Tag Archives: accident attorney brooklyn

Fire truck driving down a street

Emergency Vehicle Accidents in Brooklyn


Posted on May 22, 2019 by

We rely upon emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars, to help us when we’re sick, injured, or in danger. When an emergency vehicle responds to an incident, it must often travel at speeds above the speed limit, weave in and out of traffic, and blow through traffic lights without stopping. While these driving practices may help save the life of a person being transported, they can also put other innocent drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.

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Bid's eye view of a busy intersection

Dangerous Intersection Alert: How to Avoid Car Accidents in Brooklyn


Posted on May 15, 2019 by

In New York City, not all intersections are created equal, and some are far more accident-prone than others. Unfortunately, many of these problem spots are right here in Brooklyn. A recent Localize Labs study revealed the 20 most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and cyclists, and eight of them were right here in our borough.

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Construction workers building scaffolding at site

Time Limit on How Long Scaffolding Can Remain in Place


Posted on January 27, 2017 by

When you are walking down the street in New York, you see a copious amount of scaffolding on the buildings. When buildings are repaired, scaffolding is put up to support work crews as well as shield pedestrians below from potential hazards like falling bricks and equipment and even exposure to dust particles from the work being done.

Sometimes, scaffolding remains in place for months, even years. This could change if a proposed bill sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos is passed, which would require scaffolding to be taken down within six months of being placed. Ideally, this would not only reduce the structures that many consider to be an eyesore, it would reduce the number of construction accidents suffered by pedestrians.

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Many cars drive on highway in the city.

Summer Driving Accidents


Posted on July 25, 2016 by

Summer is here, and that means a lot more drivers are on the road! But there is nothing worse than an automobile accident to spoil your summer fun. Although an accident is never optimal; there are special circumstances that make summer driving unique:

• Many summer travelers are busy looking for locations on their travel agenda and may be unfamiliar with the area;
• Students are out of school and on the roads, many of whom are inexperienced drivers;
• Car engines and tires are under extra stress, and heat-related breakdowns are inevitable;
• Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are out and about, oftentimes with unpredictable actions;
• Heat-related factors may impact the number of emergency vehicles on the road.

Despite being on the lookout for danger signs, what happens if you do end up in a collision? This is when the experienced accident attorneys at the Brooklyn office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum can help.

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Stairwells outside of apartment building.

Brooklyn Slip & Fall Lawyer for Sidewalk & Stairway Injuries


Posted on July 19, 2016 by

Injured in a Brooklyn Sidewalk or Stairway Fall?

A fall on an uneven sidewalk or a poorly maintained staircase can leave you with serious injuries and mounting medical bills through no fault of your own. If you were hurt in a sidewalk or stairway fall in Brooklyn, or anywhere in New York City, you may be entitled to compensation. That’s when it’s time to call an experienced personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum.

Sidewalk Liability Under the New York City Administrative Code

The New York City code is unambiguous: under premises liability laws, sidewalks are required to be maintained in a reasonably safe condition by the property owner abutting the sidewalk. If the walkway is actually on the premises of a property owner, that owner is obviously responsible for the maintenance of that walkway.

Poor Maintenance of a Walkway

Any sidewalk that has not been installed, constructed, paved, or repaired, or that contains a dangerous condition like excessive amounts of dirt or other materials, constitutes a failure to maintain. Additionally, raised or sunken lots comprise an unsafe sidewalk. Specifically, City Code names the following sidewalk defects as violations:

  • Missing sidewalk flags;
  • Undermined sidewalk flags;
  • Trip hazards related to vertical grade differentials;
  • Improper slope that does not allow for proper drainage;
  • Defects of hardware and/or structural integrity;
  • Lack of compliance with DOT specifications;
  • Improper patchwork.

The New York weather is ever-changing, and therefore, a lack of maintenance can also cause potholes, debris, accumulated snow and ice, and more. In many cases, there is someone responsible for your fall.

Are Handrails Required on Public Properties?

NYC stairs must meet the handrail and guard requirements of the building code that applied when the staircase was built. Under the current code, handrails must sit 34–38 inches above the stair nosing, with a graspable handrail generally required on both sides of egress stairs.

Any open side more than 30 inches above the floor below also needs a guard at least 42 inches high, with openings too small for a 4-inch sphere to pass through. Older buildings may fall under different measurements, so part of any stairway accident case is determining which standard applied and whether the property met it.

Questions That Can Affect Your Injury Claim

Several important factors can influence the value and outcome of your claim, including:

  • What is the statute of limitations on my injury?
  • How is my personal injury compensation determined, and how does that relate to what an insurance company will pay?
  • Are there any “special” damages, including medical costs, lost income, personal property damage, or out-of-pocket expenses?
  • Did my fall result in severe injuries like broken bones or a concussion?
  • What general damages related to pain and suffering can I seek?
  • Have there been emotional or psychological stresses due to the injury?
  • Has my life been negatively impacted by the accident?
  • Was my accident due to gross negligence on the part of the property owner?

These are the questions that the capable and efficient accident attorneys at the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum will discuss with you.  Call (718) 237-5586 to schedule your free consultation in our Brooklyn office.

Settle a Car Accident Claim

How to Settle Your New York Car Accident Claim


Posted on March 31, 2016 by

Almost 300,000  car crashes were reported in New York in 2014, according to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website. Of those, more than 118,000 resulted in non-fatal injuries and over 180,000 caused property damage. New York drivers and passengers alike who have been involved in a car accident should learn about the state’s laws and insurance requirements because they affect property damage and injury claims that can be made and, should it come to litigation, settlement negotiations.

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New York Construction Sites Pose Dangers From Above


Posted on April 23, 2015 by

Construction sites can Building with construction being done to it. pose significant dangers for construction workers, especially when adequate safety precautions are not taken. There is, however, another group that also faces dangers from construction sites: pedestrians. A recent online article in the Wall Street Journal looked into the dangers that pedestrians throughout New York City face from construction sites.

According to the article, at least once a month, a pedestrian walking the streets of New York City is injured by something at a construction site. The culprit? New York City pedestrians are injured by a variety of different objects that fall from a construction site or that are improperly maintained. Examples include falling bricks or tools, windblown fences, and collapsing sidewalks. Continue reading →