Should Christians Sue for Personal Injuries?

It's October 29, 2012. You and your family heeded government warnings and evacuated your home on the South shore of Long Island, New York. Hurricane Sandy is ravaging the coast, and you can do nothing but wait for it to end.

The next day you return to your home, hoping it is still standing. As you enter the front door, you initially notice that the floor is covered with sand and debris. Water stains mark each wall, parallel to the ground at about three feet high. Everything on your first floor is destroyed, along with major damage to your home's exterior. Your cars are totaled. 

But, you are a Christian, and you keep things in their proper perspective. You think, "Thank God that my family is OK", and then, "Thank God that I have insurance!" You call your insurance company to make a claim, knowing that at least you won't suffer a major financial setback. 

Is this Wrong? 

What were your first thoughts when reading the above story? Did you think it is a sin to make an insurance claim? Did you think, "Christians should stay out of court"? Did the above story conjure thoughts of something dishonest or dubious? No? 

Then why do many Christians have these thoughts when faced with making a personal injury claim? The answer is multifaceted, but I believe predominantly stems firstly from a misinterpretation of scripture and secondly from marketing by insurance companies.

What is the Distinction?

It is perplexing that the same Christians who would unhesitantly pursue a property damage claim, refuse to make a personal injury claim. A comparison of a property damage claim and personal injury claim will reveal little distinction. Both cases begin as a claim and may end up in court. Both cases are paid out by billion dollar insurance companies, whose business is to sell insurance and pay claims. Also, neither claim will be paid personally by an individual involved in a lawsuit. Neither case will take money out of an individuals pocket nor take a family's house away.

The belief that it might be a sin or somehow displeasing to God to bring a personal injury lawsuit makes sense on the surface, because Christians are supposed to be "forgiving" and not seek revenge as "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." Christians who accept this superficial rationale allow themselves to be twice victimized; first by the injury, and second by a misapplication of scripture. 

So why is there such a stigma on Christian personal injury lawsuits? 

Did Paul Say Don't Go to Court? 

Perhaps the most often cited scripture against Christians using the courts is 1 Corinthians 6. You may have heard that Christians should "stay out of court". A careful reading of this passage reveals that this interpretation is in error. 1 Corinthians 6:1-2 states:

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? (1 Corinthians 6:1-2 Emphasis added)

Paul specifically mentions "trivial" cases. This statement about trivial cases is the backdrop for 1 Corinthians 6. Paul is pleading with the Corinthians to keep their trivial matters out of court. This is not a blanket prohibition against using the court system. Also, an injury to one's body is never trivial! In fact, your body, as the Temple of the Holy Spirit and made in the image of God, is more infinitely valuable than any property and infinitely more deserving of protections offered by society.

Disputes Against a Brother

Paul goes on to state:

Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? (1 Corinthians 6:5b emphasis added)

1 Corinthians 6 is clearly written for disputes amongst believers. It does not state that a believer should not sue a nonbeliever. This would make no sense since a non-believer would not submit to the "Lord's people" for adjudication of a matter. 

Roman Courts

Paul did not want Christians suing Christians where a Roman jail might be involved. Roman justice was very harsh and favored the rich and powerful. This is absolutely not the case in the modern day personal injury case. The injured party is never in the superior position, as the insurance companies have an inexhaustible supply of money and thousands of attorneys on their side. 

Modern civil disputes, specifically for serious personal injuries must use the courts as there is no other way to proceed. A modern day lawsuit is nothing more than a dispute resolution system provided for by your tax dollars to uphold the rule of law. Civil lawsuits protect society by acting as a deterrence to bad conduct. To protect people, the government has set up a civil court system whereby private citizens can resolve disputes with other private citizens and insurance companies when they have a significant injury inflicted upon them. In failing to pursue a personal injury claim, one may unwittingly permit the offending party to inflict injury on other members of the public. 

This brings to mind a recent case handled by my office. My client, I'll call him Tom, was biking, when a woman in a car ran a stop sign and collided with Tom. He landed about 12 feet away and sustained serious injuries. The defendant in this case then fled the scene of the accident, but only after she stopped, saw exactly what she had done, and considered her options. We brought a lawsuit which not only compensated our client for his injuries, but also let the defendant's insurance company know what she did. This served to protect the public in that the defendant will likely have to carry more insurance in the future, and hopefully will more carefully consider her conduct when driving. 

