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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Dusk and Darkness tips being distributed today to drivers and pedestrians. Credit: NYC DOT With the end of daylight-saving time approaching and earlier evenings settling in, New York City has once again launched its annual Dusk & Darkness Campaign under the Vision Zero initiative. As experienced New York City car accident attorneys representing injured pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, we believe it’s crucial to remind everyone how these seasonal visibility changes can increase the risk of serious crashes — and what drivers must do to keep our streets safe.

Why This Time of Year Is So Dangerous

According to city officials, the fall evening commute is one of the most dangerous periods of the year for pedestrians. When daylight ends earlier, visibility drops sharply during rush hour — just as streets are at their busiest.

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location of the fatal collision between the e-nike and pedestrian in BrooklynInsights from Our NYC Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Earlier this month, a tragic collision in Brooklyn claimed the life of 60-year-old Theresa Valenti, who was fatally struck by an illegal high-speed e-bike on Flushing Avenue near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

According to Streetsblog New York City, the rider was operating a Movcan V30 — a motorized vehicle marketed as an “e-bike” but capable of reaching speeds exceeding 30 mph, far above New York City’s legal limit of 25 mph. The crash occurred at a hazardous shared space where a bus stop merges with a bike lane, highlighting the mounting safety risks for pedestrians in mixed-use corridors. Photos of the site show the so-called “bike lane” blending directly onto the pedestrian sidewalk without any pavement markings, creating a hazardous environment for people stepping off the bus.

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8th Avenue and 30th Street where the truck accident occured
Ten people were injured in Midtown Manhattan on Monday afternoon after a Ryder rental truck lost control near 8th Avenue and 30th Street, crashing into a parked van and sending it careening onto the sidewalk. The violent chain reaction left eight pedestrians struck, including a 21-year-old woman who suffered significant head trauma, according to police sources.

Emergency responders transported the injured pedestrians, as well as the truck driver and passenger, to Bellevue Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. While all victims are expected to survive, the incident highlights the devastating consequences of truck crashes in densely populated areas like Midtown Manhattan, where a single driver error or equipment failure can endanger dozens of lives within seconds.

Understanding Victims’ Rights After a New York Truck Accident

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location of the elderly accident in BrooklynAn afternoon tragedy unfolded in Brighton Beach on Tuesday, October 15, 2025, when an 89-year-old pedestrian was fatally struck and two other pedestrians were injured by a minivan that jumped the curb on Neptune Avenue.

According to police, the 86-year-old driver of a red Chrysler Town & Country minivan may have suffered a stroke before reversing onto the sidewalk near West Fifth Street and Neptune Avenue around 12:51 p.m. The vehicle struck three women standing near a flower bed outside 486 Neptune Avenue.

Witnesses described an emotional scene as paramedics performed CPR on the elderly victim while others comforted the injured women. All three were taken to NYU Langone Hospital, where the 89-year-old was pronounced dead. The 75-year-old and 43-year-old victims were listed in stable condition. The driver remained at the scene and was later hospitalized.

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A devthe New York intersection where the tourists where hit by a carastating hit-and-run crash in Midtown Manhattan has left one pedestrian dead and another critically injured, underscoring the dangers of reckless driving in New York City and the legal consequences that follow.

According to police and prosecutors, 50-year-old Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric, a tourist from Hamburg, Germany, was fatally struck near Bryant Park last week. Her husband, 55, suffered a severe skull fracture and remains in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital.

The driver, Mohammad Abouzaid, 40, of the Bronx, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Sienna minivan that was blocking the intersection at West 40th Street and Fifth Avenue. Authorities say he suddenly reversed into the crosswalk, hitting the couple and a nearby box truck. After the collision, Abouzaid fled the scene, only to be later apprehended and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Surveillance footage confirmed his involvement.

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location-of-the-hit-and-run-truck-accident-in-BrooklynOn September 19, 2025, tragedy struck at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights, when a tractor-trailer fatally struck 69-year-old Deborah Koonce. According to the NYPD, the driver of the 18-wheeler fled the scene, leaving the pedestrian to be pronounced dead on site.

Days later, police tracked the truck and its 50-year-old driver to Mine Hill, New Jersey—roughly 50 miles away. Yet despite locating the individual behind the wheel, authorities declined to make an arrest, citing the driver’s claim that he did not realize he had struck a pedestrian. The investigation is said to be ongoing.

Trucks Banned from Eastern Parkway

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Deadly Queens IntersectionA tragic crash in South Richmond Hill, Queens left one woman dead and another seriously injured on Saturday afternoon, underscoring both the dangers of reckless driving and the complex legal issues that arise in pedestrian accident cases.

What Happened at Van Wyck Service Road and Liberty Avenue

According to police, a Mercedes-Benz driven by a 65-year-old woman slammed into the rear of a Toyota Scion that had been stopped to make a left turn. The force of the impact pushed the Toyota forward into two women who were crossing the street.

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Prima Donna restaurant might have some responsibility in the death of the pedestrianExploring wrongful death, personal injury, and bar liability after an alcohol-fueled, intentional vehicle attack

A horrifying incident in Queens left 16-year-old Jhoanny Alvarez dead after, prosecutors say, a man intentionally drove his Chevrolet Suburban into a group of people outside the Prima Donna Restaurant in the early hours of September 15, 2025. The Queens District Attorney has since charged 38-year-old Edwin Cruz Gomez with murder, attempted murder, and related counts. Police report that Cruz Gomez’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.137% after the crash.

When a violent act with a motor vehicle results in death, victims’ families face two separate paths to justice: criminal prosecution and civil recovery. In addition to a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, the family may have grounds to pursue Dram Shop liability against any establishment that negligently sold or served alcohol to the driver before the attack. In catastrophic cases involving alleged intentional conduct and intoxication, a thorough civil investigation can mean the difference between partial and full accountability.

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Martense ave and 102nd street in Queens where the pedestrian accident occuredAn allegedly drunk and unlicensed driver has been arrested in Queens after a violent crash left two pedestrians — a 13-year-old girl and a 72-year-old man — seriously injured. The incident underscores the devastating consequences of drunk driving and highlights the dangers that negligent motorists pose to innocent pedestrians.

Details of the Crash

According to NYPD reports, the collision occurred on September 14, 2025, around 8:05 p.m. at Martense Avenue and 102nd Street in Corona. A 40-year-old man behind the wheel of a 2013 white Honda sedan struck both the teenager and the senior as they crossed the street.

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The East New York Intersection where the accident occuredA shocking crash in East New York has raised serious questions about liability and accountability. According to reports, a 15-year-old—far too young to drive legally—was behind the wheel of a stolen black Honda Accord when he struck a 71-year-old pedestrian standing on the curb at Pennsylvania and Hegeman Avenues.

Video footage shows the vehicle traveling the wrong way before going airborne, slamming into a utility pole, and injuring the pedestrian. The teenager fled the scene on foot just as police vehicles, which had been pursuing him, arrived. Moments later, the mangled car burst into flames. The victim was rushed to the hospital in stable condition, while the teen was later arrested and charged with grand larceny, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and other crimes.

Beyond the Driver: Could the Police Share Responsibility?