(Image from ABC7NY.com)
MTA Accident Injures Several People
It seems like everyday we see terrible MTA bus accidents that involve serious life changing injuries. At least ten people were injured in New York City when an MTA bus smashed into an overpass as it jumped the curb. You can read the ABC New York, channel 7 story here.
Personal Injury Attorney in Mineola
Gravity and Construction Sites
The obvious thought that comes to mind when thinking about how gravity can play an important role in construction site injuries is a construction worker falling to the ground from an elevated position. An equally important and equally dangerous scenario arises when objects fall from an elevated position. The New York Courts have placed an emphasis in ensuring that adequate safety devices are employed when hoisting or lifting materials so that the materials remain secure and the danger to the workers below is decreased significantly. Rocovich v. Consolidated Edison Co., 78 N.Y.2d 509, 577 N.Y.S.2d 219 (1991).
In a perfect world, proper safety devices would always be used on construction sites. In the real world, however, construction companies are focused on maximizing profits. This means that timelines must be followed and deadlines must be met. Sometimes in all the haste, safety protocol and procedures are ignored. The New York Courts have taken an interesting perspective on the harm caused by falling objects on a job site. In Runner v. N.Y. Stock Exch., Inc., 13 N.Y.3d 599, 604, 895 N.Y.S.2d 279, 282 (2009), the Court of Appeals turns the focus of whether “..the harm flows directly from the application of the force of gravity to the object.” Under these guidelines, actually being struck by the object may not even be a prerequisite to a cause of action.
Labor Law Attorneys
If you or a loved one have been injured in a construction accident, please call The Law Firm of Vaughn & Weber, PLLC at (516) 858-2620 to speak with a Labor Law attorney today!
Motor Vehicle Accident Decision
In an important motor vehicle accident decision in January of 2014, the Appellate Division affirmed a summary judgment for the defendant in Lee v. D. Daniels Contr., Ltd., 2014 NY Slip Op 00487. This case centered around an interesting question, to wit, Does a parties conduct in furnishing the conditions for the accident also make that party a proximate cause of the accident? Based on this decision the answer is surprisingly, not necessarily. Causal relationships have everything to do with liability in personal injury cases. This case also shows us that it is important to keep up with current case law in order to evaluate the likelihood of success for a particular matter. Automobile accidents are very intricate and should be evaluated by an attorney.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Mineola
As always, if you were involved in an automobile accident and want to speak with an experienced attorney, call The Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620 today!
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