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 CategoriesWrongful DeathCar AccidentsConstruction AccidentsSlip and FallTruck AccidentsProducts LiabilityMedical MalpracticeInjured Workers LawGeneral

Car Accidents

• Long Island Dad Dies In Hit-And-Run Motorcycle Accident
  Dec 16, 2009

  Have you seen a damaged early-to-mid-90s Buick Century in the Nassau area in the last week? Police are searching for the perpetrator of a deadly hit-and-run accident in Long Island on Sunday, in which a local motorcycle rider was left for dead.
  
  New York Police say that 46-year-old John Deiker of Franklin Square was struck while riding northbound on Commonwealth Street near the intersection of Naple Avenue a few minutes before noon. While the driver of the car that struck him immediately fled the scene, Deiker was left in the middle of the intersection suffering from severe internal injuries. He died a short time after being found at Franklin General Hospital. Dieker, who was on his way home in order to attend the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show with his family and two children, was not wearing a helmet at the time of his accident. He was just yards away from his house at the time of the accident.
  
  Police have turned their efforts to finding the person who struck the motorcycle in Franklin Square, but only have some information, such as the make of the car, from witnesses. They are not willing to say that alcohol, speed, reckless driving, or weather was a factor in the deadly NYC motorcycle crash.
  
  Anyone who has information about this Long Island hit-and-run should immediately call the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. - 21 - 30

• Victims' family say wrong-way lawsuit focuses on DWI
  Dec 10, 2009

   The family of two victims from Diane Schuler's wrong-way crash on the Taconic State Parkway said their lawsuit filed today isn't about money or revenge but about awareness to drunk driving.

  "This holiday season, remember the Taconic tragedy," said Roseann Guzzo, who lost her father, Michael Bastardi Sr., and brother, Guy Bastardi, in the crash. "If you have to go to a party, don't drink and drive. Be aware. We're all brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. You can have a good time, but don't drink and drive — especially with children in the car."

  The Bastardis held a news conference outside the Westchester County Courthouse today to discuss the lawsuit.
  
  The lawsuit, available here, was filed in state Supreme Court against the estate of Diane Schuler and her brother, Warren Hance, who owned the minivan Schuler drove on July 26 before she killed herself, her 2-year-old daughter, three young nieces, the Bastardis and their friend, Daniel Longo, 74. Schuler's 5-year-old son, Bryan, survived.

  Schuler and her husband, Daniel, had spent the weekend at a Sullivan County campground and headed home to West Babylon, L.I., in separate vehicles.

  The Bastardis are seeking unspecified damages from both parties in the suit. Irving Anolik, the Bastardi family attorney, emphasized the suit isn't centered on money. He said the family was filing it to bring attention to the dangers of drunk driving.

  Guzzo said the family intends to create a foundation focusing on the dangers of drunk driving.

  Tom Ruskin, president of CMP Investigative Group and a spokesman for the Schuler family, declined to comment. Represenatives for the Hances could not be reached for comment.

  The Westchester Medical Examiner's Office found Schuler was drunk and high before she crashed. According to the lawsuit, the Bastardis allege Schuler's behavior "imperiled the lives and well-being of all lawful users of the highway" that day.

  The lawsuit also implies that Michael Sr. and Guy Bastardi didn't die instantly from the crash. Brian Sichol, the attorney filing the lawsuit for the Bastardis, said his firm's investigation into the matter found that first responders to the scene saw the two alive. The significance of this information, he said, indicates the two underwent suffering and pain before their deaths.

  - 22 - 30

• Two Hit-And-Run Accidents Shock Long Island, Kill Two Youths
  Nov 29, 2009

  Two New York pedestrian accidents rocked Smithtown this week - occuring just miles from each other. In the first Long Island hit-and-run case, 11-year-old Courtney Sipes was struck and killed by a car on Main Street in Smithtown just after dark as she and her mother crossed the street. The young girl, who was in fifth grade, was thrown dozens of feet from the car and landed under a parked car. Many in the area said that crosswalk where the accident took place is a dangerous one, with a short crossing time and poor lighting.
  
  The New York pedestrian accident victim was taken to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital where she was pronounced dead. NY investigators say that the car that hit the girl likely sustained hood damage and was either a white pickup or a white SUV.
  
