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 Drunk Driving Accidents

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Location of the Brooklyn drunk driving accidentIn a recent tragic accident in Brooklyn, a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles and an MTA bus sent 11 people to the hospital, highlighting the severe consequences of irresponsible driving. This accident, caused by a 60-year-old driver under the influence, underscores the importance of road safety and the legal implications for those who choose to disregard it.

The accident occurred when the driver of a Lexus SUV,  heading south in the northbound lane of Pennsylvania Avenue collided with a Honda minivan, carrying a 64-year-old woman, a 34-year-old woman, an 18-year-old woman, and a 3-year-old boy, all of whom sustained injuries. The force of the crash propelled the driver’s vehicle into parked cars along the avenue, further escalating the situation as an MTA bus sideswiped the vehicles involved in the initial collision.

The injured parties, including the passengers of the minivan and ten individuals on the MTA bus, were taken to local hospitals with conditions ranging from stable to minor injuries. The driver of the Lexus, now in police custody and hospitalized, faces pending charges. This scenario brings to the forefront the legal ramifications of driving under the influence (DUI) and the potential for civil liability.

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Carrie Bernans was injured in the car accident on new years EveThe New Year’s Day car accident in Midtown Manhattan, involving Mohamed Alaouie, a 44-year-old from Fort Lee, NJ, presents a harrowing scenario of chaos and danger . In a disturbing sequence of events, Alaouie, engaged in a dispute with his girlfriend, attracted the attention of police officers. His subsequent actions led to a reckless driving spree, resulting in injuries to two police officers and four pedestrians including actress Carrie Bernans, (picture) as well as significant property damage (see video below). Additionally, a significant amount of crack cocaine was found in his vehicle, further complicating the legal landscape.

Legal Implications for the Victims

The victims of this tragic event face a complex web of legal considerations. Here’s how the law may apply in their situation:

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the wrong way drunk driving crash occurred on the Sunken Meadow ParkwayIn late 2020 a former firefighter from Long Island, Joseph Norris, caused a fatal wrong-way crash while driving under the influence. This accident claimed the life of 44-year-old Anthony Mariano, a beloved teacher from Queens. The devastating consequences of this drunk driving accident have left a deep and lasting impact on the Mariano family and the community.

Anthony Mariano’s fiancé, Christie Azzolini, shared her heart-wrenching loss during Wednesday’s sentencing. She expressed how she lost the love of her life due to the irresponsible actions of Joseph Norris. The tragedy robbed her of a promising future, leaving her to bear the burden of grief and sorrow.

The Mariano family spoke in court, describing the immense sadness that Joseph Norris’s reckless actions had caused. Vincent Mariano, the teacher’s father, couldn’t contain his anger and expressed his intense feelings directly to Norris, wishing him no rest or peace for his despicable actions.

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Location of the fatal DUI accident in Manhattan, NYCIt was an ordinary evening in Gramercy, Manhattan, where people were going about their daily routines. However, that evening turned into a nightmare when a terrifying car accident caused by an intoxicated driver unfolded on a busy sidewalk.

Last Sunday night around 7:30 pm, an intoxicated driver, 26-year-old Mahbub Ali from Astoria, Queens, drove onto the sidewalk at 21st Street and Third Avenue, resulting in a chain-reaction crash. Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with people screaming, commotion everywhere, and bystanders rushing to help the injured. The consequences of this reckless act were devastating, leading to the death of a 23-year-old man in the crosswalk and injuring several others, including an 18-year-old man on an e-bike and a 26-year-old woman. It is particularly heartbreaking to learn that the victims struck on the sidewalk were asylum seekers staying at a nearby migrant shelter.

The driver, Mahbub Ali, has since been arrested and faces serious charges, including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, DUI, and assault. These charges reflect the severity of the incident and the potential consequences for his actions. As NYC car accident attorneys, we recognize the importance of holding accountable those who cause harm due to their negligence or recklessness. Such cases not only seek justice for the victims but also serve as a deterrent for others, highlighting the importance of responsible driving and the devastating consequences that can arise from impaired or reckless behavior behind the wheel.

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drunk drivingAs personal injury attorneys who have represented victims in drunk driving accidents, it is disheartening to read about the fatal crash on the Belt Parkway caused by a wrong-way driver who had two prior DWI convictions. Winston Ramdeen, a 52-year-old, drove the wrong way on the Belt Parkway, resulting in the deaths of both himself and the 79-year-old man he collided with. Ramdeen had previously been arrested for drunk driving in 2014 and was scheduled to appear in court in a few days for sentencing related to a another prior DWI accident that occurred in 2021.

