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 Wrongful Death

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house on fireOver the past week, multiple serious fires across the New York metro area have left families grieving and others hospitalized. These incidents—spanning Queens, Long Island, and Brooklyn—underscore how quickly a fire can turn catastrophic and how often preventable conditions play a role.

From the perspective of New York fire accident attorneys, these events raise urgent questions about building safety, code compliance, and accountability.

Recent Fires With Fatalities and Injuries

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The fatal hit-and-run that killed 27-year-old Marcus McLaughlin, a father of three, in a Bronx NYCHA parking lot is a devastating reminder of how quickly lives can be lost—and how complex the legal aftermath can become for surviving families.

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2025 year in review for the NYC personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & MackaufThe 2025 Year in Review documents another extraordinary year for the NYC personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, marked by record-setting verdicts, precedent-shaping settlements, and litigation that advanced safety and accountability across New York.

Throughout 2025, the firm secured results in cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, construction accidents, transportation disasters, premises liability, and sexual abuse, many of which rank among the most significant outcomes in New York State history.

Record-Setting and Notable 2025 Results

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rego park where the fatal car accident occurredA fatal incident inside a Queens apartment building parking garage has placed renewed focus on driver responsibility, property safety, and the legal rights of families after preventable tragedies. According to published reports, a 1-year-old child was struck by a BMW inside a parking garage next to the family’s apartment building in Rego Park, Queens. The child was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, where he later died from his injuries. The driver remained at the scene, and authorities continue to investigate.

From a legal perspective, crashes involving children in parking garages are among the most serious motor-vehicle cases handled by our Queens car accident lawyers. These incidents often involve complex questions of negligence, visibility, speed, vehicle design, and whether the garage itself was reasonably safe for pedestrians.

Parking Garages Are Not “No-Fault” Zones Under New York Law

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Fatal Crashes and Fatalities in Construction Work Zone 2012-23Transportation-related incidents remain one of the most dangerous hazards facing construction workers today. According to data published by The Center for Construction Research and Training, transportation incidents accounted for more than one-third of all occupational fatalities in construction in 2023. These incidents occur both on and off public roadways, often where moving vehicles, heavy equipment, and active work zones intersect. Highway and street construction zones are especially hazardous, placing workers at constant risk of being struck by vehicles or equipment.

Nonfatal Transportation Injuries Continue to Rise

Despite improvements in overall safety rates, the total number of nonfatal transportation injuries among construction workers has increased over the past decade. Between 2011–2012 and 2021–2022, nonfatal transportation injuries rose by nearly 15 percent. The majority of these injuries involved roadway incidents with motorized land vehicles, with trucks accounting for the largest share. These injuries frequently occur during routine jobsite activities such as deliveries, equipment movement, and vehicles entering or exiting work zones, where visibility and traffic control are often inadequate.

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ghost plateA six-month crackdown on illegal “ghost plates” across Long Island and New York City has resulted in 1,044 summonses, 57 arrests, and 20 vehicles impounded in Suffolk County, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

The enforcement effort was carried out by a multi-agency Ghost Plate Task Force that included the NYPD, MTA Police, Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, and the New York City Sheriff’s Office.

From the perspective of our New York car accident attorneys, this operation addresses a serious and growing threat to public safety on New York roadways.

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location of the deadly Brooklyn bus accidentAn 11-year-old Brooklyn girl was fatally struck by a school bus in Bath Beach during afternoon dismissal hours, underscoring serious safety obligations placed on school bus drivers operating in dense city neighborhoods.

The victim has been identified as Amira Aminova, a Brooklyn resident. The collision occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue, a time when children and families are routinely crossing local streets after school.

The video below reviewed by investigators shows Amira standing at the corner with the right of way before entering the crosswalk as a school bus made a turn. Police allege the bus failed to yield to the pedestrian and that the driver did not exercise due care. Sun glare and the size of the vehicle were cited by a witness as potential contributing factors—conditions that experienced commercial drivers are trained to anticipate and manage.

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Location of the Long Island Hit and Run AccidentA Long Island man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that struck two brothers on the side of a Suffolk County roadway, killing one and leaving the other critically injured. The incident underscores the devastating consequences that follow when a driver leaves the scene of a serious crash and the legal options available to victims’ families under New York law.

According to Suffolk County police, Jonathan Shaver, 51, of Rocky Point, is accused of striking 31-year-old Edgar Meija and his 29-year-old brother, Omar Meija, shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday near 1180 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. The brothers were reportedly outside their vehicle changing a flat tire when Shaver’s 2012 Honda Accord struck them. Police say Shaver then fled the scene.

Edgar Meija was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother Omar was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Saturday morning.

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location of the fatal hit and run accident in BrownsvilleA fatal early-morning crash in Brownsville has raised serious legal and safety questions about driver conduct, hit-and-run responsibility, and how multi-vehicle collisions are investigated in Brooklyn.

Kianna Underwood, a 33-year-old former Nickelodeon child actor, was struck and killed on January 16, 2026, near Pitkin Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard. Police say she was first struck by a black Ford Explorer SUV and then run over and dragged more than two blocks by a second vehicle that fled the scene and has not been identified.

From a Brooklyn car accident lawyer’s perspective, this case underscores how quickly catastrophic harm can unfold—and how critical evidence preservation and accountability become when multiple drivers are involved.

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Bronx building where the fatal explosion occuredA deadly gas explosion inside a Bronx NYCHA high-rise has led to murder and multiple felony charges, highlighting once again how preventable gas-related incidents can devastate entire buildings and communities.

According to law enforcement sources, a man has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stealing a gas stove from an apartment at the Boston Secor Houses in Baychester—triggering a gas leak that caused a massive explosion and four-alarm fire. One resident was killed, and at least 14 others were injured.

As NYC gas explosion attorneys representing victims of serious personal injury in the Bronx, incidents like this raise critical legal questions about accountability, safety oversight, and the rights of residents harmed by dangerous conditions inside residential buildings.