Wrongful Death

Published on: January 20, 2026

New York Law Journal Reveals Key Trial Strategy Behind $182 Million Metro-North Settlement

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A newly published article in the New York Law Journal sheds further light on the more than $182 million settlement reached in litigation arising from the deadliest crash in Metro-North Railroad history — a case tried on behalf of approximately 30 plaintiffs by Ben Rubinowitz and Richard Steigman of the New York Personal Injury Law Firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf.

The settlement, benefiting families of five passengers killed and dozens of others injured, stems from the February 3, 2015 Metro-North collision at the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla, Westchester County. Rubinowitz said that the individual settlements are confidential.

According to the New York Law Journal, Rubinowitz led the liability trial to ensure consistent verdicts across plaintiffs represented by multiple firms. The trial strategy centered on two critical failures: the train engineer’s decision not to slow despite uncertainty at the crossing, and a uniquely dangerous third rail design that turned the crash into an inferno-like event.

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Published on: January 16, 2026

Pedestrian Killed in Early-Morning Hit-and-Run in Brownsville Highlights Ongoing Dangers on Brooklyn Streets

By GGCRBHS&M

If a loved one was killed in a Brooklyn hit-and-run, speak with a Brooklyn car accident attorney who is prepared to take the case all the way to trial. Early legal involvement can be critical to protecting evidence, identifying responsible parties, and pursuing full accountability under New York law.

A woman was killed early Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Osborn Street in Brownsville, according to the New York City Police Department. The driver fled the scene, leaving investigators searching for a gray vehicle involved in the collision.

The fatal crash occurred just before 6:50 a.m. as the woman was crossing Pitkin Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Friday afternoon, police had not released additional identifying details or announced any arrests.

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Published on: January 7, 2026

Williamsburg Dump Truck Collision Claims the Life of Brooklyn Pedestrian

By GGCRBHS&M

As dump truck accident lawyers, we see firsthand how devastating crashes involving large commercial vehicles can be—especially in dense Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburg.

According to reports, a 53-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman was struck by a dump truck while walking along Wythe Avenue near Williamsburg Street West in early December. The collision occurred at approximately 9:40 a.m., a time when pedestrian traffic in the area is typically heavy. She was transported in critical condition to Bellevue Hospital, where she remained for several weeks before succumbing to her injuries in early January. The NYPD Highway Investigation Squad is continuing its investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

Why Dump Truck Accidents Are So Severe

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Published on: January 7, 2026

Brooklyn Hit-and-Run Accident on Linden Boulevard Highlights Ongoing Pedestrian Safety Failures

By GGCRBHS&M

A fatal hit-and-run on Linden Boulevard in East New York underscores the persistent dangers pedestrians face on Brooklyn’s widest and fastest corridors. Just after midnight on New Year’s Day, a 68-year-old Brooklyn resident was struck while crossing near Linden Boulevard and Ashford Street. The driver stopped briefly, then fled. The victim was transported to Brookdale University Hospital, where he died hours later.

According to court records, the vehicle involved—a Mercury Grand Marquis with Pennsylvania plates—hit the pedestrian at approximately 12:55 a.m. Police later arrested a 70-year-old local resident, who admitted he fled because he “got scared.” He has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and released pending further court proceedings.

A Known Dangerous Stretch of Roadway

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Published on: January 6, 2026

Two Lives Lost in Staten Island Crash: Examining Fault, Liability, and Wrongful Death Claims Under New York Law

By GGCRBHS&M

A devastating two-vehicle collision in Staten Island has left a family shattered and once again underscores how quickly a routine drive can turn fatal. As NYC car accident lawyers, cases like this are a painful reminder that serious crashes often result from ordinary traffic movements — and that the consequences are borne most heavily by innocent passengers and families.

The crash occurred last Friday morning at the intersection of Forest Hill Road and Rockland Avenue in New Springville. A Honda SUV traveling south collided with an Audi Q5 making a left turn. Inside the Honda were 6-year-old Anheli Vasquez and 90-year-old Gerardo Avila, who was on his way to a chemotherapy appointment. Mr. Avila died shortly after the crash. Anheli remained hospitalized with catastrophic injuries and passed away Sunday morning, 48 hours later.

For Anheli’s mother, Marlene Trinidad, the loss is unimaginable. She never left her daughter’s bedside and described returning home without her “princess.” The child, a first-grader born in Staten Island, was remembered as loving, bilingual, and deeply connected to Mr. Avila and his wife, whom she considered her grandparents.

