New York Personal Injury News & NYC Legal Current Events

Unfortunately, accidents and injuries happen every day in New York City and the surrounding area. Keep up to date with the latest news and information regarding accidents, injuries, and injury lawsuits in New York by reading our regularly updated NYC legal news items.

News Category: All CategoriesCar AccidentsConstruction AccidentsSlip and FallTruck AccidentsOn the Job AccidentsWrongful DeathNursing Home NegligenceMedical MalpracticeProducts LiabilityConsumer FraudGeneral

Car Accidents

• Will Smart Car WIFI Systems Make Drivers Safer in 2013?
  Feb 03, 2012

  Car technology continues to advance with each new car released to the market.  We currently have intelligent dashboards that tell drivers when to put air in their tires, when the oil needs to be changed, and how many miles remain before they will be stranded on the side of the road without gas.  Multiple GPS products exist that will give you turn-by-turn directions, by speaking your next moves.  Will a new car WIFI system in 2013 give cars the ability to speak to each other and prevent car accidents?
  A 40 Million Dollar Federal Investment
  More than 40 million dollars has been invested into technology that uses WIFI to detect the potential for a car accident.  Ford Motor Company conducted a demonstration of the crash warning system in a Washington DC Parking lot for federal officials, who agreed to provide another 36 million toward additional development of the technology.
  Smart Car WIFI technology will alert the driver to potential crash hazards up to 900 feet away in all directions – in front, back, and to the sides of the car.  The technology uses WIFI signals that go out in all directions to get the car’s location, brake status and speed.
  Concerns involving congested FCC-allocated channels for the WIFI Signals need to be worked out before the Smart Car system can get the official go ahead for car installation.  Then there is a potential concern of hackers interfering with the system and general privacy concerns.  There will need to be a universal standard across all car makers to make this type of technology work, and would cost manufacturers about $100 per vehicle to install.
  It is believed that the Smart Car WIFI technology will be standard on all vehicles beginning in 2013.
  

• Car Accident Attorney Discusses Wrong-Way and Reckless Driving Felony Charges in New York
  Feb 02, 2012

  The New York State Senate passed legislation that will charge drivers traveling the wrong-way or driving recklessly with felony driving charges.  Aggravated Reckless driving, under Senate Bill 3452, will now result in class E felony charges against drivers who are traveling a speed greater than 30mph over the speed limit when intoxicated or while weaving in and out of traffic; and for drivers traveling against the flow of traffic in the wrong lane whether intoxicated or not.  The felony will be punishable with a prison sentence up to four years.
  The current law for reckless driving in NY is labeled an unclassified misdemeanor with a maximum of 30 days in prison.  Reckless driving will be increased to a class A misdemeanor under this new legislation, and a prison sentence up to a year.
  Reason for New Legislation
  All over the country, wrong-way drivers cause deadly accidents either from driving while intoxicated, or due to having a death wish and literally looking for a head on collision.  Wrong-way drivers may cause accidents at night, when it’s hard to tell the oncoming headlights are in your lane and headed right toward you; or during the day when drivers are simply not expecting to see the car coming at them.
  Drivers going the wrong-way have caused many deadly accidents in the state of NY, including Westchester County and New Rochelle.  A police officer was killed by a drunk driver traveling the wrong way on Northern State Parkway in 2010.
  