Old Testament Insight

God has not only allowed personal injury lawsuits but he has actually ordained them in the Scriptures. In Exodus Chapters 21 and 22 God instructs Moses on the way personal injury claims are to be handled. So, God not only is not against injury lawsuits, in fact he believes they are important enough to set up a system to deal with them. 

Does this really have to do with Christianity?

While some Christians are quick to point to the Bible as a the reason why they will not bring a personal injury lawsuit, they may actually have been convinced by the insurance companies that it is wrong. For years, consumers have been inundated with propaganda from the insurance companies convincing them that every claim is illegitimate and that there is rampant fraud against the insurance companies. This is simply not true. This is actually just an attempt by insurance companies to minimize the number of claims that people make. It is a great business model for them - collect billions of dollars in premiums, and convince their customers that if they make a claim it is unscrupulous or fraudulent. 

Conclusion

Does God want you to forgive someone who injures you in an accident? Yes. Does God want you to go bankrupt, lose your home, and have your family destroyed because you can no longer work after a catastrophic accident? No. A careful reading of 1 Corinthians or the Bible as a whole does not lead to the conclusion that a Christian who is run down by a drunk driver and paralyzed should not make an insurance claim. 

The Top 3 Things to Look for when Hiring an Injury Lawyer

1. Experience handling only accident/injury cases. The insurance companies and their lawyers know the firms that know how to properly handle accident claims, bring lawsuits, take depositions, select juries, and get big verdicts. They keep lists, and if your lawyer is not on the list it is likely to affect the value of your case.

2. Results. Have they consistently over a long period of time obtained large settlements and verdicts for their clients.

3. Reviews. What do their past clients have to say about them. Did they live up to their expectations, provide great personal service. Did they keep them updated throughout the case, keep them involved and push their case quickly?

Our firm has the experience, results and reviews to give you that confident, winning feeling. Go to www.1800nowhurt.com now to see why thousands of have chosen us to represent them.

Mark Freeley

Injury Attorney Partner

Buttafuoco & Associates

The Top Reasons to Change Personal Injury Lawyers

1. All you hear is crickets from your present lawyer. They rarely if ever call you. They don't return phone calls. You never get to speak to the attorney, only a secretary.

2. You chose your present lawyer quickly without really researching how qualified they were. You picked your lawyer because they were a friend, a friend of a friend, a cousin, a friend's cousin, they did a house closing, drafted a Will, or took care of a speeding ticket. All the wrong reasons to hire a lawyer to handle your personal injury case.

3. Your file is collecting dust. They never keep you updated on the status of your case. You don't know if a lawsuit has even been filed. You don't receive copies of important paperwork to show what is happening. You feel like you have no control over what is going on. Time is passing and nothing is happening.

If this sounds familiar, the sooner you call us for a free evaluation the better. We will even check the status of your case on the court computer while we have you on the phone!  Call 1-800-669-4878 or visit www.1800NowHurt.com

Mark Freeley

Injury Attorney Partner

Buttafuoco & Associates

WASHINGTON LOOKING TO DO AWAY WITH YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL

Dear friends,

PLEASE READ & SHARE...VERY IMPORTANT!

As most of you know, I am a Personal Injury Attorney and have been representing people like you, me and our family and friends against insurance companies and big business for over 25 years. When insurance companies refuse to fairly compensate people for the way their lives have been changed, we have always been able to present their case to a jury for them to decide what is fair and just.

However, there is a big push in Washington under the new administration to do away with your right to a jury trial, to cap your pain, suffering and loss of quality/enjoyment of life at $250,000.00 regardless of how seriously you were injured or how severely your life has changed due to someone else's carelessness. There is a Bill pending in Congress at this very minute which will severely limit our rights and limit access to our court system when we are injured. This is the gateway to mandatory arbitration anytime you are harmed, and that system tremendously favors insurance companies and big business.

There is no basis in fact for anything they are attempting to accomplish. In states where they have imposed caps on medical malpractice recoveries insurance premiums have actually increased for doctors.

