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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car-accident-scene-in-Manhattan-scaled-e1735862450680As New York City pedestrian accident lawyers, we have witnessed firsthand the tragic consequences of an increasingly dangerous urban environment for walkers. While the city proudly touts its walkability and its Vision Zero program aimed at reducing traffic fatalities, 2024 saw a troubling surge in pedestrian deaths, highlighting gaps in safety measures that demand immediate attention.

Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise

According to a recent article in the New York Times, City data reveals an 18% increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2024 compared to 2023. This surge comes despite a slight overall decline in traffic deaths. Notable incidents, such as the tragic Christmas Day crash in Midtown that injured six pedestrians, underscore the persistent hazards on New York’s streets.

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accident-scene-1A 65-year-old man was fatally struck by a passing flatbed truck while attending to his disabled vehicle. As truck accident attorneys representing clients in New York Metro including Long Island we aim to shed light on the legal implications of such accidents and provide guidance on how to navigate the complexities that follow.

Understanding the Incident

According to reports, the victim had pulled over on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway near the entrance to the Clearview Expressway in Bayside around 5 a.m. While working under the hood of his car, a passing flatbed truck clipped the rear of the stalled vehicle, propelling it into its owner and resulting in his tragic death. The 60-year-old truck driver remained at the scene, and no charges were immediately filed.

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Yesterday, our partner Christopher Donadio and his client Jose Marrero were featured on The Rush Hour on NY1 and interviewed by Annika Pergament. The segment highlighted the urgent need for the Grieving Families Act (GFA) and the devastating personal impact of New York’s outdated wrongful death laws. Jose Marrero shared his tragic story of losing his wife during a routine procedure at Maimonides Medical Center, underscoring the emotional toll on families who are left without fair recourse under current legislation.

The Grieving Families Act (GFA) aims to rectify one of the most longstanding injustices in New York law—the denial of wrongful death restitution for grief and emotional suffering. Under the current system, compensation is limited to the lost income of the deceased and any pain and suffering prior to death. This outdated approach often leaves families of children, stay-at-home parents, and elderly individuals without any restitution, perpetuating systemic inequities.

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Bruckner Boulevard and Castle Hill Ave intersection is deadlyPedestrian safety remains a critical concern in the Bronx, as two separate accidents this past weekend resulted in the tragic deaths of 60-year-old men. These incidents underscore the persistent dangers posed by speeding drivers, reckless behavior, and unsafe conditions on our streets.

Castle Hill Tragedy: Jeep Driver Fatally Strikes Pedestrian

On Saturday night, Uddin Shahi, a 60-year-old Bronx resident, was crossing the intersection of Bruckner Boulevard and Castle Hill Avenue (see picture), just a short distance from his home, when he was struck by a Jeep Compass. The driver, a 34-year-old woman, remained at the scene and cooperated with police. Despite being rushed to Jacobi Hospital, Shahi succumbed to his injuries.

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In the wake of a tragic incident on November 20, 2024, where an unmarked NYPD minivan fatally struck a woman reportedly lying on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, questions have emerged regarding the accuracy of official accounts. The NYPD stated that the woman was already lying in the roadway when the collision occurred.

As attorneys representing victims of NYPD vehicle accidents, we recognize the importance of critically examining such statements. While law enforcement agencies are tasked with providing factual information, there have been instances where initial reports were later found to be inaccurate or incomplete.

Historical Context of Discrepancies in Police Reports

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Koscuiuszko bridgeA tragic multi-vehicle collision at the base of the Kosciuszko Bridge on November 21, 2024, claimed the life of a 75-year-old man and left seven others injured, including a 9-year-old girl. This devastating accident highlights the dangers posed by inclement weather, congested roadways, and potential driver negligence.

Details of the Kosciuszko Bridge Crash

The accident occurred on the Brooklyn-bound side of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) near Exit 34, at Meeker and Morgan Avenues, in Maspeth, Queens. Initial reports indicate that a 46-year-old driver operating a pickup truck rear-ended another vehicle, triggering a chain reaction involving four vehicles: a pickup truck, a green “boro taxi,” an SUV, and a sedan.

