New York City Police Investigating Accident In East Harlem After 7-Year-Old Boy Fell Three Stories From Apartment Window
EAST HARLEM, NEW YORK (February 24, 2024) – A 7-year-old boy was injured after falling from a window at East Harlem apartments.
New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:50 a.m. on Friday. A boy fell three stories from a 12th-floor window to a 9th-floor terrace.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the boy. He was taken to the hospital in order to receive care.
Investigators are still trying to determine how the boy was able to get through the window.
Investigating New York City Window Fall Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for small children. According to one report from the Stanford Children’s Hospital, over 2.2 million children are sent to the emergency room every year due to fall-related injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that nearly 5,000 children are injured after falling through windows. There are a number of steps that building owners should take in order to prevent children from falling through windows.
- Apartment owners should install window guards or bars that can prevent children from accidentally falling through a window.
- Apartment owners should use window stops or locks that can limit how far a window can open.
- Apartment owners should conduct regular inspections and maintenance on their windows.
- Apartment owners should use non-reversible screws to install air conditioners.
Depending on the facts of any case, a property owner could face civil liability for an accident where a child fell from a window. According to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, “In all buildings with three or more apartments, New York City (NYC) law requires that building owners install window guards if a child age 10 years or younger lives there, or if the tenant or occupant requests window guards for any reason.” If a property owner failed to install window guards, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. A number of steps should be taken after any window-fall accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Maintenance records for the area where the accident took place should be sought.
- Medical records related to the fall should be preserved.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.
The vast majority of window-fall accidents are preventable. They nearly always involve instances where property owners fail to follow safety guidelines. When a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to prevent children from being injured in window-fall accidents, they could be at fault through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating East Harlem Window Fall Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the child injured in this accident and their family. This was a preventable accident that should not have taken place. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this apartment safer before a similar accident takes place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an East Harlem window fall? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
