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Personal injury claims remain high in the state of New York

By Luke Worli posted 09-30-2020 10:27 PM

  

Personal injury is an area of law that has become more and more in demand in the past years. More aware of their rights than ever, American citizens know that they can receive financial compensation of slip and fall injuries, vehicle accidents, and medical malpractice and do not hesitate to seek legal counsel. Although the number of personal injury cases has been on the rise throughout the US, New York has one of the highest incidence rates. This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that it’s the fourth most populated state (19.5 million inhabitants), after California, Texas, and Florida. 

Personal injury – a serious concern for New Yorkers

Data from the New York Department of Health reveals that 40 out of 100,000 people die from injuries, and 823 out of 100,000 are admitted to the hospital. That accounts for about 1% of the population, but New York has 19.5 million people, so 195,000 people are not negligible. Moreover, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that the majority of Americans over 35 die from accidental injury, which makes this a very serious matter.

 

According to the Baumgartner Law Firm, the most common types of personal injuries include: 

  •       Injuries caused by a party’s negligence: a person failed to respect their duty of care, and someone got hurt
  •       Slip and fall injuries: If a person slips and falls on public property because of ice, water, or other slippery substances, they are entitled to compensation
  •       Injuries caused by another person’s actions, whether or not they were intentional
  •       Injuries from hazardous drugs
  •       Injuries caused by medical malpractice or misdiagnosis
  •       Injuries from dog bites
  •       Injuries from defective products
  •       Injuries caused by hazardous conditions in private or public spaces 

Auto accident cases

Auto accidents are a common cause of personal injury – so common, in fact, that they are often studied separately. New York is one of the busiest cities in the US and has one of the highest densities of personal vehicles. Fortunately, the number of traffic accident fatalities has dropped in the past few years, as a result of the numerous awareness campaigns and Government prevention programs. According to the latest data, 68 out of 100,000 people are hospitalized after motor vehicle accidents. 

However, even if the rate of auto accident casualties and pedestrian casualties has decreased, other accidents are causing reasons of concern. Motorcycle drivers are particularly vulnerable, their hospitalization rates increasing from 6.5 to 7.9/100,000 residents within eight years. Cyclists are affected too: 2019 was one of the most dangerous years for NYC cyclists, and in January alone, 191 were injured. New York is one of the cities that joined the “Vision Zero” programs, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero, but many argue that this goal is highly unrealistic, and prompter measures need to be taken to protect New Yorkers. If you or someone you know has been a victim of personal injury, remember that there are ways to seek justice and obtain financial compensation.

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