Deaths, Injuries, and Hurricane Sandy

NEW YORK, NY, November 21, 2012 (Press-News.org) As the death toll from Hurricane Sandy has climbed through the 100 mark, and property damage estimates top $50 billion, it's clear that it's going to be a very busy time for insurance companies and lawyers.

New York personal injury lawyer Nussin Fogel expects there to be a lot of litigation in the wake of the storm as insurance companies attempt to avoid responsibility for deaths, injuries, or property damage. "For example," said Fogel, "power failures at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans that caused 34 deaths after Hurricane Katrina led to lawsuits. The back-up power system should not have failed. Determining who was responsible for the failure, and who should compensate the victims' families, was an expensive and complicated question."

In many cases insurance companies act responsibly, and promptly meet their obligations to pay for covered deaths, injuries, or property damage.

In some cases, however, determining who is liable can be more complicated. As reported in the Huffington Post, at least nine people have died as a result or carbon monoxide poisoning from generators used to provide emergency power.

It's natural that people who have been without electricity for days are going to seek ways to get some power and/or heat into their homes. They may not be aware of the dangers of running generators or propane stoves indoors. Depending on the circumstances, insurance companies could find plenty of things to argue about in some of these deaths. Where was the generator placed? Was it operated according to manufacturer's guidelines? Was there a defect in the generator that contributed to the problem?

If there is any doubt as to who is responsible, insurance companies can be expected to fight vigorously. "With $50 billion in damages, insurance companies can be expected to do everything they can to minimize their losses," commented Fogel. "It's going to be years before some victims of this disaster see the compensation to which they are entitled."

About Nussin Fogel and the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel:

For close to 30 years, the New York personal injury, medical malpractice, construction accident, auto accident, slip and fall, and civil rights violation lawyers at The Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel have handled all types of New York personal injury cases. A premier New York slip and fall lawyer, Nussin Fogel, the firm's founder, has been recognized for his long list of successful outcomes as well as his dedication and service to the community.

The Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel is located in New York City and serves the communities of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx County, Kings County, New York County, Queens County and Richmond County.

Website: http://www.nsfogel.com