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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Enough bicycle deaths in NYCA 19-year-old is in critical condition  after was struck by an SUV in Dyker Heights on Sunday.  This tragic event highlights the importance of understanding the legal implications surrounding bicycle accidents and the need for both cyclists and drivers to prioritize safety on our roads.

Last Sunday afternoon, a 19-year-old man was riding an e-bike on 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights when tragedy struck. A gray BMW, traveling down 73rd Street, collided with the young cyclist at the intersection. Eyewitnesses reported that the impact was so severe that the young man was propelled under a blue Honda parked at the corner. He remained trapped under the vehicle for several minutes until the FDNY successfully extricated him from the wreckage and rushed him to hospital in critical condition.

The driver of the BMW, who remained at the scene following the accident, expressed her distress and concern. She told News 12 that she had done everything in her power to avoid colliding with the young man. Her statement underscores the often complex and multifaceted nature of bicycle accidents, where several factors can contribute to a collision.

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New York Personal Injury Attorneys Rubinowitz and TorganIn yesterday’s column in the New York Law Journal, our managing partner Ben Rubinowitz assisted by our associate Brian Karalunas  and Evan Torgan, a member of Torgan Cooper & Aaron wrote:

All attorneys must abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct, but many fail to realize that similar requirements apply to most individuals providing expert testimony. These standards can provide ammunition for impeachment when expert witnesses fail to abide by the ethical requirements of their field.

Read the column in the New York Law Journal 

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Imagine the unthinkable pain of losing a child in a tragic school bus accident, only to later discover that the school had chosen a bus company listed as “unacceptable” by state authorities. The shock, anger, and heartbreak that follow such a revelation are unimaginable. In the wake of the recent Orange County, New York bus crash involving Regency Transportation, grieving parents are left grappling with this devastating truth, questioning the choices made by the educational institutions responsible for their children’s safety.

Bus operators on the state’s list of unacceptable operators may still continue to operate, but they face heightened scrutiny and more rigorous inspections from state authorities. This added level of oversight is designed to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent further accidents. The bus involved in the tragic crash had recently been acquired by Regency Transportation in the summer. Surprisingly, the New York Department of Transportation had already inspected it twice before the accident occurred. Both inspections resulted in a passing grade, indicating that the bus met the necessary safety standards. However, this does not tell the whole story.

History of Failed Inspections

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crane accident lawyer nycA recent CBS New York investigation indicates that Monadock Construction was cited by NYC in the crane accident that occurred in Hells Kitchen last July and left 12 people injured.

Back in July a massive crane caught fire and collapsed onto a nearby building, causing widespread panic and property damage. Now, in a significant development, the city authorities have cited Monadnock Construction, the construction contractor responsible for the project, for failing to safeguard the construction site. This citation carries a potential penalty of $25,000, raising important questions about accountability and safety in construction operations.

The New York City Buildings Department took action by serving a violation notice to Monadnock Construction in late August. The notice clearly states that the company failed to safeguard “all persons and property affected by construction operations.” This is a fundamental requirement for any construction project, emphasizing the importance of safety measures in preventing accidents like the crane fire in Hell’s Kitchen.

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12 of our personal injury attorneys listed in Super LawyersCongratulations to the 12 attorneys at our firm who were included in this year’s 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers and 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars lists. Among them, our managing partner, Ben Rubinowitz also made it to the top 10 New York Metro Super Lawyers while senior partners Jeffrey Bloom and Howard Hershenhorn were also listed in the top 100 New York Metro Super Lawyers.

For the 18th consecutive year, our firm was one of the personal injury law firms in New York City with the highest amount of attorneys listed in Super Lawyers. These attorneys are:

  • Ben Rubinowitz, selected for the 18th consecutive year and listed in the top 10 and top 100 2023 New York — Metro Super Lawyers
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accident sceneA bus carrying 40 students from Farmingdale High School and four adults tumbled down a 50-foot ravine on Interstate 84 in Orange County, New York. The accident resulted in the tragic deaths of Gina Pellettiere, 43, and Beatrice Ferrari, 77. Additionally, several students sustained serious injuries, with five in critical condition. More than 40 individuals were injured in total.