The reality is this Bill will only serve to line the pockets of big business and insurance companies. Our right to a jury trial is under attack, and the name they use for this type of law is "Tort Reform". They call it this because people think that it is will be good for them and save them money from crazy juries...that is complete nonsense. Do not be fooled, these changes will only hurt those of us who become injured and will not reduce any our insurance rates. Just so you know, almost all large jury verdicts are reduced by the Trial court and then even further reduced by the Appellate Courts. Even many not so large verdicts are reduced. You only hear about the occasional crazy verdict in the news, never about the reductions and what the person actually recovers...it is MUCH different.

These Bills are being written behind closed doors because they want to try to pass them before people like us realize what has been taken away.

Below please find the link for you to instantly send a letter to your respective representatives and senators to oppose the assault on our civil justice system. This will take you less than one minute.

PLEASE SHARE WITH EVERYONE!

Thanks so much,

Mark Freeley

Manager Partner, Buttafuoco & Associates

SIGN THE LETTER BELOW:

http://cqrcengage.com/aaj/app/onestep-write-a-letter?0&engagementId=304253  

Choosing an attorney: Know what to expect.

If you are looking to hire an attorney, there must be something important happening in your life. That’s why choosing the right attorney is incredibly important. You must find someone competent, experienced in the area that you need help in, and with whom you can personally connect and build trust

The best way to start your search is to get referrals from friends, Family and personal acquaintances. Once you have a name and number, call to schedule a consultation. Initial consultations are often free. When you meet, the attorney will want to know all about your case. There are also several things you will want to know about the attorney before making a hiring decision. To know what to ask about in your initial consultation, you need to know what to expect from an attorney. You should be able to expect the following if you have a good attorney.

Choosing an attorney. Know what to expect.

• The attorney you will hire to represent you should be experienced and knowledgeable in the area(s) of law relevant to your case

• No attorney can see the future, but they should be able to Estimate, based on experience, potential time frames, possible awards, and the relative Strength of your case

• Your attorney should clearly state their fee structure. Most charge hourly flat or contingency fee. They should also be able to explain other costs that may come up during the process

• If an attorney takes your case, they should be willing to go to trial and have the experience needed to win

• A good attorney will keep you informed about the progress of your case. Ask how they will do this for you.

• You should know who exactly you will be working on your case- the attorney you are meeting with or someone else at the firm. You should meet with whoever will be representing you.

    

• Your attorney should be willing to pay personal attention to your case and respond to any phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner.    

•  Any attorney who wishes to represent you should be willing to promise to  respect your privacy and keep your information confidential.  

•  Every attorney  should be keeping up- to- date with changes in the law by actively continuing their education

• Your attorney isn’t the only one who will have responsibilities, you do too. Your attorney should be able to tell you what these responsibilities may be

Two Teenagers Dead After Long Island Car Accident

 Two Long Island teenagers were killed when their car lost control and struck a tree early Wednesday morning, police said.

The accident happened around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday in Roslyn Heights.

Steven Clancy, 19, was driving a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta northbound on Roslyn Road near Locust Lane when he struck a curb and then a tree in the back yard of an Oak Lane home, Nassau County homicide detectives said.

Clancy and his passenger, Javier Gonzalez, also 19, were pronounced dead. Both men were from Mineola.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

RECALL ALERT: Perrigo Recalls Acetaminophen Infant Liquid Due to Syringe Error

PERRIGO INITIATES NATIONWIDE VOLUNTARY PRODUCT RECALL OF ACETAMINOPHEN INFANT SUSPENSION LIQUID, 160 mg/5 mL, DUE TO A POTENTIAL DEFECT WITH THE CO-PACKAGED ORAL SYRINGE

The Perrigo Company (NYSE: PRGO; TASE) announced today that it has initiated a voluntary, nationwide product recall to the retail level of 18 batches of its acetaminophen infant suspension liquid, 160 mg/5 mL, sold in 2 oz. and 4 oz. bottles with syringes in a box under the store brand products listed below. The recall is being initiated because of the remote potential that a small number of packages might contain an oral dosing syringe without dose markings. The correct syringe should have a white or yellow plunger with specific dose markings for 1.25 ml, 2.5 mL, 3.75 mL, and 5 ml. If the product's syringe has these dose markings, consumers can continue to use the product while following labeled use instructions.