• Men Die in Snowmobile Accidents
  Jan 26, 2012

  Two separate snowmobile accidents took the lives of two men in Lewis County over the weekend. 
  Father of four, Edward Kohles was riding his 2011 Polaris vehicle south on trail #C4A in the town of West Turin, when he lost his life.  Riding recreational vehicles is common on the trails in this small town located about 40 miles north of Utica, NY. 
  It appears that Kohles lost control of his snowmobile and was thrown from the vehicle, where upon he was struck by another snowmobile rider.  The other driver was coming in the opposite direction of Kohles.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Details about this accident are under investigation.  Funeral services for Mr. Kohles were on Friday, January 27^th.
  Just 14 hours later in a completely unrelated accident, another man lost his life while riding his Polaris snowmobile, a 2009 Dragon model.  This young man was riding with friends at about 2:30 am on Sunday when he lost control of the vehicle. 
  Reports say that this rider went off track while trying to navigate a curve.  Heading toward the crest of a hill the rider was thrown from his vehicle and struck a tree.  Emergency personnel responding to the scene pronounced the man dead.  Investigators will be looking into this accident to determine the cause of such an early morning tragedy.
  Snowmobile accidents are similar to car accidents or motorcycle accidents due to the speed in which drivers can race across slippery surfaces.  Riders should exercise extreme caution when driving these recreational vehicles.
  

• Car Accident Attorney Reports: Drugged Driving Arrests Skyrocket
  Jan 24, 2012

  While it's still much more common for drunk driving arrests, police in the greater NYC area are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of arrests of people who are high on drugs.  Driving while ability impaired by drugs carries the same penalties as driving under the influence of alcohol.  Usually it is classified as a misdemeanor unless the offender has a prior conviction for the same crime.
  
  In 2008 there were 352 arrests for either driving under the influence of drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties.  This is a huge rise over what was seen 10 years ago.  The type of person being arrested for drugged driving is a combination of those using illegal street drugs, illegally obtained prescription drugs, and those not using prescription drugs properly.  Many prescription drugs carry warnings about operating a motor vehicle while using that medication.  These drugs can impair driving abilities.
  
  Police attest the increase in arrests partly to officers being trained to be more aware of the signs of drugged driving.  There are 250 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE's) in the state of NY.  These specialized officers complete over 200 hours of training in recognizing signs and behaviors of those driving under the influence of drugs.  These officers can test vital signs and blood pressure among other things once a suspect has been arrested.  Most other officers complete a 16 hour training course to help them identify the basics of drugged driving behavior.
  

• Connecticut Teen Comes Out of Coma After New Year’s Day Car Accident
  Jan 19, 2012

   The passenger of the 17 year old teen who died in the car accident on Interstate 287 on New Year’s Day has been in a coma since being taken to Westchester Medical Center.  Celia Sprouse, a 16 year old car accident victim, has begun responding to commands, like moving arms and legs and opening her eyes.  Her father reports that the doctors are optimistic with Celia’s progress, but that it will be a long road to full recovery.
  
  During Celia’s weeks at Westchester Medical Center’s intensive care unit, more than 200 friends and strangers have joined a Facebook page encouraging the teen to get well. Celia’s mother responds and interacts with the well-wishers regularly, and even posts messages to her daughter.
  
  The driver of the BMW, Maggie Radford, was killed.  She had been driving Celia home after they spent the holidays together.  Radford’s BMW drove off a highway ramp and into a tree.  Police continue to investigate the car accident.
  
  

• Car Accident Attorney Reports: Award-Winning Newsman Killed in Car Crash
  Jan 17, 2012

  A veteran and award-winning correspondent was killed in a morning car accident on Friday, January 13^th, when he collided with a propane tanker.    Richard Threlkeld was 74 years old, and taken to Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Earl Fryberger Jr., the driver of the propane tanker, was not injured in the accident.   The East Hampton New York Police Department are investigating the cause of the accident.
  Richard Threlkeld worked at both CBS News and ABC News for over 27 years.  For 25 years he was a reporter, bureau chief and anchor for CBS News, and covered Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Persian Gulf War, The Vietnam War and the Patty Hearst kidnapping and trial.  At CBS, he reported on Sunday mornings in 1979; worked with Lesley Stahl from 1977 to 1979 as co-anchor of The CBS Morning News, and alongside Dan Rather for the CBS Evening News. Threlkeld moved to ABC News in 1981, where he reported for “World News Tonight”.  In 1989, he returned to CBS News, where his final assignment was as a Moscow correspondent.  He wrote a book based on his experience with the assignment, published in 2001: “Dispatches from the Former Evil Empire”.  He last appeared on CBS in 2004 for the 25^th anniversary of CBS.
  Richard Threlkeld won an Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University award and several Emmy and Overseas Press Club Awards.  His fatal New York car accident was survived by his wife of 28 years, Betsy Aaron, two children, two grandchildren, and a brother.
  

