New York Injury Talk Blog

In the year 2011, there were 5,336 motorcycle crashes in the state of New York. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reports that 162 motorcycle operators and six motorcycle passengers were killed in those crashes and 5,180 people were injured. If you ride in New York, it is absolutely crucial that you exercise safe riding habits at all times.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are several safety measures you can take even before you even get on your motorcycle. Make sure you have your gear in place, including a helmet, gloves, pants, jacket, and boots. What you wear is probably the only layer of protection guarding you in the event of a crash. It is also important to carefully inspect your motorcycle. Check the oil and fluid levels, evaluate the tire pressure, and inspect the mirrors and lights.

When riding, it is crucial that you travel at speeds you feel comfortable with that are relative to the roadway and traffic conditions. When it is wet or congested, you should adjust your speed accordingly. As easy as it is to travel quickly on a motorcycle, it is important that you resist the urge to exceed the speed limit. Many of the most devastating New York motorcycle accidents involve high-speed collisions.

Continue reading "Safety Tips for New York Motorcyclists" »

A vehicle veered out of control and crashed into a Queens auto shop, killing a worker after being involved in a rear-end collision. The Western Queens Gazette reports that the fatal crash occurred at the New Pamir Auto Body Shop on 126th Street near 35th and 36th Avenues in Willets Point.

Officials say a 52-year-old driver rear-ended a black Mercedes-Benz with his 1992 Toyota Corolla. After the collision, the Toyota careened off the roadway, where it struck a 30-year-old employee on the sidewalk and a 34-year-old pedestrian. The out-of-control vehicle then hit the garage, striking two workers and two vehicles.

A 33-year-old mechanic was pronounced dead at the scene, a 39-year-old victim was listed in critical condition, and the pedestrian was in serious but stable condition. Two other workers were treated and released. According to the report, neither driver has been charged for the crash.

Continue reading "Car Crashes into Queens Auto Shop Killing Mechanic" »

Two drivers were injured in a New York City car accident that resulted in the both vehicles crashing into scaffolding. According to an NBC news report, the crash occurred at 48th Street and Sixth Avenue near Rockefeller Center. Officials say an 88-year-old man was driving while intoxicated when he lost control of his Cadillac and crashed into another vehicle. The two cars then careened into scaffolding that was in place to prevent a building from collapsing. Both drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and the responsible driver was charged with DWI, assault, reckless impairment and criminal mischief.

Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is extremely dangerous. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 8,461 police-reported crashes in the year 2011 that were alcohol-related. In those accidents, 362 people were killed and 6,121 were injured.

Continue reading "Elderly Man Injured in DWI Crash" »

A New York high school has received a substantial grant for producing a distracted driving video. According to a news report in The Levittown Patch, General Douglas MacArthur High School in Levittown has been awarded $10,000 to produce their own distracted driving awareness video. There were 48 entries submitted by high schools throughout the state. The top 15 videos are available through the Facebook page of NYCM Insurance, the company that ran the contest.

It is important that young drivers are constantly reminded about the dangers of distracted driving because it is a serious problem. A study by the Pew Research Center found that 48 percent of all teens between the ages of 12 and 17 have been passengers in a car while the driver was texting. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Continue reading "Preventing Distracted Driving Among New York's Young Drivers" »

If you have been injured in an alcohol-related car accident in New York, you are not alone. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 8,461 reported New York car accidents in the year 2011 that involved an impaired driver. Of those New York car accidents, 362 people were killed and 6,121 were injured. With the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer, victims of DUI crashes can hold the impaired driver accountable for their suffering.

The steps you take following an accident will impact your ability to secure support for the damages you have suffered. If you have sustained a head or neck injury, it is suggested to remain where you are and wait for the authorities to arrive. If, however, you are able to move around without causing further injury, here are a few steps that you would be well advised to take:

Continue reading "What Steps to Take After Being Injured in a DUI Crash" »

Witnesses say that an elderly man was struck by a dirt bike in New York caused by the police. According to an NBC New York news report, the motorcycle accident occurred on Pelham Parkway in the Bronx. Officials say teens were riding dirt bikes when one of them lost control and struck an elderly man on the sidewalk. Witnesses, however, state that a police cruiser caused the accident by ramming one of the bikers. The bike rider suffered head injuries and the elderly man sustained leg injuries. Both have been listed in serious but stable condition.

