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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Officer Patricia Espinosa Case: Criminal Sentencing Marks One Step as Civil Lawsuit Seeks Accountability from All Responsible PartiesThe criminal sentencing of the driver responsible for the death of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa represents an important milestone in the pursuit of justice. But for Officer Espinosa’s family, the legal process is far from over.

On July 20, 2026, Matthew Smith, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash, was sentenced to 7 1/3 to 22 years in prison for causing the fatal drunk driving collision that claimed Officer Espinosa’s life. The sentence brings closure to the criminal prosecution, but a separate civil wrongful death lawsuit continues against the businesses and individuals alleged to have unlawfully provided alcohol to the underage driver in the hours leading up to the crash.

The civil case raises an important question that extends beyond one driver’s criminal conduct: Who else bears responsibility when an entirely preventable tragedy occurs?

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A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) on behalf of the family of Donike Gocaj, a 56-year-old woman who suffered fatal injuries after falling into an uncovered manhole in Midtown Manhattan.A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) on behalf of the family of Donike Gocaj, a 56-year-old woman who suffered fatal injuries after falling into an uncovered manhole in Midtown Manhattan. The lawsuit alleges that the tragedy was not an isolated accident, but the foreseeable result of years of unsafe infrastructure practices and Con Edison’s failure to implement widely available safety measures.

The complaint was filed in New York Supreme Court by Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, one of New York’s leading personal injury law firms, on behalf of Ms. Gocaj’s estate, her children, and her longtime domestic partner, Jashar Kameraj.

A Preventable Tragedy in the Heart of Manhattan

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Espinosa-Visual-with-Flag-2The family of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Nassau County Supreme Court against multiple Long Island businesses, a social host, and the underage drunk driver responsible for the fatal Long Island car accident that claimed her life.

The lawsuit alleges that several bars, restaurants, and a liquor store illegally sold or served alcohol to Matthew Smith, who was only 20 years old, before the January 31, 2026 crash. In addition to pursuing claims against Smith, the lawsuit seeks to hold every party accountable whose alleged unlawful conduct contributed to this preventable tragedy.

The case serves as a reminder that under New York law, liability for a serious drunk driving accident may extend beyond the impaired driver. Businesses and individuals who illegally provide alcohol to underage persons may also be held legally responsible when their actions contribute to catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.

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Howard Hershenhorn top 10 all lawyers and top 5 all personal injury lawyers in New YorkGair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is proud to announce that partner Howard S. Hershenhorn has once again been recognized among the most accomplished attorneys in New York, earning a place among the Top 10 attorneys across all practice areas in the New York Metro area in the 2026 edition of Super Lawyers.

In addition to this prestigious distinction, Hershenhorn was ranked among the Top 5 Personal Injury attorneys in the New York Metro area, reflecting his exceptional reputation and decades of success representing victims and families in some of New York’s most complex and catastrophic cases.

The 2026 rankings are particularly noteworthy because they mark the first year that Super Lawyers introduced separate rankings by practice area. Hershenhorn’s placement among the elite attorneys in personal injury highlights the breadth of his experience and the respect he has earned throughout the legal profession.

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Bren Rubinowitz was ranked #1 attorney in New York for the third consecutive yearGair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is proud to announce that Managing Partner Ben B. Rubinowitz has once again been ranked the #1 attorney in the New York Metro area by Super Lawyers. This marks the third consecutive year that Rubinowitz has earned the highest overall ranking among all attorneys and all practice areas in the New York Metro region.

In addition to receiving the top overall ranking, Rubinowitz was recognized among the Top 5 Personal Injury attorneys in the New York Metro area in Super Lawyers’ newly introduced practice area rankings, further reinforcing his standing as one of the nation’s premier trial lawyers.

Landmark Results

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Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf Named a 2026 Top Firm by Super Lawyers Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a 2026 Top Firm for Personal Injury in New York by Super Lawyers.

The recognition reflects the firm’s continued commitment to excellence in representing victims of catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, construction accidents, auto accidents and transportation disasters as well as wrongful death throughout New York.

In addition to the firm’s Top Firm designation, thrirteen attorneys were selected to the 2026 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

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location of the Queens fatal dump truck accidentA New York City Department of Transportation worker was recently arrested after police say he fatally struck a mother of two while operating a city dump truck in Queens. The tragedy is a painful reminder that when a crash involves a municipal vehicle, grieving families often face a legal deadline many do not know exists: the 90-day Notice of Claim requirement.

For families dealing with shock, funeral arrangements, children, and financial uncertainty, waiting too long can seriously damage their right to recover compensation.

If the Crash Happened on March 10, 2026, When Is the Deadline?

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location of the fatal Bronx Car AccidentA tragic crash in the Bronx has once again raised serious legal questions about pedestrian safety. According to reports, a driver allegedly suffered a medical episode, jumped the curb, and struck two people who were seated on a bench near Bartow Avenue and Co-Op City Boulevard. A 72-year-old woman was killed and a second victim was hospitalized.

When a vehicle leaves the roadway and hits pedestrians on a sidewalk or public seating area, families often ask the same question: If the driver says it was a medical emergency, does that end the case? In many situations, the answer is no.

Sidewalk Pedestrians Have Strong Legal Protections

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New-York-City-scaledNew York City recorded one of the lowest first-quarter traffic fatality totals in more than a century, with 42 deaths reported across all road users in early 2026. Pedestrian fatalities dropped to 23,  the lowest first-quarter number since recordkeeping began, while deaths among occupants of cars and trucks also reached historic lows.

City officials credit Vision Zero street redesigns, expanded enforcement, and automated camera systems targeting speeding and red-light violations. On paper, the trend is encouraging.

But from a legal perspective, the story is more complex.

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window guards safetyA young child climbing out of a window and falling from a fire escape is the kind of incident that should never happen in New York City. Yet these cases arise again and again, and they are often preventable.

Under New York law, when a child is injured after falling from a window without proper safety guards, the focus of a personal injury attorney immediately turns to whether the landlord failed to comply with strict safety requirements.

New York City Law on Window Guards

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