Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Posted in Auto Accidents

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NYPD misconduct cost a lot of money to New York tax payersTwo pedestrians were injured on Monday afternoon when they were struck by an NYPD patrol car attempting to avoid a taxi turning at a busy Manhattan intersection. The incident took place around 4:09 p.m. at Broadway and West 112th Street in Morningside Heights.

According to reports, a 63-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were seated in an outdoor dining area when the northbound NYPD vehicle swerved away from a southbound taxi attempting a left turn onto W. 112th Street. The patrol car, which had its lights and sirens activated, then jumped the curb and struck the couple.

Three police officers and a 32-year-old civilian passenger were inside the squad car at the time. All six individuals — including the two pedestrians — were transported to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital and listed in stable condition.

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drunk drivingAs attorneys representing victims of drunk driving car accidents, we see firsthand the devastating consequences impaired drivers leave behind. With Memorial Day marking the start of what safety officials call the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” heightened DWI enforcement efforts are not only timely—they’re necessary.

This year, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office awarded $30,000 DWI enforcement grants to both the Long Beach and Freeport Police Departments. The goal: reduce the number of impaired drivers on Long Island’s roads during peak summer months through stepped-up patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and targeted DWI initiatives.

Why the Summer DWI Crackdown Matters

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Tiffany Cefuni killed in BK car accidentAs Brooklyn car accident lawyers with deep experience handling hit-and-run litigation, we are horrified by the senseless death of Tiffany Cifuni, a 32-year-old woman who was fatally struck after a minor crash in Bedford-Stuyvesant last Saturday night. The incident not only highlights the risks pedestrians face immediately after collisions, it underscores the urgent need for accountability when reckless drivers choose to flee.

According to the NYPD, the tragedy unfolded just before midnight near Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard. Ms. Cifuni, who was in her first trimester of pregnancy, had just returned from the Beyoncé concert at MetLife Stadium. She stepped out of her Toyota 4Runner to inspect the damage after a minor collision with a 2016 Chevy Trax. That’s when the other driver allegedly accelerated, running her over and dragging her body before fleeing the wrong way down Lafayette Avenue.

The suspect’s vehicle—a maroon Chevy Trax with temporary paper plates—smashed into multiple parked cars and a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee before the driver abandoned the SUV and fled on foot. Ms. Cifuni was transported to Kings County Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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Deadly Long Island CrashOur New York Car Accident Lawyers Discuss Legal and Investigative Issues Following Mother’s Day Fatal Crash on Long Island

Three lives were tragically cut short in the early hours of Mother’s Day after a 2022 Dodge Durango veered off the road and slammed into a tree near Bethpage State Park in Long Island. The vehicle immediately burst into flames, killing all three 20-year-old occupants inside. Nassau County police confirmed the identities of the victims on Tuesday: Gino Vicale of Seaford, Nicholas Rivera of Glendale, and Vincent Cavaliere of Bethpage.

The crash occurred around 1 a.m. on Stymus Avenue, as the SUV was reportedly heading eastbound. Authorities are still working to determine the cause of the crash, including who was driving at the time and how fast the vehicle was traveling.

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Accident sceneThe arrest of an ambulance driver nearly six months after a fatal crash in Manhattan has reignited serious questions about pedestrian safety — and accountability — in one of New York City’s most heavily trafficked corridors.

According to police, 69-year-old Miriam Reinharth was lawfully crossing W. 96th Street on November 12, 2024, when she was struck by an ambulance making a left turn from Amsterdam Avenue. Despite remaining on the scene and personally transporting Reinharth to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, the driver, 28-year-old Juan Santana, was charged this week with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care.

As pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City, we know all too well how long it can take for criminal or civil accountability to catch up after a deadly crash — especially when the vehicle involved belongs to an emergency service. But let’s be clear: emergency vehicle drivers are still bound by rules of the road, and pedestrians have the right to cross safely, even when ambulances are operating under lights and sirens.

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Car Accidents, Bicycle Crashes, Pedestrian Knockdowns, and Construction Injuries Spike as New Yorkers Head Outdoors

As New York thaws from winter and the streets grow busier, personal injury claims tend to rise—often sharply—during the spring months. At Gair, Gcommon NY personal injuries in the springair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our attorneys have represented victims of serious accidents for more than 100 years. Below are the most common spring-related personal injury cases we see across New York City.

1. Car Accidents Increase with Holiday Travel and Wet Roads

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Accident sceneAt Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we are deeply saddened to learn of two fatal pedestrian crashes that occurred in New York City this past Friday — tragic events that underscore the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians across the five boroughs.

Upper West Side: 57-Year-Old Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Ford Van

Early Friday morning, Patrice Brooks, a 57-year-old resident of the Upper West Side, was struck and killed by a Ford van while crossing the intersection at 86th Street and Broadway. According to the NYPD, Brooks was crossing diagonally at approximately 4:27 a.m. when the eastbound van, operated by a 41-year-old woman who had the green light, struck him.

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Justin Diaz killed by a drunk driverThe recent arraignment of Michael Peña, a former FDNY firefighter accused of causing a fatal car crash in Kew Gardens while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the urgent need for accountability in our justice system.

On February 26, 2025, 23-year-old Justin Diaz (picture) was just a block and a half from his family’s home, driving to an early shift at LaGuardia Airport, when his life was tragically cut short. According to prosecutors, Peña—who was off-duty at the time—was traveling at 83 mph, nearly three times the speed limit, when he ran a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street and slammed into Diaz’s vehicle. The crash proved fatal.

Our Queens car accident attorneys represent families devastated by senseless, preventable crashes like this one. No one expects that a loved one commuting to work will be killed by a driver allegedly intoxicated by alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine—especially not someone sworn to protect the public.

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NYPD Chase LawyersOn April 2, 2025, a high-speed police chase through Upper Manhattan ended in tragedy when a stolen 2025 Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood and burst into flames. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, was killed in the fiery wreck. Now, his family is demanding accountability—and legal experts are questioning whether NYPD officers violated pursuit policies that were specifically designed to prevent such outcomes.

As NYC car accident lawyers who have represented families in cases involving police chase fatalities, we understand the legal and emotional turmoil these cases leave behind. This incident, like many others, raises troubling questions about the balance between law enforcement efforts and public safety.

Family Left in Agony as Identification Delayed

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Deadly Bronx Intersection of E 149th St & Morris AveA 52-year-old pedestrian, Inza Fofana, tragically died after being struck by a van while crossing the street at E. 149th Street and Morris Avenue in Mott Haven. The fatal crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday when a 2019 Ford Transit van, driven by a 48-year-old man, was attempting a left turn onto Morris Avenue. Fofana was transported to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.

As Bronx car accident lawyers who have handled numerous pedestrian fatality cases, we understand how common and devastating these left-turn collisions can be — particularly at intersections like E. 149th and Morris, which see high volumes of foot and vehicle traffic. Left-turn crashes are notoriously dangerous for pedestrians due to limited visibility, driver inattention, and misjudgment of speed or distance.

In many of the pedestrian accident cases we handle, the victims were lawfully crossing the street when they were hit by drivers who either failed to yield or were not exercising due care. Investigations may take time, and fault is not always immediately assigned, but under New York law, drivers have a legal duty to watch for pedestrians and avoid collisions, even when the pedestrian is not in a marked crosswalk.

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