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 Pedestrian Accidents

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yearly pedestrian fatalities in New York CityA grandmother who was pushing her 2-year-old granddaughter in a stroller was fatally struck by the driver of a pickup truck who failed to yield to them. The pedestrian accident occurred yesterday afternoon around 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of Bay 25th Street and Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The 56-year-old driver of the pick-up truck,  identified as Faheem Shabazz, was making a left turn when he struck the grandmother and her goddaughter. He remained at the accident scene and was later charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian. According to How’s my driving, the pick-up truck has a history of recklessness. In the last 9 months, the pick-up truck received 9 violations for a total of $850 in fines. 4 of them were school zone speed camera violations.

The 66-year-old grandmother was transported to the hospital in critical condition but she did not survive. Miraculously her granddaughter survived and was not injured.

In New York City,  the Right of Way or Failure to Yield Law was passed in May 2014 to reduce pedestrian fatalities. Under this law drivers who fail to yield to a pedestrian or a cyclist can be subjected to a fine of up to $150 and up to 15 days in jail.  While this law and other initiatives such as the lowering of the city speed limit and the installation of speed cameras in school zones have led to a decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the city, large vehicles driven by reckless drivers remain a significant danger for pedestrians. Last year 116 pedestrians died in car accidents in New York City and 8,500 of them were injured.  While these numbers are lower than in 2013, before Vision Zero,  when 168 pedestrians were killed and 11,978 were injured they are far from the “zero” fatality goal of the Vision Zero program.

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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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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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GSHA pedestrian fatalities reportThe alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities in the United States has reached its highest level since 1981, according to a recent report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The GHSA report reveals that in 2022, at least 7,508 pedestrian died marking a staggering 77% increase since 2010. This tragic statistic signifies not only a significant loss of life but also a growing safety disparity for pedestrians compared to other traffic-related fatalities, which saw a 25% increase over the same period.

Multiple factors contribute to this escalating crisis. Dangerous driving behaviors, inadequate infrastructure, and the prevalence of larger and heavier vehicles all play significant roles in the rising number of pedestrian fatalities. Regrettably, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic witnessed a surge in dangerous driving practices, which have persisted and further jeopardized the safety of pedestrians.

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As car accident attorneys, we are acutely aware of the devastating consequences of reckless driving in New York City. Indeed, the city’s high population density means that millions of people and vehicles share limited road space, leading to increased risks associated with reckless driving. This congestion heightens the likelihood of collisions and resulting injuries. Furthermore, New York City boasts a complex network of streets, intersections, and areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, underscoring the importance of drivers exercising caution and adhering to traffic laws. Reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, running red lights, aggressive maneuvers, and failure to yield to pedestrians can have dire consequences in such an urban environment. Additionally, the presence of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, further elevates the potential for severe injuries or even fatalities when reckless driving occurs.

Over the past weekend, several people were injured, and significant property damage occurred due to reckless driving.

A 6-year-old boy in East Harlem Park was critically injured when he was struck by a moped-like vehicle, which then fled the scene. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, causing severe head trauma to the child. The suspect initially stayed but fled before the police arrived. The vehicle was described as similar to a moped, and it was last seen heading northbound in the park. This hit-and-run occurred just before the city’s plan to lift a ban on e-bikes and scooters in parks as part of a yearlong pilot program, which excludes faster, heavier mopeds. The pilot program will allow e-bikes and scooters under 100 pounds to operate on park drives and greenways but not on pedestrian paths. The Parks Department emphasizes maintaining rules against reckless behavior throughout the pilot period, which starts on Tuesday and ends on May 31, 2024.

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Families for Safe Street fight to reduce car accidents in NYCNew York City has long been striving to make its streets safer for pedestrians and reduce the number of tragic accidents caused by speeding vehicles. A proposed law known as Sammy’s Law, named after a young child who lost his life to a speeding driver, has become a symbol of the urgent need for change. However, despite widespread support, the law has faced obstacles in the State Legislature. In a powerful display of their determination, advocates are planning a hunger strike to shed light on the importance of passing this life-saving bill. As car  accident lawyers in New York City, we believe it is crucial to discuss the significance of Sammy’s Law and the urgent need for its implementation.

