Bronx, NY – Girl Killed By Fallen Handrail at Westchester Square Rental Home

By Steven Miller
Senior Partner

Bronx, NY (August 3, 2021) – Around 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening, August 2, a young girl died after a handrail collapsed on top of her, per reports from officers with the New York Police Department.

Police say the 8-year-old girl died after a marble handrail collapsed on top of her at a residence in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx. Officers arrived on the scene shortly after the incident occurred and found the girl with trauma to her head.

She was rushed to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Medical Center in the nearby neighborhood Morris Park via ambulance. She was later pronounced dead, according to the NYPD.

A preliminary investigation found that the girl suffered extensive injuries when the marble handrail became detached from the front of a house and fell directly on top of her, NYPD Detective Sophia Mason said. News footage from the scene showed a trail of blood in front of the house, along with large, broken pieces of the handrail that were scattered to the side of the porch.

The girl’s family reportedly began renting the home where the accident occurred earlier this year. The landlord’s name was not released, but authorities with the NYC Department of Buildings said that several complaints have been made about the property since 2016.

The investigation into the circumstances of the accident remains ongoing, and further details have not been released.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased child at this time.

Premises Liability Claims in New York 

Hundreds of accidents occur every year in the state of New York. In one recent year, handfuls of people lost their lives in construction accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, and similar occurrences due to the negligence of others. Employers, landlords, and other property owners are expected to take special precautions so that others will not be injured or killed in these horrific accidents. In New York State, when someone is injured or killed while lawfully on someone else’s property, the owner is liable if the owner’s negligence caused your injury. Known as premises liability, this responsibility ensures that victims and their families are protected if an accident occurs through no fault of their own.

If you have lost someone you love in a fatal accident, it is important that you have the help of a legal advocate on your side. Losing somebody you love in a fatal accident can impact your life in many ways. You likely have questions that only an accident attorney will be able to answer. For instance, what deadlines will you have to meet when it comes to your claim? Will your claim be settled or make it to trial? What evidence is needed when you are working on your case? It is important that you have options and answers to your questions.

Our New York premises liability attorneys at Miller, Montiel & Strano are here for you after you have lost someone you love in a preventable accident. We understand how overwhelmed you may be feeling after a fatal incident has turned your life upside-down. It is important that you have an attorney by your side so that you can work toward compensation for a wide array of losses. Please contact an accident attorney in New York at 516-484-4010 at your earliest convenience. Our skilled New York legal team is here to help you and your family in your time of need.

Notes: Our writers use secondary sources when creating these accident news posts. These sources include police and fire accident reports, news stories and newspaper stories, and first-hand accounts from eyewitnesses to the accidents. For that reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our staff at Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. If you do find any information that is incorrect, contact our firm to have a correction made immediately. If you would prefer the post to be removed from our site, let us know and we will accommodate you as soon as possible. 

Disclaimers: The attorneys at Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. have strived to build a solid reputation in the local business community throughout the decades. These posts are written to bring attention to the dangers related to serious accidents in our region and hope that everyone uses caution when operating a motor vehicle  The photos used in this post were not taken at the accident scene. The information in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.

About the Author
Steven Miller, Esq. is the founding member and Senior Partner in Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. Mr. Miller’s extensive career as a trial attorney spans five decades. He tries cases for the catastrophically injured victims of construction site accidents, motor vehicle and premises accidents caused by the negligence of others. Mr. Miller is a detail oriented, tenacious attorney committed to achieving the maximum results for his clients; he has obtained numerous seven figure verdicts and settlements.