Bronx Personal Injury & Real Estate Blog

How many times have you heard a real estate agent say that you better buy now because such and such area is going to be the next Brooklyn? It happens so frequently that it has become cliché. I always used to laugh when I heard agents spouting such nonsense about my home borough, the Bronx, but a recent article from the New York Times has me taking this sales puffery a bit more seriously.

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When does the statute of limitations start in medical malpractice claim in New York?

A consortium of advocacy groups is pressing NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to take action on Lavern's Law, legislation that would alter the landscape of medical malpractice law in New York. The bill, which was approved by the Assembly last year, would revise the statute of limitations.

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What type of childbirth related injuries are compensable in a medical malpractice action?

Giving birth to a child is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of a woman’s life. Although most women are inclined to worry, they are urged to place their trust in the medical team they have chosen. Most of the time things run smoothly. But, sometimes women are injured due to medical malpractice that arises during a childbirth related medical procedure. That is exactly what happened to one New York woman in 2009.

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What happens if I get hurt in a car accident?

As you probably know, New York car owners must maintain liability insurance for their automobiles. Car accident medical claims are governed by the New York Insurance Law, a/k/a the “No-Fault” Law, which holds that, regardless of who was at fault in an accident, the medical bills of an injured driver or passenger will be paid by the insurance company covering the vehicle in which the injured occupant was travelling.
It’s important to know that your doctors won’t put claims for injuries sustained in a car accident through your private medical insurance unless and until the “No-Fault” benefits have been
exhausted.

It’s important to know that your doctors won’t put claims for injuries sustained in a car accident through your private medical insurance unless and until the “No-Fault” benefits have been
exhausted.

Am I limited to recovering only “No-Fault” benefits?

In certain cases, such as when you’ve sustained a serious injury or have incurred over $50,000
in damages, you may be entitled to seek additional compensation for physical and psychological pain, lost income, and property damage, through a private personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit once you’ve exhausted your “No-Fault” benefits.

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Will the use of body cameras reduce incidents of police misconduct?

Incidents of police misconduct have become a growing concern in the wake of a number of high-profile deaths at the hands of police across the country. Most notable were the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri in 2014, and the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore Maryland in April 2015, deaths that touched off a wave of riots and an ongoing protest movement. While the officer in the Ferguson incident was subsequently vindicated, and trials are pending for 6 Baltimore police officers, these deaths and other incidents of brutality and misconduct have led to demands for the use of body cameras.

Now, many police department's across the Nation say that they intend to expand the use of these devices in the coming summer, when crime rates typically rise. Proponents argue that body cameras will deter misconduct and help to document shootings and other altercations between police and citizens.

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What can you do if you find that your apartment has lead paint?

Most of us are aware that earlier in this century lead was used as a main ingredient in all types of paint. This practice went on for decades until the public became aware of the adverse effects of lead exposure. In 1978, the use of lead in paint was banned in the United States. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have it in your rental or house.

The exposure to lead can cause severe health issues.
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What are the reasons for personal injury claims in prisons?

As calls to close Rikers Island grow louder, the epidemic of violence in New York City prisons continues to be a serious problem. The violent episodes, either between inmates, or between guards and prisoners, has also led to a surge of personal injury claims against the city. While lawsuits also arise from routine slips and falls, transport vehicle accidents, medical malpractice and infections from unsanitary conditions, violence is the leading cause of injury and death among the prison population.

Grounds for a Personal Injury Claim against a Prison

Prison and corrections officials have a legal duty to protect the safety and wellbeing of inmates and a prisoner who has been injured because of a breach of this duty can bring a lawsuit. In the cases involving the City's prisons, this requires filing a Notice of Claim with the city's comptrollers' office within 90 days of the injury.
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What is the likely effect of a verdict for the plaintiff in the ongoing Johnson & Johnson litigation?

For generations many individual have relied on baby powder to keep themselves and their children dry and comfortable throughout the day. Unfortunately, it now seems that the main ingredient in baby powder, talc, has been linked to an increased risk for ovarian cancer in women. What’s more is that it seems one of the largest manufacturers of baby powder, Johnson & Johnson, was aware of the risk and continued to produce and sell talc based baby powder anyway. Now, the company is subject to thousands of lawsuits by those claiming that exposure to talc led to their cancer. A large verdict in one Missouri lawsuit is likely to set the tone for cases to be decided in the future.