• Boy Struck by Mom’s SUV Reportedly Doing Better
  Jan 10, 2012

  Last Thursday, a six year old boy was injured when his mother hit him in their Armonk driveway with her SUV.  The car accident was just that – an accident – as the child ran in front of the car when his mother’s view was blocked.  The mother called for help.
  
   No charges or car accident attorney is required for this accident.   Armonk Ambulance arrived and rushed the child to Westchester Medical Center, deciding not to wait for a helicopter because the child’s injuries were so severe.  The ambulance received a police escort to the hospital, where he is currently reported to be doing better and with non-life threatening injuries.
  
  Children and the elderly are most at risk for back over car accidents, as they can easily be hidden by a car’s blind spot.
  

• Cohoes High School Bus Accident With Minor Injuries
  Jan 09, 2012

  On Thursday, January 5^th, around 10:45am - a Cohoes High school bus was involved in an accident with an SUV on Albany Shaker Road across from the Economy E-lot parking for Albany International Airport. Three students had minor injuries and the bus driver was taken to the Albany Medical Center hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
  The accident occurred when a 2006 Honda CRV crossed over into the other lane, and struck the bus driven by Melissa Banaszewski of Clifton Park.  Thirteen high school students were on the bus traveling from their BOCES Career & Tech program back to Cohoes High School. 
  Steven P. Amowitz was driving the Honda, which rolled over on the side of the road after the accident.  It appears he may have  lost consciousness before the accident, and could have a medical problem.  He was not injured in the car accident and relatives took him to a hospital afterward for evaluation.  The bus monitor said there was no way for Banasczewski to have avoided the accident.
  All students involved in the accident were evaluated by EMTs at the scene, and then again by the school nurse once they arrived at school.  None of the students required hospitalization.
  

• Car Accident Attorney Reports: 17 Year Old Teenager Killed on Interstate 287
  Jan 05, 2012

  On Sunday, January 1^st, 17 year old Margaret Radford was pronounced dead at the scene after crashing into a tree on the ramp to northbound Interstate 95 around 9pm. Her passenger, Celia Sprouse of Stamford, CT was taken to the hospital with serious head trauma but listed as critical but stable condition by morning.
  Radford was driving a 1999, 328i BMW convertible registered in her father's name. It is believed that speed has been a factor in the crash. The car spun out of control and turned several times before hitting a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. Firefighters had to use an extricating device to remove the girls from the car. The crash is being investigated and police hope witnesses will come forward to provide additional details, by calling 914-769-2600.
  Radford was homeschooled, although attended Croton Harmon High school during her junior year, where she was known for her sense of humor and exceptional writing skills. Grief counselors will be on hand at the high school to assist students in dealing with this tragedy.
  

• NY Move Over Law Adds Tow Trucks and Maintenance Vehicles to List
  Jan 03, 2012

  The Ambrose-Searles Move Over law in NY from 2010 always required drivers to change lanes or slow down when police cars and firetrucks were on the side of the road with flashing lights. Changes to the law now adds tow trucks and all maintenance vehicles on the side of the road with flashing lights to the list of vehicles you must move over for, or at least slow down when passing. It's a common sense move, to help prevent accidents involving people who stop to help disabled vehicles or injured individuals on the side of busy roadways like the New York State Thruway, but now that it's a law, it's hoped that people will be more mindful and actually remember to slow down or change lanes.
  For drivers who violate the Move Over Law, they will pay fines up to $275. Through December 27^th, New York State Police issued 2,375 tickets for violating the Move Over Law, with additional tickets issued by county, town and city police forces. Many people still are not aware of the law, and police officers are holding conferences in an effort to educate drivers about the Move Over Law.