Smart Phones Lead to More Fatal New York Crashes
Distracted driving has always been an issue. But, the growth in the popularity of smart phones has proven costly. According to a recent New York Post report, traffic deaths in the United States have increased by 8.1 percent in the first half of 2015. Increased smart phone use is viewed as a major reason for this.
The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) says that there isn’t enough information yet to determine how many car accidents are the direct result of smart phone use. It is surprising, however, that the number of traffic deaths has increased so dramatically this year after a big drop in annual fatal crashes last year. There were 32,675 traffic deaths in the year 2014, which is a record low of 1.07 deaths per million vehicle miles traveled.
Man Struck by Bus in Manhattan
A 64-year-old man was injured in a New York bus accident involving an MTA vehicle. According to an NBC New York report, the pedestrian accident happened at Madison and Jackson Streets on the Lower East Side.
Surveillance video from the bus accident shows that the man had the right of way when he stepped into the crosswalk with his walking cane. The bus struck him resulting in a serious arm injury. It is unclear if the bus driver will be suspended or cited for the crash.
New York Malpractice Claims on the Rise
When people suffer injury or harm because of mistakes made by medical professionals, they have the right to pursue compensation for their losses by filing a medical malpractice claim. It is common for patients to file malpractice claims for:
Five Car Accident Expert Witnesses That Can Help Your Case
When you watch TV or movies, you often see an “expert witness” play a big role at a dramatic trial. Entire cases either get won or loss by the expert witness dropping key information. Law and Order, A Few Good Men, and even a comedy like My Cousin Vinny show the role of the expert witness. Expert witnesses provide in-depth analysis to assist attorneys by strengthening, or even proving, your case. Below is a little bit more to know about expert witnesses.
Workers Injured in NYC Ceiling Collapse
A ceiling partly caved in injuring two construction workers. The construction accident happened at 555 West End Avenue in New York City. The injured victims of this ceiling collapse were working at the former St. Agnes Boys High School. Their current condition is unknown and the cause of the collapse is under investigation.
There are many reasons why a ceiling may become prone to collapse. Some older buildings that have not been properly maintained tend to be more vulnerable. Other New York buildings have improper building materials, water damage, incorrect ductwork, or termite damage, making them prone to collapse. When a construction crew is asked to work in a potentially dangerous building with ceilings on the brink of collapse, steps must be taken to protect them and make sure the worksite is safe and secure.
Frank Gifford Diagnosed with CTE Brain Injury
In August 2015, legendary football player Frank Gifford died at the age of 84. According to a New York Daily News report, Gifford suffered from the affects of head trauma long after he retired. He’s now the oldest ex-NFL star to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. According to Boston College researchers, 87 of the 91 former NFL players they have tested suffered from CTE.
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP’s 2015 Update Newsletter is Now Available!
When Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP first opened up shop 25 years ago, we aimed to give every one of our clients the very best legal representation we could provide. Not to brag, but in 2015, we did just that. Well, maybe we should brag a little. Why? Because the 2015 issue of Update, our annual newsletter, is filled with firm news and settlement announcements we’re pretty proud of.
Brooklyn Contractor Cited for Fatal Fall
A Brooklyn contracting company has been cited in connection with a construction site accident where a 51-year-old laborer was killed after falling while pouring concrete.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the laborer was killed while working at a construction site on Neptune Avenue in Brighton Beach back in April 2015. Officials say he fell while raking freshly poured concrete from the sixth floor.
OSHA has determined that his tragic death could have been prevented had proper safety precautions been taken. Investigators believe that the victim and his co-workers were not provided fall protection equipment such as harnesses or lifelines. Furthermore, their employer had not trained them on how to reduce fall hazards. OSHA ultimately decided to cite J&M Metro General Contracting for one willful violation for the lack of fall protection and five serious violations for other hazards.
Woman Killed in New York Hit-and-Run Crash
A woman was killed and at least nine others were injured in a New York car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to a Reuters news report, the fatal car accident happened at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Wortman in East New York.
Officials say a man in his 20s was driving a white Mercedes when he struck the woman and six parked cars before fleeing on foot. The woman was transported in critical condition to a nearby hospital where she died from her injuries. The police apprehended the driver within a few blocks of the crash.
Queens Construction Worker Death Leads to Manslaughter Charge
We now know more about the death of a 22-year-old laborer from Queens killed while working at a Restoration Hardware store construction site on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan on April 6, 2015.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the general contractor and the victim’s employer failed to provide cave-in protection, which could have prevented the fatal trench collapse. Harco Construction LLC and subcontractor Sky Materials Corporation didn’t install cave-in protection, or brace a section of undermined sidewalk to prevent it from collapsing.
Officials with OSHA say the managers associated with the construction site were aware of the dangerous conditions and failed to remove their employees from the trench. After the construction site accident, OSHA issued each employer two citations for willful violations of safety standards. Officials from both companies have also been indicted for manslaughter in the New York State Supreme Court.