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Published on: January 5, 2026

McGuinness Boulevard Road Diet: A Long-Overdue Safety Fix for Greenpoint

By GGCRBHS&M

As Brooklyn car accident lawyers, McGuinness Boulevard has long stood out as one of Greenpoint’s most dangerous corridors. Its history as a widened, high-speed thoroughfare has translated into decades of preventable crashes, severe pedestrian injuries, and fatal collisions. That is why Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s announcement to complete the full McGuinness Boulevard road diet matters—not just politically, but from a public-safety and legal accountability perspective.

The decision revives the original NYC DOT redesign initiated during the Bill de Blasio administration and scaled back under Eric Adams. By narrowing McGuinness to one travel lane in each direction between the Pulaski Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and extending parking-protected bike lanes through the entire corridor, the city is finally addressing a roadway design that has put Greenpoint residents at risk for generations.

Why McGuinness Boulevard Has Been So Dangerous

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Published on: December 22, 2025

Arrest Made in Fatal Lower East Side Hit-and-Run: What Pedestrians and Families Should Know

By GGCRBHS&M

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian lawfully crossing the street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. According to court filings and police statements, the victim had the walk signal when she was struck in the crosswalk at Stanton and Clinton Streets. The driver allegedly fled the scene, leaving the victim critically injured. She later died at Bellevue Hospital.

This case underscores a reality car accident attorneys in New York City confront far too often: hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians are among the most devastating—and legally complex—traffic cases in the city.

Hit-and-Run Crashes Are Not “Accidents”

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Published on: December 16, 2025

Dooring Accidents in New York: Legal Options for Injured Cyclists and Scooter Riders

By GGCRBHS&M

A fatal dooring crash in Ozone Park, Queens, has once again highlighted the serious and often overlooked dangers faced by cyclists, e-bike riders, and scooter riders on New York City streets. These incidents are not unavoidable accidents—they are frequently the result of a driver or passenger failing to exercise basic care when opening a vehicle door.

The Ozone Park Dooring Crash: A 10-Day Struggle for Survival

On the evening of November 18, 2025, Sahan Ahmed, a 24-year-old electric scooter rider, was traveling westbound on Liberty Avenue near 103rd Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens. As he passed a parked 2012 Kia Soul, the driver opened the driver’s-side door directly into his path.

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Published on: December 11, 2025

Bronx Hit-and-Run Crash Highlights Critical Questions for Loved Ones Seeking Justice and Compensation

By GGCRBHS&M

A tragic hit-and-run in the Bronx has once again raised pressing questions for families about their rights, available legal remedies, and how to pursue compensation when a reckless driver causes a fatal pedestrian crash and flees the scene.

Early Saturday morning, 27-year-old Shariq Bryant was struck and killed while crossing E. 222nd Street near Boston Road. Police say the driver of a 2025 BMW M8 was speeding down the block before hitting Mr. Bryant and crashing into a telephone pole. Instead of staying to help, the driver ran off, leaving behind an injured passenger and a shattered community.

Loved ones describe Mr. Bryant as optimistic, supportive, and someone who brought people together. He had returned to his old Bronx neighborhood to visit friends when his life was taken without warning.

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Published on: December 10, 2025

Grandfather Killed After Being Struck by a Moped Driver in Queens: Another Preventable Pedestrian Tragedy in New York City

By GGCRBHS&M

A fatal collision in Jamaica, Queens is drawing renewed attention to the risks pedestrians face every day on New York City streets — including those posed by mopeds, e-bikes, and bicycles operated in violation of traffic laws. Police report that 68-year-old Trevor Lloyd Samuels was crossing at 93rd Avenue and 168th Street on Friday evening when he was struck by a moped rider while walking in a marked crosswalk. He suffered severe head trauma and later died at Jamaica Hospital.

The moped operator, 26-year-old Yunior Rodriguez, remained at the scene and was taken to Queens Hospital, where he was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

For Mr. Samuels’s family, the sudden loss has been devastating. His daughter described him as a man with “story for days”—a former correctional officer in Jamaica for nearly four decades, a dedicated home health aide, and a deeply loved father and grandfather. His five children and five grandchildren are now grappling with the weight of a preventable tragedy that unfolded in seconds.

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