New York Injury Talk Blog

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow to the head. Although most concussions are not life-threatening, they can cause serious medical complications. In some cases, the side effects of a concussion are permanent. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend watching for the following signs and symptoms of concussion:

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or memorizing new information.
• Dizziness or trouble with balance.
• Fuzzy or blurred vision or sensitivity to noise and light.
• Headache, nausea, or vomiting.
• Irritability, sadness, or anxiety.
• Sleeping much more or less than usual or having trouble falling asleep.

If you suspect that you or someone you care for has suffered a concussion, seek medical attention immediately. According to the CDC, failing to get proper medical care for a concussion can slow your recovery time dramatically and may even result in permanent loss of memory, as well as the ability to concentrate and other life-altering symptoms of brain damage. You or your loved one may require long-term care and monitoring by a medical professional to ensure you heal fully.

After an accident, you have certain legal rights and options, including the right to seek compensation from any person or company if their negligence caused your brain injury. An experienced New York traumatic brain injury lawyer can help protect your rights and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. To learn more about how the experienced attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro may be able to help you, call 212-986-7353 today to schedule a free consultation.

The winter holidays bring with it an increased risk of home fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). To help prevent a fire, consider these useful safety precautions from the USFA:

• Choose non-flammable or flame-retardant decorations. If you decide to purchase an artificial tree, buy one that is flame-retardant.
• Do not burn wrapping paper in a fireplace, as it can easily start a chimney fire.
• Double-check the batteries in all your smoke detectors, and check fire extinguishers to make sure they are properly charged.
• Inspect your holiday lights thoroughly before hanging them. If your lights have bare patches of wire or empty or broken light sockets, do not use them. Always follow the instructions on any packaging, tags, or inserts.
• Keep your live Christmas tree well-watered at all times. A live tree can easily start a fire if it dries out. Also, place your tree away from heat sources, like heating vents and fireplaces, as these will dry it out more quickly. Do not leave your tree up for more than two weeks.
• Unplug lights and extinguish candles and fireplace fires before leaving the house.
• Never leave a burning candle or fireplace unattended, and do not put candles near a live tree.

Using care to prevent fires can keep your season bright. However, not even the best care can prevent every accident. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or due to the negligence of another person or company, please contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro. We will examine your case thoroughly and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us at 212-986-7353 today for a free and confidential consultation.

Winter’s snow and ice can make New York’s roads treacherous, particularly if you’re not prepared for inclement weather. To help drivers stay safe on roads this winter, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests the following tips for safe winter driving:

• Make sure your car is ready for winter driving. Check your antifreeze and fill your windshield wiper fluid reservoir with non-freezing fluid. Also, check your battery and the condition of your tires, and have them changed if necessary.
• Carry a winter driving kit. Your kit should include a flashlight, sand or kitty litter, a shovel, a snow brush and ice scraper, flares or other warning devices, and blankets. Also, remember your cell phone whenever you drive, in case you need to call for help.
• Know ahead of time what your car will do on slippery roads. You may want to practice driving slowly on an icy parking lot or another open space until you get a feel for how your vehicle reacts to certain conditions.
• Plan your route. Before you leave, check the weather, bring a map or a copy of the directions, and always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to get there.
• Drive slowly. Leave plenty of space between your car and the one ahead of you, as well as plenty of room for braking and accelerating.

The hazards of winter road conditions can surprise even experienced drivers. While driving carefully can help protect you and your passengers from getting involved in a car accident, not all drivers practice the same winter driving precautions. If you have been in a car crash in New York, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New York City car accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro to discuss your legal rights and options. For a free and confidential consultation, call 212-986-7353 today.

A fatal accident at an intersection in Grasmere on Long Island has prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve the traffic signals there, according to a recent report from online news outlet NY1.

The intersection of Highland Boulevard and Steuben Street is receiving new traffic lights which will stop drivers from making a left turn unless the signal shows a green arrow. The DOT decided to make the change after a passenger died in car collision at the intersection in which a driver on Highland Boulevard crashed into a driver attempting to make a left turn onto Steuben Street.

In addition, parking on Highland Boulevard will be eliminated to make the street safer for both drivers and pedestrians and prevent Long Island car crashes from occurring. Next spring, the DOT plans to install concrete dividers on Highland Boulevard to slow the speed of traffic and help prevent vehicles from drifting into oncoming traffic.

Traffic lights, signs and other methods for controlling traffic can help reduce the rate of car crashes. Unfortunately, distracted or reckless drivers may either miss the signals or may ignore them altogether. If you have been struck by one of these drivers, you may be able to recover the cost of your injuries from the negligent motorist who caused the car accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in New York, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Long Island car accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro. We will examine your case carefully and fight to win you the compensation you deserve. Call 212-986-7353 today for a free case evaluation.

Recently, a bus and four vehicles collided inside the Lincoln Tunnel’s south tube, leaving five people injured, according to My Fox New York. The bus was traveling from South Orange, New Jersey to New York City when the bus accident occurred.

The bus was about 1,000 feet or one-fifth of a mile from the Lincoln Tunnel’s New York exit when the bus driver suffered a seizure, causing the bus to crash into several other cars. Three passengers in one car as well as the driver of another were injured, but not severely. None of the 25 passengers on the bus were hurt, according to authorities.

