Wrongful Death

Published on: February 6, 2026

Dozens Arrested in New York Ghost Plate Crackdown — Why This Matters for Road Safety?

A six-month crackdown on illegal “ghost plates” across Long Island and New York City has resulted in 1,044 summonses, 57 arrests, and 20 vehicles impounded in Suffolk County, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

The enforcement effort was carried out by a multi-agency Ghost Plate Task Force that included the NYPD, MTA Police, Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, and the New York City Sheriff’s Office.

From the perspective of our New York car accident attorneys, this operation addresses a serious and growing threat to public safety on New York roadways.

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Published on: February 6, 2026

Brooklyn School Bus Accident Leaves 11-Year-Old Girl Dead; Driver Charged

By GGCRBHS&M

An 11-year-old Brooklyn girl was fatally struck by a school bus in Bath Beach during afternoon dismissal hours, underscoring serious safety obligations placed on school bus drivers operating in dense city neighborhoods.

The victim has been identified as Amira Aminova, a Brooklyn resident. The collision occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue, a time when children and families are routinely crossing local streets after school.

The video below reviewed by investigators shows Amira standing at the corner with the right of way before entering the crosswalk as a school bus made a turn. Police allege the bus failed to yield to the pedestrian and that the driver did not exercise due care. Sun glare and the size of the vehicle were cited by a witness as potential contributing factors—conditions that experienced commercial drivers are trained to anticipate and manage.

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Published on: February 3, 2026

Long Island Hit-and-Run That Killed One Brother and Critically Injured The Other Highlights the Severe Consequences of Leaving the Scene

By GGCRBHS&M

A Long Island man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that struck two brothers on the side of a Suffolk County roadway, killing one and leaving the other critically injured. The incident underscores the devastating consequences that follow when a driver leaves the scene of a serious crash and the legal options available to victims’ families under New York law.

According to Suffolk County police, Jonathan Shaver, 51, of Rocky Point, is accused of striking 31-year-old Edgar Meija and his 29-year-old brother, Omar Meija, shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday near 1180 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. The brothers were reportedly outside their vehicle changing a flat tire when Shaver’s 2012 Honda Accord struck them. Police say Shaver then fled the scene.

Edgar Meija was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother Omar was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Saturday morning.

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Published on: January 29, 2026

SUV Driver Recalls Hitting “Something” in Brooklyn Crash That Killed Former Nickelodeon Star Kianna Underwood

By GGCRBHS&M

A fatal early-morning crash in Brownsville has raised serious legal and safety questions about driver conduct, hit-and-run responsibility, and how multi-vehicle collisions are investigated in Brooklyn.

Kianna Underwood, a 33-year-old former Nickelodeon child actor, was struck and killed on January 16, 2026, near Pitkin Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard. Police say she was first struck by a black Ford Explorer SUV and then run over and dragged more than two blocks by a second vehicle that fled the scene and has not been identified.

From a Brooklyn car accident lawyer’s perspective, this case underscores how quickly catastrophic harm can unfold—and how critical evidence preservation and accountability become when multiple drivers are involved.

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Published on: January 29, 2026

Fatal Bronx Gas Explosion Leads to Murder Charges After Stove Theft, Authorities Say

By GGCRBHS&M

A deadly gas explosion inside a Bronx NYCHA high-rise has led to murder and multiple felony charges, highlighting once again how preventable gas-related incidents can devastate entire buildings and communities.

According to law enforcement sources, a man has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stealing a gas stove from an apartment at the Boston Secor Houses in Baychester—triggering a gas leak that caused a massive explosion and four-alarm fire. One resident was killed, and at least 14 others were injured.

As NYC gas explosion attorneys representing victims of serious personal injury in the Bronx, incidents like this raise critical legal questions about accountability, safety oversight, and the rights of residents harmed by dangerous conditions inside residential buildings.

