New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog

Published on: March 17, 2015

A 61 year old pedestrian was seriously injured after being hit by a car in Brooklyn, New York City

A 61 year old woman is in critical condition after she was struck by a car which was making a right turn from 21st Ave onto Cropsey Ave, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NYC. The accident happened Monday morning around 8:20. The pedestrian was crossing the street in the intersection. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and he wasn’t charged. Meanwhile the police are still investigating. Read more in the Bensonhurst Bean

Update: the driver has been arrested, see NY Daily News

Picure: Google map

Published on: March 17, 2015

After two patients suffered serious personal injury because they were administered non sterile simulation intravenous fluids at a New York urgent car facility, the NYSDOH and the CDC discovered that simulation medical products had inadvertently entered the clinical supply chain

By GGCRBHS&M

Two patients were seriously injured in a New York urgent care facility after they were inadvertently administered non sterile simulation intravenous fluids. They both experienced a febrile illness during administration and had to be hospitalized. One of them developed sepsis. Both of them survived.

The cases were reported to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)last year. The NYSDOH began a collaborative investigation with the CDC in December. The investigation found that four other New York outpatient facilities had received Wallcur simulation saline. All facilities said they had ordered the real product and weren’t aware that they had received a simulation product until they were were notified by the NYSDOH. Fortunately none of the facilities had used the product yet.

Wallcur recalled all its saline simulation products from the market at the beginning of the year (see previous blog). Investigation was pursued by the CDC at a national level. So far nationally 9 adverse events have been reported for 25 people including 11 hospitalizations. Two deaths occurred even though it wasn’t clear that they were related to the administration of the product. All clinical facilities that received the products confirmed that they were not aware at time of purchase that the product was intended for simulation only. Read more on the CDC website

Published on: March 17, 2015

To prescribe Testosterone for no other apparent reason than aging can be medical malpractice that can result in serious personal injury such as heart attack and stroke

By GGCRBHS&M

In recent years the off-label use of testosterone has been exploding as doctors prescribed testosterone to their aging patient to improve their libido and make them feel more vigorous and younger. However, the FDA warned that recent studies indicate that the off label use of testosterone as the ultimate anti-aging therapy may increase cardiovascular risks. Testosterone was only approved by the FDA to treat hypoginadism, a condition of the sex glands that can be genetic or result from damages of chemotherapy or infection. Therefore the FDA is now requiring all manufacturers of approved prescription testosterone to change their labeling to clarify the approved used of the medication and warn about the possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with testosterone use. Read more in Medical Law Perspectives

Published on: March 13, 2015

Hospira recalls Lactated Ringer’s Irrigation, 3000mL, a sterile solution for injection, because of potential mold contamination

By GGCRBHS&M

Hopsira announced a voluntary product recall after reports from customers indicated that a lot of Lactated Ringer’s Irrigation, 3000mL may be contaminated with mold. Lactated Ringers Irrigation is a sterile, nonpyrogenic solution of electrolytes in water for injection, intended only for sterile irrigation, washing and rinsing purposes. Contaminated solution can be fatal if used on patients as it may cause bacteremia, sepsis, septic shock and endocarditis. This product is used on humans and animals. Read the press release from Hospira

Published on: March 13, 2015

As part as the Vision Zero Initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, the mayor’s preliminary budget is allocating $250 million over 4 years to redesign 4 of the most dangerous streets in New York City

By GGCRBHS&M

Four NYC streets that have a very high pedestrian fatality rate may be completely redesigned and reconstructed in a safer way over the next four years. According to mayor de Blasio’s preliminary budget, 100 million will be allocated to make Queens Boulevard safer and the other 150 million will be allocated to Fourth Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn as well as the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. These four streets have been identified as some of the most deadly streets in New York City and even though some safety upgrades such as lower speed limits and speed cameras have already been implemented, the city is planning to completely redesign them. According to officials, theses safety improvements should lead to a reduction of 30 to 40% of deaths and injuries on these streets. Read more in Transportation Nation
Picture: Mayor de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg

Published on: March 13, 2015

The hit and run driver who struck and killed a pedestrian on New Year’s eve appeared in court but a judge adjourned the matter to the end of May

