Four Injured After Large Elm Tree Falls in Central Park

Four people including a 39-year-old woman and three children were injured after a large elm tree uprooted and fell over. According to a WABC news report, dramatic video shows bystanders and first responders coming to the rescue of a mother and her three children who were struck by the falling tree. The tree fell on the woman as she was pushing two children, ages 4 and 2, in a stroller while carrying an infant in her arms near 62nd Street and Central Park West.
The woman was trying to protect her children when the tree hit her in the head. She was pinned on the ground for about 10 minutes before firefighters were able to free her. All four victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. The woman suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was listed in critical condition. The children were listed in serious condition. All of the injuries have been described as non-life-threatening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured mother and children. We pray for their speedy and full recovery.

Tree-Related Injuries and Deaths
WABC reported that the roots of the tree stretched 6 to 7 feet long. The Parks Department is investigating the cause of the incident. The Gothamist reports that the Central Park Conservancy is responsible for tree maintenance in the park. The Parks Department has noted that injuries caused by falling trees have happened in the city parks. Between 2011 and 2015, 31 people were injured by falling trees or branches in New York City parks. This should never happen if the trees were inspected regularly and if they were well maintained.
In 2010 alone, a 6-month-old baby was fatally injured by a falling branch near the Central Park Zoo and a 53-year-old man was killed when a branch fell on him near the corner of East Drive and 68th Street. During the same year, three others were injured when a tree branch struck them near 74th Street and East Drive. In 2009, a Google engineer became paralyzed when a 100-pound tree branch struck him in Central Park. And in 2013, a pregnant woman was injured when a branch fell on her at 86th Street near Central Park West.
Injuries and Liability Issues
These types of horrific tree-related accidents can generally be prevented by properly caring for, inspecting and maintaining the trees. When trees become diseased or infested with insects, they may not be structurally sound. Such trees are more likely to fall during a storm or on a windy day. Tree maintenance is also critical to prevent such incidents. When branches are allowed to grow and not properly pruned, there is the risk of heavy branches falling on passersby and causing catastrophic injuries.
Some of the common injuries suffered in these types of incidents include head injuries including concussions, neck and spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, etc. Such injuries can be severely debilitating and may also leave the victim permanently disabled.
In such cases, a property owner and/or property manager in charge of maintaining the dead or diseased tree can be held liable. If the tree involved was in the public right of way, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the area can be held accountable. If some other private entity or nonprofit is involved, they may also be held financially responsible for the resulting injuries, damages and losses. If you were injured by a falling tree or tree branch on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a premises liability claim against the negligent property owner and/or property manager for allowing a dangerous condition to exist and for the lack of upkeep.
Injured victims can seek compensation to cover damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for their loss.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or if you have lost a loved one in a tree accident, please contact the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm, who will help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-children-injured-large-elm-tree-uproots-central/story?id=49232932