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Lawsuits Filed Following Train Crash

January 31, 2016 By

In February last year, two men from Westchester County men were killed when a Metro-North train hit a vehicle and their families have now filed lawsuits.

The incident happened on February 3, 2015 when 49 year old Ellen Brody, 49, a mother of three from Edgemont, was driving a 2011 Mercedes SUV. When she reached the crossing she was hit by the northbound train in an accident that was the deadliest in the history of Metro-North killing six people including Brody.

The lawsuit lays the blame for the men’s deaths on a poorly designed crossing and alleges that the train engineer was too slow in hitting the brakes which resulted in the deaths of 42 year old Joseph Nadol of Ossining and 36 year old Robert Dirks of Chappaqua.

Among the defendants facing charges of negligence are Metro-North and its engineer, Steven Smalls Jr., with over ten reasons as to why they were negligent which include a poorly designed rail which was dislodged in the crash as well as a poorly designed crossing.

In addition the lawsuit alleges that the train was travelling too fast and the brakes were applied too late to avoid the accident.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: train accident

Keeping Children Safe from Medicines

December 31, 2015 By

When we think about keeping children safe from medicines we usually think of small children taking brightly colored pills unaware of the danger they can cause. But it is not just young children that are at risk and it is important that we educate all children so medication can serve its purpose to help and not harm.

By teaching your child that all medicine should be given by an adult, in order that they can monitor the dosage, their current health and possible interaction with any other medication they will learn that they should not take any medication on their own. Kids learn by example so if they see your taking medicines responsibly, reading the labels and storing these out of reach they are likely to follow your lead.

Everybody should only take medication that is prescribed or bought specifically for them as it is all too easy when with friends to think a pill for a headache or other pain is safe when it may not be. Teach your children this important fact that one type of medication that may be safe for one person may not be safe for another. Pre-teens are old enough to read over-the-counter labels or fact sheets and you can teach them about why they are taking a specific medication. Even if they take medication on a daily basis it’s a good idea to monitor them as they may be taking too little or too much; mistakes are easy to make and a little communication goes a long way.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Home safety

Pulling a Trailer Safely

November 30, 2015 By

Pulling a trailer requires a calm driving manner, you must eliminate quick movements and last minute stops from your driving if you want to have a safe journey.

When pulling a trailer you need to reduce your normal driving speed, keeping to 55 miles per hour or under. Keeping alert for any changing road conditions will allow you to respond quickly and slowdown in plenty of time. With the weight of the trailer pushing your vehicle you will need to allow extra time and distance to stop safely. Remember to allow more space to pass other vehicles than normal, taking turns wider so the trailer will not bounce on the curb. Going downhill also requires extra attention, slow down before you go downhill and generally it is a good idea to use the same speed going downhill as you would uphill.

Also remember to take in to consideration the weather conditions as any adverse weather will mean that you need to allow even more time and room to stop, with windy conditions making the trailer more prone to swaying. It you find your trailer whipping or swaying take your foot off the gas and try and let the vehicle gradually slow down, avoid braking or speeding up.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Driver safety

Driver Charged with Being Impaired by Alcohol in Two Vehicle Accident

October 31, 2015 By

On Sunday, October 11, there was a two vehicle accident on I-287 at exit 6, White Plains.

The State Police who responded to the report of a two vehicle collision at approximately 4.24 a.m. determined that 23 year old Stephanie J. Arce-Villon, who was driving a 2015 Dodge, sideswiped a 2007 Lincoln, driven by an unknown driver, as both vehicles were exiting the thruway at exit 6. Troopers who investigated the incident found that Arce-Villon from Belmont, MA, was impaired through alcohol. She was taken to Tarrytown state police facility where her blood alcohol level was found to be 0.07 percent.

Although both vehicles sustained some damage, fortunately neither driver was injured. Arce-Villon was charged with the violation of Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol, and was released into the care of a sober third party. She is to appear before Village of White Plains Court on October 30.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto accident

White Plains Firefighter Sentenced to Jail

September 30, 2015 By

On Friday, September 25, a White Plains firefighter was sentenced to state prison.

The accident he was involved with took place last November when 34 year old firefighter Erik Refvik, was drunk as well as high and was driving at 65 mph in his Chevrolet Tahoe the wrong way down South Lexington Avenue in White Plains. He collided head on into a Honda Civic being driven by 49 year old Edgar Lopez, who was stopped at a red light.

Lopez was critically injured and his passenger, his ex wife, 47 year old Reyda La Madrid, of Harrison was killed. Refvik then reversed his SUV and hit a building.

According to witnesses, Refvik had been drinking at several bars on in downtown White Plains on that day and experts said his blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit. In addition he had cocaine, clonazepam and bath salts in his system.

