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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accident-scene-1In the early hours of Sunday morning, tragedy struck in Rockland County, NY, when a gray Honda Civic left the roadway on North Little Tor Road in New City and collided with a tree. The crash caused catastrophic damage and claimed the lives of all three occupants—two men and one woman—who were pronounced dead at the scene.

As the Clarkstown Police Department continues its investigation, families are left to process unimaginable grief and uncertainty. Beyond the emotional devastation, questions often arise about what legal options exist to pursue justice and financial support in the aftermath of such accidents.

Wrongful Death Claims in Single-Vehicle Crashes

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location-of-the-deadly-bicycle-accident-in-BrooklynA Brooklyn woman, 32-year-old Alexandra Huggins, was killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a Tesla while riding her bicycle in Williamsburg. The crash happened at the intersection of Meserole and Leonard Streets, a roadway with a painted but unprotected bike lane. According to the NYPD, the Tesla driver fled the scene and has not yet been identified.

This heartbreaking case raises urgent legal questions about accountability and justice. As NYC bicycle accident lawyers, we know how devastating hit-and-run crashes are — and how crucial it is for families to take immediate steps to protect their rights.

Why Families Must Act Quickly After a Hit-and-Run

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the airport where the victim took offState Police have confirmed the tragic death of Gerald “Jerry” Cotter, an 80-year-old pilot from Milford, New Jersey, in a small plane crash on Saturday afternoon at Kobelt Airport in Wallkill, Ulster County, NY.

Mr. Cotter, remembered by his community for his generosity and lifelong passion for aviation, was the only person on board when his Glasair Super II FT aircraft went down during takeoff around 2:25 p.m. The crash sparked a brush fire that drew multiple fire departments to the scene. Sadly, Cotter was pronounced dead at the site.

Remembering the Pilot

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A devthe New York intersection where the tourists where hit by a carastating hit-and-run crash in Midtown Manhattan has left one pedestrian dead and another critically injured, underscoring the dangers of reckless driving in New York City and the legal consequences that follow.

According to police and prosecutors, 50-year-old Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric, a tourist from Hamburg, Germany, was fatally struck near Bryant Park last week. Her husband, 55, suffered a severe skull fracture and remains in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital.

The driver, Mohammad Abouzaid, 40, of the Bronx, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Sienna minivan that was blocking the intersection at West 40th Street and Fifth Avenue. Authorities say he suddenly reversed into the crosswalk, hitting the couple and a nearby box truck. After the collision, Abouzaid fled the scene, only to be later apprehended and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Surveillance footage confirmed his involvement.

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location-of-the-hit-and-run-truck-accident-in-BrooklynOn September 19, 2025, tragedy struck at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights, when a tractor-trailer fatally struck 69-year-old Deborah Koonce. According to the NYPD, the driver of the 18-wheeler fled the scene, leaving the pedestrian to be pronounced dead on site.

Days later, police tracked the truck and its 50-year-old driver to Mine Hill, New Jersey—roughly 50 miles away. Yet despite locating the individual behind the wheel, authorities declined to make an arrest, citing the driver’s claim that he did not realize he had struck a pedestrian. The investigation is said to be ongoing.

Trucks Banned from Eastern Parkway

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Deadly Queens IntersectionA tragic crash in South Richmond Hill, Queens left one woman dead and another seriously injured on Saturday afternoon, underscoring both the dangers of reckless driving and the complex legal issues that arise in pedestrian accident cases.

What Happened at Van Wyck Service Road and Liberty Avenue

According to police, a Mercedes-Benz driven by a 65-year-old woman slammed into the rear of a Toyota Scion that had been stopped to make a left turn. The force of the impact pushed the Toyota forward into two women who were crossing the street.

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Prima Donna restaurant might have some responsibility in the death of the pedestrianExploring wrongful death, personal injury, and bar liability after an alcohol-fueled, intentional vehicle attack

A horrifying incident in Queens left 16-year-old Jhoanny Alvarez dead after, prosecutors say, a man intentionally drove his Chevrolet Suburban into a group of people outside the Prima Donna Restaurant in the early hours of September 15, 2025. The Queens District Attorney has since charged 38-year-old Edwin Cruz Gomez with murder, attempted murder, and related counts. Police report that Cruz Gomez’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.137% after the crash.

When a violent act with a motor vehicle results in death, victims’ families face two separate paths to justice: criminal prosecution and civil recovery. In addition to a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, the family may have grounds to pursue Dram Shop liability against any establishment that negligently sold or served alcohol to the driver before the attack. In catastrophic cases involving alleged intentional conduct and intoxication, a thorough civil investigation can mean the difference between partial and full accountability.

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Canal street is dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists

Between 2020 and 2024, three people were killed and more than 200 others — including 23 who suffered severe injuries — in crashes along Canal Street. The combination of heavy traffic, narrow sidewalks, and complex intersections has long made this corridor one of the most hazardous for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

Now, Canal Street is finally slated for a long-overdue safety overhaul. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has unveiled a comprehensive redesign proposal aimed at reducing crashes, easing pedestrian congestion, improving bicycle connections, and expanding public space.

As attorneys representing victims of car accidents in New York City, we know just how dangerous Canal Street can be for vulnerable road users. The numbers confirm what victims and their families already understand all too well: without meaningful infrastructure improvements, serious accidents are inevitable.

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The building where the deadly collapse occuredA fatal construction accident in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, has placed the spotlight squarely on the property owner’s failure to maintain a safe structure. Following the collapse of a parapet wall that killed a 58-year-old worker, New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) inspectors documented severe façade defects at the one-story garage located at 113 Sunnyside Avenue.

The Deadly Collapse

The accident occurred just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, when the worker was struck in the back by a collapsing parapet wall while on the roof of the garage, which shares a lot with a six-story building at 224 Highland Boulevard. Emergency responders removed him from the roof using an aerial ladder, but he was pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital.

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Fatal-Queens-IntersectionA tragic accident occurred in Queens on Sunday afternoon when a pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle at the intersection of 39th Avenue and 30th Street, according to the NYPD.

What Happened

Police reported that at approximately 12:48 p.m., a 38-year-old woman was walking in the south crosswalk when she was hit by a 2020 Ford Transit van. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.