New York Injury Talk Blog

General Motors is issuing an auto product defect recall for more than 20,000 Cadillac vehicles because of the risk of leg injuries in the event of a car accident. According to a CNN news report, the recall includes 2009 and 2010 model year Cadillac CTS all-wheel-drive cars and CTS-V performance sedans.

These vehicles reportedly do not comply with federal safety requirements in terms of the manner in which they protect smaller passengers who are not buckled up during car crashes. According to a letter sent out by GM to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in car crashes involving smaller, unbelted occupants, the risk of injury to the thigh bone is higher than what is permitted under federal law. GM dealers will reconfigure the glove compartment assembly to fix the problem, done free of charge to consumers.

Design flaws in automobiles can put consumers at risk for serious injury or even death. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a New York car accident due to a defective automotive component, remember, you have legal rights. The auto products liability lawyers of Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro have represented numerous injured victims, who would have never been injured had they been in a better designed car.

If you have been injured in an auto accident that you believe was caused by a vehicle defect, the experienced New York auto product liability attorneys at Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro can help you determine whether a defective vehicle caused your injuries. Please call us at 212-986-7353 for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.

Auto safety advocates nationwide are blaming a deadly van accident that occurred on the New York State Thruway on the inherent safety flaws of the 15-passenger van. According to a report in the New York Post, the crash, which killed six members of a church group from the Bronx and seriously injured eight others, involved a controversial type of vehicle notorious for its instability. The crash occurred when the 1997 Ford Econoline 15-passenger van blew a tire and rolled over several times, ejecting seven passengers.

An expert who has testified in several 15-passenger van auto product liability cases tells the Post that the Ford Econoline van has a high center of gravity, narrow track width and a poor suspension system, all of which contribute to creating stress on the rear tires. The condition of the tires becomes worse when the van carries a full load of passengers.

In New York auto accident cases that are caused by auto product defects or defective design, the auto maker can be held liable for injuries, damages and losses caused. In any such crash, it is critical to preserve the vehicle in its crashed condition in tact, so it can be examined by an accident reconstruction expert for all evidence, including proof of vehicle and design defects.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident involving a 15 passenger van, please contact the experienced New York 15 passenger van accident lawyers of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will remain on your side, fight for your rights and make sure that you are fairly compensated for your losses.

A Clifton woman was killed in a Brooklyn bicycle accident when a motorist opened her car door into the path of the bicyclist. The bicycle rider was thrown off of her bike and into the path of a city bus. This fatal crash took place on Atlantic Avenue near Washington Avenue the evening of September 11, 2010. According to a report on SILive.com, the 24-year-old motorist has been charged with driving on a suspended license and violating New York law that regulates the opening and closing of car doors.

New York State traffic laws state that, "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers." Drivers who fail to look for bicyclists may be held liable for the damage they cause.

The family of a victim killed in a bicycle accident may file what is known as a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. New York wrongful death claims seek compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship and other related damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in an bicycle accident, please contact the experienced New York wrongful death lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 for a no-cost consultation.

The recent fatal bus accident in New York raises a number of important questions. Many would say that the most important of them is: What is a bus company's responsibility to its passengers? Bus operators – whether they are public or private carriers -- owe their passengers the utmost "duty of care." The "duty of utmost care" is higher than the negligence duty owed to the drivers of other vehicles involved in a collision.

With regard to bus operators, it is the legal responsibility of all bus operators to provide safe conditions and protection to the passengers in their care – to take them safely to their respective destinations. When an accident occurs because of the bus company or the bus driver's own negligence, then, the bus operator could be held liable for personal injuries and fatalities that occur as a result of such negligence or wrongdoing. If you have been injured in a New York bus accident, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced bus accident attorney before speaking with insurance adjusters or attorneys for the other parties.

Travelling by bus is typically one of the safest forms of travel. When a bus is involved in an injury collision, the resulting injuries and damages are often catastrophic. Common injuries include broken bones, severed limbs, head injuries and death. If you have sustained injuries in a bus accident, please call the New York Megabus accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

A rollover van accident in New York has left six dead and eight injured, raising safety concerns regarding 15-passenger vans. A lohud.com article reports that an auto safety expert from Maryland has referred to the church van involved in the fatal crash a “death trap on wheels.” Although 15-passenger vans are a convenient way to transport a large group of people, these vehicles are top-heavy and have a high center of gravity, increasing the chances of rollover and causing serious injury or death.

According to the article, a rear tire blowout caused the 1997 Ford Econoline to swerve. The driver then overcorrected and the van rolled over numerous times, landing upside down. As a consequence of the rollover, nine passengers who were allegedly not wearing their seat belts were ejected through the van’s windows.

Drivers must use extreme caution when making sudden maneuvers, especially when 15-passenger vans are near or at full capacity. However, even the most experienced driver is no match for poor vehicle design, defective tires, or improperly maintained auto parts.

While an investigation into the New York wrongful death van accident is still underway, similar to any kind of motor vehicle crash, if negligence of some form is determined to have played a contributing role, injury victims and family members of those killed may be able to seek compensation for their losses and damages.

At Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP, our New York 15-passenger van rollover attorneys understand the many physical, psychological, and financial challenges that rollover crash injury victims must cope with. We are dedicated to helping injury victims and family members of wrongful death victims obtain compensation from negligent parties. To find out more about how we can help protect your rights, please call 212-986-7353 for a free consultation.

