New York Injury Talk Blog

To be recognized for a ranking that is only given to less than 1% of professionals is a great honor that doesn’t come without years of tireless and committed work. Medical Malpractice Lawyers has included Philip Russotti of the New York personal injury law firm of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin among the Top 1% Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice Plaintiff Attorneys in 2012 for New York.

MedicalMalpracticeLawyers.org utilizes a scrupulous 6-point scoring system involving peer reviews and individual medical malpractice trial performance over the last 24 months. Founded upon the principle that the public should be properly informed and educated about medical malpractice litigation in addition to how to most effectively and ethically protect their best interests, Medical Malpractice Lawyers created The Top 1% Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice rating system. This prestigious rating system contributes to a list of the top 1% of plaintiff attorneys, defense lawyers, and expert witnesses, for medical malpractice litigation on a yearly, state-by-state basis.

In being acknowledged as a leading professional for handling medical malpractice trials in New York, it should come as no surprise that Philip Russotti has obtained groundbreaking medical malpractice case results. A few of his most successful medical malpractice cases have been acclaimed as the largest jury verdict ever in a personal injury trial in Hawaii ($6,125,000) and the largest verdict ever in Putnam County ($6,200,000) for a medical malpractice verdict.

To learn more about the many accomplishments of New York medical malpractice lawyer Philip Russotti and the other outstanding attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, please visit http://www.wrslaw.com/ or call (212) 222-4336 for a free consultation about your specific situation.

According to Silive.com, the 39-year-old man who risked his life trying to save another person has tragically succumbed to his injuries and died at Staten Island University Hospital on February 25. The New York train accident hero, a resident of Stapleton, was hit by a Staten Island Railway train on January 8 at the New Dorp station. An East Orange man jumped onto the train tracks, and two different stories have emerged as to why; one version says the man lost his shoe and jumped to retrieve it, and another indicates the man was drunk and took a leap onto the tracks.

The man reportedly could not get up without assistance, and the Stapleton man courageously jumped onto the tracks to help, but could not get out of the way in time to avoid being hit by a train bound for Tottenville. The brother of the deceased states that this tragic incident comes after the 39-year-old was trying to reconnect with this 13-year-old son and rebuild his life following years of run-ins with the law.

The man who was saved by this person’s heroic efforts suffered minor injuries and was charged with criminal trespass for being on the railway tracks, though the charges could have been much more serious.

Though the man in this instance was undoubtedly very lucky that someone was brave enough to try and save him, others may not be so fortunate and can be injured in a serious train accident due to no fault of their own. If you have been injured in a train accident, the Staten Island train accident attorneys of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin can aid you in seeking compensation to help you recover from your injuries. We are committed to holding at-fault parties legally responsible. For a complimentary consultation with our legal team, please call (212) 222-4336.

International Playthings, Inc. has recalled 31,000 of its “Tumblekins” toys playsets because the toys can break into small, sharp pieces, which can cause a choking hazard. The sharp edges on some of the pieces can also cause cuts or scrapes. The company has received one report of the toys breaking into pieces, but no child injury accidents have so far been reported.

The affected playsets include the Fire Station, Farm, Police Car, Roadster, Off-Roader, Fire Truck, and School Bus sets. The toys are made of brightly-painted wood and are marked “Tumblekins” and “Made in China.” They were sold by a number of retailers, including stores nationwide and online stores, between March and December 2011, typically for between $14 and $35 apiece.

Parents and caregivers should immediately take these toys away from their children and contact International Playthings, Inc. for a free replacement. The company can be reached during weekdays by calling (800) 445-8347.

Everyone who cares about a child wants to trust that any toys given to the child are safe, and that they do not include hidden defects or risks that can cause the child injury. When a toy turns out to be hazardous, the results can be devastating. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, we’re dedicated to helping families seek the compensation they need if anyone has been injured by a defective toy. For a free consultation, contact our experienced New York toy injury attorneys at (212) 222-4336.

