At around 2:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2020, 41-year-old cyclist Pedro Lopez was struck and killed by a truck making an illegal U-turn in Brooklyn. This tragedy marks the first cyclist death to occur on New York City streets in 2020. Police investigation is ongoing.
1 Worker Killed, Another Missing After Long Island Trench Collapse
At around 4:30 p.m. on January 28, 2020, two workers were installing a septic tank at a Long Island construction site when the walls of the 30-foot pit around them collapsed, trapping the men under piles of wet sand and dirt. First responders were able to recover the body of one worker, 45, who, tragically, died from his injuries. The body of the other 57-year-old worker remains unfound; he is presumed dead.
Two Workers Severely Burned in Brooklyn Manhole Fire
In a harrowing series of events, two construction workers in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn suffered severe burns on the morning of Tuesday, January 28, 2020. The workers were part of a contract crew that was upgrading the gas main in the area, according to a statement from the National Grid. At approximately 10:00 a.m., the two men were working on a manhole at 1905 Bayridge Parkway in Brooklyn, when flames suddenly began to erupt from the manhole's opening, catching the two workers off guard.
NJ Transit Train Crashes into Tractor Trailer in Rockland County
Commuters traveling along the NJ Transit Port Jervis line experienced delays on Tuesday evening, January 21, 2020, due to a major accident that occurred along the tracks in Rockland County. A tractor trailer was stuck on train tracks along Route 17 at Washington Avenue in Sloatsburg, N.Y. when the trailer was destroyed by an oncoming train. Luckily, there were no recorded injuries, according to Ramapo police.
Worker Injured, Pedestrian Killed in Series of Tragic Accidents
59-year-old James Weiss, a former firefighter, sustained severe head trauma on the morning of Wednesday, January 15, 2020, when a piece of sheet metal fell on him while he was working at a construction site in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. He was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center for care. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident.
Woman Killed by Sanitation Truck in Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Accident
In the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, a woman was tragically killed in a Brooklyn hit-and-run accident. The unidentified woman was crossing the Bay Parkway near 86th St. in Bensonhurst when a private sanitation truck travelling eastbound on 86th St. suddenly struck her. The accident is being investigated by the NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad.
Bus Passenger Dies After Forcing Open MTA Bus Door
Just five hours after an accident involving a sanitation truck that killed a 67-year-old woman in Brooklyn, another pedestrian was killed after she fell from a moving MTA bus and was run over by the rear wheels. Tragically, this incident marks at least eight pedestrians that have been killed in New York City since the start of the year.
Partner David Scher Shares Labor Law Knowledge at Lecture
Partner David Scher shared his labor law expertise when he taught a continuing legal education (CLE) course on January 7, 2020, focusing on strategies for pleading a construction accident case. His lecture was part of a larger seminar presented by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA), the 2020 edition of "Construction Accidents from the Trenches: Strategies to Win Your Labor Law Case."
Judith Wieder Killed in Concrete Mixing Truck Accident in Brooklyn
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at about 11:55 a.m., 68-year-old Judith Wieder was tragically killed by a cement mixing truck while crossing the street in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn. This, unfortunately, was the second reported pedestrian death to occur on this day. Police continue to investigate the incident.
BOM Achieves Tier 1 Rankings in 2020 "Best Law Firms" List
Block O'Toole & Murphy is again proud to be ranked as one of America's "Best Law Firms" in 2020, compiled collaboratively by the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®. The firm has been regionally recognized in New York City as a Tier 1 law firm in two practice areas: Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs.
Srijan Panthi Killed, Mother Mina Panthi Severely Injured After Queens Garbage Truck Accident
Shortly before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 10-year-old Srijan Panthi and his 40-year-old mother, Mina Panthi, were struck by a Department of Sanitation truck on their walk to school. The two were taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition where the boy tragically died from his injuries. Police say investigations are underway.