New York Injury Lawyer Blog

One person was killed and six others injured in a New York City taxi cab accident on Tuesday when a cab slammed into a bus shelter, CNN reported.

The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. in the Bronx when the limousine-style livery cab veered off the road while trying to avoid a van making an illegal u-turn. The cab jumped the curb and crashed through a metal-and-glass bus shelter in the borough's Kingsbridge section. At least six people were in the shelter at the time, waiting for the BX 9 Metropolitan Transit Authority Bus. Several people were pinned beneath the taxi and other debris, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Police report the blue Lincoln taxi was eastbound on West Kingsbridge when the driver of a van began making a U-turn in front of the taxi. In swerving to miss the van, the taxi apparently lost control and crashed through the shelter. At least seven people were taken to the hospital, including an elderly man who died en route to St. Barnabas.

Police report a woman lost her foot and a man was hospitalized in critical condition with a punctured lung. A 14-year-old girl also remained hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver of the van was issued a traffic citation and the investigation continues.

The presence of multiple victims and competing claims could complicate this case. A New York City injury lawyer will also have to determine who is responsible for the accident and the injuries. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit could be filed against the owner and driver of the van and/or the taxi cab company.

Continue reading "New York City taxi cab accident kills one, injures six after crashing into Bronx bus stop" »

A former cab driver pleaded guilty on Monday to criminally negligent homicide and other charges in connection with a New York City taxi cab accident that claimed the life of a passenger.

The 20-year-old Pace University student was killed in the accident after being thrown from the cab. In pleading to the charges, the driver told the court he had stopped taking his medication and had a seizure shortly before the accident, the New York Times reported.

He will be sentenced on April 16 but made the plea as part of a deal that is expected to keep him out of jail.

Prosecutors have recommended that he receive five years probation for the accident, which happened in June 2006. His trial had been scheduled to start on Monday; his defense had been set to argue that the accident was the result of a mechanical failure.

The victim had been riding in the taxi with three other young women. All three were seriously injured. In connection with those injuries, the 25-year-old cab driver pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree assault. He also entered guilty pleas to two counts of filing false records for withholding his seizure condition on applications for his cab license.

Civil lawsuits in the case have been settled but terms have not been made public.

Authorities said the accident occurred when the cab driver was speeding down West Street, jumped the median, and slammed into a building near Houston Street. The student who was killed was ejected from the cab and struck by another taxi.

Continue reading "Fatal New York City taxi cab accident leads to criminal charges " »

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" »

City officials are moving forward with a plan to keep Broadway permanently closed to traffic in Herald Square and Times Square. The announcement will leave in place the pedestrian plazas created last year to improve traffic flow and reduce New York City pedestrian accidents and other traffic accidents.

"After an exhaustive review that showed positive results in all aspects, and overwhelming improvement in many areas, we've decided to make this groundbreaking pilot project permanent," said Mayor Bloomberg.

While the eight-month closure had caused headaches for some drivers, the closure has received positive reviews from tourists and pedestrians, the New York Post reported.

The city's Department of Transportation reported "greatly enhanced safety" and a reduction in the risk of car accidents at two of the city's most accident-prone intersections. However, an increased risk of New York City taxi cab accidents is possible, after the city found taxi speeds have increased 7 percent in Midtown since the closures.

GPS data from 1.1 million taxi cab trips found a 7 percent increase in overall speeds, including a 17 percent increase in northbound travel speeds.

But safety at Times Square and Herald Square improved dramatically, according to city figures. The closures resulted in a 63 percent reduction in New York City car accidents at both locations and a 35 percent reduction in pedestrian injuries.

A survey found that three-quarters of New Yorkers favored making the closures permanent, while about 7 in 10 retail managers also favored the move.

"Surveys indicate clear support among New Yorkers and local businesses for the project, and the increased foot traffic has been good for business," Bloomberg said. "The bottom line is overall traffic in Midtown has improved and New Yorkers and city businesses are benefiting from a Times and Herald Square that are safer, more exciting destinations."

Continue reading "Square closures reduce New York City pedestrian accidents, car accidents" »

Two taxi cabs collided in the East Village Sunday night, sending scaffolding crashing into the street and injuring at least six people.

The New York City scaffolding accident occurred after the colliding cabs jumped a curb on Broadway and East 8th Street shortly before 8 p.m., according to the New York Post.

Both vehicles were left buried in debris in front of a Gap store -- click here for pictures of the New York City taxi cab accident.

Witnesses reported the cabs were either racing or attempting to overtake one another when they lost control. Two people were seriously injured. All six victims in both cabs were transported th St. Vincent's Hospital for treatment.

"The backside of one cab hit the pole," witness Mark Seran, 47, told The Post. "Then they spun and the scaffolding collapsed."

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the New York taxi cab accident lawyers and the scaffolding injury attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool offer free appointments to discuss your rights. Call 212-406-1700.

The New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission is moving forward with a proposal for new rules aimed at preventing cab drivers from using cell phones.

The New York City taxi cab accident lawyers and the New York personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool applaud efforts aimed at making the city's 100,000 taxi cab drivers operate as safely as possible.

The proposed new rules follow an Aug. 13 incident in which a taxi driver, allegedly talking on a cell phone, struck and killed a 3-year-old boy in Harlem, according to the Daily News.

A study by The New York Times found that 1 in 5 New York City car accidents involves a taxi cab -- or more than 13,000 accidents a year. Studies continue to show that using a cell phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving impaired.

The Wall Street Journal reports the commission is aiming to strengthen the penalty for violating it's decade-old rule against cab drivers using cell phones -- the rule also prohibits the use of hands-free headsets.

"The time has come to put an end to cellphone abuse once and for all," said TLC commissioner and chairman Matthew Daus in a statement. "New technology-including stealthy hands-free devices-has made it difficult to enforce our current laws, and the use of cellphones by drivers has become all too prevalent."

The Times reported 232 summonses have been issued for cell phone use in yellow cabs during the first six months of the year -- or one ticket for every 517,241 cab rides.

The TLC's current penalty includes a $200 fine and a two-point penalty on their license. The new proposal would increase the fine (the amount has yet to be announced) and a second offense would result in a 30-day license suspension.

A three-strikes rule is also being debated, which would revoke the license of a taxi cab driver charged with three offenses in a 15-month period.

The commission is expected to hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed changes, which would take effect before the end of the year.

A New York Daily News editorial slammed the proposed rules as being "too severe." But some readers supported the increased enforcement, claiming taxi drivers are a "menace" to pedestrians and other drivers with their aggressive driving, horn-honking, tailgating, distracted driving and use of cell phones.

TLC Commissioner Daus noted customers pay a premium for taxi service and deserve safe transport.

"Service must include a 100% focus on safety and the passenger's needs by ensuring that all drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands upon the wheel," he said.

New York City taxi cab drivers have an obligation to ensure the safety of passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians and other motorists. If you have been injured in a New York City taxi accident, call Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool for a free appointment to discuss your rights. Call 212-406-1700.