Preliminary information suggests that a failure of a front tire may have contributed to the accident. However, a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the exact causes and identify potential liabilities. In cases like this, multiple parties may be held responsible, including the bus company, the driver, and even the tire manufacturer if a defective tire is found to be a contributing factor.

How Can a Bus Accident Lawyer Help?

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A child died, and 3 others suffered personal injury including one who is in critical condition and two others who are still hospitalized after they ingested Fentanyl at El Divino Nino Daycare in the Bronx.

A Bronx daycare center operator and a man living with her are now facing murder charges following the tragic death of 1-year-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici. The child’s passing has prompted not only grief but also profound questions about the city’s oversight and regulation of daycare centers. Investigators suspect that Nicholas lost his life due to exposure to the lethal opioid fentanyl, raising concerns about childcare safety and the effectiveness of regulatory checks.

Grei Mendez, a 36-year-old, owns El Divino Nino Day Care, located on Morris Ave. near E. 196th St. in Fordham Manor. Carlisto Acevedo Brito, aged 41, is the man who resided with her. Both individuals have been charged with a slew of serious offenses, including murder, criminal possession of a narcotic, and endangering the welfare of a child. These accusations cast a pall over this harrowing case.

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NYPD Chase LawyersIn the early hours of a Thursday morning, chaos unfolded on the Major Deegan Expressway in New York as a police pursuit out of Yonkers took a perilous turn. What began as a routine response to a robbery report at the Cross County Shopping Center quickly escalated into a high-speed chase on the wrong side of the highway. Unfortunately, the pursuit ended in a wrong-way crash that left two innocent people injured, highlighting the inherent risks associated with police chases and the importance of seeking legal representation in such cases.

According to Yonkers police, officers were initially responding to a report of a robbery and identified a suspect at the Cross County Shopping Center. As the officers approached the suspect, he chose to flee in his Jeep Cherokee with Connecticut plates, setting the stage for a dramatic chase.

The suspect’s reckless flight continued as he entered the Major Deegan Expressway, traveling in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes. Recognizing the imminent danger, Yonkers police swiftly notified the New York Police Department (NYPD), and both law enforcement agencies initiated a coordinated effort to locate and apprehend the suspect. As they scoured the southbound lanes for any sign of the fleeing individual, the situation grew increasingly precarious.

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Location of the collision betwen the police car and the cyclist in Long island NYA tragic bicycle accident involving a collision with an emergency vehicle, has brought to light the critical danger that can arise when these vehicles are responding to emergencies.

On Saturday evening, at the intersection of William Floyd Parkway and Adobe Drive In Shirley, Long Island, NY, a 13-year-old boy’s life took an unexpected turn. He was crossing westbound on his bicycle when a police officer, responding to an emergency call for an elderly woman in medical distress, approached the intersection. The officer’s vehicle had its lights and siren activated, indicating an urgent situation. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as the police vehicle collided with the teenage bicyclist, setting off a chain of events that would alter lives forever.

In the line of duty, emergency vehicles play a crucial role in saving lives and providing immediate assistance during critical situations. However, the accident in Shirley underscores the unforeseen consequences that can occur when these vehicles are speeding through traffic, even with lights and sirens on.

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location of the deadly crash in Queens, NYCA grandfather was killed and his wife and two grandchildren were seriously injured in a car accident in New York City after a driver lost control of his vehicle and plowed into their parked car. The driver who remained at the scene has so far not been charged.

67-year-old Sam Amorese and his wife were in the process of getting their two young grandchildren, aged 1 and 5, out of their white Honda SUV. They were near their home on 73rd Avenue.  Their car was parked in a spot well-known to locals as a danger zone. This area had earned a notorious reputation as the “dead man’s curve.” It was notorious for being a high-risk location due to speeding cars, a concern that residents had repeatedly voiced.

A 39-year-old driver of a Nissan Pathfinder, coming around the corner, slammed into the Amorese family’s parked SUV. The impact was devastating. Witnesses describe the horrifying scene: the baby was ejected from the backseat of the SUV, and Mr. Amorese was pinned between his vehicle and another car.