  In a second fatal Long Island pedestrian accident, a 15-year-old boy was struck while riding his bike in Smithtown on Terry Road and Route 347. In this case, the person driving stopped the car. Witnesses and the driver, 25-year-old Alex Helkin say that there was a green light at the time of the accident and that the bike rider must not have seen that the light had changed. The young man was riding bikes with three other teenagers at the time of the NYC car accident.
  
  The Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner pronounced the bike accident victim, Nicolas Svercel, dead at the scene of the accident. Suffolk County Police are continuing the investigation. As of yet, no charges have been filed.
  - 23 - 30

• Off-Duty Cop Kills Woman In Alleged Brooklyn DUI Car Accident
  Oct 08, 2009

  After being involved in a NYC pedestrian accident that may have involved drinking and driving, a New York City cop has been suspended from duty for thirty days without pay.
  
  Last Sunday, 32-year-old Vionique Valnord was flagging down a taxi in Brooklyn following a wedding around one in the morning. Off-duty NYC police officer 30-year-old Andrew Kelly struck and killed the woman with his Jeep Cherokee. Those who responded to the scene said that the officer had slurred speech, red eyes, and smelled of alcohol, though Kelly refused a breathalizer test at the scene of the fatal Brooklyn car accident.
  
  Although a blood test seven hours later did not detect any alcohol in his system, Kelly has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. Michael Downs, another NYPD officer, was in the car at the time of the NYC accident but fled the scene. He is being suspended for not rendering aid.
  
  Kelly presented a note of condolence for the family of the dead woman in court, though it is not known if he will testify. The grand jury hearing will begin next week. A memorial for pedestrian accident victim Valnord will be held this week, with Mayor Bloomberg in attendance.
  
  An internal investigation is also taking place to see if any other NYPD officers tried to conceal that Kelly was drunk at the time of the fatal car accident.
  
  - 24 - 30

• After Son Killed On Niagara Thruway, Parents Wed At Funeral
  Sep 25, 2009

  Fatal New York car accidents can tear families apart and bring only sorrow and sadness. But in the case of one fatal car accident that took the life of a precocious 7-year-old boy, his death brought his two parents together.
  
  At the beginning of September, the young Asa Hill was killed in a terrible multi-vehicle accident on the Niagara Thruway. The boy suffered from a traumatic brain injury in the I-190 accident and was rushed by EMS to the Women's and Children's Hospital where he was put on life support. After discovering the boy was brain dead and donating his organs to others in need, his parents took their son off life support.
  
  According to eyewitnesses, a white utility vehicle plowed into a compact car, setting off a chain reaction of crashes on the New York highway. The compact car spun out of its lane, involving an SUV and another truck in the accident. When the compact carrying Asa burst into flames, a dozen bystanders helped rescue the boy until official help could arrive. Others were seriously injured in the Buffalo, NY, crash as well.
  
  At the boy's memorial service on Monday, his parents, Amilcar Hill and Rahwa Ghirmatzion, decided to grant their son's wish and marry at the end of the service. The couple, who were high school sweethearts, were brought together over the tragic death of their son.
  
  - 25 - 30

• Van Critically Injures Pedestrian In Queens NYC Hit-And-Run
  Aug 31, 2009

  A woman visiting her childhood neighborhood in Queens was killed on Saturday night when an out-of-control van hit a parked car, which in turn slammed into the pedestrian. The woman was in town to attend her 15 year high school reunion in Flushings, Queens.
  
  New York Police say that 34-year-old Paula Jimenez was rushed to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens with critical injuries following the NYC car accident, but she later died of her injuries at the hospital. She was an organ donor, and family members say that she will save other lives even after her death.
  
  "This is horrible," said 42-year-old Andrew Jimenez, Paula's loving husband and the father of her two children. "She was a great mom. I have to raise my kids by myself. I have no choice. She did everything for us."
  
  The van was driving on theVan Wyck Expressway when it skidded off the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park exit and hit a parked Toyota next to where Jimenez was talking on her cell phone, police and witnesses said.
  