Using an oral syringe without dose markings can result in inaccurate dosing, especially in infants who could mistakenly get too high a dose.

     Commenting on this market action, Perrigo's Chairman, President and CEO Joseph C. Papa stated, "There are no issues or concerns with respect to the safety or efficacy of the product, only the potential that the oral dosing device in a relatively small number of packages could be unmarked. Out of an abundance of caution, we are taking this measure to maintain the highest possible product quality standards for our retail customers and consumers. While we cannot be certain that any of these unmarked dosing devices were released into our customers' supply chains, taking this action is the right thing to do." Perrigo has not received any reports or complaints related to this defect nor have they found any product with missing dose markings on re-examination of product on hand.

     This OTC product is indicated for the relief of fever and minor aches and pains and can be used in infants, children and adults. These recalled products are sold by distributors Nationwide and distributed through retail stores.

     Perrigo is notifying its distributors and customers by verbal and e-mail communication today, followed by formal Fed Ex-delivered communication. It also is arranging for return of all recalled products. Distributors/retailers that have the acetaminophen infant suspension liquid that is being recalled should stop distribution and return product.

     If the oral dosing device contained in the package has dose markings, no action is required, and the consumer can continue to use the product consistent with the label instructions. If the package contains an oral dosing device that does not have dose markings, the consumer should not use the product and should call Perrigo's Consumer Affairs Department, toll free, 1-800-719-9260. Consumers should contact their physician or health care provider if they have any questions, or if they or their children experience any problem that could possibly be related to this drug product.


If you or someone you know has been injured due to a defect product call the experienced product liability attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Robert Michaels, his dog allegedly killed by Matthew Johnstone, hit-and-run driver in OLD BETHPAGE

OLD BETHPAGE - A man has died after being hit by a car in Old Bethpage.

The incident happened at Round Swamp Road and Fairway Drive around 12:30 a.m. today.

Robert Michaels, 42, was walking his dog around 12:27 a.m. on Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage when he was struck by a 2013 Dodge Avenger, police said.

The driver, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Johnstone, allegedly fled without stopping, but later returned to the scene where he was placed under arrest, police said,

The North Massapequa man is charged with leaving the scene of an incident.

Balcony in Long Beach collapses injurying 5 people

The city's building department has prohibited access to second-story exterior balconies at a 64-year-old Long Beach apartment complex after one of them collapsed Monday, injuring five people.

Scott Kemins, a commissioner in the Long Beach Building Department, said Tuesday that none of the injuries in the balcony collapse was serious but each person was taken to a nearby hospital.


"The Building Department is requiring the owners of the complex to hire an engineering firm to inspect the balconies and make necessary repairs" Scott Kemins said.

The deterioration of the balcony's concrete and steel support, the weight of the people, plus the age of the balcony (built in 1949) contributed to the collapse.

If you or someone you know was seriously injured due to a defective or faulty product call the experienced injury attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates.  1-800-Now-Hurt

Faulty Crossing Gate Possible Cause of Deadly Train Accident

Long Island father of four was killed when his vehicle was smashed by a LIRR train at a Central Islip crossing.  MTA officials returned to the scene to investigate whether or not a faulty gate crossings contributed to the crash.

Relatives of a Edson Muñoz, victim Adolfo Muñoz's nephew, walked along a grassy area next to the train tracks, strewn with metal car parts and soda cans.
Muñoz rifled through scattered debris near the site where his uncle was killed. When asked why he was there, Muñoz said he just "wanted to see" it.

Adolfo Muñoz, 63, was driving his black 2000 Lexus south on Route 111 before getting in the path of a westbound nonpassenger LIRR train at the crossing.  Muñoz was taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and pronounced dead a short time later.

Edson Muñoz, 30, of Brentwood, said family and friends "are not too sure" what caused the accident. "A lot of people were saying the gates were up and down and weren't working properly," he said.

The MTA is still investigating the collision, said Marjorie Anders, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the LIRR. "We are looking into the functioning of the gates and flashers and downloading the black box," Anders said Saturday.

