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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location of the crash between a car and a MTA bus in BKLast Monday night, a Mercedes-Benz, reportedly running a steady red light at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, collided with an MTA bus. The impact was so severe that it sent the Mercedes careening onto a nearby sidewalk, where it struck a CitiBike rack. Alex Caba-Gutierrez, a passenger in the Mercedes, was ejected onto the street, suffering fatal injuries.  The driver and another passenger fled the scene, leaving behind a scene of chaos and unanswered questions. The bus driver and a passenger were injured and transported to the hospital.

The Legal Challenges of Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run accidents pose unique legal challenges, primarily due to the difficulty of holding the responsible party accountable when they have fled the scene. Victims and their families often feel helpless and unsure of their next steps. This is where a hit-and-run accident lawyer becomes indispensable. Specializing in these types of cases, these lawyers possess the expertise to navigate the complexities of the legal system, ensuring that victims’ rights are protected and that they receive the compensation they deserve.

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Vision Zero 10 year later As car accident lawyers involved in the fight for safer streets in New York, the recent analysis by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets on the first 10 years of Vision Zero provides a critical look at the successes and challenges of this ambitious program. This analysis sheds light on the nuances of traffic safety and underscores the disparities that persist, despite overall improvements.

Vision Zero’s implementation over the past decade has undeniably made New York City streets safer. Traffic fatalities were 16% lower in the last ten years compared to the decade preceding Vision Zero, translating to more than 450 lives saved. This achievement is significant and reflects the impact of concerted efforts in street redesign, the installation of speed safety cameras, and the lowering of speed limits across the city. Pedestrian fatalities have seen a remarkable 29% decrease from 2014 to 2023, showcasing the effectiveness of citywide safety initiatives.

However, the analysis also highlights concerning trends, particularly the increase in traffic fatalities in majority-BIPOC and majority-Latino community boards, and the alarming rise in cyclist deaths. These statistics point to a stark reality: while some communities have become safer, others have seen an increase in traffic violence, underscoring the need for a more equitable implementation of Vision Zero strategies.

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The intersection where the unlicensed driver killed ChristianFourteen-year-old Christian Antoine was struck and killed by the reckless actions of an unlicensed and speeding driver last Saturday evening in Brooklyn, NYC. The accident occurred at the intersection of Glenwood Rd. and E. 81st St. in Canarsie.

Christian was more than just a statistic in the rising toll of pedestrian fatalities; he was a young boy with dreams, a loving family, and a future that was unjustly cut short. According to reports, 45-year-old Rayan Salmon, driving a 2018 Mercedes SUV at an unsafe speed, caused a chain-reaction crash that ultimately led to Christian’s untimely death. This incident is a reminder of the catastrophic consequences of negligent driving and the critical need for stringent enforcement of traffic laws.

As pedestrian accident lawyers in NYC, we have seen the aftermath of such tragedies unfold too many times. Families are left to navigate their grief while grappling with the legal complexities of seeking justice for their loved ones. In Christian’s case, the charges against Salmon for aggravated unlicensed operation underscore the severe risks unlicensed drivers pose to public safety. However, these charges are just the beginning of a long legal journey for Christian’s family to seek accountability and compensation for their loss.

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courage-to-intervene-promise-wsl-nrsf-final3This week is National Passenger Safety Week. Initiated by We Save Lives and the National Road Safety Foundation, the National Passenger Safety Campaign is a groundbreaking movement. It unites over 60 organizations in a common belief: passengers must actively participate in ensuring their safety and that of others. The campaign’s message is simple yet powerful – encourage passengers to “SPEAK UP” against reckless driving.

A glance at the statistics from 2020 is sobering

  • Approximately 16% of all traffic fatalities were passengers.
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accident-scene-1Early Sunday morning, a 23-year-old driver, showing off dangerous ‘doughnuts’ at a car stunt gathering, lost control and collided with a parked fuel truck. Two passengers died, 15-year-old Sabrina Villagomez and 21-yer-old Gilvante “Gio” Roberson while another passenger suffered critical injury. The driver is in stable condition.