A construction accident shocked workers and the surrounding neighborhood at Four World Trade Center recently, as 20 tons of steel plummeted over 40 stories and crushed a tractor-trailer sitting on the site. Luckily, no serious injuries were reported.

The New York crane accident involved three large steel trusses that were being hoisted into place at the site. As the trusses were lifted, the steel cable holding them broke, releasing them. One construction worker described the falling cable looking like “a snake,” just before the loud “boom” of the 62-foot-long steel beams hitting the ground shook the construction site and made people take notice even from several blocks away. One person described the sound as “like thunder.”

The steel beams landed on a tractor-trailer, which had been delivering other construction materials to the site. It crushed the trailer and the back half of the tractor’s cab, but nobody was in the vehicle at the time. One worker was checked out for minor injuries and released; he is expected to make a full recovery. The part of the worksite where the accident occurred was closed to the public, and most workers were not near where the beams were being lifted or were able to get out of the way to avoid being struck.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced New York construction injury attorneys are dedicated to helping those hurt in construction accidents get the compensation they need. We can help you handle every step of the process, from filing a workers’ compensation claim to holding any negligent third parties accountable for their actions. Call us today at (212) 222-4336 for a free and confidential telephone consultation.

Hybrid cars offer an up to 25 percent lower risk of death or serious injury in a crash compared to their conventional counterparts, according to a recent study performed by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a division of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The study compared insurance claims filed after accidents in both hybrid vehicles from 2003 to 2010 and similar conventional models from 2002 to 2010. By comparing similar accidents and the insurance claims filed after them, researchers concluded that hybrid vehicles are more likely to protect occupants in an accident than conventional vehicles are, reducing their risks of serious injury.

The finding is not surprising, according to researchers. Those who study car safety have long known that heavier vehicles tend to fare better in accidents, because they are harder to crush or push off the road or into another vehicle. Hybrids are generally heavier than similar conventional cars; this offers more protection in a crash even if the cars and the crash type are otherwise similar. However, the IIHS still encourages drivers and passengers to wear seat belts at all times and to make sure children are properly secured in child seats or booster seats appropriate for the child’s height and weight.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced Manhattan car accident injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting on behalf of those who are injured or lose family members in car accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. To learn more about how we can help after a crash, call us at (212) 222-4336 for a free and confidential consultation.

Toy manufacturer Lee Carter Co. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a recall of approximately 7,000 packages of “Super Luchamania” wrestling action figures. The toy action figures contain unacceptably high levels of lead in the paint used to color them. The levels of lead paint in the toys have been banned by federal law because they can cause serious neurological defects in children. Instances of lead paint poisoning are especially dangerous if the paint is accidentally ingested by a child putting the toys in his or her mouth.

The action figures were sold in packages of 12 and are painted in assorted colors and designs. They are about four inches tall. About 7,000 of the packages were sold in hobby and craft stores between June 2000 and October 2011. Each figure is posed with its left hand raised and right hand lowered. The toys’ packaging included a long plastic sleeve and the words “Super Luchamania” printed on the tag.

Parents should take these toys away from children immediately and send them back to Lee Carter Co. for a refund or credit toward a replacement toy. The company can be reached at (415) 824-2004 or at its website, www.leecartercompany.com.

Few things are more important than giving safe toys to the children we care about. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced New York toy recall attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured by excessive lead paint or other hazards hidden in toys. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call our offices today at (212) 222-4336.

Two recently-recalled car products may increase the risk of accident and serious injury and should not be used until they can be repaired or replaced, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

First, Toyo Tires has recalled many of its Extensa A/S series tires manufactured between September 2009 and November 2010, because a kink in the tire’s bead can cause deflation, which might lead to a serious accident if it occurs while the car is in motion. Owners of these recalled tires in New York and across the nation can contact their tire shops or call Toyo at (800) 442-8696 for more information.

Next, car seat manufacturer Britax has recalled many of its Chaperone infant seats because the straps are not properly connected to the seat and may fall out, offering no protection to the child riding in the seat. Britax offers free repair kits, which parents who own the recalled car seats can request by calling (888) 427-4829 or visiting www.britaxusa.com.

