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Whether in New York City or elsewhere, the consequences of suffering a major brain injury can be catastrophic. A person’s mood and personality may be affected. They may have difficulty performing basic tasks. There are times when people even die as a result of a traumatic brain injury. One family in particular knows just how devastating a head injury can be after a football accident left their son confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. The young man was a senior in high school when the accident happened. According to an assistant student trainer, he complained to the school’s trainer about having headaches. He even asked his coach to sit out during part of a game because his head was hurting. However, his coach ignored the warning signs and forced the young man to play. After the first half of the football game, the young man collapsed on the sidelines. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors removed a portion of his skull. However, the bleeding in his brain left him with serious damage. The young man’s family filed a lawsuit against the school district and recently was awarded $4.4 million. Brain injuries have been receiving more attention in recent months. Since August, 20 lawsuits have been brought against the NFL by players who say they suffered head injuries that continue to affect them. Brain injuries are very serious. In many cases, a person will require long-term care after they have suffered a traumatic brain injury. However, as evidenced by this most recent lawsuit, victims may be entitled to compensation if the brain injury was the result of someone else’s negligence. Source: MSNBC, “ San Diego-area school district to pay $4.4 million for football head injury,” Mar. 10, 2012 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

There are many cars that travel on the streets of New York City, but many pedestrians also use those streets to get around the city. Although one would expect the streets to be safe for pedestrians, a newly released study has found that certain areas are particularly dangerous. Earlier this month, a 12-year-old girl was hit and killed by a minivan in lower Manhattan. According to reports, the car accident occurred as she was trying to cross nine lanes of traffic on Delancy Street. She was brought to a local hospital after the accident, but later succumbed to her injuries. The tragic accident serves as a reminder just how dangerous the streets of New York City can be, especially for children. A study by the Transportation Alternatives group found that the streets of New York City are particularly dangerous for children living in low-income communities. According to the study, a pedestrian accident in East Harlem is three times more likely to involve a child than in the Upper East Side. The intersection at East 125th Street and Lexington appears to be one of the deadliest areas in Manhattan. One city council member says that immediate action is needed. She suggests officials crack down on unsafe driving habits, as well as develop better traffic patterns in areas that are more dangerous than others. An official with Transportation Alternatives went so far as to say that the New York City Police Department must do what they can to protect young children by holding drivers who are reckless and dangerous accountable for their actions. Source: CBSNewYork, “ Report: Children In Low-Income Areas More Likely To Be Struck By Cars,” Jan. 19, 2012 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

One New York City woman went to work last week expecting to arrive back home safely, but a freak elevator accident claimed her life. The incident occurred on Dec. 14 around 10 a.m. when the 41-year-old woman was on her way work. She arrived at her office building along Madison Avenue, but as she attempted to get into the elevator, the doors closed on her and the elevator shot upwards. Her body then became trapped between the elevator and the shaft wall. Two other people were on the elevator at the time. Although they were not hurt, they are being treated for trauma. The victim worked at Young & Rubicam, a New York City advertising agency. It is not clear what caused the accident. Reports indicate that the elevator was last inspected in June. City records show that the building had 56 violations since 2001. The building’s 13 elevators were among some of the violations. All of the violations, however, were resolved. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 10,000 people are injured in elevator accidents each year, and about 27 people are killed. Recently, another woman was killed in California as she tried to get out of an elevator that was stuck between floors. The elevator began to descend as she was trying to get out, but she was similarly trapped between the elevator and the shaft. Although the exact reason for the elevator malfunction in the New York City incident is not known, the family of the victim may be able to collect compensation for their tragic loss. The building owner or the company in charge of maintaining the elevator may be held responsible. Source: ABC News, “ Woman Crushed in New York Elevator Accident,” Richard Esposito and Christina Ng, Dec. 14, 2011 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

Car accidents are common in New York City and elsewhere, but most people don’t worry about them when they are safely resting in a hotel room. Unfortunately, one New York City disc jockey is fighting for his life after a bizarre car accident in which he was run over by a cab in his hotel room. Recently, the DJ traveled to Portland, Oregon for a show and was staying in a Juniper Hotel room. According to reports, police were called to the scene around 11 a.m. When authorities arrived they found that the cab had driven through the hotel room that the DJ was staying in. The DJ was lying underneath the front of the cab on the bed in the hotel room. One firefighter on the scene said the man was covered in blood. According to the news source, the cab driver may have lost control of the vehicle after suffering a diabetic medical emergency. Family, friends and fans of the DJ are likely hoping for a full recovery. One magazine called the DJ a visionary and credited him with changing the New York City night scene. It is not entirely clear how the accident happened. If investigators discover that negligence on the part of the cab driver caused the accident, the DJ may be able to seek compensation for his injuries. Although car accidents happen every day, they are nevertheless frightening for those involved. In some cases, individuals will require surgery and may be unable to work. Those individuals would likely benefit from working with an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight for the necessary compensation. Source: Huffington Post, “ DJ Jonathan Toubin In Critical Condition After Freak Cab Accident,” Dec. 9, 2011 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