Sammy’s Law is dedicated to Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in 2013 when he was struck by a speeding van while retrieving a soccer ball in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Since Sammy’s death, an alarming number of 98 children have lost their lives in traffic collisions on the city’s streets, highlighting the pressing need for measures to improve safety. Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother, along with others who have suffered the loss of loved ones in similar accidents, founded Families for Safe Streets, a group advocating for safer streets and stricter regulations.

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Queens Boulevard is dangerous for cyclistsQueens Boulevard in New York City has been historically notorious for its high number of fatal bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. The thoroughfare gained the infamous nickname “Boulevard of Death” due to the significant risks it posed to cyclists and pedestrians.

After almost a decade of planning, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)  announced that the infamous boulevard is finally undergoing a transformation with the extension of bike lanes further east into the Borough. This long-awaited project aims to improve street safety and create a more equitable transportation system. As NYC bicycle accident lawyers, we view this expansion as a positive step towards reducing accidents and promoting safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and bus commuters.

The DOT recently presented a comprehensive proposal to extend bike lanes on Queens Boulevard. The plan involves repurposing a travel lane in each direction between Union Turnpike in Forest Hills and Hillside Avenue in Briarwood. This move has been applauded by advocates who appreciate Mayor Adams’ commitment to bringing safer infrastructure to communities of color.

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A total of 11,176 people were injured in NYC crashes during the first quarter of 2023 according to monthly statistics from the NYPD including 809 cyclists, 2,163 pedestrians, 3,310 passengers and 4,894 motorists. This is compared to 10,501, 8,984, 12,997, 12,920, 12,608, 11,936, 10,805, and 11,676 during Q1 of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively. The number of people injured in traffic accidents during Q1 of each year shows how injuries first declined after Vision Zero started in 2014 and 2015, compared to 2013, and then jumped again in 2016. The number gradually increased to pass 12,000 in 2017 and reach a record high of 12,997 in 2019 due to the increase in distracted driving accidents caused by cellphones and other electronic devices. Crash injuries dropped again in Q1 of 2020 and 2021 due to the decline in activity in the city caused by the pandemic, and gradually increased again in Q1 of 2022 and 2023 as the city gradually became more active again.

NYC auto accident injuries by category Q1 2023
Since Vision Zero started in 2014, the number of people dying in car accidents during the first quarter of the year has never gone back to 69, the number of crash fatalities reached during Q1 2013. However, after Vision Zero started, traffic fatalities reached a record high at 58 during the first quarter of last year and remained high during the first quarter of this year with 47 fatalities.

While the number of passenger fatalities dropped significantly from 17 to 6, the number of bicyclist fatalities reached a record high during the first three months of the year. The warm winter, the increased popularity of e-bikes, as well as the more intense truck traffic generated by internet shoppers, are among the factors that contributed to this explosion of fatalities among cyclists.

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deadly traffic accidentsThe recent string of pedestrian accidents in Queens and Manhattan over the last week-end is deeply concerning as it seems that every week-end in New York City a few more people are getting killed in traffic accidents. Our pedestrian accident lawyers  are not the only one to express concerns about the increased number of traffic deaths in New York City. In a recent column for the New York Times, Ginia Bellafante  point fingers at the increased number of traffic fatalities in the city and highlights the dangers of Atlantic Avenue. Confirming these concerns, Transportation Alternatives just released today its quarterly traffic fatalities report showing 51 people died in traffic accidents during Q1 including a record 9 bicyclists.

Last weekend’s carnage

The first accident involved a hit-and-run driver who struck and killed Darryl Younger, a Department of Education employee who was on his way to work as a school lunch loader and handler. The driver who struck him was traveling south on Jackson Ave. and is still being sought by police.

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