Staten Island Personal Injury Law Blog

Man and two daughters suffer serious injuries in auto accident

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

When on the road in Staten Island and throughout New York City, it is common to see drivers who are behaving recklessly and making illegal maneuvers in their vehicles. There are many reasons for this including distraction, driving under the influence or simply being in a rush. When drivers are behaving in such a way, it can cause auto accidents with serious injuries and fatalities. Considering the litany of problems people can face after these crashes including medical costs, the inability to work and more, a lawsuit is vital when thinking about compensation.

An auto accident in the evening at around 9:40 p.m. led to a man and his two daughters being seriously hurt and the driver of the vehicle that is believed to have caused the crash arrested. According to the law enforcement investigation, a 50-year-old man was driving a Honda Accord and was heading north in the right lane of the roadway. His daughters, eight and 10, were in the backseat. A 23-year-old woman driving a Dodge Charger was also going north. She was in the center lane. She is believed to have attempted to make a right turn from the center lane when she hit the Honda.

Rider share service vehicles fail to adhere to auto recalls

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

For New Yorkers who want to avoid driving and prefer not to take public transportation, ride sharing apps are a major convenience. Uber, Lyft and other entities that offer these services have grown exponentially in recent years, largely because so many people use them. It is believed to be a safe alternative especially if the passenger has had a night on the town or needs to multitask and does not want to behave in a dangerous way behind the wheel. However, with this convenience comes the need to trust that the vehicles are in proper condition. As a new study from Consumer Reports shows, many are not.

The study shows that, for every six vehicles driving for Uber and Lyft in New York City and Seattle, one has outstanding recalls which have yet to be addressed. For those who think they will take a taxi, a livery cab or a limousine instead, these vehicles also have a significant number of outstanding recalls at almost 25 percent. With this information, many people are entering these vehicles unaware that there could be a safety issue like a malfunctioning air bag, engine problems or the risk of fire. In the two areas studied, close to 94,000 vehicles that passengers can hail were assessed. Approximately 30,000 taxis and limousines were studied. The researchers used publicly available information to discover the number of vehicles that did not have their recalls addressed.

Texting and driving a rising issue with millennials who have kids

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 31, 2019.

In New York, it seems that everyone has a cellphone. Increasingly, people are unable to keep themselves from checking it constantly even during times when they should be focusing on other matters. An especially risky time to be checking a device is while driving. However, texting and driving and accidents linked to it is one of the fastest growing issues across the nation. Researchers seek to understand the phenomenon to devise strategies to reduce the practice and make the roads safer for everyone. As part of this research, a new study shows that there is a surprising category of drivers who are at significant risk: millennial parents.

While parents will warn their children of the dangers of distracted driving, they do not often practice what they preach. Four hundred parents took part in the study. The millennial population is at the age where they are having children and they differ from older drivers in how they behave behind the wheel. In the research, it was found that 52 percent of those between the ages of 22 and 37 - millennials - and 57 percent of people who had kids and were 37 and older said that texting and driving was never safe, almost two out of three said they read texts while behind the wheel. More than half said they sent texts.

Whiplash may result from a rear-end car crash

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

You are waiting at a red light, your mind drifting to a sweet memory you had last night with your children. All of a sudden, though, the sound of crunching metal interrupts your memory. Then, you feel pain in your neck.

Unfortunately, sometimes, a distracted or speeding driver may rear-end you, causing you to suffer whiplash. Fortunately, you have the right to seek compensation for these types of injuries in New York. Here is a look at what a whiplash injury involves.

Driver has separate auto accidents including rear-end crash

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Hit-and-run accidents and rear-end collisions are among the most dangerous types of crashes that can happen in Staten Island. In some incidents, there will be a combination of these auto accidents. For people who have been rear-ended, there is a major chance of serious injury including back, neck and head trauma. With that, there can be long-term damage, massive medical costs and the need for extensive treatment and care. If a driver chooses to flee the scene after such an accident, it only makes the situation worse. People who have been hurt in any kind of auto accident must think about the future and weigh their options.

A 61-year-old man is accused of rear-ending a vehicle, driving away and then crashing into other vehicles at an intersection. The accident happened in the mid-afternoon at approximately 2 p.m. The driver ran into the back of a vehicle driven by an 85-year-old woman not far from the Verrazano Bridge. After that accident, the driver then hit an estimated five vehicles at the intersection. The drivers from the rear-end crash were taken to the hospital. The vehicle that did the damage was a cab. The investigation into the series of accidents is ongoing.

