NYC Trees Are Accidents Waiting to Happen
The trees in Central Park and around the city are beautiful—they add a bit of nature to an otherwise cold, concrete world. But the trees are responsible for numerous accidents and even a few deaths over the past several years. The N.Y. Times reports the city is unable to keep up on tree maintenance, making them far more susceptible to breakage and tragedy.
In the past ten years, the city has paid millions in damages to residents who were injured or killed by falling branches. The risks are increased now, as the city struggles to afford the recommended maintenance and inspections necessary for trees of their age.
Currently, park employees are required to inspect trees every two weeks, looking for risk factors that may indicate a sick or dying tree. But, as the Times reports, employees aren’t always trained on how to identify these risk factors, and may miss signs that a branch is about to fall.
There are 2.5 million trees in the parks and on the streets of NYC, and this number makes it difficult for park employees to keep up.
Three deaths in Central Park have been attributed to falling branches. One involved a Google engineer, another a restaurant worker, and the third was an infant who was killed when a branch fell and hit the mother that was carrying her.
In Central Park, the budget for tree care allows for regular inspections by trained arborists. While the rest of the city isn’t always so fortunate, these cases show that even the most skilled inspectors sometimes overlook signs of decay and rotting.
The tree that killed Sasha Blair-Goldensohn, a Google engineer, was suffering from a fungus. Interestingly, one of the arborists at the park noted the branch in an inspection just days earlier. Park employees hadn’t yet gotten to branch removal before Blair-Goldensohn was killed.
Some say the city can’t be financially responsible for every branch that falls. But others know that they shouldn’t be forced to pay for injuries that result from negligence on the part of park workers.
A falling tree branch can cause serious head injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, or even death. While such injuries are relatively rare—they do happen, and the city can be held responsible for the medical bills and more.
When you are present on public property or even in a business, you expect that property to be cared for in a manner that makes it safe enough for your presence. When you are injured, someone must be held accountable.
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, whether by a tree branch, a poorly maintained sidewalk, or any other obstacle, our personal injury attorneys may be able to help.
Contact the premises liability attorneys with Omrani & Taub today to discuss the details of your case and what can be done. We may be able to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. Call us at 212-529-7848 (that’s 212-LAW-SUIT).
