New York Accidents

That’s the question that the New York Law Blog asks. Recently a building maintenance worker fell 30 feet to his death after simply reaching for a light switch at the job site. What relatives are calling a “freak accident”, lawyer Jeffery Lichtman says these types of accidents could be avoided if the proper safety precautions are followed:

As shocking as a story like this may initially appear to be, the reality is that these kinds of "freak accidents" occur in our city quite frequently. The simple fact that this building maintenance worker was inside a loading dock area and was able to fall out while reaching for a light is indicative of improper safety regulations.

After two crane construction accidents that left workers dead in their wake, a new group has formed to work on safety reform for cranes and construction sites that use them. The New York City Construction Industry Safety Council will be made up of 17 members  consisting of contractors, as well as members of the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York and the Real Estate Board of New York. One of the first issues the newly formed group will tackle is constructing a database consisting of tower crane maintenance that contractors will be able to use before they commit to obtaining a particular piece of equipment.

"Development cannot take place at the expense of public safety, and it’s going to take the industry’s cooperation to make construction sites safer," acting building commissioner Robert Limandri said in a statement. "The formation of the NYC Construction Industry Safety Council is a step toward that end, and I look forward to real results that raise the safety standards on job sites.”

Hopefully the new system will allow contractors and work sites to operate in the safest manner possible as OSHA and other federal entities work to keep up with the ever changing technology on construction sites.

Whiplash is never fun or pleasant. If you think you asking “Have I experienced whiplash?”, perhaps the following list will help. Findlaw documents:

If you are involved in an automobile accident, your natural physiological responses and the “heat of the moment” may not allow you to relax. But over the course of the next few days after the accident, you might experience:

• tightness and stiffness in the neck

• serious neck pain (dull and aching, rather than sharp)

• dizziness

• head aches

• problems with balance and equilibrium

• back pain

• memory problems

• difficulty with concentration

If you are suffering from a whiplash injury, your attorney will most likely refer you to a medical specialist for treatment, rather than to a general physician. You may be referred to a back and neck expert, chiropractor, or neurologist.

Please consult a lawyer and a doctor for your health and welfare if you have further questions.

Findlaw points out:

Dangers Presented By Commercial Truck Drivers

Commercial truck drivers are skilled and patient drivers, for the most part. However, in addition to the dangers inherent in the size and weight of the trucks used in commercial transportation and shipping, a number of characteristics inherent in the business can contribute to traffic accidents. These include:

* Inadequate training as to driving technique, safety concerns, and defensive driving.

* Systems of compensation that encourage faster vehicle speeds and more hours of consecutive vehicle operation than would normally be advisable.

* Unrealistic schedules and expectations of trucking companies that encourage drivers to hurry, despite safety risks involved.

If you’re involved in a truck accident, remember to record everything on paper and seek legal representation as needed.

There’s an excellent auto accident checklist that was recently published. It includes how to prepare for an auto accident and the steps to take when you’re in an accident. The tips include:

1. Check for Injuries
2. If Minor Accident, Move Vehicles
3. Don’t Leave the Scene
4. Call the Police
5. Exchange Information with Other Driver(s)
6. Don’t Admit Fault or Discuss Incident with Other Drivers
7. Make a Record of the Accident Details
8. Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
9. Contact Insurance Agent
10. Obtain Police Report
11. Contact an Auto Accident Attorney

You can read the full article here: What to Do After A Car Accident — An Automobile Accident Checklist

When you are involved in a car accident in New York, there is a strong tendency to panic. After all, an auto accident is certainly frightening. This is why it is important to have a checklist regarding what should be done in order to ensure that all of the formalities are handled properly.

Remain Calm

Always make sure that you are calm enough to assist passengers and others involved in the auto accident. In the event that anyone is injured, call an ambulance. If you have flares in your vehicle, go ahead and set them up.

Exchange Documents

Exchange necessary information including registration, license and your motor vehicle identification card details.

Driver Information

In addition, make sure you provide such information as your driver license number, name, address, gender, date of birth and state of license.

Injuries

Make sure you obtain all information regarding any personal injuries that were sustained as a result of the auto accident. Detail information regarding the names of the people who were injured as well as their gender, date of birth and specific details regarding the extent of the injury.

Witness Information

It is also important to make sure that you write down information regarding anyone who may have witnessed the auto accident. Include their names and phone numbers. Be sure to keep in mind; however, that anyone who was actually involved in the accident is not a witness.

Damages

You should also take down information regarding the body type, make, license number and year of all vehicles involved in the accident. In addition, write down as much detail as you can regarding damages that were sustained to all vehicle or vehicles.

In many cases, it can help to draw a diagram of the accident. Keep in mind that it can be difficult to recall the exact details of an auto accident after the fact. This is why it is important to write down such details at the time of the accident and any other pertinent details such as landmarks, street numbers and intersections.

After you have been involved in an auto accident New York City, you may find yourself wondering what you should do next. Ensuring that you take all of the correct steps at the scene of the accident will ensure that your rights are protected later on down the road.

Never simply drive away from an accident. Even if the accident appears to be minor, it is important that you wait for a police officer to arrive and write-up an official report.

Make sure you take the time to exchange information with the other driver. This information should include telephone numbers, full legal names and their New York City driver’s license number. In addition, you should make sure you obtain the names and contact information of witnesses as well.

As soon as possible, make sure that you notify your insurance company. Even if you think that it will not be necessary to file a claim, you should still notify your insurance company. In the event that you believe that the accident occurred due to the fault of the other driver, you should also contact their insurance company and consider contacting a New York City attorney that specializes in auto accidents. Do not rely on them to do it. If there should be some dispute regarding which driver was actually at fault, then go ahead and file the necessary claim with your own insurance company. Rest assured, the matter will be settled between the two insurance companies.

If you discover that your vehicle will require a lot of repair, do make sure that you go ahead and request a rental vehicle while your vehicle is being repaired. The rental car you request should be similar to your own vehicle. Make sure that you keep extensive documentation regarding this.

Always make sure that you do not release the insurance company or the body shop of final responsibility until you are certain you are comfortable with the work that has been completed to repair your vehicle. Make sure you drive your vehicle to ensure that it operates properly before you provide final release of responsibility. To make certain of this, you may even wish to hire an independent mechanic to evaluate the repairs that were performed.