Personal Injury

Published on: May 17, 2016

Ben Rubinowitz to speak Tonight at the Nassau Academy of Law “Openings and Summations” Seminar

Our managing partner, New York Personal Injury Attorney Ben Rubinowitz, will be a speaker at the Nassau Academy of Law “Openings and Summations” Seminar. The event will take place Tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Nassau County Bar Association, 15th and West Streets in Mineola, NY. David J. Dean from the New York personal injury law firm Sullivan, Papain, Block, McGrath & Cannavo P.C. will speak on Openings and Ben Rubinowitz will speak on Summations. Terrence Tarver, Chair, NCBA Plaintiff’s Roundtable Committee will be the moderator for the event.

To sign up go online, or download a form here

Published on: May 16, 2016

To prevent potential serious injury or death in bicycle accidents the NYC DOT is giving away free Vision Zero helmets

By GGCRBHS&M

During the summer, there are between 500 and 700 bicycle accidents in New York City every month. Most of them will result in injuries and an average 2 to 3 bicyclists will die in these accidents. Bicyclists who wear a helmet reduce their chance of death or serious injury in an accident by 85% according to recent studies. In New York State the law makes it mandatory for bicyclists under 13 years old to wear a helmet. Adults are not required by law to wear a helmet but are highly encouraged to do so especially if they are riding in the congested streets of the city.

From April to the end of October 2016 the NYC Department of Transportation is organizing giveaways and helmet-fitting events across the city. 23,000 free helmets will be distributed to New Yorkers during these events. One of them took place last week at the Brooklyn Public Library (see NY Daily News). Saturday, May 14th, a free helmet fitting and distribution event took place at St. Catherine ‘s Park, 1245 1st Ave in Manhattan. Another distribution of helmets took place on Sunday May 15th in Brooklyn during the Bike Bonanza event. During this event, families were invited to participate in free fun activities and get free helmets. For more free helmet events check here.

Published on: May 10, 2016

Three workers seriously injured in NYC construction accident

By GGCRBHS&M

Three construction workers suffered serious personal injury on a construction site in Brooklyn. The three hard hats were working on a building located on 21st Street near the Gownaus expressway. A steel plate came loose and struck the three workers. They were all transported to the hospital in serious condition.

Steel plates are commonly used in construction sites to reinforce structures. Construction accidents related to loose steel plates are unfortunately happening too often. Due to the heavy weight of the steel plate, they can result in serious personal injury or death. Workers and supervisors always should make sure that steel plates are proprely secured to prevent this type of construction accident.

Read more in the NY Post

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Published on: May 10, 2016

A bicyclist who was hit by a truck in New York City died from her injuries after five days of pain and suffering

By GGCRBHS&M

29 year old Heather Lough died from critical injuries sustained after she was struck by a truck while riding her bike in Brooklyn, NYC. The young woman had just been hired to work at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and was on her way to work when the accident happened. Heater was coming out of the Metro North station and was riding her bicycle on Southern Boulevard when she was hit by a truck making a left turn at high speed. The bicyclist got stuck under the wheels and she was dragged for some distance under the truck until the driver stopped. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition where she died from her injuries after five days of pain and suffering. The truck driver, 45 year old Robert Owens from Upper Manhattan was charged with reckless driving and failure to yield.

Heather’s best friend set up a fundraiser to pay for a natural burial near her family in Washington State. If you wish you can donate here.

The picture is from the fundraising page

Published on: May 10, 2016

Several pedestrians injured after hit and run driver causes chain reaction crash on the Upper West Side of Manhattan

By GGCRBHS&M

Several pedestrians were injured in a car accident in New York yesterday. The chain reaction crash took place on Broadway between 61st street and 62nd Street yesterday afternoon. The driver of a black Honda Sedan intentionally hit a yellow cab twice from behind. The yellow cab careened onto the sidewalk, hitting a halal food cart which fell into a Con Edison truck that was parked next to it. A female pedestrian was trapped under the food cart and was severely injured. According to the NY Daily News she almost lost an arm and is now in critical condition. 3 other pedestrians were sent by ambulance to the hospital. The vendor who was inside the food truck was also injured. The cab driver suffered minor injuries and the two passengers were fine. The police are still looking for the driver of the black Sedan which may have been a stolen car.

