Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers | August 1, 2025 | Personal Injury
Negligence is a core concept in personal injury law that refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care. It’s generally used to hold individuals and companies accountable when their carelessness leads to injury.
To succeed in a negligence claim, you must prove the following four elements:
- Someone had a legal obligation to act reasonably and avoid causing harm.
- They failed to meet that standard through action or inaction.
- That failure directly caused your injury.
- You suffered actual harm as a result.
Negligence can occur in many different settings. Whether it is a distracted driver, a negligent surgeon, or a property owner who fails to fix a hazard, you have the right to pursue compensation when these elements are met.
Here are some examples of how negligence causes injuries in New York City across different types of cases:
Car Accidents Involving Negligence
Car accidents are among the most common results of negligence. Drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely and responsibly. Others can suffer serious injuries or death when they fail to do so.
Examples of negligence in New York car accidents include:
- A driver texting while driving, leading to a rear-end crash
- Running a red light and T-boning a vehicle legally passing through the intersection
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn
- Speeding during rainy weather and losing control of the vehicle
These crashes often cause serious physical injuries, including whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and in severe cases, spinal cord damage. A car accident caused by negligence can quickly escalate from a minor collision to a life-altering event, especially when large vehicles or high speeds are involved.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are vulnerable road users who can suffer catastrophic injuries in traffic accidents. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians at marked crosswalks and intersections.
Negligence that leads to pedestrian accidents includes:
- Failing to yield at a crosswalk
- Backing out of a parking space without looking
- Turning right on red without checking for crossing pedestrians
- Speeding through school zones or residential neighborhoods
- Driving while fatigued or distracted
Injuries are often severe when a pedestrian is struck. Victims may suffer fractures to the legs or pelvis, traumatic brain injuries, facial fractures from hitting the ground, and long-term impairments such as nerve damage or mobility issues. In one case, a pedestrian was struck in a crosswalk during daylight hours.
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Accidents
Premises liability cases involve injuries caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property. Property owners and managers have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions and warn visitors of hidden hazards.
Examples of premises liability negligence:
- Wet floors in grocery stores with no warning signs
- Poor lighting in stairwells causing falls
- Uneven pavement or potholes in parking lots
- Loose railings or steps in apartment complexes
- Negligent security at venues that leads to assaults
These accidents can lead to concussions, spinal injuries, fractured hips or wrists, or soft tissue damage. These cases often hinge on whether the hazard was known, or should have been known, by the property owner or manager.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites are inherently hazardous, but employers and contractors must still adhere to safety regulations. Workers and bystanders can be severely injured or killed when they fail to do so.
Negligence that may cause construction accidents includes:
- Lack of fall protection on scaffolding
- Failing to secure heavy machinery or materials
- Inadequate training or supervision of workers
- Ignoring OSHA regulations or cutting corners
- Defective equipment or failure to inspect tools
Injuries sustained in construction accidents can be life-altering. Workers may suffer crush injuries from collapsed structures, spinal cord injuries or paralysis from falls, burns from electrical hazards, or severe lacerations and fractures from power tools or falling debris.
Medical Malpractice
Doctors, nurses, and hospitals are required to meet the accepted standard of care in their field. They may be liable for medical malpractice when they fail to appropriately diagnose, treat, or warn patients.
Examples of medical malpractice in New York include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer or a heart attack
- Surgical errors, such as operating on the wrong site
- Administering the wrong medication or dosage
- Failure to monitor a patient during recovery
- Birth injuries due to poor fetal monitoring or delayed C-section
Patients injured by medical negligence may face organ damage, serious infections, brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation, or permanent disability.
Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party. These claims allow surviving family members to pursue compensation for their loss.
Types of wrongful death cases include:
- Fatal car crashes caused by drunk or distracted driving
- Medical errors leading to preventable death
- Construction site accidents where safety rules were ignored
- Nursing home neglect resulting in malnutrition or falls
- Dangerous property conditions or inadequate security
In a wrongful death case, families are left not only grieving but also facing financial and emotional hardship. They may lose a primary wage earner, a parent, or a partner. Common damages include funeral costs, lost future income, and the loss of companionship.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in New York City at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers For More Help
Negligence can occur in numerous ways, and its consequences can be life-changing. These examples show that personal injury cases are rarely accidents. They often result from preventable mistakes.
If you or a loved one has been harmed due to someone else’s negligence, speaking with an experienced New York personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our New York City personal injury lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We also serve in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
100 Wall St 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Bronx Office
1578 Williamsbridge Rd suite 3b
Bronx, NY 10461
(212) 514-5007
(917) 905-2339
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
32 Court St #704
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 514-5007
(917) 920-7332