By GGCRBHS&M

44 year old Guler Ugur-Yaacob, was struck and killed by 28 year old Prezibor Porbeni at the intersection of W. 113 Street and Amsterdam Ave on December 31st 2013 (see previous blog). The driver fled the scene of the accident leaving the woman dying on the street. He later surrendered to the DA’s office and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it and aggravated unlicensed driving. Yesterday Porbeni appeared for a brief appearance at Manhattan Supreme Court where several friends of Guler Ugur-Yaacob were present to face him and to plead for harsher charges. Read more in the NY Daily News

Published on: March 13, 2015

Vigil held today to mark one-year anniversary of the tragic gas explosion in East Harlem which killed 8 people and injured dozens

By GGCRBHS&M

A year ago 8 people were killed and many others suffered severe personal injuries in a gas explosion that destroyed two five-story buildings in Manhattan. A vigil led by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was held this to mark the anniversary of this tragedy. Cecilio Hernandez, a Mexican immigrant who lost his wife and his daughter in the explosion will be among the attendees with Oscar, his teenager son who was badly injured and spent months in the hospital recovering from his injuries. The family lived in the 1644 Park Avenue building. Four other victims lived in this building: Griselde Camacho, 44, Carmen Tanco, 67, George Amadeo, 44, and Alexis Salas, 22. The two other victims 43 year old Andreas Panagopoulos and 34-year-old Mayumi Nakamura lived at 1646 Park Avenue.

The investigation indicates that the ground beneath the building was saturated with natural gas.

The 8:30 a.m. vigil was held at 108 E. 116th St. and attended by other survivors of the blast along with Mark-Viverito and other elected officials. Read more in the New York Daily News

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Published on: March 13, 2015

Tylenol manufacturer admitted selling metal contaminated drug and agreed to pay $25 million to resolve the case

By GGCRBHS&M

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson agreed to pay $25 million for selling children medicine contaminated with metal. The case started in 2009 after a consumer complained that he found black specks in a bottle of Infants’Tylenol. After analysis it appeared that faulty manufacturing was to blame for leaving particles of nickel and chromium in the liquid medicine. This discovery led to massive recalls of bottles and packages of consumer brands such as Tylenol, Motrin, Rolaids, Benadryl and other products and seriously tarnished J&J’s reputation. Read more on Reuters

Published on: March 11, 2015

The recently proposed “Sunshine Bill” would require insurance companies to disclose claims data related to New York construction accidents

By GGCRBHS&M

Construction worker advocates joined forces last week at the Legislative Office Building in Albany to support the Scaffold Law (Labor Law Section 240(1) ) and the proposed “Sunshine Bill” which would require liability insurance providers to file financial statements and claims data with the state’s superintendent of financial services. Assemblyman Francisco Moya, D-Queens, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, D-Bronx, and representatives of the Scaffold Safety Coalition want to challenge the long standing argument that the Scaffold Law increases insurance rates by forcing insurance companies to release claims data. Read more in the Legislative Gazette

To learn more about the actual state of the New York Scaffold Law see below video from a presentation on this subject by New York Construction Accident Lawer Anthony Gair

Published on: March 11, 2015

A Brooklyn teen driver who was attempting to escape from the police to avoid being arrested for marijuana lost control of his vehicle injuring a few people and killing a pedestrian

By GGCRBHS&M

Dave Jones, a 21 year old pedestrian, was killed and several other people were injured in a car accident in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC Sunday night. 18 year old Raymond Ramos was driving his Volkswagen Passat with two other occupants when he was pulled over by the police after they detected the smell of marijuana coming out of his car. Instead of pulling over the teenager sped off. As he was fleeing from the police, Ramos hit another car and both vehicles careened onto the sidewalk where Ramos’s car hit a pedestrian. The two occupants of Ramos’car and the driver of the other car all sustained non life threatening personal injuries. The pedestrian, Dave Jones suffered a critical head injury and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Ramos was arrested and charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide, Vehicular Assault, First Degree Reckless Endangerment, Fleeing Officer in Motor Vehicle, Unauthorized Use of Vehicle, and Traffic Device Violation. Read more in the Gothamist

The death of David Jones and the arrest of Raymond Ramos reminds us of 4 year old Ariel Russo who was also killed on the New York City streets by a teenager trying to flee the police (see previous blog)