Articles Posted in Auto Accidents
West Village Wrong-Way Fatality: Criminal Arrest and the Civil Remedies Available to the Family
A Manhattan grand jury has indicted a wrong-way driver on charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving following a fatal pedestrian collision at Morton Street and Seventh Avenue South in the West Village.
A criminal prosecution addresses violations of the Penal Law. It does not compensate the victim’s family. The criminal case and any civil action proceed independently and serve different purposes. For families facing this type of loss, the central legal issue becomes what civil remedies are available under New York law.
1. Wrongful Death Action
Potential Municipal Liability in Fatal Car and Truck Crash on the Long Island Expressway Involving Alleged Improper Snow Removal
A fatal early-morning car and truck collision on the Long Island Expressway in Queens is raising significant legal questions regarding potential municipal liability tied to alleged improper snow removal operations. on the Long Island Expressway in Queens is now raising serious legal questions regarding potential municipal liability for alleged improper snow removal operations.
According to published reports, 50-year-old livery driver Carlos Asitimbay lost control of his vehicle around 4:30 a.m. on February 6 while traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway near the Van Wyck Expressway. Sources indicate that less than two hours earlier, a sanitation vehicle may have pushed snow and ice from the shoulder into an active traffic lane, a practice prohibited on highways due to higher travel speeds and increased risk of loss-of-control crashes.
After striking the median and coming to rest perpendicular to traffic, Asitimbay’s vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer. He was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Queens, where he later died from catastrophic injuries.
2025 Year in Review: Landmark Verdicts and Settlements by Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf
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
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
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.
Long Island Hit-and-Run That Killed One Brother and Critically Injured The Other Highlights the Severe Consequences of Leaving the Scene
A Long Island man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that struck two brothers on the side of a Suffolk County roadway, killing one and leaving the other critically injured. The incident underscores the devastating consequences that follow when a driver leaves the scene of a serious crash and the legal options available to victims’ families under New York law.
According to Suffolk County police, Jonathan Shaver, 51, of Rocky Point, is accused of striking 31-year-old Edgar Meija and his 29-year-old brother, Omar Meija, shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday near 1180 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. The brothers were reportedly outside their vehicle changing a flat tire when Shaver’s 2012 Honda Accord struck them. Police say Shaver then fled the scene.
Edgar Meija was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother Omar was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
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