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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Car Accidents, Bicycle Crashes, Pedestrian Knockdowns, and Construction Injuries Spike as New Yorkers Head Outdoors

As New York thaws from winter and the streets grow busier, personal injury claims tend to rise—often sharply—during the spring months. At Gair, Gcommon NY personal injuries in the springair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our attorneys have represented victims of serious accidents for more than 100 years. Below are the most common spring-related personal injury cases we see across New York City.

1. Car Accidents Increase with Holiday Travel and Wet Roads

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Accident sceneAt Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we are deeply saddened to learn of two fatal pedestrian crashes that occurred in New York City this past Friday — tragic events that underscore the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians across the five boroughs.

Upper West Side: 57-Year-Old Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Ford Van

Early Friday morning, Patrice Brooks, a 57-year-old resident of the Upper West Side, was struck and killed by a Ford van while crossing the intersection at 86th Street and Broadway. According to the NYPD, Brooks was crossing diagonally at approximately 4:27 a.m. when the eastbound van, operated by a 41-year-old woman who had the green light, struck him.

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Queensboro_Bridge_from_Manhattan_sideDespite years of planning and a near-complete pedestrian infrastructure project on the Queensboro Bridge, New York City continues to favor motor vehicles over the safety of its most vulnerable road users. On Saturday, more than 200 activists, including local officials and transportation advocates, walked across the southern roadway of the bridge to protest Mayor Adams’s failure to open the long-promised pedestrian pathway.

As New York City bicycle crash attorneys and pedestrian accident lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand how overcrowded, dangerous infrastructure contributes to severe injuries and fatalities. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Queensboro Bridge, where pedestrians and cyclists are forced to share a single, narrow 10-foot path—often resulting in collisions, near-misses, and chaos.

A Preventable Safety Crisis

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Deadly Bronx Intersection of E 149th St & Morris AveA 52-year-old pedestrian, Inza Fofana, tragically died after being struck by a van while crossing the street at E. 149th Street and Morris Avenue in Mott Haven. The fatal crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday when a 2019 Ford Transit van, driven by a 48-year-old man, was attempting a left turn onto Morris Avenue. Fofana was transported to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.

As Bronx car accident lawyers who have handled numerous pedestrian fatality cases, we understand how common and devastating these left-turn collisions can be — particularly at intersections like E. 149th and Morris, which see high volumes of foot and vehicle traffic. Left-turn crashes are notoriously dangerous for pedestrians due to limited visibility, driver inattention, and misjudgment of speed or distance.

In many of the pedestrian accident cases we handle, the victims were lawfully crossing the street when they were hit by drivers who either failed to yield or were not exercising due care. Investigations may take time, and fault is not always immediately assigned, but under New York law, drivers have a legal duty to watch for pedestrians and avoid collisions, even when the pedestrian is not in a marked crosswalk.

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Winter Storm in NYC keep most New Yorkers indoorPedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motor vehicle occupant fatalities declined in New York City during the first quarter.

While Mayor Adams Celebrates Progress Under Vision Zero, Winter Weather May Be the Unsung Hero

Officials are celebrating a sharp and historic drop in traffic fatalities during the first quarter of 2025. According to a recent announcement by Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, 41 people died in traffic crashes between January and March—down from 65 during the same period last year, and the second lowest Q1 total since records began.

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Fatal Brooklyn car accident location on Quentin road and Ocean ParkwayA devastating car crash in Brooklyn has once again underscored the urgent need for legislative action to hold repeat speeding offenders accountable. As Brooklyn car accident lawyers with decades of experience representing families shattered by preventable tragedies, we echo the community’s demand for real solutions—not just condolences—when reckless driving takes innocent lives.

On Saturday, 34-year-old Natasha Saada and her two young daughters, Diana (8) and Deborah (5), were struck and killed while walking on Ocean Parkway near Quentin Avenue in Midwood. Her 4-year-old son, Philip, remains in critical condition. The driver, Miriam Yarimi, who had an extensive history of speeding violations—including 21 speeding tickets, 15 of which occurred in school zones—now faces multiple felony charges, including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

This crash is not an isolated incident. Brooklyn streets, particularly high-speed corridors like Ocean Parkway, have long been the site of deadly pedestrian crashes involving drivers with repeat traffic offenses. What makes this case even more heartbreaking is how preventable it may have been.

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Location of the Queens NYC Hit and Run Car AccidentA 78-year-old woman was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident in Murray Hill, Queens, NYC, after being struck by a gray minivan while crossing Northern Boulevard near Parsons Boulevard on March 14. The driver sped away, leaving her critically injured in the roadway.

Emergency responders rushed the victim, Jung Sook Ung, to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where she later died. Now, the NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad and the 109th Precinct in Flushing are searching for the driver responsible.

Hit-and-Run Crashes in NYC: A Growing Concern

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location of the Brooklyn Dump truck accidentDump trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles on New York City streets due to their massive size, limited visibility, and often reckless operation. When drivers fail to operate these vehicles safely, the consequences can be tragic. A recent hit-and-run in Williamsburg highlights the devastating impact of negligent dump truck drivers and the urgent need for accountability.

Fatal Brooklyn Dump Truck Collision

Early Saturday morning, a man in his 20s lost his life in a fatal crash involving a Mack dump truck. According to NYPD officials, the victim was crossing Withers Street near Woodpoint Road around 4 a.m. when he crouched down to pick up food he had dropped. At that moment, the dump truck driver, who had been traveling north, made a right turn and struck the man. Despite the severe impact, the driver fled the scene, leaving the victim behind.

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stepping out of a car on Flatbush Ave is not a good ideaA tragic accident in Downtown Brooklyn late Friday night claimed the life of a 45-year-old woman after she exited a livery cab and stumbled into traffic on Flatbush Avenue near State Street. The fatal crash, which occurred outside the Atlantic Terminal Mall around 11:10 p.m., highlights the dangers pedestrians face when exiting vehicles on busy New York City roadways.

Details of the Fatal Accident

According to police reports, the livery cab had stopped in the middle lane when the woman unexpectedly exited the vehicle. She lost her footing and fell into the right lane, where she was struck by a Chevrolet Malibu driven by a 29-year-old man. Emergency medical responders rushed her to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, but she did not survive. The driver of the Chevrolet remained at the scene, and no charges have been filed at this time.

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the bike lane on Third AvenueAs car accident lawyers practicing in New York City, we have witnessed the unfortunate consequences of traffic collisions and the severe impact they have on individuals, families, and communities. However, recent developments on Third Avenue present a hopeful narrative that underscores a truth we can all rally around: bike lanes make roadways safer for everyone.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) recently released data indicating that the installation of a protected bike lane on Third Avenue has resulted in a remarkable 33 percent decrease in total injuries over the past year. Even more striking, injuries to drivers and passengers in vehicles plummeted by 43 percent. These statistics are not merely numbers; they represent lives profoundly affected—or saved—by thoughtful urban planning.

As noted by DOT spokesperson Vin Barone, “DOT’s redesign of Third Avenue has significantly reduced serious injuries—whether you’re walking, biking, or in a car on the corridor.” This statement demonstrates a comprehensive view of roadway safety, one that considers all users rather than prioritizing vehicles alone.