New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog

Published on: May 5, 2015

New York Personal Injury Lawyer Ben Rubinowitz to lead the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s National Session this summer

Our managing partner Ben Rubinowitz and the Honorable Nancy Vaidik, Chief Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals will direct the National Session of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) in Boulder Colorado from July 22nd to July 30 2015. ” Together Rubinowitz and Vaidik have invited some of the best trial lawyers, judges, and professors in the country, all of whom are also some of the best teachers of trial advocacy in the country.” Participants will have the opportunity to use NITA’s learning-by-doing method to practice and perfect their skills in the art of persuasion and trial advocacy with an outstanding faculty. Participants will be personally coached on speaking well by Brian Johnson and Marsha Hunter, authors of “The Articulate Advocate” and communication experts extraordinaire. Students will also have the opportunity to practice and master isolated trial skills in a dedicated drill room.

To read more about this program and to register click here

Published on: May 5, 2015

Are people with developmental disabilities sufficiently protected by States against sexual abuse?

By GGCRBHS&M

83% of women and 32% of males who have developmental disabilities are victims of sexual assault. Adolescent and young adults are the most at risk. Government policy recommends a shift from institution-based care to specialized care provided within the community, where persons with developmental disabilities may have the opportunity to live independently in the least restrictive setting. Transitioning developmentally disabled people from institutions to the community seems to be a positive choice, however there is a risk that the oversight and support care for this vulnerable population in the community may not be sufficient, opening the door to possible abuse and neglect according to an article written by Daniel Pollack a professor at the School of Social Work at Yeshiva University in New York and Jonathan Lerner in Youth Today.

Read the complete article here

Published on: May 5, 2015

A 44 year old construction worker fell from a ladder in Brooklyn, New York City causing his death

By GGCRBHS&M

Shulem Benyosef suffered fatal injuries after he fell from a ladder at a construction site in Brooklyn, NYC. the 44 year old man was married and the father of two children. He was working on a rooftop at 449 20th Street in Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn when the accident happened. Shulem was standing on the ladder when he fell from at least 30 feet. Paramedics found him on the ground with serious head trauma. He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Read more in JP Updates and the NY Daily News

Published on: May 5, 2015

An elderly driver was involved in a car accident in Queens, NYC, when she lost control of her vehicle resulting in her Death

By GGCRBHS&M

An 88 year old woman was killed in a car accident in Queens, New York. The woman was driving North on Cross Bay Blvd at Liberty Ave when she hit a pillar of the elevated A line subway train tracks. She suffered critical injuries and died 4 days later at the Hospital. The Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. The NYC Crash mapper heat map shows that the area is a dangerous spot where many accidents have occurred in the past. Between August 2011 and February 2014 44 collisions happened there and 5 pedestrians, 1 cyclist 4 passengers and 5 drivers suffered personal injury.

Published on: May 4, 2015

To reduce overdose deaths, a new campaign by the New York State Department of Health seeks to educate Bronx doctors about safe and judicious opioid prescriptions

By GGCRBHS&M

A doctor who prescribes opioids to a patient with a history of abuse, fails to closely follow up with a patient who exhibits addictive behavior or disregards family concerns or warnings from other professionals such as pharmacists or primary physicians could face medical malpractice and/or wrongful death litigation, criminal prosecution, and a disciplinary proceeding by the State Medical Board.

In New York City, deaths related to opioid analgesics have increased 256% from 2000 to 2013 in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx are the most affected of the 5 Boroughs. To fight this epidemic, the New York Sate Department of Health is launching a Bronx detailing campaign during which representatives will visit more than 1000 doctors to educate them about about safe and judicious opioid analgesic prescribing. A similar campaign in Saten Island in 2013 lead to a reduction of 29% of overdose deaths from opioid analgesics.

Read the press release from the New York Health Department

Published on: May 4, 2015

Today is Melanoma Monday and May is skin cancer awareness month; where to get a free skin cancer screening in New York?

