New York Injury Lawyer Blog

More than 1,500 people died accidental deaths in New York City during 2008, according to the Summary of Vital Statistics, recently released by New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and reported by The New York Times.

Infant deaths: New York City's infant mortality rate was 5.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births -- down 20 percent from the 6,9 per 1,000 births recorded in 1999.

Surgical or medical error: 59 deaths were reported as a result of complications of surgical or medical care.

Work accidents: 90 people died as a result of occupational injuries, including:
- 10 in transportation accidents
- 26 as a result of violence in the workplace
- 29 in falls
- 31 work fatalities were attributed to construction accidents
- 3 fatal taxicab accidents
-2 deaths involving police or fire protection

A total of 1,651 deaths were classified as accidents and included:
- 299 deaths involving traffic accidents
- 171 pedestrian deaths
- 23 deaths involving bicyclists
- 14 deaths involving railway or subway accidents
- 388 deaths involving fatal falls
- 8 drowning deaths

Subtitled "The Conquest of Pestilence in New York City," the reported noted accidental deaths have declined by 8.8 percent in the last decade. But the rate of accidental deaths has not declined nearly as fast as other deaths, including homicide, which declined 17.5 percent during the same period.

Continue reading "More than 1,500 accidental deaths recorded in New York City during 2008" »

A dozen New York City firefighters were injured in a municipal work injury incident over the weekend when two trucks rushing to a gas leak collided at a Brooklyn intersection.

Witnesses described a horrific collision between Ladder Company No. 107 and Engine Company No. 236, according to Newsday, which reported the driver of one of the fire engines was trapped in the overturned truck as a result of the Saturday morning incident.

The 9:43 a.m. accident at the corner of Ashford Street and Hegeman Avenue in the East New York Neighborhood caused the ladder truck to flip onto its side and slide into a tree, trapping the driver for two hours as dozens of emergency personnel worked to free him. The engine rolled over a curb and onto a front lawn.

A witness reported the engine was headed west on Hegeman Avenue when it hit the rear of the ladder truck, which was northbound on Ashford.

All 12 firefighters on the two trucks required medical attention. Four were seriously hurt, and eight had less serious injuries, according to an FDNY spokesman.

The driver of the ladder truck remained trapped until noon and a 27-year veteran of the department suffered a possible broken leg, according to fire officials. Both were taken to
Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in serious condition.

A fire department spokesman said both trucks were responding with lights and sirens to a gas leak on Warwick Street, one block west of the crash site. The stations are located about a mile from each other and within a mile and a half of the crash site.

The New York City work injury lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool have spent decades fighting for the rights of injured New York City fireman, police officers, sanitation workers and other injured New York City employees. If you have been injured on the job in New York City, call 212-406-1700 for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.