A tragic car accident on the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York City led to the death of a 21-year-old woman and inflicted life-threatening injuries on her 19-year-old brother. In late October, the two were driving in the early morning hours when the roads were slippery. Following a small wreck, the two got out of their car to inspect damages to another vehicle. They were then struck by an on-coming vehicle and fell off a 75-foot overpass landing in a sand pile. The 21-year-old woman was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center where she later died. The 19-year-old man suffered a punctured lung, damaged liver and broken ribs. The young man had been in a coma since the crash, but awakened in early November. The family says they haven’t told him of his sister’s tragic death. The young man is an amateur boxer. He narrowly missed qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and was about to begin boxing professionally. His coach says he is hopeful that the young man will one day return to boxing. Although it is unclear if another person’s negligence caused the fatal accident, the family may be entitled to compensation. Those in New York and elsewhere in a similar situation may benefit from a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. The attorney may be able to help assess liability and pursue claims against any negligent parties. Although no amount of money will make up for the tragic loss of life, the family may be comforted in knowing they may have some recourse. Source: NY Daily News, “ Golden Gloves champ awakens from coma,” Kerry Wills and Joe Kemp, Nov. 7, 2011 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

On September 27, a 4-year-old girl in pre-kindergarten at a Staten Island public school lost a part of two fingers when she tried to go to the bathroom. Premises liability is an area of the law focusing on structural defect accidents, slip and fall injury as well as other forms of negligence by a landowner or other person or entity in possession of certain real property. In this instance, the accident occurred when the little girl tried to enter a unisex bathroom in her classroom. A boy was exiting as the girl entered, and her fingers got stuck in the door jamb, and part of her index finger as well as a smaller portion of her middle finger were severed in the accident. It earned her an ambulance trip with a police escort to New York County’s Bellevue Hospital. The school nurse tended to the 4-year-old while EMS and her parents were notified. The mother apparently arrived at the school shortly thereafter, was comforted and was presumably rushed to the hospital by authorities. No further word on the child’s condition was available. For a parent there is not much worse than receiving a telephone call from someone else to tell them their child has been seriously injured. The first thoughts, of course, are for the full recovery of the girl. Understandably, the parents will want to know exactly what happened. Negligence issues may exist concerning lack of proper supervision and care as well as unsafe conditions causing or contributing to a structural defect accident involving the operation of the bathroom door. While authorities will likely conduct their own investigation, the parents would be wise to consult an attorney in or near New York County who is devoted to handling personal injury claims and litigation arising out of premises liability. Source: The Silive.com, “ 4-year-old loses part of finger in accident at Staten Island’s PS 11,” Jillian Jorgensen, Sept. 27, 2011 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.

Buses transport high quantities of people each and every day. As a result, bus drivers have a responsibility to enlist measurable safety standards in order to protect passengers. Should a bus accident occur, and a pedestrian be involved, the incident has the potential to create devastating consequences. A woman in New York City has won her case against the MTA, after a horrific bus accident left her seriously injured. The 59-year-old woman from Queens was hit by a bus while in Long Island City over two years ago. She received severe injuries as a result of the collision. The woman was left blind in one eye, and also suffered the loss of an arm and a leg. Court records state that the woman testified that she was using a crosswalk at the time of the accident, and had waited for the ‘walk’ signal before heading out into the road. She was awarded a $20 million settlement by a jury in New York City, in part to cover her medical costs. Lawyers for the MTA claimed that the bus was already in the crosswalk area when the woman walked out in front of it. The MTA have said that they intend to appeal the decision. People who are injured in bus accidents may find it difficult to cope afterward, because the injuries they may sustain from such a forceful impact are most often catastrophic. Injuries like these can result in costly medical bills, and lost wages while during recovery. A personal injury attorney may be able to guide victims through the compensation process, and help them to obtain justice in the wake of senselessness. Source: The Times Union, “MTA found liable for NYC bus accident,” Aug. 19, 2011 Robert Wolff Robert H. Wolff is a member and partner of the prestigious New York City Personal Injury Law Firm of Rosenberg Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff, LLP. Mr. Wolff graduated from SUNY Albany, cum laude, in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology and American History. Thereafter, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and the Criminal Law Society, graduating in 1981 with a Juris Doctor’s degree.