Construction worker killed in New York building collapse
Last week, construction workers were in the process of demolishing a 100-year-old warehouse when the building suddenly collapsed, burying three workers in a huge pile of concrete, bricks and steel. Although emergency responders were able to extricate all three from the rubble, the men suffered serious injuries, ultimately resulting in one worker’s death.
According to police reports, the fatal construction accident occurred as the workers were demolishing the two-story warehouse as part of Columbia University’s expansion. Although the exact cause of the incident is not yet known, a New York City spokesman says that it may have been triggered by the severing of a key structural beam earlier that morning. Continue reading
Family says restraints could have saved NY construction worker
In New York, a construction accident involving a worker who was killed after a wind gust blew him off a roof apparently involved employer negligence and liability as described by personal injury laws. The family of the deceased worker is suing the subcontracting firm, claiming employer negligence in failing to provide any type of safety protection for the worker to prevent a fall.
The 36-year-old worker fell over 50 feet onto a concrete slab and died at the scene. In this lawsuit, personal injury claims are also being made against the development partnership owners of the property as co-defendants. Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and laws designed to protect workers from on-the-job injuries, there should have been adequate protection provided to prevent this fall. Protection could have been provided with restraining devices or a safety harness configuration for that worker. Continue reading
New York elevator accident claims life of one woman
Building owners have a duty to keep their premises safe, whether it is by ensuring that floors are not slippery, sidewalks do not have protruding cracks and that basically everything on the property is kept in a safe condition. It is unclear at this point whether it was faulty repair work or something else that caused a New York elevator to unexpectedly rise this week, crushing a woman’s body between the shaft wall and the elevator floor.
The 41-year-old woman lost her life as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident on Wednesday morning. There were two other passengers on the elevator at approximately 10 a.m. when it began its un-signaled ascent. The two other passengers did not appear to have serious physical injuries, but were immediately treated for the trauma that was caused when they saw the woman crushed in front of their eyes. Continue reading
Father loses son under Manhattan streets in construction accident
New York has one of the largest underground mass transit systems that transport children to school, employees to work and tourists to famous see famous sights. While the residents and visitors to the large city benefit every day from the network of tunnels, maintenance and construction workers must work in the dark tunnels to build the system and keep it safe for travelers.
A26-year-old New York construction worker recently lost his life approximately 140 feet beneath the Manhattan street level. Not only did the construction accidentclaim the life of the young man, but a father was forced to watch the one thing that should never happen to a parent. He watched the young life of his son slip away before his eyes. Continue reading
Construction workers injured, one dies in Brooklyn building collapse
On Tuesday morning construction workers arrived at their Brooklyn job site as usual. They set up their gear and began construction on the 14-unit condominium in Brighton Beach. As the day wore on, the workers were unaware of the structural problems lying in wait and increasing in danger. The building finally gave out at 2:30 in the afternoon, collapsing on top of the group of workers.
Firefighters were immediately called to the scene to rescue the men from the debris, including corrugated metal and freshly poured concrete that fell on top of them. Firefighters were able to rescue the four trapped workers, but they later learned that the collapse had turned into a fatal workplace accident when medical doctors pronounced the death of one of the men. Continue reading
American Academy of Pediatricians declares bumper pads dangerous
Infants are not only the most valuable thing in our lives, but they are also the most vulnerable. They cannot take care of themselves or understand their surroundings. Infants rely on their parents to take care of them and prevent harm from coming to them.
Even the most careful parent cannot protect their children from an unknown harm that could result from a dangerous or unsafe product. For years, bumper pads have been placed in infant cribs under the assumption that they helped prevent harm. The American Academy of Pediatricians declared bumper pads dangerous in their most recently published safety guidelines. Continue reading
New York resident found dead in home, mauled by pit bull
Pit bulls have been considered one of the most dangerous breeds of dogs, and those who own them – or any other animal that could act violently – are taking a risk. Owners may be liable for the damages that their pets cause, especially if they have prior warning of the animal’s propensity for violence.
One dog owner’s negligence may have led to the death of his New York City roommate late last week after his violent pit bull viciously attacked the 46-year-old. The attack was so violent that the resident could not survive the injuries to his arm and leg. A city marshal discovered the body lying on the kitchen floor when he went to the Upper East Side apartment to forcibly evict the two men. Continue reading
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
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
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
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