New York Injury Talk Blog

Dogs are often friendly and caring creatures, which is why so many families across the United States have them as pets; however, dogs can often become aggressive or defensive and attack. Many dogs never attack a human, but there is often an element of danger that comes with a dog, especially with unknown or uncontrolled ones.

Take caution and do not do anything that would frighten or anger a dog when approaching it. According to Doggonesafe.com, dog bites often occur when protecting a possession, puppies, or its owner, or when startled, injured, or upset. Those approaching a dog should examine the dog’s surrounding and disposition before interacting with it.

If you are being attacked or are about to be attacked, there are several steps to take:

• Stand still – When a dog shows signs of aggression or imminent attack, do not interact with the animal in any form. However, do not run away either as dogs are naturally inclined to pursue and attack. Stand still at a 90 degree angle to the dog in order to avoid eye contact, but be able to see the animal in peripheral vision and slowly back away after the animal loses interest.
• Minimizing injury – If attacked by a dog, give him or her any loose items, such as jackets and bags, to distract them and put anything you can between you and the dog. If knocked down, curl into a ball with your knees on the ground, head facing the ground, and arms and hands covering your face and the back of your neck. If the dog bites and does not release, slowly move closer to the animal, as greater damage is caused by trying to pull away or the dog shaking as it bites.
• Yell commands – The dog may respond to such commands as “No” and “Back” when yelled loudly and authoritatively.

Dog bites can cause serious and even fatal injuries to victims, leaving long-lasting consequences to victims and their families. The dog attack injury attorneys in New York at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help you win the compensation you deserve from responsible parties. Contact us for a free consultation at (212) 222-4336.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently released a report detailing the relation between the amount of dangerous and recalled toys to the amount of yearly child injuries. Over the past several years, toys have needed fewer and fewer recalls due to hazards, with 34 toys recalled in 2011 as compared to the 172 recalled in 2008, according to USA Today.

Although toy recalls are down, child fatalities increased in 2011, with 17 child fatalities related to toys, while there were only 12 reported in 2010. The CPSC reported that nearly 252,000 children under the age of 15 were sent to the emergency room with injuries caused by toy-related accidents. While the amount of toy-related injuries is large, the CPSC reports it has been the average amount for the last several years.

Many of the fatal toy accidents came from children choking on balloons and balls which, due to their common nature, are hard for agencies to regulate. In addition, a large amount of child injuries came from accidents while riding on non-motorized scooters, which have been subject to several recalls in the past year.

Starting January 1, the CPSC Improvement Act will go into effect, making toymakers subject to mandatory standards that were once only voluntary. Under the act, companies must have their products certified by independent labs to assure that they meet the regulations, which cover categories such as small components and lead content.

While some toys can be easily spotted as hazardous for children of certain ages, others have concealed dangers that were overlooked by the company that made them. When a child has been injured by a defective toy, those responsible for its design and manufacture can be held liable for damages. A dangerous toy injury attorney in New York at Wingate, Russoti & Shapiro can help if you or your child has been injured and fight for your rightful compensation. Contact our offices today for a free consultation at (212) 222-4336.

Demonstrations across the nation were held in honor of the two month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street protest, but it was at the birthplace of the movement where ten protesters and seven police officers suffered injuries during a clash between the two sides. Clashes between police and protesters occurred around the city as groups clogged intersections and attempted to block traffic, leading to injuries and multiple arrests.

Among the injuries, one police officer was left bleeding from a thrown piece of glass and another was doused in the eyes with vinegar, and multiple protesters were injured in scuffles with the police as officers attempted to clear them out of various areas. In the two months since the Occupy movement began, protests have sprung up across the nation with varying degrees of civil disobedience, arrests, and violence.

Since police and city officials have begun taking more measures against the Occupy movement in New York, violence has begun to increase in the peaceful protests.

Large scale protests, such as Occupy Wall Street, can result in varying degrees of reckless and negligent behavior in those involved. While many choose to peacefully protest, there are other members who act with disregard to the welfare of those around them.

Occupy Wall Street and its fellow protests around the U.S. have sparked large amounts of news coverage and attention to its subject; however, participants should remember the importance of safety, both for themselves and for those around them.

Negligent and reckless actions of others can cause serious and even deadly accident injuries for innocent victims. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent party in New York, the New York personal injury attorneys of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (212) 222-4336 for a consultation on your case today.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the state of New York ranks well in its evaluation of how states are combating drunk driving, receiving four out of five stars. The evaluation comes from MADD’s “Report to the Nation,” an examination of how the country is faring in its efforts to eliminate drunk driving nationwide. The report was released on the fifth year anniversary of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

The evaluations are based on five criteria that MADD believes every state should support in its laws, with each being represented by a star that comprises the rating. The five stars are for:

• Ignition interlocks for every first-time drunk driving conviction;
• Sobriety checkpoints held by state and local officials;

• Administrative License Revocation, allowing law enforcement to immediately revoke driving privileges of drunk driving suspects;
• Felony charges for drunk driving with a child in the vehicle; and
• No refusal events, using judges and official warrants to crack down on drivers who refuse to take blood alcohol content (BAC) tests.

New York meets all of these criteria except for no refusal occasions. These special time periods are highly publicized events where judges stay on call to issue warrants for police to administer BAC tests to those who refuse. These crackdowns are meant to deter drivers from refusing the test, which often makes drunk driving arrests much more complicated.

Out of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., only five states received a five star rating, five received only one star, and the national average was three out of five. Drunk driving takes its toll on both lives and finances as the report found that $132 billion in costs arose from drunk driving accidents in 2009.

