New York Injury Talk Blog

A 12-year-old Sandy Creek boy was hit and injured by a car that officials say was driven by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Post-Standard, the boy sustained injuries which were considered non-life threatening. Police are currently investigating the New York bicycle accident. Officials say they suspect the involvement of alcohol, but no charges have been filed yet.

Alcohol is a common contributing factor in many bicycle and auto accidents. Drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol endanger everyone around them. It is fortunate that the injuries in this case are considered non-life threatening. Often when a drunk driver collides with a bicyclist, the results are catastrophic. Victims of serious bicycle accidents often suffer brain trauma, spinal cord injuries and broken bones. Many of these injuries can be life-altering and tend to be extremely costly. In New York, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level for 0.08 percent or higher.

Continue reading "Boy Injured in New York Bicycle Accident" »

A 50-year-old man fell to his death while working with scaffolding at a construction site in Queens. NY1 news reports that the worker tried to "pull a scaffold up from the roof when he fell six stories" to his death. The Queens construction accident occurred at a work site located at 34th Ave and 89th Street in Jackson Heights. There is no word yet about the cause of this fatal construction accident. The job site has been shut down while an investigation takes place.

Construction sites can be dangerous areas to work. Some factors that can lead to a tragic accident include unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment, broken machinery, inexperienced co-workers and lack of proper training or supervision. If you are injured while working in New York, you can file a New York personal injury claim to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.

In addition to NY worker's compensation, families of deceased workers can also consult an experienced Queens injury lawyer to determine if they have a third-party claim against an entity other than the employer. Such entities may include contractors, sub-contractors, equipment maintenance contractors or manufacturers of defective products.

The New York construction scaffold accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP help construction workers and their families obtain fair compensation for their injuries and losses. Call us today at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

A Bay Shore, New York, company is recalling 3,700 pounds of ground beef over food poisoning concerns. The recalled items include the W. B. Stockyard brand of burgers, ground and lean beef. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say lab testing has shown the presence of E. coli bacteria in these products. So far, no illnesses or deaths have been reported as a result of this product recall. If you have eaten these beef products and feel ill, it is important that you seek medical attention right away.

Many strains of E. Coli are known to be harmless while others may produce lethal toxins. It is the responsibility of food companies to provide safe products that do not endanger consumers. When food becomes contaminated - whether it is during manufacturing, storing or processing - it may become a serious risk to anyone who consumes it. The most common symptoms of an E. coli food infection are bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this bacterial infection. In extreme cases, E. coli infection can result in kidney damage or even death.

If you or a loved one has endured a food-borne illness due to a contaminated food product, please contact Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353. We are a New York personal injury law firm that represents victims of faulty and unsafe products. Our NY foodborne illness lawyers will review your case at no cost and advise you about your legal rights and options. Call us today to find out how we can help.

The Star-Ledger reports that 23 passengers of a bus traveling from New York's Chinatown were injured after their vehicle crashed in Atlantic City. The bus skidded as it braked and struck a car. A 57-year-old man from Brooklyn, who was driving the bus, was thrown through the front windshield and suffered facial cuts and a broken left arm. The bus apparently hit two vehicles and then skidded against a retaining wall for about 80 feet. There were 50 passengers on the bus and 23 of them required hospitalization.

If you have been involved in a New York bus accident, you need to speak promptly with a NY personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options. It will be important to determine what caused the accident and who was at fault. Were the brakes poorly maintained? Did the bus meet safety standards? Was the driver inattentive, impaired or otherwise negligent? A skilled injury lawyer in New York will help bolster your case and assist you in dealing with insurance companies.

If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is important to immediately seek medical attention. It is also crucial for you to obtain copies of your medical records and document your injuries. A bus accident attorney can review all of your medical records and bills to determine the value of your case and ensure that you receive fair compensation.

Pursuing damages after a bus accident can be complicated. Please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 to find out how we can help your pursue your rights. We always offer a free and comprehensive consultation.

Insurance companies are highly profitable corporations that need to reduce the amount of money they pay out in order to maintain their profits. When dealing with someone else’s insurance company or even your own, you have to be very careful about what you say. If you are injured in a New York auto accident, you may need to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the damages you have suffered. The insurance companies involved may either refuse to offer you a settlement or they may offer you an amount that doesn’t cover your expenses.

Insurance companies often offer settlements based on who is at fault for the crash. When an insurance company does not offer a fair settlement in your case, a lawsuit may be filed to recover rightful compensation. As a general rule, it is never a good idea to speak with an insurance adjuster about an accident without first speaking to a personal injury attorney in New York who will look out for your best interests. If you somehow admit fault for an accident, you may greatly reduce your chances of getting a fair settlement. If you accept a settlement prematurely, you will never again be able to file a claim with regard to that case.

Continue reading "Speaking with an Insurance Company after a New York Auto Accident" »

There are many factors that can lead to an injury auto crash. In addition to negligent and reckless driving, very often, accidents can be caused as a result of poorly maintained or badly designed roadways. When an accident occurs or injuries are caused by dangerous roadways, the liability for that accident falls on the governmental entity that is responsible for maintaining that roadway. Most states have statutes of limitations for personal injury or wrongful death claims filed against governmental agencies, which is why it is important to get an experienced New York personal injury attorney on your side as soon as possible.

Common examples of dangerous roadways include:

• excessive potholes;


• poorly designed intersections;


• poor visibility; and


• lack of proper signage, signals or crosswalks.

In such cases, the injured victims are required to prove that the dangerous condition existed on the public roadway, that their injuries were directly caused by that dangerous condition and that the governmental agency had adequate notice of the problem and could have fixed it at a reasonable time period and reasonable cost.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York auto or pedestrian accident involving a dangerous roadway condition, please contact the experienced NY auto accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation. Our skilled attorneys aggressively pursue the compensation their clients deserve. Call us at 212-986-7353 today to discuss your personal injury case.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, several New Yorkers have already begun celebrating with fireworks and other devices. While having a patriotic spirit is not out of the question, far too many citizens disregard or overlook safety when using these potentially treacherous objects.

A new study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals that fireworks-related incidents were responsible for two deaths in 2009 and approximately 9,000 emergency room visits for injuries. According to the CPSC, throughout the 30 days near last year’s holiday, about 6,000 injuries involving fireworks were reported in which half of the injuries related to firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers.

Consumers below the age of 20 are the most prone to fireworks injuries; however, the risk of serious injury or even death still exists for anyone within close proximity of fireworks or other pyrotechnics. Some common fireworks injuries and hazards include burns to the face, head and hands, lacerations, loss of limbs, residential fires and wrongful death.

Parental supervision is extremely important when legal fireworks are being used. Never allow young children to light or toy with fireworks, sparklers, or bottle rockets. It is also important to never throw or point fireworks at another person. Refer to the CPSC’s website for more important consumer fireworks safety tips.

At Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP, our New York personal injury attorneys cannot stress enough the significance of consumer safety during the Independence Day holiday. Take every necessary safety measure to help prevent injuries this Fourth of July.