Construction sites are often among the most dangerous places to work, with construction accidents accounting for more than twenty percent of all work-related fatalities across the United States, including in New York. While contractors and work site owners are supposed to take steps to prevent harm to workers on the site, all too often they will cut corners to save time or money, and when they do, it is often workers who must pay the price. Here are five common safety violations found on construction sites that result in injury or death:… Read the rest
Tag: personal injury
Roundup Manufacturer Settles Cancer Suits for $10 Billion
BayerAG, the chemical and pharmaceutical conglomerate, has agreed to pay $10 billion to settle a series of lawsuits brought against it over its signature weed killer, Roundup. The herbicide became the subject of major public controversy after it was discovered that Roundup had carcinogenic properties, a fact that was known by its manufacturer, Monsanto, for decades. The company covered up this fact and continued to sell Roundup to the public, netting billions of dollars from sales of the weed killer in the interim.… Read the rest
Motor Vehicle Fatalities Go Down but Mileage Death Rate Increases
Over the course of the first three months of 2020, the overall number of motor vehicle fatalities across the United States have decreased compared to the same period last year, according to data collected by the National Safety Council. This is attributable to there being fewer people on the road due to the coronavirus and quarantine restrictions. However, in that same period, more people died compared to the number of miles driven, indicating that although people are driving less, they are driving more dangerously.… Read the rest
Ira Slavit on the Tragic Case of Santoro v. Poughkeepsie Crossings
In the most recent issue of the Nassau Lawyer, the Nassau County Bar Association’s newsletter, Ira Slavit of Levine and Slavit, PLLC, wrote about the case of Santoro v. Poughkeepsie Crossings, in which a woman was sued by a nursing home for allegedly causing her mother’s death. Specifically, the nursing home initiated a third-party counterclaim against the woman for allegedly contributing to her mother’s death when she brought a wrongful death suit against the nursing home.
While the nursing home’s claims were ultimately dismissed by the Second Department of the New York State Appellate Division, it is an important case … Read the rest
Ira S. Slavit Published in New York Law Journal
Ira S. Slavit, attorney at Levine & Slavit, PLLC, has recently published an article in the New York Law Journal. The article, titled “Establishing a Private Right of Action in Personal Injury Cases,” discusses the issue of proving a private right of action in a civil lawsuit. This is contrasted against a public right of action, which is the right of a public agency or prosecutorial authority to pursue a lawsuit.
A private right of action is the legal right of a private citizen to sue another party over an alleged injury caused by a violation of the law, such … Read the rest
Limo Safety Bills Signed into Law in NY
Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a package of limousine safety bills into law, intended to deal with a series of fatal crashes on Long Island and across the state that resulted in calls to address the problem. The laws specifically address the issue of rented stretch limos, which are commonly hired for formal events like proms, weddings and bar mitzvahs, among other similar events. The hope is that the new measures will reduce the number of fatalities caused by limo crashes every year.… Read the rest
PG&E Settles Wildfire Lawsuits for $13.5 Billion
PG&E Corp., one of the largest utility providers in the country, has settled numerous lawsuits related to wildfires allegedly caused by its faulty equipment. The lawsuits arose around so-called “jumper cables,” which have been found to have a high likelihood of breaking or malfunctioning, which have resulted in at least 22 wildfires between 2017 and 2018. A federal judge has approved a settlement for these wildfire suits, resulting in a payout of $13.5 billion to victims, in the form of both cash and PG&E stock.… Read the rest
The Complexities of Getting Injured at a Concert
Attending a concert is among the most popular leisure activities. However, with thousands of people often packing into concert venues, the risk of someone getting hurt is high. With that being said, if you are hurt at a concert venue, you may be wondering if, or who, you may recover compensation from.… Read the rest
How Social Media Can Affect Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
In today’s world it is fairly common for most adults to use some kind of social media website. While there is much value to these websites, there can be some drawbacks. When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, it can be a hindrance to receiving the compensation that you deserve. One of the primary things a personal injury attorney will tell you when you commence a lawsuit is to be careful of your social media activity or discontinue using it at all. … Read the rest
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Normally, it’s not possible to sue someone simply because they made you feel bad. Most lawsuits are about causing physical injuries, or damaging or stealing property, or impinging on another’s legal rights. However, on some occasions, it is possible to sue someone for intentional infliction of emotional distress, if their conduct matches certain specific criteria.… Read the rest