While New York has more penalties for drunk driving than many other states, these incidents still occur frequently and can cause serious harm to victims. If you have been injured by a drunk driver in New York, please contact the New York drunk driving victim attorneys with Wingate, Russoti & Shapiro. Our skilled law team can get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (212) 222-4336.

Numerous reports of children being severely injured after swallowing magnets has led the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a warning about the severe injuries that could be caused by such incidents. Incidents have been reported for victims ranging from toddlers to teenagers, but the cases center around swallowing two or more magnets and suffering severe internal damage from the items’ interaction with one another inside the body.

The majority of the child injury incidents have been caused by very powerful ball-bearing magnets, and they have increased in regularity with seven in 2010 and 14 occurring in 2011 through October. The injuries occur when multiple magnets swallowed by the victim are attracted to one another internally and cause damage to internal organs. Depending on the placement of the magnets, multiple injuries can occur, including holes punctured into the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage, and death.

Incidents with the magnets have been caused by victims either swallowing or accidentally inhaling them, and a large portion has required surgery to remove them and repair the damage that has been caused. Magnets involved in the incidents have come from adult items such as stress relievers and stationary. Magnets that are small enough to be swallowed by children are banned in toys for those younger than 14.

When a child is injured by seemingly a harmless product, those responsible for the defective or dangerous item can be held liable for the damages caused. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product in New York, contact the New York product liability attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro. Our law team has the experience and knowledge necessary to win our clients’ injury cases and get them the compensation they need. Call our offices today for a free legal consultation at (212) 222-4336.

The collapse of an under-construction condo complex in Brooklyn on November 8 has left one construction worker dead and several injured. The building was still only a steel frame when it collapsed as workers were pouring concrete onto the frames starting from higher levels, which is considered less safe than starting from the bottom, according to The New York Times.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and began digging through the debris of the accident, pulling five construction workers out of the rubble and broken pieces of corrugated metal. One of the rescued workers suffered cardiac arrest and later died, according to NY Daily News. Of the other four that were pulled from the rubble, three are in stable condition at a medical center and one declined treatment. Investigators are currently determining the exact cause of the accident and who is responsible for the decision to pour concrete from the top down.

Construction sites are some of the most dangerous workplaces in the United States, with many workers being injured or killed every year. Construction site accidents more commonly result in serious injuries. Building collapses such as this incident are only one of many accidents that can occur at a New York construction site. Workers can be injured from falling objects, heavy machinery, falls, electrocution, tool malfunction, and many other dangers that may not be present at other jobs.

When a worker is injured at a construction site, he or she is entitled to workers’ compensation for the injuries sustained. Workers’ compensation is necessary to recover from work-related injuries and not suffer financially from being unable to work, but not all claims are approved or fulfilled correctly. If you or someone you know has been injured in a New York construction site accident, contact the Brooklyn construction accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro. Our law team has years of experience winning rightful compensation for those injured in construction accidents, and we can give you a free consultation on your injury case. Please call (212) 986-7353.

Thinking of hopping on a low-cost curbside bus for a quick trip through New York? You might want to think again. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the results of a six-month-long study on the safety of curbside motor coaches and the findings show a severe increase in danger over other forms of transportation.

According to the NTSB study, low-fare curbside bus companies are involved in fatal crashes seven times more often than the buses run by conventional companies. These higher rates of accidents and fatalities are seen in motor coach companies that operate 10 or fewer buses and companies that have been in operation for less than 10 years. According to USA Today, the study began after a March 12 bus crash in New York which resulted in 15 deaths and 18 injuries.

The NTSB found that curbside carriers average 1.4 fatal accidents per 100 vehicles. In comparison, conventional transportation companies like Greyhound average 0.2 fatal crashes for every 100 vehicles.

The study also found that these small companies perform far fewer inspections and that the rapid growth in the industry has outpaced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) ability to inspect transportation. According to the study, the large amount of U.S. public transportation has left the FMCSA with a ratio of 1.15 investigators for every 1,000 motor carriers.

Those who choose to travel via public transportation put their trust and safety in not only the driver of the vehicle, but the company who owns and operates the line. When a bus crashes, the results are often shocking and devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured by a New York bus crash, the experienced New York bus accident injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our knowledgeable law team today for a complimentary consultation on your case at (212) 986-7353.

A 62-year-old man has passed away from the injuries he suffered during a hit-and-run on Sunday, October 30 in Albany, after the driver of an SUV fled from police and crashed into his car in an intersection, according to The Times-Union. The collision fractured the skull of the victim, which led to his death on November 1.

The incident began when the SUV driver had his license plates identified with those of a stolen vehicle. Police pursued the vehicle and ordered him to pull over, but he refused and began to speed and drive erratically. The vehicles proceeded into a residential area, but police abandoned the chase when they determined that the speeds being driven were unsafe for the area. Despite officers stopping, the SUV driver continued to speed until he crashed into the victim’s car in an intersection after running a red light.

Reportedly, the SUV driver fled the scene on foot and was eventually caught by police. The New York hit-and-run accident victim was driving with his 18-year-old son at the time of the crash, but the son was not injured. The SUV driver now faces multiple charges in relation to the stolen vehicle, the chase, and the crash.

When a person is injured or killed by the reckless or negligent driving of another, victims and their families have the right to hold the negligent party responsible for his or her actions. The serious injuries or death that occur as a result can lead to incredibly high medical costs, the loss of employment, and the pain and suffering that comes from injuries or the loss of a loved one. To get on with life and move past the trauma of a car accident, compensation must be sought from those responsible.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a NY car crash, contact the New York auto accident attorneys with Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro at (212) 986-7353 for a free and confidential consultation on your injury accident.