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Published on: January 27, 2026

Family of Queens Cyclist Killed by Pickup Truck Seeks Justice After Fatal Right-Turn Crash

By GGCRBHS&M

The family of a Queens cyclist killed last week in Flushing is searching for answers — and accountability — after what police say was a preventable right-turn crash involving a pickup truck.

According to the NYPD, 48-year-old Xi Zheng was riding westbound on Sanford Avenue when he was struck by a Ford F-150 making a right turn from 160th Street. Zheng, who was biking to work as he routinely did, was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

“He was on his way to work on a bike,” said Zheng’s nephew, Jacky Huang. “He always biked to work. We’re just all trying to make sense of it.”

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Published on: January 27, 2026

Why St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, Received a “D” Safety Grade from Leapfrog

By GGCRBHS&M

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway recently received a “D” rating from the Leapfrog Group, a nationally recognized nonprofit that evaluates hospital safety using objective, data-driven measures. Leapfrog safety grades focus on preventable medical harm—including infections, staffing, surgical safety, and outcomes—not bedside manner or community reputation.

This article is part of a broader series examining every New York City hospital rated by the Hospital Safety Grade program of The Leapfrog Group—not only top-rated institutions, but also those receiving failing grades. Drawing on the experience of our NYC medical malpractice lawyers, the goal is to help patients and families understand what these grades mean in real-world terms and how hospital safety data can affect clinical outcomes.

While St. John’s performs well in several important areas, the Leapfrog data reveals systemic safety gaps that likely contributed to its low overall grade. For patients and families, understanding these risks is critical.

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Published on: January 26, 2026

Manhattan Doorman Killed in Head-On Crash Involving Off-Duty NYPD Sergeant Driving the Wrong Way on the Taconic State Parkway

By GGCRBHS&M

A New York Car Accident Attorney Explains the Legal Implications

A fatal wrong-way crash on the Taconic State Parkway has left a 61-year-old Manhattan doorman dead and raised serious legal questions that a New York car accident attorney would immediately recognize—particularly when a law enforcement officer is involved in a deadly collision.

According to New York State Police, the crash occurred Thursday night in Mount Pleasant, Westchester County. An off-duty NYPD sergeant allegedly drove southbound in the northbound lanes of the Taconic State Parkway and struck another vehicle head-on. The victim, Manuel Boitel, was pronounced dead at Westchester Medical Center.

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Published on: January 20, 2026

New York Law Journal Reveals Key Trial Strategy Behind $182 Million Metro-North Settlement

By GGCRBHS&M

New-York-Metro-North-182-million-Facebook-Post

A newly published article in the New York Law Journal sheds further light on the more than $182 million settlement reached in litigation arising from the deadliest crash in Metro-North Railroad history — a case tried on behalf of approximately 30 plaintiffs by Ben Rubinowitz and Richard Steigman of the New York Personal Injury Law Firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf.

The settlement, benefiting families of five passengers killed and dozens of others injured, stems from the February 3, 2015 Metro-North collision at the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla, Westchester County. Rubinowitz said that the individual settlements are confidential.

According to the New York Law Journal, Rubinowitz led the liability trial to ensure consistent verdicts across plaintiffs represented by multiple firms. The trial strategy centered on two critical failures: the train engineer’s decision not to slow despite uncertainty at the crossing, and a uniquely dangerous third rail design that turned the crash into an inferno-like event.

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Published on: January 16, 2026

Pedestrian Killed in Early-Morning Hit-and-Run in Brownsville Highlights Ongoing Dangers on Brooklyn Streets

By GGCRBHS&M

If a loved one was killed in a Brooklyn hit-and-run, speak with a Brooklyn car accident attorney who is prepared to take the case all the way to trial. Early legal involvement can be critical to protecting evidence, identifying responsible parties, and pursuing full accountability under New York law.

A woman was killed early Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Osborn Street in Brownsville, according to the New York City Police Department. The driver fled the scene, leaving investigators searching for a gray vehicle involved in the collision.

The fatal crash occurred just before 6:50 a.m. as the woman was crossing Pitkin Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Friday afternoon, police had not released additional identifying details or announced any arrests.

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