Jiang sued Freeman and the owners of the vehicle driven by Freeman, Dollar Rent a Car and Rental Car Finance Corp. Jiang alleged that Freeman ran a red light and that the corporate owners were vicariously liable for the driver's actions. Plaintiff also claimed that Freeman was speeding.

Plaintiff sustained multiple injuries including a fracture of his C4 vertebra; fractures of the transverse processes of his T12, L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae; open fractures of his left leg's fibula and tibia; open fractures of his right forearm's radius and ulna bones; a concussion and a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Jiang was placed in an ambulance, and transported to Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn where he remained for 14 days. He then underwent four weeks of physical therapy and in-home nursing care. He could not work during the six months following the accident. Plaintiff's expert neuropsychologist testified that plaintiff suffers residual impairment of his cognitive functions as a result of the subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Defendant Freeman did not appear during the trial. Defense counsel acknowledged Freeman's negligence, but contended that Jiang could have avoided the collision. The jury found the defendant's 100% responsible for the accident and returned a $6.1 million verdict in favor of plaintiff.

Website Resource:

VerdictSearch, Jiang v. Dollar Rent a Car, Inc., July 30, 2010.

The multi-car accident began about 1:50 p.m. at Exit 16 when three vans from the same company were involved in a minor collision that blocked the left lane. The drivers reportedly stepped out of their vehicles and were standing in the road when a fourth vehicle, traveling at high speed, struck one of the vans.

A fifth vehicle drove up to the scene and became wedged between two of the original vehicles.

Joseph Russo, a 33 year-old Walden resident, who had been standing outside his vehicle, was severely injured when he was pinned between two of the vehicles. Angel Ortiz Rauda, a 31 year-old resident of New Rochelle, suffered a sprained wrist; Angelo Zaurdo, a 35 year-old Brooklyn resident, suffered minor injuries to his leg and arm; and Claude G. Vuley, a 35 year-old Washingtonville resident, suffered a broken pelvis.

I-95 was closed for approximately two hours while police completed an investigation.

Website Resource:

6-vehicle I-95 crash injures 4 in New Rochelle, Danielle De Souza, Journal News, June 29, 2010.

The jury found Williams liable, and awarded $40,876,000 to Falcone. Falcone sustained multiple facial fractures, as well as a traumatic brain injury that caused him to slip into a coma. The coma lasted several weeks, and he is permanently paralyzed of the left side of his body. His right side remains weak, and he is confined to a wheelchair. He also suffers residual impairment of his speech, diminishment of his cognitive abilities, and incontinence of his bladder and bowel. Falcone resides in a rehabilitative facility.

Defense counsel has moved to set aside the verdict.

As a result, the Second Department held that Defendant failed to make a prima facie showing that it neither created nor had actual or constructive notice of the spill as it failed to proffer any evidence as to when the area was last cleaned prior to the fall.

Website Resource:

Zambri v Madison Sq. Garden, L.P., 2010 NY Slip Op 04370 [73 AD3d 1035], May 18, 2010.

Below please find a sampling of the circumstances under which drivers were charged with DWI:

- J Fernandez, 51, of Union, N.J., was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated around 2:35 am after a trooper saw him cross a hazardous marking on Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson. His blood-alcohol level was 0.13 percent.

- D Perez, 23, of Sleepy Hollow was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated around 5:30 a.m. on Interstate 87 in Tarrytown.

- S Brown, 38, of New York City was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and driving while intoxicated, felonies, around 4:45 a.m on Interstate 684 in Bedford.

- Carol L. Bower, 61, of Meriden, Conn., was charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated, misdemeanors, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 287 in Harrison.

Website Resource:

21 DWI arrests by troopers in Westchester, Putnam counties, Journal News, Terence Corcoran, July 5, 2010.

Police reports indicate that one vehicle was going the wrong way on the eastbound side of the expressway before colliding with a shuttle van at approximately 6 a.m. The accident occurred near the Kissena Boulevard exit. The van was empty except for the driver.

Both drivers were brought to the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens in critical condition. Police are investigating the crash.

Website Resources:

NYPD: Wrong-way car slams shuttle van; 2 critical, Albany Times Union, July 5, 2010.

Dicturel v Dukureh, 71 AD3d 558 (1st Dept. 2010).

Cuevas claimed that soon thereafter, she developed clicking and popping of her jaw. She contended that eating has become painful and that she must wear a jaw guard whenever she is not eating. Cuevas sued the hospital, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, alleging that her injury was a result of an anesthesiologist who was overly forceful during the intubation process. The hospital blamed the surgeon, who was not a hospital employee, but the jury found the anesthesiologist responsible for the plaintiff's injuries.

He ultimately underwent a knee replacement surgery as a result of the fall, and an additional surgery may be necessary. Shabazz also contended that he cannot resume physical labor and that his sedentary work options are limited. The defendants argued that Shabazz's injuries were the result of degenerative conditions. The Bronx jury awarded damages in the amount of $4,175,341.28.

The 21 year-old has been charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, speeding, failure to maintain lane and improper turn, all traffic infractions.

DWI, speeding and other traffic violations are leading causes of motor vehicle accidents and personal injuries in New York.

The Second Department found that the affidavit of plaintiff's treating chiropractor sufficiently raised a triable issue of fact as to whether she sustained a causally related serious injury to her cervical and lumbar spine. The treating chiropractor, Dr. Duk Soon Park, opined that based upon his contemporaneous and most recent examinations of the plaintiff, her cervical and lumbar injuries were permanent and causally related to the motor vehicle accident.

Website Resources:

Kwak v. Villamar, 71 AD3d 762 (2d Dept. 2010)

The verdict included $5 million for future pain and suffering and $2 million for future medical expenses. The defense argued that not only did Pantano cause the accident, but that she is now completely healed.

Website Resource:

VerdictSearch.com, June 3, 2010.

Jayden's mother, Lizzette Cain, asserted the claims on behalf of her son. She contended that the palsy was caused by traction applied to the boy's head during delivery. The traction was applied to relieve entrapment of his right shoulder. Ms. Cain further argued that a Caesarean delivery was the more prudent option given the child's size. The delivering obstetrician countered that due to the totality of the signs and symptoms present, a vaginal delivery was appropriate.

Website Resource:

VerdictSearch.com, June 3, 2010.

He had just delivered mail to the property. The sidewalk cellar door was located approximately one foot from the store entrance. The plaintiff maintained that the cellar doors had been closed when he entered the store. The plaintiff suffered multiple injuries including a deep laceration that required surgical repair, multiple disc herniations, and a torn medial meniscus.

Website Resource:

New York Jury Verdict Review and Analysis (158631) Nassau County, NY

Plaintiff contended that as a result of the nerve damage, she suffers from back pain and limited range of motion. Plaintiff's experts testified that, in all likelihood, the condition will worsen over time. Attorneys for the hospital are contemplating an appeal.

Website Resource:

Syracuse jury awards nurse nearly $1.7 million for nerve damage after baby's birth, Syracuse Post-Standard, Jim O'Hara, June 1, 2010.