Tomika Oliver, who drives past the rail crossing at least twice a day, said there have been consistent problems at the intersection. The gate guard comes down and then quickly pops up but no train passes, she said. "It makes me very nervous," Oliver said. "I don't trust the gates."

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured due to a train malfunction call the experienced train injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Drunk Driver in fiery Lindenhurst crash left the scene

A drunk driver of a Mercedes vehicle burst into ferocious flames just after crashing into a home and then a utility pole in Lindenhurst (new york).

A police officers responding to the scene said the drivers car smashed into a house before ramming it into a Long Island Power Authory (LIPA) pole at about 2:55am.  The driver, Donta L. Riddick, 26, of Bay Shore, was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with injuries.

LIPA sent a crew to make repairs, and Park Avenue was closed between Montauk Highway and East Hoffman Avenue until about 6 a.m. as the crash was investigated, the Lindenhurst Fire Department put out the fire and repairs were made.

Riddick faces charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Drunk Driving Injury Statistics

Dog Saves PREGNANT WOMAN and Her Baby

Have you ever wondered if it is safe to have a dog around babies or pregnant woman?  Check out this story...

A North Merrick dog is being heralded for helping to save the life of a pregnant woman and her premature daughter.  The hero is a 1-year-old goldendoodle named Louie.

Janelle Giannetta was annoyed with her dog Louie after he playfully jumped on her and accidentally scratched her face.  Just a few hours later the puppy was out of the doghouse after saving her life.

Giannetta, 26 weeks pregnant with her first child, said she was not feeling well and went upstairs in her North Merrick home to take a nap.  Her husband, Richard Giannetta, 33, stayed downstairs to clean up for a family birthday party later that day.

Shortly after, the dog (who is not known as a barker) began barking incessantly. 

In the upstairs bedroom he found the 75-pound dog standing on the bed barking at his wife. Janelle was having a seizure, her tongue was rolled back and she had a ring of white foam around her mouth.

Richard immediately called 911 and said he had a hard time getting the protective Louie away from his wife.

"I had to lock him in another room," said Richard.

Janelle was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where she was quickly diagnosed with eclampsia.  Eclampsia, which affects about 1 in 2,000 pregnant women, is a potentially deadly condition in which the mother develops very high blood pressure, causing seizures and potentially a stroke. Janelle, who had seen her doctor that day, said she had shown no signs of pre-eclampsia, marked by high blood pressure and high protein in the urine.

Dr. Peter Hong, chief of NUMC's high risk pregnancy service, said Janelle's blood pressure was "very, very elevated -- severe enough to cause a stroke."

The only "cure" for the condition is to deliver the baby, he said, so the decision was made to perform a Caesarean section. Charlotte Marie was born around 2:25 a.m. weighing a mere 1 pound 7 ounces.

The baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she is expected to stay until July -- her scheduled due date. 

Both Richard and Janelle were so thankful for the emergency medical technicians and the hospital for their quick action. But Doctor Hong credited Louie.

"In my opinion, the dog is the real hero," Hong said. "If not for the dog's barking, she could have had one seizure after another, after another . . . and she would have gotten care a lot later, and that would have made my job much harder."

Driving Instructor dies in auto accident - Four Car Crash

Local police officers responding to a Port Jefferson car accident said that a driving school instructor was killed after veering into oncoming traffic, hitting three cars.

The Fitsgerald Driving School instructor, Leonard Sloan, was driving the school's Chevrolet Malibu when he crashed into the other vehicles on 347 (Nesconset Highway). He most likely had a heart attack, police said.

Leonard was traveling west when his vehicle struck three cars that were in the eastbound turning lanes waiting to turn left onto Davis Avenue.

There were no student drivers or passengers in the car at the time of the accident. 

He was taken to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead.

Blog Milestone - 25,000 views

Blogging milestones are good excuses to write a ‘greatest hits’ compilation.  Our 25,000th view (66% of which came in the last 12 months) was recorded earlier today.   In the event you missed some of our most popular posts here’s a chance to go back and read the best of 'The Injury/Product News Guide.'

10 - Historic 35 Car Pileup on LIE Leaves One Dead & 33 Injured

9 - MONSTER Energy Drink cited in 5 Deaths

8 - How to get some of the $40 Million Skechers Shape Ups Lawsuit

7 - Ulster County teen killed in two-car crash in Newburgh

6 - Bethpage Toxic Plume close to contaminating drinking water supply

5 - A drunk driver causes a car accident every 48 seconds....