Three bystanders were injured in a New York City construction site accident after loose scaffolding fell off a Bronx housing project. According to a news report in the New York Post, the contractor in charge of the project has been issued two citations for safety violations in connection with this incident. Initial reports show that bolts connecting the scaffolding to the sidewalk had been removed causing the scaffolding to come loose and crash. An investigation is ongoing.

State and federal construction safety regulations exist to protect not only workers, but also those who pass by construction sites and those who live in the area. Despite these regulations, New York still has its share of construction site injuries and fatalities yearly. Scaffolding accidents in New York can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Injured victims of construction site accidents can file a claim against the negligent individuals or entities to seek compensation for injuries and losses. Liability for construction site accidents may fall on contractors, architects, property owners and equipment manufacturers – depending on how or why the accident occurred.

Whether you are an injured construction worker or a bystander who has been hurt as a result of unsafe conditions at a construction site, you need an experienced New York personal injury lawyer on your side, fighting for your legal rights and making sure that all negligent parties are held accountable. If you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, please contact the skilled New York personal injury attorneys of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP for a free and comprehensive consultation at 212-986-7353.

Five people were injured in a car accident in New York City after an out-of-control yellow cab crashed into a Jeep and two bicyclists and then rammed into a coffee shop. According to a New York Post article, one of the victims was a 71-year-old man who was hospitalized with serious injuries. The two bicyclists who were hit are said to be in stable condition. Two others reportedly sustained relatively minor injuries. The accident occurred at the intersection of First Avenue and Third Street. Officials are investigating what caused the cab to lose control.

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Summary of Motor Vehicle Accidents, 42 people were killed and 5,568 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents in 2008. During the same year, 304 were killed and 16,011 were injured in New York pedestrian accidents.

In such cases, injured victims may recover damages from the at-fault party for medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. The experienced New York auto accident lawyers of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP have helped thousands of New York City auto accident victims over the years obtain fair compensation and bring their lives back to normalcy. Call us today at 212-986-7353 to find out how we can help you.

A bus accident near Syracuse, New York has left 4 dead, 5 seriously injured, and the bus driver with a head injury. The remaining19 passengers received medical attention. The New York Daily News reports that those who were killed and seriously injured occupied the top deck of the 13-foot-tall double-decker Megabus. It is suspected that the driver was confused due to being lost, causing him to pass under the bridge, which is only 10-foot, 9-inches tall. As a result, the Megabus’s top deck was shredded and the bus flipped onto its side.

An investigation into the Salina double-decker bus crash is pending; however, police do not suspect that the bus driver was intoxicated. Since it has been reported that there are several signs warning of the bridge’s height, those examining the events leading up to the collision may look into whether some form of driver distraction contributed to the crash.

Preliminary data for 2008 from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that 307 people were killed in accidents involving buses and 24,000 were injured. While serious commercial bus accidents like this one do not happen as often as other types of motor vehicle collisions, bus passengers are more susceptible to serious injury and even death. This heightened risk is presented by a lack of air bags and seat belts in most commercial buses.

Individuals who are injured in a bus accident caused by another person’s negligence have legal rights that deserve to be upheld and protected. Injury victims as well as family members of those killed in bus collisions can seek compensation for their losses, pain and suffering, and other damages. The New York bus accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP have years of experience in motor vehicle litigation including bus accidents. For a free consultation of your case, call 212-986-7353 today.

A 5-year-old Bronx boy was critically injured in a New York car accident after he was struck by an SUV. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the pedestrian accident occurred on East 214th Street near Bronxwood Avenue. The driver reportedly hit the boy and dragged him 50 feet down the street and then left the scene of the accident. The boy was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver.

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Summary of Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Accident report, there were 304 fatalities and 15,317 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in New York. Victims of pedestrian and motor vehicle crashes typically sustain serious injuries that result in substantial medical expenses, pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in New York, remember, you have legal rights. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, hospitalization, surgery and other long-term treatment costs. You may be able to claim compensation through the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage under your auto insurance policy in case of hit-and-run crashes where the driver is never located or identified.

Please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 to get more information about your legal rights and options. Our skilled Bronx personal injury lawyers have been serving injured victims of car accidents and their families for decades. Call us today for a free consultation.

Two people were injured in a New York motorcycle accident after they were hit by a car that pulled out of a parking lot in Salina. According to a news report in The Post-Standard, the man and woman riding the motorcycle were found lying in the road with non life-threatening injuries. The motorcyclist saw the car coming out of the parking lot and attempted to avoid it. But the car swiped the motorcycle, pushing it into a ditch. An investigation is ongoing.

A 2008 New York State Department of Motor Vehicles study reported 188 fatalities and 5,290 personal injuries in New York as a result of motorcycle accidents. Crashes involving drivers pulling into traffic from driveways and parking lots commonly involve motorcycles. Inattentive drivers often tend to overlook motorcycles in such situations because of their smaller size and victims of motorcycle accidents often sustain more serious injuries.

Anyone injured by a negligent driver may choose to hold the at-fault party civilly liable by filing a personal injury claim. In such cases, injured victims would be well advised to consult with a New York motorcycle crash attorney who can review all aspects of the case and help determine fault and liability.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP to get more information about your legal rights. We always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families. Call us at 212-986-7353 today.