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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the dangerous intersection Eastern Parkway and SchenectadyFour lives were lost in three separate collisions in a single day in New York City.

On Sunday, the Staten Island Expressway bore witness to a horrific crash that claimed the lives of two young women, Jianna Pischetola and Gabriella Shammas, both aged just 22. The fiery collision left their Chevrolet Corvette unrecognizable, underscoring the devastating impact of the accident.

Earlier in the day, a motorcyclist lost his life in another tragic incident on Staten Island. The 29-year-old rider collided with a Dodge Ram as the truck was turning left onto 10th Street from New Dorp Lane. The motorcycle attempted to pass the truck on the left side, resulting in a fatal collision. The severity of the head trauma sustained by the rider resulted in his being pronounced dead at the scene.

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Long Island, NY, has seen a record number of fatal crashes in AugustIn August alone, more than 30 traffic accident fatalities were recorded on Long Island roads. September started badly as well, with two pedestrian deaths occurring over the weekend. On Saturday night around 11:00 pm, 50 year old Christopher Briscoe was killed by a 28 year old driver as he was attempting to cross Montauk Highway. The driver wasn’t charged as no criminality was suspected. A day later, 47 year old Santos Aguirre was struck by two hit and run drivers in Amityville. One of them, 26 year old Danielle Lapersonerie was driving intoxicated and was caught by the police shortly after the accident. The other driver is still at large.

Janine Logan of the group Walk Safe Long Island aptly describes the situation as a “silent epidemic” because it happens far too often. Over the past three years in Nassau and Suffolk counties, 515 people have been hit and injured while walking or biking.

Many of these accidents involve elderly individuals attempting to cross the road, often when vehicles are making left-hand turns. Additionally, joggers face significant risks, especially in areas lacking sidewalks. The recent tragic case of Ilyona Kaydanov, a 22-year-old ballroom dancer from Commack, who was hit and killed while jogging, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers pedestrians and cyclists face daily. Her family’s grief is compounded by the fact that the driver responsible has not been charged.

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36th and 6th where the crazy accident occurredThe recent accident involving a driver who plowed into pedestrians in Midtown, leaving several injured, has sent shockwaves through the city. As car accident lawyers, we understand the gravity of such incidents and the legal complexities they entail.

Late on a Sunday night, Imani Lucas allegedly ran a red light, driving onto the sidewalk and striking seven people. She then fled the scene and was later apprehended by the police after crossing the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, driving 10 more miles, and crashing into two other cars. The repercussions of this accident have left victims with various head, leg, and arm injuries, leading to a multitude of charges against Lucas.

After undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at the hospital, Imani Lucas is set to face arraignment at the Manhattan Criminal Court. Her arrest has led to a slew of charges, each carrying its own weight of legal implications. Among the charges levied against her are attempted murder, assault, and leaving the scene of an accident. These charges reflect the severity of the incident and the potential consequences that may follow.

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Long-Island-NY

Long Island, NY, has seen a record number of fatal crashes in August

According to recent reports, 21 lives have been lost in car crashes in Long Island NY this month alone, and among the victims are four children whose futures were tragically cut short. These are not just statistics; they represent individuals with dreams, aspirations, and connections to the people around them.

In East Moriches, a young life came to an untimely end when 20-year-old Olivia Montgomery lost her life in a crash. Gabriel Reyes, a seasoned motorcyclist at 50, met his unfortunate fate in a head-on collision in Brentwood. Christopher W. McGuckin, 54, lost control of his vehicle in Port Jefferson Station, a stark reminder that accidents can affect anyone, regardless of age or experience.

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NYPD Pursuits August 2023An innocent cyclist was critically injured as she found herself caught in the crossfire of a police chase in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, last week. As law enforcement pursued a fleeing suspect, the cyclist—a 54-year-old woman—became an unwitting casualty.

Behind every statistic, every news headline, and every police chase is a real person—a victim whose life has been upended in an instant and this tragic accident underscores the necessity of examining the procedures surrounding police pursuits to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.