He pleaded guilty to several charges including aggravated homicide and manslaughter, vehicular assault, drunk driving and possession of drugs and was sentenced to five to 15 years in state prison.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: DUI accident

Head on Crash Sends Eight People to Hospital

August 24, 2015 By

On Wednesday, August 5, a head on crash on Route 22 sent eight people to hospital.

According to North Castle police, the accident happened shortly before 6 p.m. near the Kensico Dam when an Acura sedan which was being driven northbound by a young man, crossed into oncoming traffic and smashed directly into a Leros minibus heading south.

The driver of the Acura had to be extricated and was taken to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries.

The bus had seven passengers plus the driver and all bar one were injured with a range of injuries and taken to hospital.

The road was closed in both directions from Hillandale Avenue to the Bronx River Parkway while police cleared the debris and began the investigation. They would not say if any charges have been filed or tickets issued.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto accident

Surgeon at White Plains Hospital Dies in Bicycle Crash

July 31, 2015 By

On Tuesday, July 14, Dr. Robert Small died following a bicycle crash. Small, aged 63 was an orthopedic surgeon at White Plains Hospital.

According to police, the accident happened on Friday, July 10, at around 6 p.m. on the North County Trailway in Yorktown. He was riding his bicycle when he fell and a passing bicyclist called 911. When emergency responders arrive he was unconscious, although he was wearing a helmet.

Small, a Briarcliff resident had been at White Plains Hospital for nearly 30 years and was held in high regard by his colleagues and beloved by his patients. He was Chief of the Orthopedic Institute and President of the Medical and Dental staff and was an avid bicyclist.

He leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Dr. Catherine Small, who is an infectious disease specialist at Westchester Medical Center and three children, two of whom are doctors and the youngest is studying to be a doctor.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Bicycle accident

Man Killed in Hit and Run

June 30, 2015 By

On Tuesday, June 10, a body was found on a front lawn in Greenburgh and the police think it was a hit and run.

According to Greenburgh police, the body of a man was found at 6 a.m. when spotted by a passing driver in front of 57 South Road. Police identified the man as 23 year old Darryl Chung who moved to Greenburgh from Mount Vernon with his mother around five months ago.

Police believe Chung was walking east on the road and was then hit from behind, between 11:30 Monday evening and when the body was found. However, it was not clear exactly when Chung was hit as there were no reports of the incident but the police did recover some forensic information. Now they are looking for a vehicle with damage at the front on the passenger side, especially to the bumper or headlight and have requested help from the public in locating the vehicle.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Hit and Run accident

School Bus Driver was Driving Drunk

May 29, 2015 By

On Monday, May 11, a school bus driver was driving drunk.

According to state police, 56 year old Mary Coletti, who was driving for the Lakeland School District, was taking 35 high school students to Walter Panas High School at around 7 a.m. She then sideswiped a telephone pole and a subsequent breathalyzer test showed that she had a 0.13% blood alcohol content which is 0.05 percentage points higher than the legal threshold for drunken driving.

A few of the students suffered minor injuries but no one was seriously hurt.

Coletti’s bus driver’s license was revoked and there was a new bus driver driving the students in the afternoon.

The school district said that they place the very highest priority on the safety and security of the students and said they would also be conducting their own investigation. They confirmed that they have rigorous safety programs for their drivers as well as regular drug and alcohol testing.

Coletti, of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., now faces felony driving while intoxicated charges under Leandra’s Law, which is a 2009 New York state law that penalizes those who drive drunk with children on board.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: DUI accident

Man Suing a White Plains Restaurant

April 30, 2015 By

A Harrison man who was critically injured in a crash in November last year is now suing a White Plains restaurant saying they served alcohol to the man who caused the collision, knowing that he was already intoxicated.

The complaint states that 49 year old Edgar Lopez was injured in the accident when city Firefighter Erik Refvik became drunk at Brother Jimmy’s BBQ,on Mamoroneck Avenue and that the crash, in which Lopez ex wife, 47 year old Reyda LaMadrid was killed, was directly caused because of this.

Refvik had taken cocaine, sedatives and bath salts and went on a 12 hour drinking binge at five different establishments on Mamoroneck Avenue, the last of which was Brother Jimmy’s. He was driving the wrong way on South Lexington Avenue at 4.30 in the morning and smashed into Lopez’ vehicle at 65 mph, in a 30 mph zone with a blood alcohol level nearly three times more than the legal limit. He was arraigned last month on 11 counts including aggravated homicide, aggravated manslaughter, vehicular assault, drunk driving and drug possession.

The White Plains accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP. help victims of catastrophic injuries recover maximum compensation so that they can return to the highest quality of life possible. Please call us right away at (914) 331-0100 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: DUI accident
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