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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e-bike accidents can be devastatingNew York City lawmakers are undertaking a sweeping review of e-bike and e-scooter safety as collisions involving e-bikes continue to rise across the five boroughs

On August 4, 2026, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced that the Council will hold a comprehensive hearing on September 30 to examine e-bike and e-scooter safety, enforcement of existing laws, and at least 17 legislative proposals intended to address the growing risks associated with electric bicycles, scooters and other forms of micromobility.

According to the City Council, more than 500 e-bike collisions have already occurred in New York City in 2026, representing a 31.7% increase compared with the same period last year.

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Client testimonial for personal injury attorney Diana CarnemollaAt Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, some of the most meaningful feedback we receive comes from clients we have represented through extraordinarily difficult moments in their lives.

A recent client review of partner Diana Carnemolla is a powerful example.

Following the devastating loss of their son and mother, the family described Diana as both a compassionate source of support and a “fierce and formidable advocate in the courtroom.” Their words, reproduced in full in the accompanying visual, speak to the balance that is so important when representing families who have suffered catastrophic loss.

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contact our bronx personal injury attorneys if you or a loved one were injured in an explosion  in the BronxA devastating explosion and five-alarm fire tore through a residential apartment building in the Bronx this week, leaving one person dead, multiple residents critically injured, and many families displaced from their homes. According to FDNY officials, the powerful blast caused portions of the building to collapse, blowing out windows and doors before flames rapidly spread throughout the structure. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

While emergency responders continue their work and investigators search for answers, injured residents and grieving families are often left wondering what happens next—and whether someone can be held legally responsible.

Explosion and Fire Cases Often Involve More Than One Responsible Party

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CLIENT TESTIMONIAL Outstanding personal injury representation is about more than obtaining exceptional verdicts and settlements. It is about guiding people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives with skill, integrity, and compassion.

For individuals and families facing catastrophic injuries or the loss of a loved one, the legal process can feel overwhelming. Clients need experienced trial attorneys who will fight tirelessly for justice while providing the guidance and reassurance needed during an incredibly challenging time.

The client review featured here speaks to those values.

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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.