While it is understandable that a judge may not have seen fit to lock up the defendant on a misdemeanor conviction, it is the responsibility of prosecutors to ensure that the defendant does not pose a danger to others while awaiting sentencing. One possible solution that could have been explored was setting conditions for the defendant’s release that would have prevented him from getting behind the wheel. For instance, the court could have ordered the defendant to install an ignition interlock device in his car, which would have required him to blow into a breathalyzer before starting the engine. This would have ensured that he was not driving while under the influence of alcohol.

It is essential that we hold accountable those responsible for drunk driving accidents, whether they result in injury or death

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Mermaid Ave where the mother and son were struck by a hit and run driverSeveral  people were seriously injured or died in car accidents in New York City this last week-end. 2 pedestrians died. One cyclist was critically injured. Another pedestrian suffered serious injury and one motorist suffered minor injuries, all caused by reckless driving.

Young mother killed by drunk driver

The carnage started on Friday night with the death of a 23 year old pedestrian, identified as Tecinna Bahadur. The young mother was killed by a drunk driver on on the Van Wyck Expressway Service Road near 107th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. The driver who killed her was identified as 41 year old Athony Ramjit. He was arrested by the police and charged with DWI  (read more in 1010 WINS).

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3 pedestrians are in critical condition after a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into them in Jackson Heights, Queens, NYC.

The accident occurred around 4:20 am early Saturday morning at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 86th Street. A video surveillance shows the 3 young men aged 25, 28 and 32, chatting at the corner of the intersection of the two streets when suddenly a SUV traveling at a high rate of speed lost control of his vehicle as he was trying to pass another car and slammed into the pedestrians.

The 23 year old driver of the SUV was taken into custody and is expected to be charged with DWI.

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Raife fatally struck by drunk driverMichael de Guzman had a blood-alcohol content of .13 when he struck  and killed a pedestrian in Downtown Manhattan.

21 year old Raife Miligan was attempting to cross Houston Street near First Avenue last Monday around 2:45 am when the drunk driver fatally hit him.

According to an article published yesterday in the New York Post, just after he struck the student with his red Chevy Camaro, the driver told the police that he saw “a shadow running across the street” and while he tried to swerve to avoid it, he crashed into a Honda CRV and the divider. The officer who took the complaint wrote the following “I observed [de Guzman] ask the passenger of his vehicle if he hit the other car and the passenger stated to [de Guzman] in substance, no you just hit the guy, meaning the pedestrian,”.

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drunk drivingA woman whose identity was not revealed and a 20 year old boy identified as Frankely Nunez-Payano both died in drunk driving accidents in New York City this week-end. Both were passengers in cars driven by young drunk drivers. Both accidents happened minutes apart from each other.

The first accident took place in Jamaica, Queens, on Saturday night around 4:10 am.  23 year old Gilberto Cordova, was allegedly drunk when he was speeding down 112th road in Jamaica, Queens, with 5 passengers in his car. As he was near the intersection of Guy R. Brewer Blvd, he lost control of the vehicle, struck a pole and crashed into a parked van. The impact was so intense that the van jumped onto the sidewalk. All occupants were rushed to the hospital. The female passenger died from her injuries. the other 5 occupants all suffered serious injury but were in stable condition. Cordova was charged with driving while intoxicated, vehicular assault, criminal negligent homicide and vehicular manslaughter.

A few minutes later in the Bronx, another drunk driver, 19 year old Andre Hatcher, crashed his car into a truck, killing his friend, 20 year old Frankely Nunez-Payano. The 19-wheeler truck was driving east on Manida street and Oak Point Boulevard when it was T-boned by the Infiniti driven by Hatcher. The car got crushed under the truck and the passenger suffered critical injury. He later died at the hospital. The driver was taken into custody and later on charged with criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and driving while impaired.

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location of the fatal crashTwo childhood friends were driving back home from an after-hours party when the one driving ran a red light and crashed into another car. The passenger was ejected and died. The accident occurred around 6:30 am last Saturday morning. According to the police, 26 year old Jovanni Padilla was speeding down Saratoga Ave when he ran a red light at the intersection of Sutter Ave and crashed into a KIA SUV. His best friend, 23 year old Kainen Martin was asleep in the passenger seat. Ther impact was so intense that he was ejected from the car.  The police found him lying in the street and he was rushed to the hospital where he later on died from his injuries. The driver, Jovanni Padilla did not have a license and was drunk at the time of the accident. He was also trying to escape on foot when the police arrived and caught him. Padilla was first charged with DWI and driving without a license  and later on with mansluaghter, assault and vehicular manslaughter. The driver of the KIA SUV was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Best friends since childhood

Jovanni and Kainen had been best friends since they were children. Padilla felt so guilty after he understood that his friend had died that he asked the cop  “Just shoot me in the head”. He later on attended the candle light vigil held at the house of Kainen’s mother  in Brooklyn. Both Jovanni and Kainen’s family knew each other and both were distraught by the fatal accident.