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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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.

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construction workers must be protectedConstruction employers have a legal duty to provide a safe workplace under both federal OSHA regulations and state workplace safety laws. This duty includes taking reasonable steps to prevent heat illness by providing water, shade, rest breaks, training, and emergency response plans.

If your employer fails in these duties and you suffer a heat illness injury, you may be entitled to:

  • Workers’ Compensation Benefits: These benefits typically cover medical treatment costs, rehabilitation expenses, and a portion of lost wages. You generally cannot sue your employer outside of workers’ compensation, but benefits should adequately cover your injury-related losses.

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Accident sceneA tragic three-car crash in Co-op City, the Bronx, has once again highlighted the severe consequences of traffic collisions in New York City. According to the NYPD, the crash occurred around 5:25 p.m. on Bartow Avenue, near The Mall at Bay Plaza. The violent chain-reaction collision left one woman dead and six others—ranging in age from 11 to 79—hospitalized.

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our NYC city car accident lawyers are closely monitoring developments in this case. Our team of Bronx car accident lawyers has decades of experience representing victims of large-scale, multi-vehicle crashes across the borough. We understand the complexities these cases present—from unraveling conflicting witness accounts to identifying all potentially liable parties.

What Happened in Co-op City?

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NYC construction workers have a high risk of fatalitiesBy our New York Construction Accident Lawyers

As temperatures continue to rise during the summer months, construction workers face growing risks of heat-related illness and injury on the job. According to OSHA, employers are legally responsible for providing a workplace that is free of known safety and health hazards—including heat-related hazards. Failing to do so could result in serious harm to workers and legal liability for construction companies.

OSHA’s 2022 National Emphasis Program on Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, along with CPWR’s Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) checklist, provides a clear framework that construction employers should be following. Yet too often, we see workers injured or even killed by preventable heat-related illnesses because basic safety measures were not in place.

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Summer-Camp-Injury-NYAs New York personal injury attorneys who have seen firsthand how preventable negligence can change lives, we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life at Camp Mystic in Texas, where a catastrophic flash flood claimed the lives of dozens of children and counselors over the July 4th weekend.

While the floodwaters surged in Texas, the ripple effects are being felt across the country — especially by parents preparing to send their children to summer camp in New York. The question on every parent’s mind: Could this happen here?

The heartbreaking reality is that camps — whether in upstate New York, the Catskills, or Long Island — are not immune from natural disasters, inadequate emergency preparedness, or lapses in supervision. But there are important steps parents can take to better protect their children and avoid preventable harm.

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Jewel Perez died in a Queens car accidentAs Queens car accident lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand the devastation reckless driving can bring to families and communities. The recent fiery crash on the Belt Parkway that killed 24-year-old driver Noah Thompson and his 22-year-old passenger Jewel Perez is a heartbreaking reminder of just how deadly these incidents can be — especially when speed, alcohol, and failure to wear seat belts may be involved.

According to reports, Thompson was driving a BMW eastbound on the Belt Parkway around 6 a.m. on Saturday when he lost control near the Cross Bay Boulevard exit in Howard Beach. He slammed into a concrete divider, causing the vehicle to go airborne, land on the opposite side of the highway, strike two other cars — a Honda CR-V and a red Hyundai — and burst into flames. Tragically, neither Thompson nor Perez survived their injuries. Three other passengers in the BMW miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

At the time of the crash, none of the BMW occupants were wearing seat belts. Police sources have indicated that authorities were seeking a warrant to test Thompson’s blood for alcohol before he died.

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intersection of Cropsey Avenue and 17th Avenue in Brooklyn where the van accident occuredA serious van crash in Brooklyn’s Bath Beach neighborhood left more than a dozen people injured on Tuesday morning, highlighting the vulnerability of passengers who rely on ambulette and medical transport services. The incident occurred just before 10 a.m. near the intersection of Cropsey Avenue and 17th Avenue.

The vehicle involved, a transport van operated by D & J Ambulette Services, was carrying adult passengers with special needs when it veered off the road and struck a tree. Witnesses stated the 44-year-old driver attempted to swerve to avoid another vehicle, causing the van to lose control and crash. Initial reports from ABC7NY confirmed that 12 individuals were transported to NYU Langone Hospital for evaluation, while News12 placed the number of injuries at 14. Among the injured, one person suffered a leg injury, and another sustained a head laceration.

As Brooklyn automobile accident attorneys who have represented victims in similar crashes, we understand that transport vans like ambulettes must adhere to strict safety standards. When drivers make sudden maneuvers or when these vehicles are not properly maintained, the consequences can be devastating, especially for passengers with disabilities who may be less able to brace for impact or exit a damaged vehicle quickly.

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NYC Port Authority terminal where the bus accident occuredThis morning’s crash involving three NJ Transit buses at the Port Authority Bus Terminal is a stark reminder of the risks commuters face daily in one of the nation’s busiest transit hubs. According to authorities, the crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. during peak rush hour, leaving at least 12 people with minor injuries and one individual hospitalized for further evaluation. The Port Authority was temporarily shut down as emergency crews responded, causing major disruptions throughout Midtown Manhattan.

As New York City bus accident lawyers, we know just how chaotic and dangerous these types of collisions can be. Bus terminals like Port Authority are high-traffic, high-pressure environments, where small errors in timing, driver fatigue, poor visibility, or mechanical failure can lead to serious consequences.

Even though the reported injuries were mostly minor, the potential for catastrophic harm in a multi-bus crash cannot be overstated. Commuters seated without seatbelts, people standing, and those near exit doors are particularly vulnerable when a crash occurs. Collisions at low speeds inside terminals may not always look severe, but even seemingly minor accidents can lead to long-term injuries such as herniated discs, torn ligaments, or traumatic brain injuries — especially if victims are jolted or thrown off balance.

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location of the Long Island Car AccidentA serious pedestrian crash in Huntington early Sunday morning has once again drawn attention to the dangers of impaired driving—this time involving an off-duty law enforcement officer.

According to Suffolk County police, a 28-year-old man was crossing New York Avenue at Carver Street around 2:30 a.m. when he was struck by a southbound 2012 Chevrolet Camaro. The driver was later identified as Alexander Vargas, a 30-year-old off-duty Suffolk County police officer assigned to the Second Precinct.

The victim sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. Vargas was arrested at the scene and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Following the incident, he was suspended without pay.