NYC Woman Falls Into Trash Chute, Nearly Loses Arm
Thirty-year old Margaret Baumer nearly lost her arm when she fell head-first into her apartment building’s garbage chute over the past weekend. According to the NY Daily News, she was trapped in the chute for close to an hour before emergency responders were able to free her. It isn’t clear how she fell or if there were safeguards in place to prevent the accident.
The accident happened in the wee hours of the morning on West 21st Street in Chelsea. Emergency workers reportedly arrived on the scene at about 5:50 a.m.
The woman had fallen head-first into the chute and was trapped by the hydraulic-powered compactor. She was stuck for “at least” 45 minutes, according to officials.
“It was being crushed” said an FDNY source about Baumer’s arm. “She was in a world of pain.”
A neighbor remarked that she heard the woman’s friends discussing how to get her out before help arrived. Said neighbor didn’t offer to help because the situation didn’t sound serious and she believed it was “just drunk people.” Investigators are looking into whether alcohol may have played a role in the accident.
According to a fire official, her arm was “barely hanging on her body.” She was transported to Bellevue Hospital and she was listed in critical condition.
Whether you are in a place of business or your apartment, you don’t expect to be severely injured. We take it for granted that safeguards will be in place to avoid such accidents. However, this isn’t always the case.
In the case of Baumer’s falling, we don’t know how the accident occurred. Perhaps the garbage chute was larger than necessary or maybe protections weren’t provided to prevent tragedy. In many cases like this, where a safety risk could have been prevented but wasn’t, the property owner can be held responsible for what happens as a result.
When a landlord fails to make repairs to keep tenants and their guests safe, they are assuming a risk. When tragedy strikes because of this, they could find themselves in a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
If you have been injured because a property owner did not take steps to ensure your safety, the personal injury attorneys of Omrani & Taub could help. Contact our offices in Manhattan, Queens or White Plains by calling 212-529-7848 (that’s 212-LAW-SUIT).