Maternal death related to pregnancy on the rise in the U.S.

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Medical Malpractice on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

For New Yorkers, having a child is one of the most exciting and important moments of their lives. Obscured by the euphoria, it is easy to forget that there are risks with having a baby. While birth has become relatively routine, mothers and newborns are still in jeopardy of serious injury and death as part of the process. Medical mistakes, failure to diagnose, errors with medication and more can lead to terrible consequences. For people who have been confronted with an issue related to pregnancy, it is imperative to consider a legal filing to be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering, future care and more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that says there has been a troubling rise in maternal death related to pregnancy in the U.S. At high risk are black women, Native Americans and people from Alaska. Their death rates are triple what they were in the past. The CDC says more than 50 percent can be prevented. Despite the rarity of these overall deaths with approximately 700 annually, the numbers have been steadily increasing over the past several decades.

Fatal motorcycle crash claims life of aspiring attorney

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

For many New Yorkers, riding a motorcycle is an integral part of their life. They enjoy the freedom that accompanies being on the open road and, despite its inherent risks, are sure to maintain proper safety procedures and wear necessary equipment. Still, motorcycle accidents happen without warning and can lead to serious injuries and death. These can happen to anyone as motorcyclists come from a wide array of backgrounds. For people who have been injured or had a loved one die in a motorcycle crash, the aftermath can be rife with problems. A legal filing is frequently the only way to recover sufficient compensation.

A 26-year-old aspiring attorney who was riding his motorcycle to the library to prepare for final exams was killed in a motorcycle crash. The accident happened in the mid-morning at around 10:30 a.m. The man was on a 2005 Aprilia. While on the Van Wyck Expressway, he was hit by a 2014 Honda CRV that ran into his lane. The motorcycle went into the curb and he was ejected. After being taken to the hospital, he was declared dead. This was set to be the conclusion of his second year in school. The driver of the Honda stayed at the scene and no charges have been filed.

Man arrested after pedestrian death in Staten Island hit-and-run

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Thursday, May 2, 2019.

In Staten Island, it is important for drivers to pay strict attention to pedestrians. This is especially true when there are elderly people and children on the street. Because drivers might speed, behave recklessly, drive while distracted and make other risky maneuvers, pedestrian knockdowns can happen. In a worst-case scenario, these can become fatal pedestrian accidents. To make the situation even more problematic, many drivers will flee the scene after a crash. Hit-and-run accidents will inevitably lead to criminal charges. Law enforcement is vigilant in finding drivers who have fled after a pedestrian accident, so it is imperative that those who have been hurt or lost a loved one have legal help immediately.

A 74-year-old man was arrested for the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian when he brought his vehicle to a repair shop. The driver allegedly hit an 89-year-old woman as she was crossing the street at the intersection in the evening at around 10:30 p.m. She had just exited a bus after leaving church for Easter mass. Her two sisters were accompanying her. She was taken to the hospital where she was declared dead. A description of the vehicle - a minivan - was circulated as was as a security camera video. It was found when the driver took it to be repaired. The man was arrested and faces multiple charges.

Auto crash between car and bus in Staten Island injures six

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, April 26, 2019.

With the number of vehicles on the road in Staten Island and the growing danger of being in an auto accident, many will choose to take public transportation as an alternative. The wisdom behind this is multi-layered. It saves money, it can improve safety and allows people to relax rather than worry about the dangers of others on the road. However, auto accidents do not discriminate and anyone can be injured in these crashes. After a public transportation accident, having legal advice is critical for everyone involved.

A head-on auto accident involving an MTA bus and a blue Chrysler Pacifica injured six people. The accident happened after 7 a.m. Three people were seriously hurt. All are expected to survive. The bus driver was knocked unconscious in the accident. According to the investigation, the Chrysler was heading south and the bus heading north. The car is believed to have left its lane and hit the bus. The bus's windshield was cracked. Two people on the bus were hurt in addition to the driver. The investigation is continuing.

Do not overlook the trauma caused by a car accident

On behalf of Michael J. Gaffney, Attorney at Law on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Car accidents involving other automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians happen in Staten Island every day. If you are a victim of a crash, you might not have realized that the emotional and mental impact of such a traumatic incident could continue long after the physical injuries heal. You might need help to prevent long-term trauma.

Even if you suffered no physical injuries but witnessed the suffering or death of a loved one, you might need appropriate mental health care for an extended period afterward. A doctor may not identify these damages during a medical evaluation after the accident because symptoms typically develop over time.