just money. Workers should be encouraged to work from home or at off times when the office or workplace is relatively empty. In addition, the workplace should be kept clean and disinfected on a very regular basis to avoid getting workers and customers sick. A central thought of employers during this time must be to prevent a work illness or work injury. This may mean that a company will need to work on setting up the employee with adequate work-at-home accommodations and allowances as needed. Employers and companies should ensure a safer environment by also sending home any worker who shows any signs of illness, such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath. The concept is similar to the requirement on employers to provide a safe and healthy work environment in general. For example, good lighting in an office or warehouse to prevent a trip and fall; proper safety equipment on a dangerous construction site; or constant diligence to avoid broken equipment from improper maintenance. In addition, employers should make reasonable efforts to educate their workers and staff on how to protect themselves at work. Systems should be set up by managers and bosses to prevent clumping of customers and workers to prevent spread of the disease. Clear signs and instructions as well as any necessary personal protection equipment and safe cleaning supplies should be made available to staff and customers to prevent a dangerous situation. You can see this article for more guidance on how to prevent getting sick from COVID-19 in the workplace.

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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]

January 31, 2018 News
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Statistics show more injuries from certain vehicle models involved in a crash

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) compiles data on car accidents, injuries, accident-related death as well as financial losses from a collision.  Their research shows that some particular models of cars and trucks are more likely to result in personal injury of the driver or passengers. According to a recent report on vehicles manufactured between 2014 and 2016, the smaller and lighter cars are more likely to result in crash injuries or death compared to larger and heavier vehicles. Note is made that despite advances in safety design, additional airbags and other innovations, many vehicles still leave occupants at greater than average risk for injury when a motor vehicle collision occurs. Watch groups work to pressure vehicle manufacturers and designers to produce safer cars and trucks in hopes of preventing people from getting hurt in an accident or even worse. However, some say that corporate profits often take precedence, leaving the average citizen at risk for injury or death. They believe that expensive safety features are left out in order to maximize sales and profits, leading to a dangerous situation. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, you can speak to an expert accident attorney for advice and to find out your rights. See this article for more about the vehicles that may leave you more vulnerable to wounds during a car crash.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Jason Burwen [License]

February 28, 2017 News
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Another pedestrian struck by tow truck on Long Island

New York – This is not the first time that a pedestrian accident involved a tow truck according to police. This latest tow truck accident occurred in Suffolk County and left the accident victim with serious injuries. The woman was crossing the street when she was suddenly hit by a truck, leaving her with multiple injuries. She was taken by ambulance to Huntington Hospital for emergency treatment, according to reports. Officials say that a similar tow truck crash versus a pedestrian occurred several months ago in Nassau County, Long Island. That collision in November killed the pedestrian woman. Of note, many tow truck operators complain that their job places them in a dangerous situation, exposed to dangerous or distracted drivers. This tow truck driver was injured at work when he was hit by a car while hooking up a disabled car. The worker in that case also died of his accident injuries. Authorities warn that everyone must maintain vigilance and safety when around a large truck such as this. Read more about the most recent tow truck collision here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by David Shankbone [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

December 31, 2016 News
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Defective part leads to Honda Odyssey car recall

A popular minivan has been recalled due to a faulty part that can lead to serious injury during a car accident. The defective parts involve the seat leavers for the middle row seats that often remain unlocked. This dangerous situation causes the seat to slide during a car crash, which can potentially cause severe injuries or even wrongful death, according to collision specialists. Concerned public safety advocates note that this minivan is often used by parents for children and carpool. They warn that such a hazardous condition puts kids at risk for more serious accident injuries, including dead injury, broken bones and abdominal injuries. Industry analysts explain that the Honda corporation has had to recall several cars from their fleet of vehicles due to dangerous damaged or deficient products. It is unclear if this latest product recall has been the cause of any injury or death. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you can consult with a personal injury lawyer to find out your rights. You can read more about this minivan recall here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Chris F [License]

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]