New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog

Published on: February 25, 2014

Product Liability: After being pressured General Motor expands its recall to all models with ignition switch problem and admits 13 deaths in car accidents during which the airbag failed to deploy

Last week the plaintiff’s lawyer in a now settled product liability lawsuit against GM that showed that the car maker knew about the defective ignition switch before the cars were sold, sent a letter to the NHTSA asking them to require GM to explain why it only had recalled half of the cars affected by an ignition switch issue that previously led to the death of his former client (Melton v. General Motors et. al.,).

In a previous blog we also questioned this recall.

Today General Motors announced that it was doubling the size of last weeks recall to include all models with a defective ignition switch. In addition to the 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5 recalled on Feb. 13, GM said it will recall another 748,000 cars in the U.S., including 2003-2007 Saturn Ions, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky models.

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Published on: February 25, 2014

Failure to diagnose common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) can be medical malpractice

By GGCRBHS&M

Cover_MedMysteries0225%281%29.jpg Often doctors fail to diagnose common variable immune deficiency (CVID). It takes an average of 6 years for patients to receive a correct CVID diagnosis because it is a rare form of immune deficiency that mimics other diseases and causes a variety of disparate ailments. In a recent article in the Washington Post, Sandra G. Boodman describes the case of a woman who was submitted to numerous tests before being properly diagnosed with CVID. The woman’s oldest brother who is also a physician was diagnosed earlier with the same disorder and she kept telling the doctors and nurses about it but no one listened to her. Finally she was able to arrange a phone call between her brother and her hematologist. The hematologist listened to the brother because he was a doctor and then things started to move in the right direction. She started to receive infusions, the only way to treat CVID and the platelet count started to increase. After a few months she was in remission. She then saw two specialists who confirmed she had CVID a condition that so far has no cure and requires painful monthly infusions.

Published on: February 25, 2014

New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer Stephen Mackauf to speak at the New York State Bar Association Medical Malpractice Litigation Seminar

By GGCRBHS&M

Stephen%20Mackauf.png Our partner, New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer Stephen Mackauf will be speaking at the New York City Session of the New York State Bar Association CLE program “Medical Malpractice Litigation: Technique, Strategy and Procedure” on Friday, March 28, 2014.

Lawyers new to medical malpractice litigation seeking to expand their practice as well as experienced lawyers looking to hone their trial skills are welcome to attend this seminar.

Topics include:

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Published on: February 25, 2014

New York State Senator Brad Holyman held a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Town Hall Tonight at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

By GGCRBHS&M

To discuss the implementation of Vision Zero to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths related to traffic accidents, New York State Senator Brad Holyman held a “Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Town Hall” at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice tonight. See below for more info.
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Published on: February 25, 2014

Manhattan DA Cy Vance asks for NYC DAs to become involved in the Vision Zero task force to reduce severe personal injury and deaths related to traffic accidents

By GGCRBHS&M

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance cares about traffic accidents in the city and believes district attorneys should be integrated into the Vision Zero Task Force. All 5 New York City DAs were invited to a City Council Vision Zero Hearing yesterday but only Cy Vance was present. Vance came equipped with a list of solid recommendations that were presented by his Chief Assistant DA Karen Friedman Agnifilo.

The DA believes that prosecutors would be able to make better decisions in holding reckless motorists responsible if they were more involved. The DAs support could also be useful in implementing initiatives that require action by Albany.

To protect their children from car accidents, parents want a speed bump on a busy school street in Harlem, NY

By GGCRBHS&M

Many students and parents have come close to being hit by a car on East 109th street between Second and Third Avenues in Manhattan, New York where five schools are located. Parents say that the street is dangerous and that motorists speeding have often come close to hitting pedestrians.
A petition has been launched to ask for the installation of a speed bump on the street to slow down the traffic.

Nursing home abuse and neglect in New york City: 5 places where you never want to send your loved ones

By GGCRBHS&M

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Low rated New york City nursing homes accumulate complaints of abuse and neglect and little is being done to improve the situation. Unlike other states, New York does not have a mandated minimum staff ratio or a minimum amount of hours that nursing staff is required to devote to nursing home residents. These staffing deficiencies can lead to horrific situations of nursing home abuse and neglect. The Gotham Gazette recently published five articles that looked in depth at the inspection reports, complaints and court reports for five of the lowest rated nursing homes in the city.

The Mosholu Parkway Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is so understaffed that it threatens the health and well-being of its residents. A few years ago, a resident who was supposed to be supervised when he smoked put his wheelchair bed sheet on fire and was engulfed by flames for 4 minutes until the fire was extinguished. He died from his injuries after a year of pain and suffering. Physical abuse of residents by other residents is also common at this nursing home where residents with violent behavior are not properly monitored and managed. Inspections in recent years show serious deficiencies in healthcare as well as 12% of residents suffering from bedsores, double the national average. The place is badly managed and disorganized.
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Published on: February 24, 2014

Product Liability: Nissan recalls some Frontier pick up trucks

By GGCRBHS&M

A defective circuit breaker in some Nissan Frontier pickup trucks may cause a fire therefore Nissan is recalling 16,838 model years 2012 through 2014 in North America. No accidents or injury have been reported so far.

To prevent bicycle accidents, a new bike lane may be created along Bond Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York

By GGCRBHS&M

31 Bicycle Accidents that injured cyclists have been reported since 1995 on Bond Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY. Everyday close to 400 bicyclists use this road as a downton-bound connection to Brooklyn’s offices and the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. To protect bicycle users from future accidents, the New York City Department of Transportation proposed the creation of a five foot wide bikers-only lane except between Third and Douglass streets and between Wyckoff and Schermerhorn streets, where it morphs into a shared lane for cars and bike riders. The proposal was presented by the NYC DOT to the Community Board’s transportation committee last week and was received positively. The full community board’s vote is scheduled for March 12th.

25 year old pedestrian dies in a New York City Sanitation Truck Accident

By GGCRBHS&M

A deadly truck accident happened yesterday in New York. A 25 year old rabbinical student was hit by a garbage truck as he was in the crosswalk on Kingstone Ave at Caroll St. in Crown Hights, Brooklyn. The pedestrian had the “walk signal” when he stepped in the crosswalk. According to witnesses, when the pedestrian realized that the truck driver didn’t see him, he tried to walk back but he was struck by the side of the truck and ran over. He died at the scene.