A crane accident that injured two NYC construction workers has two construction supervisors facing criminal charges. The Manhattan District Attorney has charged Timothy Bracco and Terrence Edwards with two counts of felony assault and two counts of reckless endangerment.
Construction bosses face criminal charges after crane accident
Criminal defense protections for drug charges are important
Drug possession is a serious criminal charge, which is why it is important for accused individuals to be familiar with their criminal defense rights. Accused individuals who have been charged with drug crimes face serious possible penalties and consequences.
It is important to protect the rights, future and freedom of an accused individual. It is important to look at the facts and circumstances surrounding the criminal charge and it can be useful to determine if the police followed required procedures for the protection of the accused individual, such as properly obtaining a search warrant and having enough evidence to make a valid drug arrest.
Conditional licenses help first-time DUI offenders regain rights
After drinking during a holiday party, you attempt to drive home under the influence of alcohol. An officer witnesses you make an illegal traffic turn, and the officer subsequently discovers you operated your vehicle while drunk. Although you have not committed a DUI offense previously in New York, you worry that your penalties will affect your life greatly.
Depending on the circumstances and risks associated with your DUI offense, you may have the ability to apply for a conditional license. Conditional licenses give those convicted of alcohol or drugged driving offenses the opportunity to drive under certain restrictions given by the court. As DUI punishments may prove harsh, you may require the expertise of a criminal defense attorney who has the experience helping individuals obtain conditional licenses. New York judges understand that license suspensions could bring undue hardships on some drivers, so you may have the ability to apply for a conditional license with accurate attorney representation.
Road construction workers' accidents can lead to civil lawsuits
A lot of the road construction work that is done on New York Highways is scheduled for the early morning hours when traffic is light and also to limit delays for motorists. Unfortunately, some of those who do travel at that time are on their way home from pubs, clubs and other facilities where they consumed alcohol. This increases the probability of road construction workers' accidents that could cause severe injuries and even fatalities.
A 64-year-old construction worker is a victim of such an accident that left him critically injured. The Collision Investigation Squad of the New York Police Department has launched an investigation into the crash that occurred shortly after 3 a.m. on a recent Saturday. A preliminary accident report indicates that the worker was busy placing cones in the westbound traffic lanes of Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn when he was struck by a vehicle.
Newsweek allegedly involved in fraud and money laundering scheme
Publishing companies IBT Media and Christian Media, and executives with those companies, are facing fraud charges for their involvement in an alleged fraud and money-laundering conspiracy involving Newsweek magazine. The district attorney's office recently conducted an investigation, which included raiding IBT's offices.
Etienne Uzac, co-founder of IBT, William Anderson, former chief executive and publisher of Christian Media and various unnamed co-conspirators were charged with making multiple misrepresentations, including statements regarding the financial status of Newsweek, to defraud lenders. According to prosecutors, the alleged perpetrators pretended to borrow money for high-end computing services and instead put the money into their own accounts. Uzac and Anderson were also accused of creating a fake accounting firm and fake financial statements to trick lenders into giving them millions of dollars. A computer company was also criminally charged for providing low-quality computers instead of the expensive ones listed in the invoices.
Driver's license suspension versus revocation in New York
Depending on the circumstances, sometimes when a person in New York is charged with a drunk driving offense, they may face the revocation or suspension of their driver's license. This can be very damaging on a person's everyday life. Driving is a necessity for many people, as it may be their only way to travel to work, run errands or go pretty much anywhere. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between the revocation of one's driver's license and the suspension of one's driver's license.
When a person's driver's license is revoked, he or she is required to turn it in to the Department of Motor Vehicles. At this point it is no longer legal for that person to operate a motor vehicle. Once the revocation period is complete, the person will have to apply for a permit in order to commence the procedure for obtaining his or her driver's license. However, regaining one's driver's license after having it revoked will not bestow upon a driver a new driving record. Previous convictions will remain on the driver's record, even once the revocation period is complete.
Mental health concerns arise in the taxi industry
Some of the most frequent workers you see around the Big Apple are visible on every street corner and traffic light. Taxi cabs are one of the most common ways to travel around New York City whether you want to get to some place quicker or safer. It seems like an accessible industry for those who want to make a living by driving around one of the most iconic cities in the nation.
Unfortunately, recent reports suggest otherwise. A dramatic increase in competition around the city has led to many cab and limo drivers struggling both financially and emotionally. If you or a loved one operate in this field, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers ahead and how you can receive potential coverage for it.
Fatal New York limo accident could result in criminal charges
Earlier this month, a limo was traveling downhill on a rural highway, failed to stop at an intersection and crashed into an unoccupied car. As a result, 20 people were killed, including 17 friends traveling in the limo, the driver of the limo and two people standing by in a nearby parking lot. Investigators discovered that the evidence showed that the collision was a high-energy impact, but could not confirm speeding, as that there were no skid marks near the crash site. The driver of the limousine in question reportedly was operating the limo with an improper license.
Investigators soon discovered that the limousine involved in the accident should not have been on the road, as it failed an inspection just a month ago. The limousine company also apparently had a history of careless behavior. The company, known as Prestige Limousine, reportedly operated out of a low-budget hotel and several of its vehicles had failed numerous inspections. The owner of the company also has the same name of an informant who testified for the F.B.I. in two terrorism cases, and the owner's son may be in charge of the company. According to authorities, the owner became an informant after being charged for taking money to illegally help New York residents get their driver's licenses.
2017 NHTSA figures show fewer fatalities except for trucks
New York drivers may be less likely to have fatal accidents on rural than urban roads, and fatal accidents are down overall across the country compared to 2015 and 2016. However, truck drivers could be at a greater accident risk than drivers of other types of vehicles.
On Oct. 3, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released information from its Fatality Analysis Reporting System. After a climb in fatalities in 2015 and 2016, they dropped in 2017, and appear to be continuing that trend in the first half of 2018. This was true for all vehicle types except SUVs, tractor-trailers and large straight trucks, which all showed increases. This was particularly significant for tractor-trailers, which showed nearly a 6 percent increase, and large straight trucks, which increased more than 18 percent.
Fentanyl epidemic threatens workplace safety of first responders
According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the potency of the synthetic opioid fentanyl is estimated at 50 times the strength of heroin. This threatens the workplace safety of all first responders such as emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, rescue workers, firefighters and even border patrol officials. In New York, these workers respond to tens of thousands of calls, any one of which could involve a fentanyl overdose or other potential exposure to this opioid.
The BJA recently released a video to make first responders aware of the dangers of fentanyl exposure, and to show them the precautions they can take in circumstances in which fentanyl exposure might occur. It also explains what these workers should do if they have to deal with individuals that show signs of opioid impairment. Typical symptoms include unresponsiveness or drowsiness, breathing that is slow or has stopped, and constricted pupils.
