Tips for Choosing a Construction Labor Union Attorney
Workers in construction labor unions enjoy many benefits of union membership. The laws that govern New York construction labor unions are complex, and when a problem arises, it is vital to have an experienced New York labor union lawyer on your side to ensure that your rights are respected and the rules that protect you are upheld.
If you’re facing a potential employment or labor issue, you need to choose a skilled attorney with whom you can work to sort out the facts and pursue the best possible outcome. Here are some tips for finding the right law firm for you:
Pedestrian Killed by Falling Plywood from Construction Site
A 37-year-old woman was killed recently after she was struck by a piece of plywood that was ripped loose from a nearby construction site in Greenwich Village by high winds. The 4-by-8 piece of plywood hit the woman as she was walking home along east West 12th Street, slamming her into a brick wall and causing severe head injuries, bruising, and lacerations. She was pronounced dead shortly after the incident at Bellevue Hospital.
According to a New York Post report, at the time of the incident, the winds were reaching speeds of up to 45 mph. The plywood was torn from along a security fence surrounding the construction site of a luxury apartment building just across the street and sailed nearly 50 feet before hitting the woman.
Remember to Protect Your Eyes on the Worksite
In recognition of Workplace Eye Safety Awareness Month, employers and employees are encouraged to assess the steps that are being taken every day to mitigate the risk of eye injuries on the job this March. According to Prevent Blindness America, roughly 2,000 individuals lose some percentage of their vision as a result of a work-related eye injury, at least one third of which require emergency treatment.
Many people assume that serious eye injuries only occur in high-risk environments such as a construction site or machinist’s shop, but nearly 40 percent of job-related eye injuries happen in offices, laboratories, and healthcare facilities.
Study of Traumatic Amputations in Subway Accidents Reveals Sobering Facts
Thousands of people rely on New York subways every day in order to travel to and from work, school, and other events. The efficiency of the subway system has made quick travel possible in a number of places. However, like all forms of transportation, subway can be involved in serious accidents – and serious injuries can result when they do.
A 2006 study published in the journal American Surgeon examined reports of traumatic amputations suffered in subway accidents. The researchers examined trauma registry entries from 1989 to 2003. Their search revealed 41 patients who had arrived at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, having suffered the amputation or one or more body parts during a subway accident.
Worker Killed in Construction of Barclays Center Green Roof
An iron worker was killed recently when huge steel beams slipped and fell as they were being lifted to the roof of the Barclays Center from the back of a truck. The 52-year-old was a subcontractor working with the crew constructing a vegetative green roof for the Brooklyn arena.
According to another construction worker on the site, the truck driver allegedly unhooked the top heavy load of heavy beams without direction when four of the beams fell on the iron worker. The man was taken to the Brooklyn Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
FDA Investigates Stroke and Heart Attack Risk in Men Taking Popular “Low-T” Drugs
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a number of products intended to treat low testosterone, or “low-T,” in men. Reports of an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men who use these products, however, recently prompted the FDA to announce an investigation into the effects of these drugs on the patients who take them.
The FDA launched its investigation after two separate studies were published in late 2013 and early 2014, both of which suggested that men who were prescribed testosterone therapy might face an increased risk of dangerous cardiac conditions. The studies identified an increased risk of approximately 30 percent of stroke, heart attack, and death in older men who were prescribed testosterone supplements. One study found that the risk appeared to be highest within the first 90 days the patients were taking the medication.
Some Heart Doctors Prescribe Caution in Use of Xarelto
The blood thinning medication Xarelto has been heralded as a breakthrough for patients with certain heart conditions and risk of stroke. Prior to the release of Xarelto and a related medication, Pradaxa, few blood-thinning medication options existed. Those that did, like warfarin, required constant monitoring of patients and could cause side effects that were severe or even deadly if patients were not carefully watched.
The new blood thinners, including Xarelto, were originally touted as medications that would require less monitoring. However, some top cardiologists are urging caution in prescribing these medications. Growing reports of injury and death related to Xarelto and Pradaxa use has led some doctors to realize that, without more careful monitoring, the “new” blood thinning medications are no safer for patients than the “old” ones, according to a recent Reuters article published in the Huffington Post.
Six Killed in Tragic NY Commuter Train Crash
Five passengers aboard a Metro-North commuter train and the driver of an SUV were tragically killed Tuesday evening when the train collided with the black SUV, which had become stuck between the crossing gates in Valhalla. Fifteen other passengers were injured, some with serious burn injuries.
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are combing through evidence to determine how the crash occurred, gathering data from the train and crossing gate events recorders, as well as witness testimonies, medical records and highway conditions at the time of the collision.
NHTSA Joins With Automakers to Announce Massive Air Bag Recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and several automakers recently announced a recall that affects over 2.1 million vehicles in the United States. The recall focuses on problems in the vehicles’ air bag systems that have caused injuries and that may be responsible for as many as six deaths, according to a NHTSA spokesperson.
The recall affects vehicles in model years 2002, 2003, and 2004. These include the 2003 Acura MDX, the 2003 and 2004 Honda Odyssey, the 2003 and 2004 Toyota Corolla, Matrix, and Avalon, and certain 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles from a plant that assembled both Toyota and General Motors vehicles. The 2003 and 2004 Dodge Viper are covered by the recall, as well as the 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty and the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.
Recent Pradaxa Studies Indicate a Greater Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Two studies published in 2013 and 2014 indicate that the risks of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking Pradaxa (dabigatran) may be higher than the risks faced by patients who take another blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin (warfarin).
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pradaxa to help prevent blood clots and strokes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, a common type of heart rhythm problem. In 2012, the FDA announced an investigation into incidents of internal bleeding suffered by patients who took Pradaxa. Although the FDA noted that clinical trials comparing Pradaxa to other blood thinners showed similar bleeding risks, the agency stated that it was looking into whether the risks on Pradaxa were actually higher than the trials had indicated.