By GGCRBHS&M

Failure to diagnose skin cancer at an early stage can have deadly consequences. People living in New York will have plenty of opportunities to get a free skin cancer screening during the month of May which is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Malignant Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer for men, and the second fastest growing cancer for women. If it is detected early when it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, the survival rate is 98%. A yearly annual skin exam performed by a physician offers the best chance of an early diagnosis. Self-exams should also be performed every month. If you notice a change in an existing mole or discover a new one that look suspicious you should show it to a physician immediately.

Here is a list of places where you can get free skin cancer screenings in New York in May and June. For other States click here.

Continue reading →

Published on: May 1, 2015

The 3 police officers who brutalized and killed 25 year old Freddie Gray face criminal charges said Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby

By GGCRBHS&M

Police brutality is at the origin of the death of Freddie Gray and the 6 police officers involved in the arrest of the 25 year old black man and recklessly drove him unbuckled in a police wagon until he suffered a severe and critical neck injury will face criminal charges. ” The most serious charges were brought against Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., who was driving the van that carried Mr. Gray to a police station after his April 12 arrest. Along with involuntary manslaughter, Officer Goodson, 45, was charged with “second-degree depraved heart murder,” which means indifference to human life.” Read more in New York Times. This morning in a press conference, Baltimore State Attorney Marylin Mosby said that after her team investigated the death of Freedie Gray, they came to the conclusion that Freddie Gray’s death was a homicide and that they have probable cause to file criminal charges. See video below

Continue reading →

Published on: May 1, 2015

A 92 year old taxi driver died after he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a house in Long Island, NY

By GGCRBHS&M

A health condition problem is at the origin of a fatal car accident in Long Island, NY. 92 year old Joseph Saccente was driving his taxi when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a house in Long Island. The elderly man died in the accident. Why was a 92 year old allowed to drive a taxi? See video below

Published on: May 1, 2015

Thankfully nobody was injured after rocks slide on the Saw Milk River Parkway and hit a car in Westchester County, NY

By GGCRBHS&M

A woman in a SUV was almost crushed after falling rocks came sliding down on her car while she was driving on the Saw Mill River Parkway in Chapaqua, NY. The woman was terrified but didn’t suffer any personal injury. The car that was behind her was driven by a retired cop who came to the rescue and provided much needed psychological support to the victim. See video below

Published on: April 29, 2015

Our Personal Injury Law Firm obtained the highest verdict for a motor vehicle accident involving a bicycle which is also one of the New York Law Journal’s Top 25 New York Verdicts of 2014

By GGCRBHS&M

Gair Gair Conason Steigman Mackauf Bloom & Rubinowitz was featured in the New York Law Journal’s Top New York Verdicts of 2014 for obtaining the highest award for a verdict in a motor vehicle accident involving a bicycle. The case was tried by our Managing Partner Ben B. Rubinowitz, along with our Partner, Peter J. Saghir. The accident involved a 36-year-old woman who was riding her bicycle south on Broadway across East 14th Street when she was struck from behind by a New York City Transit Authority bus which was traveling southbound in the same direction as the plaintiff. After she was struck by the bus she was dragged into the intersection where the right rear wheels of the bus rolled over her legs. The bus driver claimed that he was in the center or left lane at the time of the accident and that the plaintiff suddenly and unexpe NY Personal Injury Lawyers Rubinowitz and Saghir ctedly rode her bicycle across two lanes of traffic from the right lane to the left lane and struck the right side of the bus. The plaintiff contended she was in the right lane as she approached the intersection. It was undisputed that the plaintiff ended up in the left-hand lane of this three lane roadway. The plaintiff suffered a degloving injury to her right leg as well as fractures to the distal tibia and fibula of her left leg. The plaintiff’s entire claim was based on pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. No claims were made for past or future medical expenses or past or future lost earnings. After two days of deliberation, the jury found the New York City Transit Authority at fault and awarded the plaintiff $8,570,000 ($3,250,000 past pain and suffering and $5,320,000 future pain and suffering over 40.9 years).