This incident isn’t just about a single act of irresponsible driving. It’s a glaring example of how fleeting moments of thrill-seeking can lead to irreversible consequences. The driver’s decision to perform risky stunts on public roads, especially at such high speeds, was a recipe for disaster. It not only endangered his life but also those of his passengers and any bystander in the vicinity.

The loss of young Sabrina and Gio, is a grim reminder of the fragility of life. Sabrina’s death should make us all pause and think about the influence our social circles have on our decisions, particularly in our youth.

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Queens Boulevard, once notoriously dubbed “the Boulevard of Death,” has seen a remarkable turnaround. In 1997, this street was a pedestrian nightmare, claiming 18 lives. However, since Vision Zero’s implementation in 2014, fatalities have drastically reduced, with some years witnessing zero deaths.

ThAtlantic Avenueis transformation didn’t happen by chance. It was the result of a concerted effort by the city, involving adjustments in pedestrian signal timings, road safety improvements, and the introduction of bike lanes. These measures not only enhanced safety but also fostered a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly environment.

However, Atlantic Avenue tells a different story. Despite being another major NYC artery, it hasn’t received the same level of attention or intervention. The result is alarming: in the last decade, Atlantic Avenue has witnessed 40 traffic deaths, a number four times higher than that of Queens Boulevard. This stark contrast exemplifies the uneven application of Vision Zero across the city.

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NYC school busA recent accident involving a school bus, an SUV, and a parked Lexus on the eastbound Nassau Expressway near Van Wyck Expressway in Queens has once again brought to light the critical issue of road safety, especially concerning school buses. The incident, which occurred just before noon on Monday, resulted in serious injuries to two individuals and involved about 20 students.

According to the FDNY, the accident began when a 60-year-old SUV driver, attempting to merge lanes, side-swiped a school bus operated by Meir Transport LLC. This collision led to a subsequent crash involving a parked Lexus, with a 62-year-old man inside, near John F. Kennedy International Airport. Thankfully, the injuries sustained by the drivers were not life-threatening, and the students on the bus, along with others involved, refused medical attention.

Legal Implications and Liability

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Bronx location of the fatal hit and run accidentLourdes Camilo, a Bronx resident, was fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and East 156th Street. This incident underscores the importance of road safety and the consequences of traffic law violations. It also reflects on the necessity for enhanced pedestrian protection measures.

The involvement of two vehicles – a white SUV that fled and a green Jeep Cherokee that stayed – brings forth different legal considerations.

1. Liability in Hit-and-Run: The driver of the white SUV, who left the scene, is subject to significant legal ramifications under New York law. Fleeing the scene of an accident, particularly one involving fatality, is a criminal offense.

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the intersection where the reckless driver killed the pedestrianXiaohong Chen, a 52-year-old pedestrian, was tragically struck and killed by a Dodge Ram pickup truck in Dyker Heights.

The driver, known for a long history of speeding and recklessness, as indicated by the numerous speed camera violations, made an illegal turn, leading to this fatal incident. Despite the driver’s alarming record and the presence of a vanity plate that ironically reads ‘NDRTAKER’, no immediate charges were filed (read more in Streetblog about the reckless driver).

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accident-scene-1Following the recent tragic incident in Brooklyn, where a speeding Mercedes-Benz collided with a garbage truck, resulting in the untimely death of the car’s driver, it is crucial to explore the legal and safety aspects surrounding such accidents, especially those involving private carting companies.

At around 12:30 a.m. in Gerritsen Beach, a 54-year-old driver for Cogent Waste Solutions was executing a U-turn when the collision occurred. The Mercedes driver, 42-year-old Patrick Donovan, did not survive the impact. This incident exposes the dangers posed by private garbage haulers in New York City. Historically, these companies have been scrutinized for their operational methods.

As garbage truck accident lawyers in New York City, it is important to highlight the legal complexities in such cases. While the garbage truck driver did not face immediate charges, and Cogent Waste Solutions has expressed cooperation with the ongoing investigation, the key questions revolve around the operational practices of private carting companies and the responsibility they bear in ensuring public safety.