It is important in these types of cases to secure a skilled automobile injury lawyer who will get to the bottom of what happened. In some cases, it is possible to hold a negligent driver accountable for contributing to an accident. In other situations, the city may be held financially liable for the negligence of an officer, especially if he or she was on the job at the time.

Continue reading "Officers Blamed for Bronx Motorcycle Accident" »

One person was injured in a New York car accident involving a school bus and a limousine. According to a news report in The New York Daily News, the school bus accident occurred on the Grand Central Parkway in Astoria, Queens. Officials say that the school bus crashed into the divider before striking the black limo. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The report states that no children were on the bus at the time of the crash.

On a daily basis, New York parents trust that the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has hired school bus drivers that are qualified, safe, and skilled. The NYSED mandates that all drivers have received training at an approved Office of Pupil Transportation location, and that they attend mandatory refresher courses every year. Furthermore, bus drivers are fingerprinted, and must undergo a criminal background check. Those who meet all of these requirements may be certified to drive New York school buses that transport our children every day.

Continue reading "School Bus and Limo Collide in Queens " »

A busy Queens sidewalk was filled with pedestrians when a 2002 Dodge Caravan jumped the curb near the bus stop and struck five people. A 16-year-old boy was killed and four other students were seriously hurt. According to a CBS New York news report, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred near LaGuardia Community College at Thomson Avenue and 30th Street in Long Island City.

Witnesses to the fatal Queens crash say that the van lost control when the driver swerved to miss a crowd that was crossing the street in a crosswalk. The van jumped the curb and struck the pedestrians head-on at full speed.

The fatally injured victim hit the Caravan's windshield before falling to the ground. The four other injured pedestrians have been listed in stable condition. The driver remained at the scene of the crash and was taken into custody. It is unclear what charges will be filed. The location where this tragic accident occurred is a five-street intersection that is notorious for being busy and dangerous.

Continue reading "Teenager Killed in Queens after Car Jumps Curb" »

A 21-year-old Brooklyn couple that was expecting a child was recently killed in a New York car accident that involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a CNN report, the fatal car accident occurred on a Brooklyn street. Officials say the 44-year-old man responsible for the crash was travelling 60 miles per hour when his BMW smashed into a livery cab.

The couple died at the scene and their child initially survived, but later succumbed to his injuries. The cab driver survived with serious injuries and the driver of the BMW fled the scene on foot. He surrendered to the authorities days after the fatal car crash in Brooklyn and was charged with criminally negligent homicide, three counts of assault, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Continue reading "Couple and Newborn Child Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash" »

A six-year-old boy was killed recently when a truck struck him as he crossed the street on his way to school. According to The New York Times, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred at the busy intersection of First Avenue and 117th Street a block from East Harlem Elementary School. Officials say the boy was walking with his nine-year-old brother across the street when a white tractor-trailer turned right and struck him. He was fatally injured, but his brother was unharmed.

The 55-year-old crossing guard who was supposed to be stationed at the intersection has been suspended without pay for being absent at the time of the crash. The truck driver has been cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and for failing to use due care in the operation of his vehicle.

Continue reading "Boy Killed by Truck while Walking to East Harlem Elementary School" »

An unidentified man was killed after being struck by a Manhattan-bound F train. The fatal subway accident occurred at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens, according to The Epoch Times.

Officials suspect the man jumped onto the tracks. In a separate incident that occurred the same day, a man was injured when an oncoming train clipped him. He reportedly suffered a head injury after being struck by a Bronx-bound train at the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station in Manhattan. His head injury appears to be minor.

Continue reading "One Killed, One Injured in Separate New York Subway Accidents" »

Several people were injured in a New York car accident involving a collision between an SUV, a city bus, and a third vehicle. The New York Daily News reports that the bus accident occurred on Broadway at West 135th Street in Harlem. Officials say a vehicle making a U-turn clipped the SUV, which then crashed head-on into the bus. At the time of the report, 11 people were reportedly injured. Serious injuries were suffered by five of the victims and six sustained minor injuries. According to officials, all are expected to make a full recovery.

Continue reading "Harlem Bus Crash Causes Over a Dozen Injuries" »