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 Personal Injury

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3D_Medical_Animation_of_Left_Atrial_Appendage_OcclusionBoston Scientific has issued updated instructions for products used in the implantation of its Watchman left atrial appendage closure device after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the procedure to 120 serious injuries and 17 patient deaths.

FDA Safety Alert Highlights Increased Risk Under Sedation

According to an FDA safety communication released on August 8, 2025, the updated instructions apply to the FXD Curve, Truseal, and Trusteer access systems—all of which are used to implant the Watchman device. The FDA warned that patients sedated but not placed on mechanical ventilation during the procedure face a heightened risk of air embolism, a dangerous condition caused when an air bubble enters the bloodstream.

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The awning of the hotel St-Georges before the collapseA terrifying incident unfolded in Brooklyn Heights early Sunday morning when a massive hotel awning collapsed over the entrance to the Clark Street subway station. Surveillance footage captured the moment the concrete and steel structure—part of the historic Hotel St. George—suddenly gave way, crashing onto the sidewalk below. Fortunately, no pedestrians were underneath at the time, but the outcome could have easily been tragic.

As building collapse attorneys who have represented victims in cases involving façade failures, structural defects, and sidewalk hazards, we know just how catastrophic these incidents can be. When owners and operators neglect their duty to maintain property—especially high-traffic areas like subway entrances—the public bears the risk.

Alarming Signs of Neglect

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location of the bicycle accident in Washington HeightBy the NYC Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf

A 29-year-old female cyclist was injured in a hit-and-run crash on Sunday afternoon at the intersection of West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights—an area residents say is notorious for reckless driving and repeated collisions.

Surveillance footage captured the white Mercedes-Benz making a dangerous U-turn before striking the cyclist. The driver fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle several blocks away and escaping on foot.

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broadway and Suydan Street where the hit and run occuredBy the Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf

A pedestrian was fatally struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Brooklyn, in yet another tragic reminder of the dangers that pedestrians face on New York City streets. The fatal hit-and-run occurred at the intersection of Broadway and Suydam Street, on the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick, around 3:45 a.m.

According to the NYPD, the 47-year-old man was crossing the street when he was hit by a vehicle traveling north on Broadway. The driver fled the scene, leaving the victim to die in the roadway. Police responding to the scene found the man deceased.

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PATH_Newport_vcThis morning, at approximately 6:19–6:20 a.m., a fire ignited under an eastbound PATH train at the Newport Station in Jersey City. The blaze spewed thick smoke into the train car and station, prompting a rapid evacuation onto the platform. Local fire and PATH crews responded promptly as video footage captured flames shooting from beneath the train and visible panic among passengers trapped by closed doors.

Thirteen people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation; nine were transported to hospitals for further evaluation . Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.

Service Impact
Service was suspended for several major PATH lines during the morning rush:

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legionaire-diseaseInsights from our New York Personal Injury Lawyers

A troubling outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem has left one person dead and at least 22 others ill, according to recent announcements from the New York City Department of Health. As personal injury attorneys in New York, we have seen firsthand how preventable public health failures—particularly those involving building maintenance and water safety—can have devastating consequences.

The outbreak, which began around July 25, has affected residents in five Harlem ZIP codes—10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039—along with surrounding neighborhoods. Investigators believe the source may be cooling towers that were not properly maintained, allowing Legionella bacteria to grow and spread via contaminated water vapor.

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New York CyclistsAs NYC car accident lawyers who have spent decades representing the victims of reckless driving, we are deeply troubled by the NYPD’s current enforcement priorities.

According to recent data, NYPD officers issued 13% fewer traffic tickets to motorists between April and June 2025 — even as criminal summonses against cyclists skyrocketed. Criminal court summonses (C summonses) against bike and e-bike riders surged from approximately 600 before the spring crackdown to nearly 6,000. Meanwhile, traffic tickets for motorists dropped by over 20,000 in the same timeframe.

This shift in enforcement is not only unjustified — it’s dangerously misguided.

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the-buidling-before-the-collapseThree people, including two young girls, were injured last week, when a large section of a building facade collapsed onto the sidewalk and parked cars outside a furniture store in the Bellerose section of Queens. The parapet wall—approximately 175 linear feet—suddenly gave way, prompting emergency response teams and an investigation by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our Queens personal injury lawyers are closely monitoring developments in this case. When building owners fail to maintain their properties, the consequences can be catastrophic. Tragically, this is not the first time innocent pedestrians have been harmed due to neglected structural hazards.

DOB inspectors issued an OATH/ECB violation to the building owner for “failure to maintain the building.” While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, a prior complaint filed in June alleged the building was not up to code and had holes in the ceiling and floor. A contractor familiar with the structure noted that the parapet had rusted metal beams and may have required more extensive repairs than had been performed.

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Veteran-Head_down-Wheelchair-NishapurBy the NYC Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces face unique and complex health challenges—ranging from physical injuries sustained in combat to long-term psychological trauma. Yet in many civilian healthcare settings, these distinct needs are overlooked, leading to missed diagnoses, improper treatment, and in some cases, preventable harm. As the veteran population grows and more rely on non-military healthcare, these oversights are emerging as a serious patient safety concern.

Civilian Healthcare Providers Are Often Unprepared to Treat Veterans

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dangerous-location-of-the-fatal-accident-in-ChinatownLegal options for families after the Chinatown tragedy involving an overdue Enterprise vehicle

The tragic crash that unfolded in Manhattan’s Chinatown last Saturday morning has left New Yorkers shaken—and two families in mourning. According to police and prosecutors, a stolen blue Chevy Malibu, overdue by 17 days from an Enterprise Rent-A-Car, was speeding through the streets when it struck and killed 63-year-old pedestrian May Kwok and 63-year-old cyclist Kevin Scott Cruickshank before crashing into an NYPD van.

The vehicle was reportedly filled with drugs, alcohol, and an illegal gun stashed in the trunk. Surveillance footage shows the horrifying moment the stolen vehicle mowed down the victims. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, 23, and passenger Kennedy Lecraft, 22, fled the scene but were caught shortly after and now face a long list of felony charges, including murdermanslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.