Car accidents can cause serious and sometimes life-altering injuries that can cause simple tasks like walking, eating, bathing, or dressing to seem insurmountable. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced New York auto product liability lawyers understand how radically your life can change after an accident. That's why we're dedicated to fighting on behalf of the injured to seek compensation and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. If you've been injured, call us today at (212) 222-4336 for a free, confidential telephone consultation.

Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria carried by as many as one in every four women of childbearing age, according to Group B Strep International. In many women, the bacteria cause few or no symptoms. However, if the woman becomes pregnant, the GBS bacteria in her body may infect the developing fetus, causing serious harm.

During pregnancy, mothers should get tested for GBS if they have had frequent or recurring vaginal or urinary tract infections, develop a high fever, or feel little or no fetal movement after 20 weeks. After the baby is born, parents should monitor the child closely for signs such as fever, listlessness, difficulty breathing, high-pitched crying or shrieking that does not stop, or an inability to pay attention to their surroundings or move their arms and legs normally. Since some infants contract GBS while being born, it’s important to watch for signs of the condition even after birth.

GBS also increases the chances of a pre-term birth, miscarriage, or stillbirth, so it’s helpful to be tested early in the pregnancy. If GBS is found, both pregnant mothers and post-birth infants can be treated with antibiotics. Early treatment gives the best chances of the child’s full recovery.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, & Halperin, our experienced New York birth injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting on behalf of mothers, children, and families injured by prenatal infections. Over the years, we've developed time-tested legal resources and real-world courtroom experience that we rely on to help us build the best possible case for each client. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call our office today at (212) 222-4336.

Heart disease kills more women each year than all types of cancer combined. It also takes the lives of millions of men. For too many people, the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack or other serious heart condition, which can be fatal. February is Heart Health Month, and if you have risk factors for heart disease, it’s important to get a first and even a second opinion from a qualified physician to prevent suffering from a failure to diagnose heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Risk factors for heart disease include a family history of heart problems, high blood pressure or cholesterol, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. Heart disease can’t be cured, and its early stages are often “silent,” giving you no indication you have the condition. Lifestyle changes, medications, and occasionally even surgery can help keep the condition under control and help you avoid serious injury or illness, such as heart attacks or blood clots. However, taking the steps you may need to control heart disease means you need to know whether you have the condition and how serious it has become.

If you have risk factors for heart disease, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and a treatment plan. The American Heart Association encourages getting a second opinion if necessary, especially if you know you have several risk factors. When a doctor fails to properly diagnose or treat heart disease, serious injuries can result. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced New York medical malpractice attorneys have the courtroom experience necessary to help you seek the compensation you deserve. For a free phone consultation, call us today at (212) 222-4336.

This year’s Super Bowl features a long-time rivalry between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, which means that Super Bowl parties will be popping up all over town. If you’re planning to host a party, there are several steps you can take to help protect yourself and your friends from a New York City car accident caused by alcohol this weekend:

• Make sure everyone has a sober way to get home before you start serving alcoholic drinks. Designated drivers, taxis, subway lines, and even walking can all keep your friends and family from suffering a drunk driving accident.
• Give designated drivers extra perks. Keep their non-alcoholic drink topped off, give them a great seat to watch the game, or offer to cover the cost of gas.
• Serve only one alcoholic drink at a time to each person. Keep your eyes peeled for under-21 party guests - they should not be drinking alcohol at all.
• Stop serving alcohol at least an hour before the party is scheduled to end. The end of the Super Bowl’s third quarter is a good time to switch to non-alcoholic drinks and start passing around dessert.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our experienced New York drunk driving victim attorneys are dedicated to helping those injured in crashes find the compensation they deserve and hold any negligent parties accountable for the harm their actions have caused. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, you have several legal rights and options. Call us today at (212) 222-4336 for a free and confidential consultation about your case and the steps you can take next.