Picture: courtesy of Alex Silverman on Twitter

Published on: May 5, 2016

A bicyclist who was almost hit by a car turned violent and attacked the driver with his bike lock

By GGCRBHS&M

A motorist was severely injured by a bicyclist who hit him in the head with his bike lock in a road rage incident in Brooklyn NYC. Around 7:30 pm on Monday night, a 59 year old man had just left a Greenpoint gas station and was driving his car on McGuinness Boulevard between Meeker Avenue and Bayard Street when he got into a conflict with a bike rider. The bicyclist accused him of almost hitting him. He then took his bike lock and started to smash it on the car, He then opened the car’s door, pulled out the driver and repeatedly hit the man on the head. Then he fled. The police are still looking for him. The driver was transported to the hospital and treated for head injuries and cuts to his hands. Incidents of road rage are reaching epidemic proportions. It is a sign of increasing stress especially in N.Y.C. The perpetrators should be subject to Felony charges and sentenced to jail time.

Read more in the NY Daily News

Published on: May 4, 2016

To prevent pedestrian deaths and injuries in dangerous intersections New York city lawmakers are re-introducing the Barnes dance, an old crosswalk system

By GGCRBHS&M

To reduce pedestrian accidents at dangerous New York intersections, City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) wants to re-introduce an old crosswalk system named the Barnes Dance. The Barnes Dance is a system from the 60ies where all cars have the red light at the same time at an intersection so all pedestrians can cross safely without mixing with traffic. This type of crosswalk system was named after traffic engineer Henry Barnes. The bill which will be introduced tomorrow is asking the NYC DOT to look at the feasibility of a Barnes Dance system at the 25 most dangerous intersections of the city. Read more in the NY Daily News

Published on: May 3, 2016

Hit and run driver who stole a SUV, killed a pedestrian and injured two other people in NYC is still at large

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian died and two other people were injured in a car accident in NYC on Sunday. The accident occurred at the intersection of E. 94th Street and Avenue K in Canarsie, Brooklyn. The driver of a SUV struck another car, lost control of the vehicle that slammed into two pedestrians waiting to cross the road. The pedestrians were a couple living nearby. The wife, 51 year old, Chooi Tan suffered severe injury. The couple as well as the driver of the car hit by the SUV were all transported to the hospital. Chooi Tan died at the hospital while her husband and the driver were in stable condition.

The driver of the SUV and a passenger fled the scene of the accident by foot. The police are still looking for them. The SUV was reported stolen last Friday.

Multiple bicyclists were injured after they collided with the motorcycle leading a popular NYC bike race

By GGCRBHS&M

Several bicyclists were injured in an accident with a motorcycle in Brooklyn, NYC. The bicyclists were all participating in the the popular Red Hook Criterium 30k bike race in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist who was supposed to ride ahead of the race stalled near the start of the men’s final race. A bicyclist struck the motorcyclist and then a second one obstructing the narrow passage which competitors were riding through, resulting in a massive pile-up of dozens of bicyclists (see video). Seven bike riders were taken to the hospital to be treated for non- life threatening injuries. The men’s final was restarted shortly after the accident.

To prevent and reduce traffic accidents related to distracted driving , causing injury and death, New York legislator wants to introduce a textalyser

By GGCRBHS&M

In New York City there are around 3,500 motor vehicle accidents related to distracted driving every month. It is the main cause of accidents in the city. Many New York drivers consider their cars like a second office and handle all kinds of businesses that require using their phone while they are behind the wheel. Despite multiple campaigns to try to convince drivers not to text and drive, a recent At&T survey indicates that Americans continue to illegally use their mobile phone while they are driving. They are not only texting but they are also engaging in social media, surfing the web and even having video chats.

The increase in car accidents related to texting and driving can be somewhat compared to the drinking and driving crisis in the 80ies. Several road safety advocates who have previously been involved in campaigns to reduce the number of accidents related to drunk driving are now working on campaigns to reduce distracted driving. These advocates believe that distracted driving so far hasn’t been treated as seriously as drunk driving and that more needs to be done including at the legislative level.

In New York, lawmakers are considering introducing a textalyser. Just like the breathalyzer is able to check alcohol blood level, the textalyser is be able to check if the driver was texting behind the wheel. According to lawmakers the textalyzer does not access private data but only checks if the driver was using the phone to text, email or do anything else illegal under New York’s hands free driving laws.

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