We are proud to announce that our partner, Rachel Jacobs, will be a featured panelist at her undergraduate alma mater, Binghamton University’s Women in the Law event. This event, hosted by the Harpur Law Council, brings together distinguished female attorneys to discuss their careers, challenges, and the evolving landscape for women in the legal profession.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Cost: Free
As gas explosion lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand the devastation caused by gas leaks and explosions. Preventing these disasters starts with understanding the importance of gas safety and acting quickly when you suspect a leak. Even the smallest mistake can have catastrophic consequences. Here’s what you need to know to keep your family and home safe.
Gas leaks can be silent and invisible, but there are telltale signs that you should never ignore. If you notice any of the following, act immediately:
The recent incident at a Brooklyn subway station, where an innocent bystander was critically injured by police gunfire, raises urgent questions about police accountability and transparency. Gregory Delpeche, a 49-year-old hospital worker, was riding the L train to his job at Woodhull Hospital when he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by NYPD officers. The officers were responding to a fare evader, Derell Mickles, who allegedly threatened them with a knife. Amid the chaos, a 26-year-old woman and one of the officers were also injured.
As police brutality attorneys, we stand with Delpeche’s family in their call for transparency. His cousins demand the release of body camera footage to clarify what truly happened. Despite claims by the NYPD that officers showed “restraint,” family members are rightfully questioning whether the officers’ decision to discharge their weapons in a crowded subway station was reckless and avoidable.
Body cameras are designed to ensure accountability and to provide an objective account of events when situations escalate, as this one did. The footage could be crucial in determining whether the officers followed proper protocols and if there were sufficient attempts to de-escalate the situation before resorting to lethal force.
As personal injury lawyers representing Queens victims, we are no strangers to the devastating impact that reckless drivers can have on families and communities. Recently, families in Queens have been calling for urgent action to protect children from the dangers posed by careless motorists. Yesterday, the group Families for Safe Streets, alongside lawmakers, gathered at IS-125 in Woodside to honor the lives of several young pedestrians who were tragically killed in traffic accidents, including 16-year-old Jael Zhinin (picture). She lost her life in a crosswalk, struck by a truck on the last day of class in June.
The grief and frustration felt by these families are not isolated. Many of our clients have experienced firsthand the sudden loss of a loved one or the long road to recovery after a serious accident. But the pain of losing a child, especially when they were simply walking in a crosswalk or standing on a sidewalk, is unimaginable.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is intensifying efforts to tackle repeat safety violators, with a sharp focus on industries like construction that see high rates of fatalities and serious injuries. Doug Parker, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, outlined the agency’s priorities during the recent Safety ’24 conference hosted by the American Society of Safety Professionals.
One of OSHA’s top concerns is the recurring safety violations in high-risk industries. Construction, in particular, faces alarming rates of fatal injuries, primarily from falls. Falls remain the leading cause of construction worker deaths year after year. Employers’ failure to implement proper fall protection has turned this issue into what Parker refers to as an “epidemic of noncompliance.”
Labor Day weekend was marred by a series of fatal collisions across New York City, resulting in the loss of six lives. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about road safety in our city and the need for careful attention from all road users.
The unfortunate events began on Thursday, August 29, when a 55-year-old pedestrian identified as Jacqueline Healy of Jamestown was struck by a Ford pickup truck while crossing Cross Bay Boulevard at Pitkin Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens. The driver, Keith Ryan, 47, was arrested and charged with driving with a fake license.
On Sunday morning, Luis Mendez, a 46-year-old cyclist, was struck and killed by a van driver on Union Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Can Homer, was allegedly operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driver’s license. This devastating event highlights the serious and ongoing issue of road safety for cyclists in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn.
When a cyclist is injured or killed in an accident, the legal landscape can be complex, but it is crucial for justice to be pursued. In this case, the driver, Can Homer, has been charged with multiple serious offenses, including vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and driving without a license. These charges carry significant legal consequences, and the pursuit of justice for the victim and his family will likely involve a thorough investigation and litigation process.
As pedestrian accident lawyers, we’ve seen the devastating consequences of vehicular negligence and poor design choices by automakers. The introduction of the Pedestrian Protection Act by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) represents a crucial step in addressing a long-overdue issue: the alarming rise in pedestrian fatalities caused by increasingly massive and dangerously designed vehicles.
For years, safety ratings for vehicles have been heavily skewed towards protecting those inside the car, while largely ignoring the risks these vehicles pose to pedestrians and cyclists. The new bill seeks to change that by requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop safety standards that consider the likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a crash with one of these massive trucks or SUVs.
Yesterday morning, the Upper West Side of Manhattan witnessed two disturbing incidents where cyclists were struck by vehicles within 20 minutes of each other. These accidents, which occurred at Broadway near 108th Street and Central Park West near 106th Street, highlight the constant dangers cyclists face on New York City streets. If you’ve been involved in a similar accident, understanding your legal options is crucial. Here’s what you need to know to protect your rights and pursue justice after a bike accident.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., a 64-year-old cyclist was struck by a vehicle while riding southbound on Broadway. The driver, instead of staying to help, fled the scene after offering a brief apology. The injured cyclist was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with injuries to his arm and leg. The incident is currently being investigated as a hit-and-run.
Kirk Walker, a 38-year-old father of three, was tragically killed in a wrong-way crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Harlem, just one day before his wedding. Walker and his cousin, Rob McLaurin, were returning home from a bachelor party when their vehicle was struck head-on by a pickup truck driving the wrong way. Both men lost their lives in the collision.
The driver of the pickup truck fled the scene, leaving the victims’ families in shock and mourning. Authorities have since apprehended the passenger of the vehicle, who was found near the crash site with injuries, but the driver remains at large. The ongoing investigation focuses on identifying and apprehending the driver responsible for this fatal hit-and-run.
Walker’s fiancée, Shauntea Weaver, voiced her determination to seek justice, emphasizing the need for accountability. The impact of this event on their family is profound, as they were set to start a new chapter in their lives, and now, instead, they face the unimaginable task of coping with this loss.
New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog