A New York City accident claimed the life of a 6-month-old girl after a tree branch fell on her at Central Park Zoo, the New York Times reported.
The tragic incident occurred when a tree branch snapped 30 feet above a well-traveled path at the zoo. The Times reports it is the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving tree branches that have occurred at the park in the last year. A New York City injury lawyer should be consulted whenever someone is seriously injured or killed on public property, such as a park or swimming pool, or while riding public transportation, including a bus, ferry or subway.
Authorities are questioning whether agencies in charge of the park’s maintenance and operation are doing enough to protect the public. On Sunday, the park department said it did not know why the branch snapped off, killing the infant and seriously injuring her 33-year-old mother. The Times reports the city said it did not know who was responsible for maintaining the trees.
The park’s 26,000 trees are overseen by the Central Park Conservancy, a private nonprofit group that has maintained oversight of the park’s operations since 1998, under a formal agreement with the city. But the conservancy would not say Sunday whether the trees fall under its supervision or whether it would be conducting an investigation. Instead, the group referred questions to the police and zoo operator, the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Questions about the trees and their maintenance have already been raised in court after the family of a Brooklyn man filed a lawsuit after he was killed by a falling branch in February. A lawsuit is also pending in the case of a 33-year-old Google employee, who was struck by a tree branch in July. He survived but was left with head and spinal injuries.
If you are dealing with a municipal liability claim in the New York City or Long Island areas, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose to discuss your rights. Call 718.261.0549.
