The latest “Deadly Skyline” report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) paints a grim picture for construction workers in New York City and across the state. The data reveals that construction fatalities continued to rise in 2023, underscoring the urgent need for stronger safety measures and enforcement to protect the lives of those who build our skyline.
The statistics are staggering:
Dump trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles on New York City streets due to their massive size, limited visibility, and often reckless operation. When drivers fail to operate these vehicles safely, the consequences can be tragic. A recent hit-and-run in Williamsburg highlights the devastating impact of negligent dump truck drivers and the urgent need for accountability.
Early Saturday morning, a man in his 20s lost his life in a fatal crash involving a Mack dump truck. According to NYPD officials, the victim was crossing Withers Street near Woodpoint Road around 4 a.m. when he crouched down to pick up food he had dropped. At that moment, the dump truck driver, who had been traveling north, made a right turn and struck the man. Despite the severe impact, the driver fled the scene, leaving the victim behind.
When an unlicensed driver gets behind the wheel, they put every pedestrian, cyclist, and passenger in danger. In Brooklyn, a family is now left grieving after an unlicensed driver, Tyree Epps, fled the scene of a devastating crash, leaving 26-year-old Imani Vance to die in the front seat of his Mercedes-Benz.
The crash occurred on Van Sinderen Avenue in Brownsville last Thursday when Epps, speeding south in a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, blew through a stop sign at Blake Avenue around 1 p.m. His reckless driving led to a violent collision with a school bus, sending it careening into a parked box truck. The impact left Imani Vance with severe head trauma. Instead of helping his passenger, Epps reportedly fled the scene in a taxi, leaving Vance behind.
As Bronx personal injury lawyers, we have seen many tragic cases of negligence and recklessness, but few are as shocking as the case of Divino Niño day care. What should have been a safe space for infants turned out to be a front for a narcotics operation, with fatal consequences. This case underscores the severe risks posed by illicit drug activity in environments where children are supposed to be protected.
On Monday, Grei Mendez, the owner of Divino Niño, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for her role in a fentanyl trafficking operation that resulted in the death of a 22-month-old child, Nicholas Feliz Dominici, and the poisoning of three other toddlers. Mendez had pleaded guilty to possessing and conspiring to distribute narcotics resulting in serious injury and death. Prosecutors argued that she prioritized protecting herself and her co-conspirators over the lives of the children in her care, even attempting to delete incriminating evidence while being questioned by police.
The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, but when medical negligence occurs, families may face devastating consequences. Birth injuries in New York City hospitals can leave newborns with lifelong disabilities, emotional trauma, and overwhelming medical expenses. As experienced NYC birth injury lawyers, we have seen how these preventable injuries impact families and are committed to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable.
March marks Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about one of the most preventable yet deadly forms of cancer. Early detection through timely screenings can save lives, but when medical professionals fail to diagnose colorectal cancer in time, the consequences can be devastating. As colon cancer misdiagnosis lawyers, we have seen firsthand how delays in diagnosis or improper medical evaluations lead to advanced-stage cancer, unnecessary suffering, and even wrongful death.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, yet it is highly treatable when detected early. Medical organizations such as the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) stress the importance of regular screenings, particularly for individuals aged 45 and older or those with a family history of the disease. When properly diagnosed in its early stages, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is significantly higher.
Two window washers narrowly escaped a fatal accident on Friday morning after their scaffolding became unstable and began swinging wildly 78 stories above the ground on West 58th Street. The workers, who were wearing safety harnesses, were not properly secured with safety lines, leaving them at extreme risk of falling. Firefighters from the FDNY had to break windows, stabilize the rigging, and pull the workers to safety.
This harrowing incident highlights the dangers that window washers and other high-rise maintenance workers face in New York City. While safety harnesses are required by law, they are useless if not properly attached to secure anchor points. The fact that these workers were not tied off is a shocking and preventable oversight that could have led to a catastrophic outcome.
A tragic accident in Downtown Brooklyn late Friday night claimed the life of a 45-year-old woman after she exited a livery cab and stumbled into traffic on Flatbush Avenue near State Street. The fatal crash, which occurred outside the Atlantic Terminal Mall around 11:10 p.m., highlights the dangers pedestrians face when exiting vehicles on busy New York City roadways.
According to police reports, the livery cab had stopped in the middle lane when the woman unexpectedly exited the vehicle. She lost her footing and fell into the right lane, where she was struck by a Chevrolet Malibu driven by a 29-year-old man. Emergency medical responders rushed her to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, but she did not survive. The driver of the Chevrolet remained at the scene, and no charges have been filed at this time.
We are pleased to announce that our partners Ben B. Rubinowitz and Jeffrey B. Bloom will speak at the New York State Judicial Institute’s 2025 Medicine for Judges Seminar. This two-day event is scheduled for March 4th and 5th, 2025.
On March 5th, both Mr. Rubinowitz and Mr. Bloom will share their extensive expertise in medical malpractice and personal injury law during the following sessions:
10:30 am–11:45 am (later start time due to Ash Wednesday) Common and Not So Common Scenarios That Give Rise to Difficult Issues in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Cases This session explores various typical and atypical scenarios in which complex legal challenges can arise in the realm of medical malpractice and personal injury law.
A tragic crash in East Elmhurst, Queens, claimed the life of 23-year-old Justin Diaz after a Mercedes, allegedly driven by an intoxicated FDNY firefighter, sped through a red light and violently T-boned his BMW. The fatal collision, which occurred at 4:15 a.m. at the intersection of 107th St. and Northern Blvd., was caught on surveillance video (see below) and has since led to the arrest of 28-year-old firefighter Michael Pena, who now faces charges including vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Chilling video footage shows Diaz traveling north on 107th St. before entering the intersection, moments before the Mercedes, moving at high speed, plows into his vehicle’s driver’s side. The force of the crash sent both cars spinning across Northern Blvd., with the BMW ultimately slamming into a parked Toyota Sienna.
New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog