Omrani & Taub

Subway construction accident ends worker’s life, injures five others

New York subways have made commuter transportation not only easy, but possible in a city with a population that significantly outweighs the automobile traffic capacity. The underground transportation system is an amazing and useful invention, but it poses a serious risk of construction site accidents for the thousands of maintenance workers that keep the transit system operating.

One New York construction worker was killed and five others were injured this week while working on a future site for a subway station that has been under construction at the York University campus. Continue reading

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National Transportation Safety Board pushes to protect bus passengers

Distracted driving has become a focus in the transportation safety world as the number of accidents caused by people texting while driving, checking their email or talking on a cellphone increases on a daily basis.

People who choose to use cellphones while driving are taking the risk that they will be involved in an accident, but commercial drivers who choose to text or talk while behind the wheel risk not only their life in a serious bus accident, but the lives of all of their passengers. Continue reading

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Impala owners sue GM in New York over faulty suspension

Three owners of model 2007-08 Chevrolet Impala sedans are suing General Motors Corp. for failing to repair rear-end suspension problems that the company fixed for the version of the Impala used by law enforcement agencies. The suit, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in New York City, is the second filed by owners of that Impala model. GM, now known as General Motors Co., said it is not the manufacturer’s responsibility because the current incarnation of the company was created after General Motors Corp., now known as Motors Liquidation Corp., filed for bankruptcy in 2009 as a condition for receiving federal bailout funds and cannot be held liable for “old” GM’s design issues. The Impala owners said the repairs on the police Impalas were equal to a “silent recall.” The lawsuit states that the rear-end suspension problems leads to drivers burning through tires, a dangerous safety issue, and wants faulty suspension rods replaced. Continue reading

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New York families lose loved ones after Nightclub drops security

Nightclubs are all over New York City. They attract people from all walks of life whether they are your average neighbor or a well-known celebrity. The clubs provide a place for people to get together, drink and – like the classic phrase – be merry. Although they are great social gathering spots, nightclubs also take in a large amount of money at night, making them attractive to sometimes dangerous people.

The families of two young men who lost their lives outside a nightclub are considering filing a lawsuit against the nightclub claiming that poor security directly led to the death of the young men who were fatally shot at the nightclub. Continue reading

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Defective Honda seatbelts could cause injury, recall announced

We all know the process for product development: an inventor has an idea, they design the product, someone produces it, someone distributes it and another person sells it. Although products are fairly heavily tested for safety in this day and age, any mistake during the process could lead to serious injury for a consumer.

When a car is manufactured, it is especially important that there are no errors in production. Even one defective motor vehicle part could lead to serious personal injury or even death. Honda announced this month that they would be recalling approximately 310,773 Honda Pilots beginning on October 3, 2011 due to a defective seatbelt. Continue reading

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U.S. responds to concerns raised after fatal New York City bus accident

Last week, we wrote about a fatal bus accident in New York City that took the lives of fifteen people. Although the cause of the crash has not been determined in a court of law, the bus driver was suspected of recklessly drinking during his hours off duty set aside for sleep. On the return trip, he allegedly became fatigued, swerving the bus into a support pole that ripped the bus apart.

The prior post reported the discussion that had erupted after the bus crash, calling into question the safety procedures and processes in place for mass transit. It appears as though traffic officials heard the debate and responded this week by conducting thousands of surprise bus inspections across the nation.

Federal, state and local police cooperated to conduct the unexpected inspections after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made it clear that U.S inspectors would use “every legal and enforcement tool available to shut down unsafe bus companies.”

The surprise inspections set to begin today, Friday, Sept. 23 were strategically planned to occur in connection with today’s bus safety summit held in Washington. Executives from bus corporations and transit regulators will meet to discuss ideas on how to reduce the number of annual bus crashes.

“This summit is about preventing needless tragedies and saving lives,” LaHood told reporters. “We’ve seen the horrific consequences when motor coach companies do not make safety a top priority.”

While it is admirable that the government is taking note of the number of serious bus accidents that cause devastation to families across the nation, accidents still occur. If you have been seriously injured at the hands of a negligent bus driver, experienced personal injury attorneys can discuss your case with you and help determine what compensation you may be entitled to.

Source: Bloomberg, “U.S. Starts Inspection Crackdown Before Bus-Safety Meeting,” Jeff Plungis, Sept. 23, 2011

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Falling scaffolding injures 17 people in Harlem

Construction work sites can be very dangerous places, especially in New York where many of the buildings reach high heights. Workers must use dangerous tools around structures that are often either incomplete or falling apart and in need of the repair being done on them. Scaffolding is used to hold workers and transport heavy material used at the construction site.

When scaffolding falls, it can cause serious damage to those unlucky enough to be on the structure at the time or to those standing below. Falling scaffolding was to blame for causing injury to 17 people in Harlem early Tuesday morning.

The scaffolding had been erected around an old five-story brick building on West 125th Street in Harlem. According to reports, work was being done on an elevator shaft when bricks came loose, falling on the scaffolding. The scaffolding collapsed at approximately 9:25 in the morning when the streets were filled with pedestrians and commuters.

