Queens Personal Injury Law Blog

Factors you should consider when picking your child's guardian

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Estate Planning on Friday, April 19, 2019.

If you haven't done so already, the moment that you find out that you're expecting a child, you should start thinking about estate planning. One decision to make is whom you will appoint as your child's guardian if something were to happen to you while they are still a minor. There are several factors you should consider when selecting whom you want to appoint to this role.

Parents who have more than one child may wish to appoint a single guardian for all of their children or specify a different one for each. Selecting a different guardian for each child may be necessary if you have a particularly large family. Just remember, however, that it will limit considerably the time that they are able to spend with one another.

A Queens motorist runs a red light, crashes into a city bus

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, April 12, 2019.

A city bus crashed into the storefront of a bagel shop in Queens early in the morning on April 7 injuring several people.

According to a Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) spokesperson, the operator of the Q18 bus was driving along 58th Street nearby its intersection with Woodside Avenue shortly after 5 a.m. It's around that time that the driver of a passenger car ran a red light and crashed into the side of the bus.

A fire quickly engulfs a series of Queens row houses, injuring 10

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

An early morning fire in the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood on March 20 left 10 area residents and a firefighter with serious injuries. At least 20 of them were ultimately displaced because of the damage that the fire caused.

A spokesperson with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) notes that the fire got underway in the basement of a row home located along Menahan Street shortly before 5:00 a.m. In speaking with witnesses, fire investigators have preliminarily determined that a malfunctioning boiler may have caused the turmoil that ensued.

If you've gotten divorced, you need to review your estate plan

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

A divorce has a way of rippling out into all the different aspects of your life. From your relationship with your children to your interaction with your co-workers, it can seem like just about everything changes during and after a divorce. You may feel so eager to get back to your life as you knew it or envisioned it that you overlook one important change that isn't officially part of divorce proceedings.

Chances are good that if you have a last will or estate plan, it involves your spouse in many different areas. Obviously, your former spouse's inclusion in an estate plan after a divorce can prove problematic.

Why we need National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, March 29, 2019.

Have you heard that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this year? People need to be aware of the impact that cellphones and other distractions have on our ability to drive safely. They lead to many car accidents each year.

Nonetheless, you may be asking yourself if we really need an awareness month. Doesn't everyone know that distracted driving is dangerous?

A Queens man sues Turkish Airlines for turbulent flight injuries

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Friday, March 22, 2019.

A Forest Hills man filed a lawsuit against Turkish Airlines on March 11. In his filing, the plaintiff alleges that he suffered serious injuries that resulted in him becoming permanently disabled while on a turbulent flight on March 9. He was traveling between Turkey and John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City that evening.

According to the Queens man's filing, their airliner was reportedly being flown above New England on the evening of March 9 when it hit some pretty rocky skies.

What's involved in contesting a will in New York?

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Estate Planning on Friday, March 15, 2019.

When a testator drafts a will, they're supposed to detail all of the assets that they own and what their final wishes are as it relates to who they'd like to become the new owner of them. Heirs often don't find out if they're set to receive any of the estate's remaining assets until once the testator has died. By the time they find out what their final wishes were, they're often blindsided by hearing that they're not set to receive anything.

Although the more formal name for this document that details their final wishes is a "last will and testament," it's not always the end of the road. It's possible to challenge it, especially if you believe that someone exerted some type of undue influence over the testator or that they were mentally incompetent when they drafted it.

Getting hit on your bike can lead to life-long stress

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Cyclists worry about car accidents. It's just a reality of their chosen mode of transportation. In a place like New York, with the packed city streets and the chaos of urban life, there are going to be accidents involving cyclists. Some of these could lead to serious injuries.

But it's not just the physical injuries that you need to consider. A single accident, no matter how bad it is, can lead to a lifetime of stress and anxiety.

Anyone can make one or more of these estate planning mistakes

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

Estate planning is never as easy as it sounds, as you need to make a variety of decisions that will impact you and your family now and in the future.

As long as you take your time and understand exactly what you're doing, you can be confident in your ability to create an estate plan that suits the needs of you and your loved ones.

Using a ladder at work can be more dangerous than you think

On behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Your profession may call for you to use a ladder to complete a variety of tasks. For example, if you work as a painter or roofer, you'll climb up and down ladders all day long.

While a ladder is one of the most functional tools on a job site, it's also one of the most dangerous. Even if you're careful about every move you make, you could still be part of a ladder accident that causes a serious injury.