  The driver of the Queens van, 49-year-old Jian Feng was charged last night with multiple counts, including assault and leaving the scene of an accident. Some say that at the time of the hit-and-run, Feng was fleeing the scene of another car accident in the New York City area. His charges may become serious after Jimenez died from her injuries in the hospital.
  
  - 26 - 30

• Young Girl Killed On NY Thruway After Ejection From Car
  Aug 31, 2009

  An accident on the New York Thruway claimed the life on an 11-year-old girl from Buffalo on Saturday, New York State Police reported.
  
  NY State Police Sergeant Nick Merritt told reporters that the little girl, MacKenzie Garrett was ejected from the rear passenger window of her father's car, which was carrying various members of her family, including her father, 44-year-old Ronald Garrett, 6-year-old Liam Garrett, 11-year-old Alexis Carey, and 38-year-old Jennifer Weyand.
  
  Police say that the driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the guardrail of the Thruway. Police are still investigating the accident, but say that in addition to the bad weather on the highway, unsafe speeds may have also played a role in the NY car accident. The car was driving westbound near the Whitestown-Marcy town line when the driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the median.
  
  One other car was involved in the crash - a vehicle driving behind Garrett was not able to avoid the accident that happened directly in front on it and crashed into the car. Kunkel Ambulance responded to the scene, though no one else involved suffered serious injuries.
  
  It is not clear whether or not the 11-year-old car accident victim was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
  
  The accident took place during a heavy rain storm and a heavy wind storm - adverse weather conditions that caused at least four other accidents on the NY Thruway on Saturday.
  
  - 27 - 30

• Man dies in car-dump truck crash on Brooklyn Bridge
  Aug 26, 2009

  NEW YORK (AP) - A man has been killed in a car accident on the Brooklyn bridge.

   

   

  New York City police say the victim was driving toward Manhattan when his car collided with a city Department of Transportation dump truck.

   

  The driver of the car was rushed to a hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

   

  Police say the truck was equipped with an arrow on top of its cab alerting drivers to work crews on the bridge.

   

  It wasn't immediately clear whether the truck was moving or parked during the crash.

   

  The accident, which happened late last night, remains under investigation.

   

   

  - 28 - 30

• Will Bloody Texting PSA Get The Message To Teens?
  Aug 26, 2009

  Be warned: the four-minute PSA is extremely graphic, showing not only the realistic bloody injuries of three pretty teenage girls, but also an unresponsive infant in a car seat and a preschooler asking her unconscious and bleeding parents to wake up.

  Mike Stout, director of the division of traffic safety for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said that he doesn't know if this kind of message would deter teens from texting behind the wheel -- and he wouldn't take the risk of trying to find out.

  "This is way too gory," Stout told ParentDish. "...sometimes you have to push the envelope, but if you put this on TV, you'd have no control over who your audience was. Younger kids could see it, and I know some teens that it wouldn't affect at all."

  As I watched the clip with my baby nearby, tears came to my eyes when the camera lingered on what appeared to be a dead infant in a car seat with a preschool-age sibling pleading for her parents in the front seat to "wake up."

  So the PSA gets right to the heart of parents to avoid the lure of a quick text. But would the teenager behind me do the same?

  - 29 - 30

• New York Times: Data Withheld About Distracted Driving And Car Accidents
  Jul 21, 2009

  We've all heard the rumors: talking on a cell phone while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. And in the past three years, a number of states have taken action and banned cell phone use or mobile texting either for all drivers or for teen drivers. However, this week two consumer advocacy groups have revealed that the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration muted a large-scale study that proved that cell phone use and texting while driving increased the number of car accidents, car accident injuries, and car accident fatalities.
  
  The research, which consists of hundreds of pages of research dating back to 2003, shows that drivers talking on a phone are four times as likely to cause a car accident as other drivers, and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content. Drivers using cell phones or Blackberries were at 1.3 times greater risk of a crash or near crash, and at three times the risk when dialing or texting compared with other drivers without mobile distractions. Even hands-free devices - like those used in California by all drivers - cause driver distraction, the study showed.
  
  According to the New York Times, some argued that the data was not released because it was incomplete, but others argued that the driver distraction information could have prevented car accidents and saved lives. Now that the driver distraction information is out, many believe it was suppressed for political reasons - and at the sacrifice of public safety.
  
  - 30 - 30