No one has yet said whether the bus driver had a history of seizures. New Jersey law requires health care professionals to file certain reports with the Department of Motor Vehicles. These reports contain the names, ages, and addresses of people who have epilepsy or other conditions that may pose a danger to themselves and other motorists if they are operating a motor vehicle.

Heavy traffic and construction slowdowns can make for hazardous driving conditions, especially inside an enclosed space like the Lincoln Tunnel. If you have been injured in a bus accident in New York, the experienced New York bus crash attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our law office today at 212-986-7353 for a free and confidential consultation.

The clothing company American Eagle Outfitters and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a voluntary recall of about 1,200 articles of toddler clothing, including jeans and shorts. The clothing was recalled because a metal fastener at the waistband can come loose and create a choking hazard for small children.

The jeans and shorts recalled were sold in girl’s sizes from 12-18 months through 5 years. The styles involved include style numbers 3007, 3012, 3013, 3029, 3030, 3034, and 3035. The style number is printed on the tag inside the pants or shorts. The recalled garments were sold at 77kids stores, a division of American Eagle Outfitters, during July and August of 2010 and cost between $24 and $34 each.

So far, the CPSC has not received any reports that any child has been injured by the detachable fastener. However, those who wish to return the recalled clothing can bring the clothing back to the nearest 77kids by American Eagle store for a refund. Parents who bought the clothing online will receive a postage-paid envelope with instructions on how to return the clothes for a refund.

Safety is especially important when it comes to products for babies and toddlers, who are not always able to figure out what toys and products might hurt them. A defective child product or toy can leave children permanently injured, and in the worst cases, a defective product or toy might even claim a child’s life.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled product, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced New York defective product injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP. We will examine your case carefully and help you fight for the compensation you or your loved ones deserve. Call 212-986-7353 today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) defines cerebral palsy as a neurological disorder that affects children starting in infancy or early childhood. When a child is injured during delivery, they may develop cerebral palsy as a result of the injury. Some children who catch a bacterial infection during or after delivery may also have cerebral palsy if the infection damages their brain. Although cerebral palsy does not worsen over time, the impediments it does cause can change the course of a family’s life.

In cerebral palsy, damage to the parts of the brain that control motor function result in impaired body movement or poor muscle coordination. The body’s muscles and nerves are usually healthy; the problem is in the part of the brain that sends messages to the muscles and nerves to create movement. In most cases, cerebral palsy can be diagnosed by the time the child is three years old, when it becomes clear the child isn’t moving normally. No two persons with cerebral palsy have exactly the same impairments, but some common symptoms include a lack of muscle coordination, muscles that are too tight or too loose, dragging one foot or leg while walking, or walking on the toes.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. People with cerebral palsy may benefit from specific therapies to treat their symptoms and medications to help control muscle spasms. Treatment for cerebral palsy can be expensive, as therapy can be life-long.

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy and you believe a doctor’s negligence could be to blame, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced New York cerebral palsy lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP. Our attorneys take on a select number of cases in order to devote to each client the full attention they deserve. For a free and confidential case evaluation, please call our office today.

One of the lead actresses in the new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” suffered a brain injury while backstage during the preview performance, according to a recent article in The New York Times. The actress was hit in the head with a rope bearing one of the show’s many pieces of heavy equipment. A specialist hired by the producers examined the actress and determined she had suffered a concussion.

The actress is the third performer to be injured during “Spider-Man.” During rehearsals, one dancer broke both his wrists when he landed incorrectly during a flying sequence, while another dancer hurt his ankle during the same landing. Both the New York State Labor Department and the Actors’ Equity Union are investigating safety conditions for “Spider-Man,” which is reported to be one of the most technically complicated shows ever seen on Broadway.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion occurs when the brain is bruised, usually by a blow to the head. Although most concussion patients never lose consciousness, the injury can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, lack of motor control, and difficulty with memory, speech, and reflexes. Severe concussions can result in permanent brain damage.

The experienced New York brain injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP understand that life after a brain injury contains difficulties most people never expect. Our experience and legal resources can help you seek compensation for your brain injury so you can get on with living. To learn more about how we can help you, please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP today to set up a free and confidential consultation.

New York construction workers often deal with a number of work site hazards, including dangerous scaffolding, defective tools and machines, inexperienced workers and negligent supervisors, to mention a few.

Immediately following a New York construction accident, it is important that you seek medical attention. Not only will prompt medical care increase your chances of a complete recovery, it will also create a medical record of your injuries. It is also a good idea to take extensive notes about how the incident occurred. You may be asked many times over the coming months about the details surrounding the New York construction accident and it is important that your description remains consistent and is clear. You should also obtain the contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, including your co-workers or any bystanders.

After a New York construction accident, you would be well-advised to speak with an experienced attorney. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help injured construction workers successfully apply for workers’ compensation benefits. In cases where workers’ compensation is insufficient to cover the costs of an injury, a skilled attorney can also help the injured victim pursue additional compensation by filing a third party claim.

The New York construction accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP help injured construction workers pursue fair and full compensation for their workplace injuries. If you have been injured in a construction accident in New York, please call our law office today at 212-986-7353 to discuss your legal rights and options.