From crowded subway platforms to scaffolded sidewalks and bumper-to-bumper parkways, New Yorkers move through a city full of hazards daily. According to the New York State Department of Health, severe injuries send more than 155,000 New Yorkers to the hospital every year. Most accidents trace back to a handful of common causes. Here are the injuries we see the most often, and tips on how to prevent them.
Auto Accidents
Vehicle accidents are the most common cause of personal injury in New York. According to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, driver inattention is the number one contributing factor in all crashes statewide. Truck accidents involving commercial vehicles cause some of the most severe injuries on New York roads, often because of the size difference between vehicles.
Keeping your eyes on the road, maintaining a safe following distance, and never driving after drinking are among the most effective ways to reduce your risk of a car accident.
Slip And Fall Injuries
Wet floors, broken steps, icy walkways, and poor lighting cause thousands of injuries across New York every year. The New York Department of Health shares that fall-related injuries are the leading cause of hospitalizations in New York State for adults 25 and older, and the leading cause of fatal injuries for those 45 and older. There is also a heavy financial burden to fall-related injuries, with a yearly cost of $1.3 billion in New York State for hospitalizations alone.
Property owners can help prevent slip and fall injuries by upholding their legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe property conditions. This includes inspecting their premises regularly, fixing hazards promptly, and posting visible warnings when a danger cannot be immediately addressed.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in New York. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 28 percent of all fatal New York City work injuries in 2023, with construction recording the highest fatality count of any industry, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Falls, electrocution risks, and being caught between equipment make up the most common fatal hazards on construction sites, and a single fall can cause traumatic brain injuries or spinal injuries that can end a career. Exposure to hazardous materials adds another layer of danger, causing both immediate injuries and long-term illness.
Workers can reduce their risk by using required protective equipment, following site safety protocols, and reporting hazardous conditions before they cause harm. New York has some of the strictest construction site safety laws in the nation, and when property owners and general contractors ignore those standards, NY Labor Law can hold them strictly accountable for resulting injuries.
Defective Products
Defective products harm thousands of Americans every year, and New York consumers have legal options when a product causes injury. For example, faulty brakes, malfunctioning airbags, contaminated medications, and defective lithium-ion batteries have injured New Yorkers across the state. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion each year.
To stay safe, check the CPSC recall database before using older equipment, register new products with the manufacturer so you receive recall notices directly, and stop using any item that shows signs of malfunction before it causes harm. When a product does fail, New York product liability law allows recovery from every company in the distribution chain.
Micromobility (E-Bike And E-Scooter) Accidents
E-bikes, electric scooters, mopeds, and shared Citi Bikes have changed how New Yorkers move through the city. They are faster than walking, harder for drivers to see, and far less forgiving in a collision. According to the New York City Department of Transportation data, injuries involving motorized two-wheelers have climbed roughly 350 percent since 2017 and now account for about one in ten traffic injuries citywide.
Wearing a helmet, following traffic laws, and using designated lanes all reduce the risk of injury.
Medical Malpractice
Research published in Patient Safety found that diagnostic errors account for 26.6 percent of malpractice claims over a 20-year period, with failure to diagnose and delayed diagnosis as the most common allegations. When medical professionals fail to diagnose a condition within the timeframe a competent physician would have, and that delay causes harm, it may cross the line from an unfortunate outcome into medical negligence.
Seeking a second opinion about unexplained symptoms and keeping copies of your own records and imaging results can help reduce the risk of a missed diagnosis.
Motorcycle Accidents
Unlike car crashes, motorcycle accidents are not covered by New York’s no-fault system, meaning an injured rider can pursue the at-fault party directly without meeting an injury threshold. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2023, the fatality rate for motorcyclists was nearly 28 times that of passenger car occupants.
Wearing full protective gear, completing a certified safety course, and riding defensively are the standards that can help keep NY motorcycle riders safe.
What Makes Morelli Law Firm Different
Morelli Law Firm has recovered billions for injured clients across New York. Our attorneys include recognized trial lawyers with over 100 years of combined legal experience. We have taken on Fortune 500 companies, major insurance companies, and defendants in some of the most complex cases in New York State and won. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, because that preparation is what produces results.
Put your case in the right hands: contact Morelli Law Firm today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