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Car Accident NYYesterday, communities around the world gathered to observe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This annual day, held on the third Sunday of November, is a time to reflect on the lives tragically lost to traffic violence and to advocate for measures that can prevent further tragedies. In New York City, the event took place in Flushing, Queens, a borough that has seen a troubling rise in fatalities, particularly among children, this year.

As attorneys representing victims of car accidents in New York, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that traffic crashes have on families. Each case we handle represents a life irreparably altered — a loved one lost too soon, a child suffering life-altering injuries, or families left to navigate unimaginable grief. This is why we stand alongside the community members, advocates, and elected officials who are pushing for stronger safety measures and legislative changes to protect all New Yorkers.

A Rising Toll on Queens Streets

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NYPD carA recent announcement by the New York Attorney General’s office has reignited concerns about the tragic consequences of high-speed police chases on the streets of the Bronx. In a decision that has drawn mixed reactions, it was determined that no criminal charges would be filed against an NYPD officer who fatally struck a pedestrian, Sofia Gomez, during an emergency response.

The Tragic Incident in the Bronx

The accident occurred on October 5, 2020, when an NYPD officer was responding to an urgent call on the Throgs Neck Bridge after receiving reports of “shots fired.” The officer, driving a marked police vehicle with lights and sirens activated, was traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph. As the officer approached the intersection of Pelham Parkway South and Wallace Avenue, he drove through a red light and tragically struck 23-year-old Sofia Gomez, who was crossing the street in a designated crosswalk.

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location of the reckless fatal accidentA devastating accident on Myrtle Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant serves as a harsh reminder of the life-threatening risks faced by construction workers who work hard to ensure our city’s development. On October 29, 2024, a 37-year-old construction flagger, Luis Mario Sangurima, lost his life after being struck by a driver recklessly navigating around a box truck. Sangurima was directing traffic near a construction site when he was hit by a speeding van that crossed into oncoming traffic, underscoring the perils that flaggers and construction site workers face daily on Brooklyn’s streets.

The driver, Clyde Mercury, reportedly attempted to bypass a slow-moving truck by veering into the opposite lane. This act of impatience led to a fatal outcome, with Mercury now facing charges of criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and failure to exercise due care. As Brooklyn personal injury attorneys, we see the dire consequences that arise when drivers ignore traffic rules and fail to respect construction zones. Tragedies like this are preventable when drivers are responsible and follow basic safety protocols around construction areas.

Construction zones, especially in busy urban areas like Brooklyn, require vigilant attention from both drivers and workers. Often, flaggers like Sangurima are the first line of defense for work crews, directing traffic to protect colleagues and pedestrians. By donning reflective gear and guiding vehicles past narrow lanes, they ensure the safety of everyone around the construction site. However, when drivers disregard these signals and attempt dangerous maneuvers, they put lives at risk.

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Amanda Servidio vigile invitationTonight, the family of Amanda Servedio, along with members of Bike and Brew, Families for Safe Streets, and Transportation Alternatives, will gather to honor Amanda’s memory with a vigil and ghost bike installation, followed by a memorial ride. Amanda, an avid cyclist and active Bike and Brew member, lost her life when a pickup truck, engaged in a high-speed police chase, collided with her as she rode her bike through Queens. This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern that has turned the 114th Precinct into an epicenter of reckless high-speed chases on residential streets.

In Queens, the 114th Precinct has seen 38 police chases this year alone—a staggering number for a largely residential area. These pursuits are often initiated on quiet neighborhood streets, placing lives like Amanda’s at extreme risk. The lack of regulation and accountability for these chases has created an epidemic of reckless endangerment in Astoria, where police should prioritize public safety, especially on streets heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.

While the NYPD patrol guide dictates that officers terminate pursuits when the danger to the public outweighs the need for apprehension, these guidelines seem far from effectively enforced. Amanda’s death painfully underscores this issue—officers pursued a suspect with a staggering record of over 80 speed- and red-light violations, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed a known repeat offender to remain on the roads. The tragedy reflects a disregard for policies meant to protect lives, as the NYPD’s patrol guidelines about high-speed pursuits remain removed from public versions of the guide, further obscuring transparency.

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