New York Personal Injury Blog

Follow these safe-lifting techniques at work

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Regardless of your profession, if you're required to lift a heavy item at work it's imperative to take the steps necessary to protect yourself.

Here are five safe-lifting techniques anyone can follow:

Know what you're lifting: Don't assume you can comfortably lift an item. Instead, determine how heavy it is and then ask for help if necessary.
Inspect your route: If you're moving the item from one area to another, check the pathway for anything that could act as a trip hazard.
Keep the object close to your body: This puts less strain on your muscles, thus reducing the likelihood of injury.
Keep your back straight: Not only should you do this when you bend down to pick up the item, but it's important to maintain this posture after you've completed the initial lift.
Lift with your legs and hips: Put the majority of the strain on your legs and hips, as opposed to your back.

You don't do anything as dangerous as driving

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, May 2, 2019.

You try to avoid risks. You don't go skydiving or mountain climbing in your free time. You didn't start a career as a police officer or a firefighter. When your friends bought motorcycles, you bought an SUV with a high crash safety rating. You try never to board an airplane unless there is no other choice.

However, do you know that you're still exposing yourself to a good deal of risk almost every single day? Many people do not realize just how dangerous it is to drive a car. In 2017, more than 40,000 people died in car accidents in the United States. A few hundred more died in accidents in 2016.

Tips to avoid a scaffolding accident at work

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. on Friday, April 26, 2019.

If you work in the construction industry in New York, you may find yourself using scaffolding to complete a variety of jobs. While the use of scaffolding can improve efficiency and help you maintain a high level of safety, this isn't always the case.

There are a variety of mistakes that can result in a scaffolding accident, including the following:

Neglecting to inspect the scaffolding for damage or defects: Any type of damage or defect, such as scaffolding that is missing pieces, greatly increases the risk of an accident.
Placing scaffolding on uneven or soft ground: This is a mistake that's often made when there are no other options available. By taking your time, you'll eventually find level ground that's firm enough to support your scaffolding.
Moving scaffolding while it's erect: This is the easy thing to do, but it has the potential to compromise the integrity of the structure. If you need to move scaffolding, disassemble it before doing so.
Neglecting to use required accessories: For example, all brackets and braces must be in place before using scaffolding. It only takes one missing part to increase the risk of a scaffolding accident.
Too much weight: Knowing the load capacity of the scaffolding is critical, as too much weight can cause it to collapse.

How to stay safe when working on a construction site in the rain

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. on Tuesday, April 23, 2019.

The spring and summer months in New York have the potential to bring quite a bit of rain to the local area. If you're working outdoors when the rain begins to fall, such as on a construction site, it's critical to adjust your approach to prevent an accident.

Here are five steps you can take to stay safe when working in the rain:

Slow down: When the rain begins to fall, it's natural to speed up in an attempt to get the job done as quickly as possible. However, doing so is actually a mistake, as the faster you work the greater chance there is of an accident, such as a slip and fall.
Don't use electrical tools: Unless the tool is rated for wet weather use, avoid it at all costs. Using an electrical tool in a rainstorm can result in electrocution, which can lead to serious injuries or even death.
Wear rain gear: It's difficult enough to work in the rain, but if you're not wearing the proper clothing you're likely to focus most of your attention on how poorly you feel. With water resistant clothing, you can focus on the task at hand, instead of how wet you are.
Visibility is a must: For example, if your job requires you to wear goggles, use antifogging spray to ensure that you're able to see clearly when working. Also, wearing a hat can keep the rain out of your eyes.
Protect your hands: When your hands are wet, it's difficult to get a grip on even the lightest items. Wear gloves that are comfortable, water resistant and allow you to maintain a strong grip.

2 Nassau police officers are assaulted, injured on the job

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, April 19, 2019.

Two Nassau police officers suffered serious injuries after they were assaulted by a suspect in Lynbrook on April 15.

The Nassau officers were dispatched to the Starbucks located at 839 Sunrise Highway early in the morning that Monday. Once they arrived there, they attempted to place a 23-year-old Laurelton man under arrest for criminal contempt. They were assisted by the officers from the Lynbrook Police Department.

Eating while driving almost as deadly as texting while driving

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Many New Yorkers have done this while driving: pulling into the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru for coffee or a bagel on the way to work. Perhaps between seeing clients around lunchtime, workers grab a to-go order from a fast-food restaurant.

Sometimes, when the kids asked for chicken nuggets for dinner, you can't resist reaching into the bag and fishing for the fries that fell to the bottom.

Family of woman who died in fall seeks subway elevators

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

In the wake of their family member's death after tumbling down the stairs of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) station, one New York City family is imploring the agency to install elevators in their stations around the city.

The woman was attempting to descend a set of subway stairs at the Seventh Avenue B/D Midtown station on Jan. 28 while simultaneously carrying a young baby and a stroller. Although the city medical examiner and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have yet to release the cause of death for the 22-year-old mother of one, it's believed that she suffered a medical emergency that caused her to fall while navigating the steps.

Stay safe: At the game, foul balls could case serious injuries

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in premises liability on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

We can count on less than two hands now the number of days remaining until the start of the major league baseball season. Whether you're a fan of the New York Yankees, the New York Mets – or even the Boston Red Sox (gasp!) – this is always an exciting time of year for the faithful.

But when you go to a game this year, keep your eyes on the field and not your cellphone or other distractions. There are many inherent dangers when you go to a baseball game and with balls flying at more than 100 miles per hour, little time to react.

An attorney can help if you've been harmed by cosmetics

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. posted in products liability on Friday, March 8, 2019.

The recent news that some makeup being sold by a pair of U.S. chains favored by younger girls and teenagers contains asbestos didn't come as a surprise to many.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the announcement that four products being sold contained asbestos, which is a mineral that has been identified as a carcinogen.

Ladder injuries are often due to poor training

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark E. Weinberger P.C. on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Many workers in the construction industry use ladders as part of their daily work. Ladders can be very dangerous when they are not installed or used correctly, and this is why it is vital that workers are trained in how to inspect and operate ladders for maximum safety.

Unfortunately, many workers become injured while using ladders in New York each year, and across the country thousands suffer disabling injuries. If you have been injured as a result of working on a ladder, it is important that you understand how to take action to claim the compensation that you deserve.