As the Second Avenue subway’s massive construction project continues to roar through the Upper East Side, the city is being hit with huge personal injury lawsuits. Claims totaling $27M are already on file.
George Behoyos was biking on Second near 95th Street when he came upon a construction site “set up in an obstructive and unsafe way.” He was hit by a cab and lost his spleen, his $5 million suit says. He also suffered a collapsed lung, a bruised kidney and postsurgery pneumonia. Elizabeth Bengelsdorf was crossing Second at 87th Street when a missing curb caused her to trip, fracturing an elbow, her $5 million notice of claim says. Javier Germidio was driving on Second and 87th last December when he hit an unguarded trench, according to his $2 million suit, which adds that he suffered facial lacerations and “emotional anguish.”
The city already pays out tens of millions annually in slip-and-fall type claims. The first section of the new line is scheduled to be finished in 2016.