Of the 17 people injured, eight of them had been riding on a city bus when the scaffolding collapsed and landed on the back end of the bus. A reporter for The New York World was riding on the bus at the time and related his experience. “I heard a falling sound of something collapsing toward the back, and the back of the bus filled up with smoke,” he said. “People were running from the back and screaming.”

The reporter talked to a young boy who “said that he thought he was going to die.” The fear of the young boy was by no means over exaggerated. Scaffolding accidents are considered very dangerous, often leaving families to find a way to survive after their primary income-earner is seriously injured or even loses their life in one of the accidents.

Source: The New York Times, “17 Injured as Scaffold Collapses Onto Bus in Harlem,” Andy Newman and Matt Flegenheimer, Sept. 20, 2011

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Dangerous products could lurk around every corner of your New York home

When we hear the word “dangerous product,” most people think about toxic chemicals, devices with extremely sharp parts or things that we should keep out of reach of our very young children. But almost any product can be dangerous when a manufacturer fails to warn you of the risks, allows a defective product to pass inspection or even creates a design that is inherently dangerous to users.

Average household items we may consider safe can actually be hazards in disguise and there are some dangerous products in the world of electronics that have caused a shocking number of deaths.

In an ironic twist, baby monitors developed to notify you when your baby is crying or in some kind of danger have caused the death of seven infants since 2002. The monitors only work if they are placed closely to your child’s crib, but according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, those seven children were strangled by the cords running power to the device.

Since 1985, over 60,000 people have managed to swallow tiny button cell batteries that are used to power watches, thermometers or remote controls. Approximately 3,500 of those people suffered serious injuries as a result and another nine have died. According to the medical director with the National Capital Poison Center, the small amount of chemicals contained in the batteries can burn through the esophagus in less than two hours.

What may be considered one of the best disguised dangers is the flat-panel television. According to the CPSC one child is killed every two weeks when a piece of furniture like the flat-screen television becomes dislodged and falls upon them.

We buy products everyday that we assume are safe because we place a certain amount of trust in manufacturers that they will not sell something that could pose a serious risk to consumers. However, dangerous products are out there, and there are attorneys who can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve if you have been injured as the result of a manufacturer’s negligence.

Source: msn Today, “The most dangerous tech products,” Robert E. Calem, Sept. 12, 2011

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New York fatal bus accident raises criticism over transit procedures

Early this spring, the driver of a New York discount tour bus made a decision that caused 15 families to lose a loved one. He chose to drive under what have been called reckless circumstances and caused a bus accident that took the lives of half of the passengers on board.

The fatal event occurred in March of 2011 on Interstate 95 in the Bronx when the driver was transporting 30 passengers from a casino in Connecticut back to New York City in the early morning hours. Passengers were jolted awake when the bus driver abruptly swerved, lost control of the vehicle and collided with the support pole of a highway sign.

In one of the most gruesome accidents of the year, the pole swept through the bus causing the immediate death of several passengers when they were decapitated and injuries which delayed the deaths of several others. Investigators suspected fatigue from drinking in his off hours as a possible cause of the crash.

After the investigation, the driver was charged in criminal court, but evidence that has come to light during the trial has safety advocates taking a second look at transit procedures. According to prosecutors, the driver had three driving suspensions and a criminal record including manslaughter and larceny, a history the State Department of Motor Vehicles failed to find.

Screening processes are vitally important for finding drivers who will safely carry New York’s thousands of transit passengers. When a driver’s negligence causes the wrongful death of a loved one, the family often suffers emotional trauma, financial problems with the loss of an income and many more serious damages.

Source: The New York Times, “Driver in Deadly Bus Crash Knew He Was Dangerously Tired, Prosecutor Says,” Colin Moynihan, Sept. 1, 2011

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Welcome to our New York City personal injury law blog

If you have been hurt because of the wrongful acts of another person, an experienced and assertive lawyer can help you pursue full and fair compensation for all your losses. A personal injury can permanently change every aspect of your life. You may be unable to work and provide for your family. You may live with substantial pain on a daily basis. You may need long-term medical care, including painful physical therapy or rehabilitation. You want an attorney who knows and understands the laws and procedures in New York for recovering damages in a personal injury case and who has helped others in circumstances like yours.

At Omrani & Taub, P.C., we have more than 12 years of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims. We represent individuals throughout the five boroughs in New York City who have suffered personal injury. We use our skill, experience, knowledge and resources to seek solutions that are in your best interests. We are available to meet with you in your home or at the hospital and can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have experienced investigators who are available at any time, ready to gather and preserve critical evidence in your case.

Contact us online or call our office at 212-529-7848 to discuss your situation with an attorney.

Our personal injury law blog

We established this blog to provide valuable information to individuals throughout New York City and the five boroughs who have questions or concerns about how to get full and fair compensation after a personal injury. We will regularly update this blog, posting on a wide range of personal injury law topics, including premises liability, sidewalk accidents , bus accidents, construction site accidents and product liability.

We welcome your participation in the discussions on this blog. Feel free to comment on posts that interest you.

Contact our office

We offer a free initial consultation. To schedule a private meeting with an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer, contact us online or call us at 212-529-7848 for an appointment.

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