You would be well-advised to retain an attorney as soon as possible, so he or she can get down to collecting evidence and commencing an investigation into your case as soon as possible. The longer the delays, the tougher it becomes to collect evidence that may be crucial to your case. In an auto accident, for example, it is important to preserve the crashed vehicle. An attorney will be able get the necessary court orders to preserve important evidence. For example, if a vehicle is lost in an accident case where an auto product defect is suspected, then the victim may never be able to prove that the accident occurred as the result of a defective auto.

This man's death was apparently the first fatal New York City construction accident in 2010. Last year, the city's Department of Buildings reported an 84 percent drop in construction accident fatalities from 19 in 2008 to three in 2009. However, the total number of reported construction accidents rose from 151 in 2008 to 224 in 2009 and the total number of reported injuries rose from 178 in 2008 to 246 in 2009. Officials say the increase in the number of incidents can be attributed to better accident reporting by construction companies.

Falls from scaffolding are the most common types of fatal accidents, which occur at New York construction sites. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a number of scaffolding accidents occur because scaffolds are not constructed per manufacturer's guidelines or companies fail to install proper fall protection systems such as guardrails.

In this case, police say the driver was in violation of a federal transportation law, which allows 10 hours of driving within a 15-hour on-duty period after eight hours of off-duty time. The law also prohibits commercial truck drivers from driving after their 15th hour on duty in a workday or after 60 hours on-duty in seven consecutive days or 70 hours on-duty in eight consecutive days. In this particular case, the driver was also distracted by a movie he was allegedly watching on his laptop. He has been charged with second degree manslaughter in connection with this fatal auto accident.

A number of things can go wrong during or after a surgical procedure. During surgery, a surgeon may operate on the wrong body part or operate on the wrong site of the body. After surgery, the patient may suffer from or even die as the result of an infection caused by substandard post-operative care. Things can go wrong even in procedures that may be perceived as "simple" medical actions. If you have been injured because of a surgeon's error or doctor's negligence, you may be able to file a NY medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent party.

The original recall stemming from these problems was issued in November 2008 for 2001 and 2002 models of Accords and Civics as well as some 2002 model year Acura TL vehicles. Last summer Honda added 443,727 vehicles to that recall in the United States. Now, that total number of vehicles recalls is up to more than 826,000 in the United States. Last month, Honda announced a separate recall for 646,000 Fit, City and Jazz models over defective power window switches that pose a potential fire hazard. That auto product defect caused one death in South Africa.

This is the third beef recall just in the last three months over E. coli contamination. In November, ground beef from New York-based Fairbank Farms resulted in 26 illnesses, 19 hospitalizations and five who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a complication of E. coli infections, which could lead to kidney damage or even death. In December, Oklahoma-based National Steak and Poultry recalled about 124 tons of mechanically tenderized beef products. Those tainted beef products left 21 people sick in 16 states, including nine hospitalized and one case of HUS. In total, 776,000 pounds of E. coli-tainted beef have been recalled over these three months.

New York pedestrian accidents can result in devastating injuries for victims. Some of these accidents are caused by pedestrians who do not follow the rules of the road. However, very often, pedestrian accidents happen because drivers do not yield the right-of-way. This could happen because the motorist is driving under the influence, talking on a cell phone, texting, or simply not paying attention to his or her surroundings.

These serious construction accidents prompted a thorough review of the city's construction safety standards. The new regulations also gave the city's Building Department more teeth and expanded enforcement powers. The new standards require more extensive training for construction workers as well. City officials say their goal has been to change the culture of the construction industry and basically teach them to "put public safety ahead of profit."

• 2004-2010 Prius


• 2005-2010 Avalon


• 2005-2010 Tacoma


• 2007-2010 Tundra


• 2007-2010 Camry


• 2008-2010 Highlander


• 2008-2010 Sequoia


• 2009-2010 RAV4


• 2009-2010 Matrix


• 2009-2010 Venza


• 2009-2010 Corolla


• 2010 Lexus HS 250h

With this recent recall for Toyota defective brakes, 133,000 Prius vehicles and 14,550 Lexus HS 250h vehicles will be affected. Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) are utilized in motor vehicles to maintain tire traction while driving over rough or slick road conditions. However, the software responsible for controlling ABS has proven unreliable, and Toyota owners may find themselves experiencing inconsistent braking while operating the aforementioned affected vehicles. Inconsistent braking could potentially lead to loss of vehicle control, which could further result in a motor vehicle accident and serious injuries. More information regarding these recalls may be obtained at www.toyota.com/recall, or by calling the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.

The 34-year-old driver, described as an aspiring model, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence. Police also found the sleep aid, Ambien, in her car. She apparently also admitted to authorities that she took two Xanax, one Ambien and one Percocet less than one hour before the fatal car crash.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a crime. In New York State, the penalties include the loss of driving privileges, fines, and a possible jail term. It is a serious violation to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. It is also illegal to drive under the influence of prescription drugs or any type of intoxicant or hallucinogen that can impair your judgment while driving.

These Hyundai Azera models have a wiring harness for the right front seatbelt tension sensor that could become damaged after repeated use of the seatbelt. This could lead to the right front passenger airbag not deploying in the event of a car crash. This seatbelt and airbag defect could lead to catastrophic or fatal injuries to the front passenger. When the recall begins, Hyundai dealers will replace the wiring harness for the seatbelt tension sensor free of charge. If you own a Hyundai Azera involved in this recall, you should take your car to a dealer right away to check if your seatbelt tension sensor needs to be replaced.

More than 40 percent of traumatic brain injuries are caused by auto accidents, which is the most common cause of this type of injury. A traumatic brain injury in New York can result in changes to how a person processes information. Speech can become slurred. Thinking can be slowed down. Short-term memory can be completely lost in some cases. Judgment can become impaired. Almost always, brain-injured patients need extensive therapy, which dramatically increases the cost of treating this condition as well. And even so, the therapy only helps these injured victims cope with their brain injury. Brain damage is forever.

These incidents show nothing short of a complete breakdown in protocols and procedures at this Rhode Island hospital. The surgical team failed to mark the proper part where the surgery was to take place. The team also did not take the necessary "timeout" to make sure they were operating on the correct body part.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that between 2006 and 2009, 13 Toyota vehicles have been involved in fatal accidents stemming from gas pedal sticking. Due to statistics such as these and additional reports of serious accidents involving Toyota’s accelerator defects has resulted in Toyota recently recalling over 2.3 million vehicles, specifically the 2009-2010 RAV4, Corolla and Matrix models; the 2005-2010 Avalon; 2010 Highlander; 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia; and some 2007-2010 Camrys . This recall comes after an earlier recall that was announced in November 2009 of floor mats that Toyota had indicated were at risk of becoming lodged underneath gas pedals, causing them to accelerate uncontrollably.

The AP report says children can get persistent low-level doses by regularly sucking or biting jewelry with a high cadmium content. The news agency conducted lab tests on cadmium jewelry bought at stores including several in New York. The investigation showed that out of 103 pieces of costume jewelry, 12 contained at least 10 percent cadmium, which can cause brain damage and kidney failure in young children. A day after this report came out, Wal-Mart pulled several suspect items off its shelves. Cadmium exposure at high levels can even cause cancer, experts say.