The injuries sustained by victims of police chase accidents can be severe and life-altering. From broken bones and internal injuries to head trauma and emotional distress, the physical and emotional toll is significant. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, all of which can strain a victim’s resources and well-being.

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location of the deadly e-bike accident in the Bronx, NYCIn the early hours of a Wednesday morning, a man on an electric bike was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver in The Bronx. The impact of the collision led to severe head trauma, ultimately claiming the cyclist’s life.

The streets of New York City have witnessed a tragic surge in cyclist fatalities this year. Yesterday’s accident marks the 21st fatality of the year, making it a grim record within the Vision Zero era. As bicycle accident lawyers, we would like to shed light on the legal complexities surrounding such cases and advocate for safer streets and stricter accountability for drivers.

From a legal standpoint, hit-and-run cases can be particularly challenging. The act of fleeing the scene not only demonstrates a disregard for human life but also creates obstacles for identifying and holding the responsible party accountable. Gathering evidence, such as surveillance footage and eyewitness testimonies, becomes crucial in building a strong case against the driver.

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The dangerous intersection of Shore Parkway and Shell Road

The dangerous intersection of Shore Parkway and Shell Road

On the morning of August 4th, Yelena Gervolskaya, a 75-year-old pedestrian and a beloved family member, lost her life after being struck by both a dump truck and a Jeep at the intersection of Shore Parkway and Shell Road in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Both drivers fled the scene; however, they have now been identified by the police. As of now, no charges have been filed against either of them.

Both vehicles hit the victim while making a left turn

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Multiple pedestrians and a cyclist where injured in a multiple-collision crash caused by the driver of a stolen car who was trying to escape the police near Grand Central Station

As car accident attorneys in New York City, we have witnessed numerous devastating cases resulting from reckless driving and accidents. However, one particular type of accident that stands out as particularly dangerous is police chases and we have handled many such cases with excellent results.

The recent incident that occurred on August 1, 2023, where ten people were injured during a police chase in one of the most busy areas of Manhattan, highlights the urgent need to address the hazards associated with these pursuits.

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When the total number of crash fatalities during the first semester of 2023 is lower than the previous years, one category of road users, the cyclists, had a record number of fatalities with 14 deaths. Pedestrian fatalities were lower than usual with 41 fatalities. The NYPD also recorded 31 driver fatalities and 16 passenger fatalities for the first semester of 2023.

After two years of an unusually high number of auto accident fatalities in New York City during the first six months of the year, the total number of crash fatalities for the first six months of 2023 was pretty much similar to the levels observed before the Covid19 crisis, oscillating around 100 for the first six months of the year. In 2023, 102 people died in crashes during the first semester compared to 113, 118, 92, 101, 84, 96, 107, 107, 97, and 121 during the semesters of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 respectively.

NYC car accident deaths by category June 2023
During the first semester of 2023, 24,535 people were injured in crashes. This number is slightly higher than the two previous years, during which 23,963 and 22,898 people were injured during the first semester of 2022 and 2021, respectively, but still lower than what it was before the pandemic when the number of traffic injuries for the first six months of the year was above 25,000. Among the category of road users, drivers were the most injured with 10,785 injured motor vehicle operators for the first semester, followed by passengers (7,564), pedestrians (4,098), and cyclists (2,088).

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accident sceneCar accidents can be devastating under any circumstances, but when they result from a wrong-way driver on a busy expressway, the consequences can be catastrophic. The recent crash on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) involving a pickup truck driver going the wrong way highlights the urgency of understanding the legal implications and consequences associated with such accidents.

Early Thursday morning, Thomas Raimondo, aged 61, was driving his 2013 Chevrolet Silverado in the wrong direction on the westbound lanes of the expressway. Raimondo’s reckless decision led to a devastating head-on collision with a 2005 Acura sedan driven by 32-year-old Jose Ferreira. The accident occurred between Exits 62 and 63 in Holtsville, Suffolk County, leaving both drivers dead.

Legal Implication of Wrong-Way Crashes