4 - Traumatic Brain Injury ("TBI") and the UNIQUE questions involved in representing TBI victims

3 - Drunk Driving caused more Deaths then War in Iraq/Afghanistan

2 - Slip/Trip and Fall Cases

1 - Car Accident Statistics in Long Beach

Overview of our Top Injury/Product Blogs:

To no surprise our blog posted about car accident statistics in Long Beach flew to the number one spot in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.  This entry was posted just one month prior to the storm and features an aerial picture of what Long Beach used to look like.  In the weeks after Sandy millions from around the world turned to the internet for news, pictures and information about the areas hardest hit by the storm.  Long Beach happened to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest hit areas by the storm.

80% of our top ten were posted within the past 12 months with #4 and #2 being before outside the last 12 months.

Drunk Driving continues to be a top concern among viewers with two Drunk Driving related posts featured in the top ten.

Posts with the most comments by our readers:

1 - FDA Investigates DePuy Hip Replacement Devices

2 - Slip/Trip and Fall Cases

We look forward to the next 25,000 views of family readers relying on our blog for a resource on product recalls, injury law news, tips and more.  If you are one of the 25,000 views....thank you.  If you are new to our blog...welcome.   

Doctor in Pharmacy Killer case charged in overdose deaths

Stan Li, who prescribed more than 2,500 pain pills to Medford pharmacy killer David Laffer, is being arraigned Thursday morning in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Li already faced charges of reckless endangerment and criminal sale of a prescription.

Dr. Stan Li as he is arraigned in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Seated to his right is his attorney, Raymond Belair. (Dec. 06, 2012) 

If you or someone you know was seriously injured after being prescribed the wrong medication or wrong dosage call the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Boat fire in Babylon (fire island avenue) leaves teenager injured

A Thanksgiving fire that began on a boat near the Babylon Village Docks on Thursday has left one man injured and property damaged.  The incident occurred at the Babylon Docks near Fire Island Avenue at Cedar Lane.  Official say several boats are on fire in Babylon.  An unidentified 17-year-old man was burned and was airlifted to the hospital.  He suffered first and second degree burns to his face and arms.

A Suffolk County police officer responding to the fire call was injured in an unrelated crash. According to reports, the officer’s patrol vehicle was struck by an SUV, which was traveling southbound at Robbins Avenue. The driver’s side door of SCPD Unit 116.

If you or someone you know was injured by a boating accident or fire call the experienced boating accident lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Plane Crashes in Suffolk County on the rise

Investigators began examining the wreckage of a single-engine airplane (1946 two-seat Globe Swift GC-1A) that crashed into Moriches inlet on Saturday afternoon.  Two men were killed.  Cyril McLavin, 51 of Fresh Meadows, Queens and Andrew Messana, 72, of Bayside, Queens, were in the cockpit when the plane sputtered and plunged into waters not far from East Moriches' Spadaro Airport, where it had just departed.

Susan Spadaro's father, Bart Spadaro, said that the plane had spent months undergoing a full inspection and rebuilding, and departed from the small airport minutes before it crashed.

Suffolk County offers more opportunities to fly using visual flight rules without communicating with air  traffic controllers, Mike Busch said (an aviation writer).  Suffolk is far away from the complicated air space surrounding LaGuardia and Kennedy.

Saturday's fatal crash is the third small-plane crash with deaths or injuries since August.

Spadaro Airport is a popular destination for recreational pilots because it is low-key, lacking a control tower and widely known as hassle free to land at and leave from.

Experts would not speculate on what caused Saturday's crash, but said there are hazards associated with small planes on Long Island, including flying over water.

RECENT CRASHES
Aug. 26 - An M2OC Mooney crashed at East Hampton Airport.  Bystanders rescued the pilot and his passenger, who were hospitalized.

Aug. 19 - A Socata TB10 taking off from Brookhaven Calabro Airport crashed in a Shirley residential area.  A Goshen couple died, and another man was critically injured.

If you or someone you know has been injured or died in a airplane crash call the experienced airplane crash attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878