New York Personal Injury Law Blog

Is New York City turning a blind eye to lead poisoning?

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP posted in Landlord Negligence on Friday, November 29, 2019.

When you think of lead poisoning, you might think about the recent news from Flint, Michigan. The city was in the news for months after its citizens learned their water was steeped with lead. But what you might not know is that recent reports found 69 neighborhoods where New York City children suffered elevated lead levels at nearly twice Flint’s rate.

That was the story in a 2017 report from Reuters and in a city that had aimed to eliminate all lead poisoning by 2010. But while the city has long set lofty goals, New Yorkers continue to suffer. Two years after the Reuters report, old apartments and negligent landlords continue to play an outsized role.

The Difference a Day Can Make

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP posted in Landlord Negligence on Thursday, November 28, 2019.

On September 11, tenant Lareese Williams asked the owners of the East New York apartment building to install railings in the apartment where his family resided. It was not the first request from the patriarch as he repeatedly requested improved safety measures. In January, the grandmother who lived with them and often cared for her grandchildren complained that the window needed repair due to it not completely closing.

No action was taken in spite of laws that require mandatory window guards for buildings with three or more apartments where 10-year-old children and younger resides.

How to deal with car accidents involving family and friends

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP on Monday, November 25, 2019.

A car accident may leave you with injuries and automobile damage that requires compensation. This money comes from the at-fault driver's car insurance. This isn't a big deal when the other driver is a stranger to you, but things can get sticky when friends or family are involved. If they hit your car and left you injured, it may not feel right to seek money from them. You may wonder if it's worth putting your relationship in jeopardy.

Are out-of-possession landlords liable for slippery sidewalks?

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP posted in Slip-and-Fall Accidents on Monday, November 11, 2019.

Winter is coming, and New Yorkers can expect weather ranging from freezing rain to sleet and snow. It’s a season for warm scarves and jackets. And for the city’s landlords, it’s a season that demands diligent maintenance.

According to the New York City Administrative Code, landlords and other property owners need to keep their sidewalks reasonably safe. If they knowingly leave their sidewalks buried under snow and ice, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries. But what if those owners don’t live in the building? What if they contract with someone to maintain the property?

Why are female drivers still at a higher risk of injury?

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP on Monday, November 4, 2019.

Since the early 1980s, researchers have found that women have a higher chance of getting injured in a car accident. Yet not much seems to have changed since then.

A recent 2019 study revealed that women are 73% more likely to get injured in a car accident than men, even when wearing their seat belts. What accounts for this consistency in female injuries?

Is the back seat safest in a car crash?

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 1, 2019.

There's nothing great about being involved in a collision. Seeing the oncoming vehicle coming into the vehicle you're riding in is terrifying, and avoiding the crash entirely would be preferential. However, few people choose to be in a collision, and we now know more about the optimal place to be in a vehicle.

You may think that the back seat is the safest place to be in a collision because you're farther from a front impact. This makes sense, but recent research indicates this is not the case.

How common are electrocution injuries in construction?

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP on Thursday, October 10, 2019.

Construction is hard and rewarding work. You can see the difference your efforts make on a project come together before your eyes. It’s easy to see the difference that you make in a day’s work.

Unfortunately, construction is also hazardous work. Construction sites expose workers to falls, fallen objects, and many more job hazards. Electrocution is one of the risks associated with construction.

Preventing common injuries on your New York City vacation

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

Fall is a great time to visit New York City. Whether you're planning to visit the Statue of Liberty, Central Park or a museum, there is so much to do. After all, tens of millions of visitors every year can't be wrong.

Not only is New York City a popular tourist destination, it's a heavily populated place to begin with. That many people in the same place increases the chances for accidents and sustaining a personal injury.

New NY law: protections against workplace sexual harassment

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP on Monday, September 23, 2019.

If you have ever experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, you understand how difficult reporting it can be. You have limited time to report the harassment and prove that it is real. Some workplaces may even try to force you to use arbitration, keeping your claims of harassment secret from the public. But a new law in New York hopes to reform the workplace sexual harassment and remove those barriers.

New York has taken steps to reform policies on sexual harassment in the workplace. A new bill signed into law in August will increase protections for victims of sexual harassment.

The Potential Dangers Behind Ride-Hailing

On behalf of Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Friday, September 20, 2019.

Multiple moving parts in an automobile means that something could go wrong at any time. When a recall is issued, owners receive notification as to the steps they must take to fix the defect. Some take immediate action. Others procrastinate. Yet, safety is usually prioritized by drivers eventually.

However, entrepreneurs who base their respective business model on access to motor vehicles may put repairs, however minor, at the bottom of their priority list.