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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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.

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deadly-Bronx-intersection-of-Bruckner-Blvd-and-Leggett-AveA devastating truck accident in the Bronx claimed the life of 32-year-old Dilmania Lopez de Rodriguez, a wife and mother, who was fatally struck while crossing Bruckner Boulevard near Leggett Avenue in Longwood.

Police say the crash happened around 12:10 a.m. Tragically, the truck struck Lopez de Rodriguez, who was later pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital. The truck driver never stopped, and investigators are still searching for the vehicle and its operator.

A Dangerous Intersection Despite a Major Redesign

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legionaire-diseaseThe tragic Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem has now claimed six lives and sickened more than one hundred residents. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the outbreak was traced to contaminated cooling towers at ten different locations, including several city-owned properties such as Harlem Hospital.

For those who have been hospitalized, lost wages, or lost loved ones because of this outbreak, the question is clear: What are your legal rights?

The Duty of Property Owners and Building Operators

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Gates and Wilson where the Boorklyn Car Accident occuredA tragic car crash in Bushwick has brought renewed attention to the dangers of reckless driving and high-speed police chases in densely populated neighborhoods. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Juan Lopez, 33, of Cypress Hills, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges after causing a fatal collision while fleeing police in May 2024.

Reckless Fleeing Ends in Tragedy

According to prosecutors, police attempted to stop Lopez for speeding around 5:25 a.m. on May 26, 2024. Instead of pulling over, Lopez accelerated his black 2018 Mercedes-Benz sedan to nearly 75 mph, running a red light at Gates and Wilson Avenues. Moments later, he slammed head-on into a Honda Pilot traveling lawfully through the intersection at Central Avenue and Gates Avenue.

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United Nation S where the cop fatally hit the pedestrianAn NYPD officer fatally struck a pedestrian in Queens this past weekend, raising questions about accountability when accidents involve police vehicles. The tragic collision occurred near the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, just a day before the U.S. Open was set to begin.

According to police reports, the officer was driving a marked NYPD squad car at around 10 mph on United Nations Avenue South when she hit a man lying in the roadway around 4:39 p.m. Emergency medical services rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The officer remained at the scene, and the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is now investigating.

Can You Sue After Being Hit by a NYPD Car?

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South Conduit and 155th Street in Queens, NYC where the hit and run accident occuredA 52-year-old man tragically lost his life early Wednesday morning after being struck by a hit-and-run driver near JFK Airport. According to police, the victim was crossing 155th Street at South Conduit Boulevard in Springfield Gardens around 2:30 a.m. when a vehicle slammed into him. Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, but he could not be saved. The driver sped away without stopping, and authorities are currently reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the vehicle. No arrests have been made.

The Growing Problem of Hit-and-Run Accidents in Queens

Hit-and-run crashes leave victims and their families in a devastating position — facing serious injuries or the loss of a loved one, without the immediate ability to hold the at-fault driver accountable. In densely trafficked areas near transportation hubs like JFK Airport, the combination of high speeds, heavy truck traffic, and late-night driving can make pedestrian crossings particularly dangerous.

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ambulance at accident sceneA devastating accident in Astoria on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of two pedestrians and an 84-year-old motorist, highlighting the deadly consequences of high-speed collisions in busy Queens neighborhoods.

According to police, the elderly driver of a light-colored 2010 Toyota Corolla was traveling north on 42nd Street near 19th Avenue when he sped through the intersection and crashed directly into a food truck. Two men, ages 42 and 70, were ordering food at the time and were struck with such force that the impact caused catastrophic injuries. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene; the other died later at Elmhurst Hospital Center. The driver also succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Surveillance footage shows the Corolla striking the food truck before spinning out of control and hitting a Volvo sedan. The Volvo’s driver was unharmed, but multiple vehicles were damaged in the crash. Witnesses described a chaotic and heartbreaking scene, with some narrowly avoiding injury by stepping away at the last moment.