Jackie Fox of Birmingham, Alabama, joined a lawsuit with approximately 60 other plaintiffs against Johnson & Johnson. She claimed that her hygienic use of the company’s baby powder caused her to develop ovarian cancer. She eventually succumbed to the cancer and died while the lawsuit was going on. Her son, Marvin Satler, represented his mother in the lawsuit after her death. At the heart of the lawsuit was an internal document showing that the company was or should have been aware of the dangers of talc as early as 1997. It took a civil jury 5 hours to decide that Satler was entitled to  $72 million verdict. The award was comprised of $10 million in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages.

Although Johnson & Johnson is expected to appeal the decision and experts say the damages are likely to be scaled down, the award sets the tone for the over 1,000 pending lawsuits against the cosmetics company.

It is a sad reality, but sometimes the products we know and trust and use every day are the ones that can hurt us the most. If you or someone you love has been injured by the use of talc powder, or exposure to any other toxic substance, you might have a personal injury claim. Regardless of where you live, it is best to contact a qualified toxic tort attorney in your area today.

When it comes to calculating damages in a personal injury action, lost wages and future earnings are usually included in a plaintiff’s recovery – particularly if the injury has caused permanent disability or disfigurement. And, as demonstrated by one recent case, a relatively insignificant injury to a victim’s hands or arms can actually cause the victim to miss out on the rest of his career – meaning a huge award of damages for the plaintiff.

In one recent case, a New York pianist – with notable Master’s level performances throughout the New York City area – was injured in a New Jersey crash in Parsippany, resulting in severe trauma to his elbow. As a result of the injury, the victim is no longer able to play the piano at the Master’s level, a level which had taken him a lifetime to reach.

The injury occurred in 2014, and the trial finally concluded in early March, 2016. At the heart of the matter was the value of the victim’s loss of the ability to play the piano, as well as his diminished ability to play various other instruments. During the trial, the plaintiff’s mentor – an 88-year old nationally known pianist, composer and New York University professor – described the precise hand and wrist positions necessary to play at the expert level, positions the plaintiff could no longer achieve due to his injury. Other witnesses also appeared, including an occupational therapist and an orthopedic surgeon, all of whom described how the victim’s injury would negatively impact his playing career for the rest of his life.

In the end, the jury awarded the plaintiff $2.5 million for his losses, including a substantial award for his emotional pain and suffering resulting from his future inability to play the piano. In a statement by the man’s attorney, “[t]he jury connected with what his losses were, with what [the plaintiff] deemed most passionate about his life….”

If you have suffered a serious personal injury, you deserve compensation for your physical and emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, and any disability that will affect your future employment or quality of life. You should promptly contact a dedicated personal injury attorney who will vigorously fight for your rights.

Who is liable for injuries and wrongful death when firefighters equipped with inadequate safety gear are trapped in a poorly maintained building?

In January 2005, several New York City firefighters found themselves on the top of a burning apartment building in the Bronx, without any escape and without the essential tools needed to survive. With no other choice, they jumped. Two died at the scene, while another perished after six years of coping with crushing injuries and the heavy medication needed to treat them. Three survived with lifelong, disabling medical conditions.

The survivors and the families of those who died sued both the building owner and the city for their role in the wrongful deaths and the pain and suffering of those who survived. The landlord had allowed the construction of illegal walls in the apartment that prevented firefighters from reaching the fire escape, allowed illegal sublets, and committed numerous building code violations.

The city failed the men by not providing them with personal safety ropes. These had been standard issue until five years before the fire and could have enabled the men to lower themselves to safety.

One firefighter settled separately but the others battled in court and, a decade later, won a $183 million award.

The jury apportioned the damages between the defendants, holding the building landlord 20 percent responsible and the city 80 percent. While the city concedes that the event was a tragedy, it disputes the finding that it was 80 percent liable and believes the hazardous conditions created by the landlord were more directly to blame. It is reviewing the court record and exploring its options.

Suing New York City or a building owner for negligence or wrongdoing can be a daunting prospect, requiring patience, commitment, and an expert understanding of litigation strategy. In some cases, negotiating an out-of-court settlement may be the best approach, while in others, a long battle may prove worth it in the end. If you or a loved one has a personal injury claim, it is important to find an expert attorney who can help you get the best possible result.

Over 15 years ago, the film Erin Brockovich, which told the story of a legal clerk and environmental activist who helped to build a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for their chromium pollution in California, was a smash hit. It would be nice if the horrors of pollution she (and Karen Silkwood and many others) uncovered were all in the past, but, tragically, our world is becoming more, not less, dangerously polluted. As a consumer advocate, Erin Brockovich is still working to protect the public from toxins greedy companies would much rather ignore than investigate.

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