An elderly woman was killed by a falling tree branch in New York earlier this month as she was cleaning up snow from this last round of winter weather to blow through. The 88-year old was shoveling in front of her home when a large branch broke free and fell on her. She was crushed to the ground. Eyewitnesses called first responders and they were on scene within minutes. While they were attempting to stabilize the victim, another tree branch came crashing down, narrowly missing rescue crews.
Making matters worse, the branch that had pinned the victim also took down nearby power lines, entangling with them as it fell. EMTs had to wait for utility workers to shut off the current before they could even reach the victim safely. She was taken to a nearby hospital but her injuries were too severe to overcome. She passed away shortly after arrival.
The reports surrounding this deadly tree branch accident in New York don’t indicate whose property the tree limb fell from . If the tree was indeed on a neighbor’s property, the woman’s surviving family members could potentially seek compensation for their terrible loss by filing an insurance claim or a wrongful death lawsuit.
Under New York premises liability law, the owners of property on which dangerous trees stand are legally liable for any injuries that may be cause by falling limbs or toppling trees. These individuals, businesses, or city agencies have a responsibility to inspect the trees on their property for broken limbs, rot, and other conditions that may cause them to become hazards. If such a danger is spotted, the owner must take action (up to felling and removing the tree) in order to keep the general public safe.
If you’ve been injured by falling limbs along NYC’s sidewalks or inside its public parks, contact an experienced falling tree branch accident attorney in New York City today. Call the professionals at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for your free consultation at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.