May 2013 Archives

Because of their affordability, size and excellent gas mileage, the popularity of motorcycles is on the rise in New York City. However, the trend does bring concerns. Beginner motorcyclists are much more likely to crash than experienced riders. Also, many NYC motorists fail to keep an eye out for motorcycles.

I read in the law journal today about a premises liability case that was recently dismissed. The plaintiff was a woman who tripped over a wheelchair as she was getting up from a slot machine at a casino. The wheelchair was pulled off to the side, with the wheels partly jutting out into the isle where the woman was seated. The wheel chair was not owned by the casino. The Court found that the casino wasn't liable because it didn't place the wheelchair there, or had any notice that it was there.

There is an artist in Denmark, Nicolai Howlat, who has recently published a series of works called "Car Crash Studies."  Mr. Howalt went to a police station and photographed cars damaged and destroyed in auto accidents.  The result is a series of pictures which are haunting and poignant in their depiction of the violence and power of auto accidents.

A fatal truck-pedestrian accident in Brooklyn is the third such incident in the past month or so according to Streetsblog and it's the sixth death involving a tractor trailer and a pedestrian since last summer.

Auto Accidents involvng teens texting while driving have killed more than 3,000 teens compared with 2,700 who die as a result of alcohol.  These shocking statistics involving distracted driving are based on a study recently released by Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park.  If you text or use your cellphone and are in an auto accident you stand the chance of being responsible for the death or serious injury of another person.  It may be a person in your car, another car or a pedestrian.  It could also result in criminal prosecution.  It just 'aint worth it.  Stay alert and drive responsibly.

A 25 year old man died in an elevator accident recently.  He died when trying to get out of a stuck elevator at Brooklyn's Navy Yard. The man got stuck when the power went out and his elevator was between floors. He tried to climb out, but fell 5 stories down the shaft.

Ever wonder what the numbers on the side of your car's tires mean.  Here is some interesting information.  There is a number imprinted after the initials DOT (US Dept of Transportation) the last four digits of the number tell you when the tire was manufactured.  For example, 2113 means the 21st week of 2013.  the word treadware suggests the projected milage that a tire will give you.  there is a three digit number after the word Treadware  to estimate the milage projected muktiply that number by 2 and add two zeros.  For example, 200 x 2 = 400 + 00 = 40,000 miles.

Many Construction Accidents can be prevented if property owners, contractors, subcontrators follow the law and provide protection for the men and women who work at these dangerous jobs.  The NYC Department of Buildings just completed a survey with the following statistics only 55% of the construction sites were in compliance with existing rules and regulations.  33% of the job sites were out of compliance and 12% of the sites were so far out of compliance that the work  site had to be closed down.  Construction workers who are injured on the job are losing income and their health unnecessarily.  People working at a height without protection or on inadequate scaffolding will suffer serious injuries including fractures and head injuries;  improperly secured equipment can cause permanent injuries to workers.