The 2025 Year in Review documents another extraordinary year for the NYC personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, marked by record-setting verdicts, precedent-shaping settlements, and litigation that advanced safety and accountability across New York.
Throughout 2025, the firm secured results in cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, construction accidents, transportation disasters, premises liability, and sexual abuse, many of which rank among the most significant outcomes in New York State history.Record-Setting and Notable 2025 Results
Freezing Cold and High Winds Elevate the Risk of Catastrophic Personal Injury in New York City
Periods of extreme cold and sustained high winds significantly increase the risk of catastrophic personal injury in New York City. Recent incidents in Brooklyn and Manhattan illustrate how winter weather can compromise infrastructure, dislodge building components, and place pedestrians, drivers, and residents directly in harm’s way.
Infrastructure Failures During Arctic Conditions
In late January, a bundle of heavy communication cables detached from an elevated subway structure above Fulton Street in Cypress Hill, Brooklyn. Transit sources attributed the failure to extreme cold that weakened the insulators securing the cables to the elevated line. The wires fell to street level and damaged multiple vehicles below. While no injuries were reported, the outcome could have been far more serious had pedestrians or cyclists been passing underneath at the time.
Toddler Fatally Struck by BMW Driver in Queens Parking Garage Raises Serious Legal Questions
A fatal incident inside a Queens apartment building parking garage has placed renewed focus on driver responsibility, property safety, and the legal rights of families after preventable tragedies. According to published reports, a 1-year-old child was struck by a BMW inside a parking garage next to the family’s apartment building in Rego Park, Queens. The child was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, where he later died from his injuries. The driver remained at the scene, and authorities continue to investigate.
From a legal perspective, crashes involving children in parking garages are among the most serious motor-vehicle cases handled by our Queens car accident lawyers. These incidents often involve complex questions of negligence, visibility, speed, vehicle design, and whether the garage itself was reasonably safe for pedestrians.
Parking Garages Are Not “No-Fault” Zones Under New York Law
Transportation Accidents on Construction Sites Demand Accountability When Construction Workers Are Injured or Killed
Transportation-related incidents remain one of the most dangerous hazards facing construction workers today. According to data published by The Center for Construction Research and Training, transportation incidents accounted for more than one-third of all occupational fatalities in construction in 2023. These incidents occur both on and off public roadways, often where moving vehicles, heavy equipment, and active work zones intersect. Highway and street construction zones are especially hazardous, placing workers at constant risk of being struck by vehicles or equipment.
Nonfatal Transportation Injuries Continue to Rise
Despite improvements in overall safety rates, the total number of nonfatal transportation injuries among construction workers has increased over the past decade. Between 2011–2012 and 2021–2022, nonfatal transportation injuries rose by nearly 15 percent. The majority of these injuries involved roadway incidents with motorized land vehicles, with trucks accounting for the largest share. These injuries frequently occur during routine jobsite activities such as deliveries, equipment movement, and vehicles entering or exiting work zones, where visibility and traffic control are often inadequate.
Brooklyn School Bus Accident Leaves 11-Year-Old Girl Dead; Driver Charged
An 11-year-old Brooklyn girl was fatally struck by a school bus in Bath Beach during afternoon dismissal hours, underscoring serious safety obligations placed on school bus drivers operating in dense city neighborhoods.
The victim has been identified as Amira Aminova, a Brooklyn resident. The collision occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue, a time when children and families are routinely crossing local streets after school.
The video below reviewed by investigators shows Amira standing at the corner with the right of way before entering the crosswalk as a school bus made a turn. Police allege the bus failed to yield to the pedestrian and that the driver did not exercise due care. Sun glare and the size of the vehicle were cited by a witness as potential contributing factors—conditions that experienced commercial drivers are trained to anticipate and manage.
Winning the Collateral Source Hearing
In a column published today in the New York Law Journal, Ben Rubinowitz and Evan Torgan write: The collateral source hearing comes after a verdict to prevent double recovery by reducing damages if insurance or government programs will pay for future care. But these hearings often become mini-trials where defenses argue future payments are certain, despite law requiring proof of actual, not speculative, replacement. Experts testifying about system discretion and uncertainty make “reasonable certainty” hard to prove. Lawyers must cross-examine to expose these issues and protect the jury’s damages award from unjust reductions.
Parents’ Legal Options After Child Sexual Exploitation Charges in NYC
A recent federal arrest involving allegations of child sexual exploitation underscores a painful reality: when a young child is harmed, families are left not only reeling emotionally, but also facing urgent legal questions. Parents often ask what steps they can take immediately—and whether the law allows them to pursue compensation to protect their child’s future.
While the criminal case will proceed in federal court, it is important to understand that criminal prosecution is only one part of accountability. New York law also provides powerful civil remedies for families of child sexual abuse survivors.
Can Parents Sue the Alleged Abuser?
Why NYC Health + Hospitals Woodhull Received a “D” Safety Grade – and What You Should Know as a Patient
NYC Health + Hospitals Woodhull, located at 760 Broadway in Brooklyn, received a “D” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group based on data submitted June 30, 2025.
A “D” grade does not mean that every aspect of care is unsafe. In fact, Woodhull performs well in several important areas, including medication safety, leadership accountability, and hand hygiene. However, Leapfrog grades are driven by patterns of risk, and Woodhull’s score reflects persistent safety vulnerabilities that patients and families should understand before undergoing treatment—especially for complex or invasive care.
Below is a clear, patient-focused breakdown of what drove the lower grade and what it means in real-world terms.
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