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 sceneOn February 4, 2025, a tragic accident occurred on Manhattan’s FDR Drive, resulting in the death of a female driver and injuries to her 26-year-old male passenger. The incident took place around 2:45 a.m. near East 70th Street on the Upper East Side. The Tesla vehicle was reportedly traveling at high speeds when it struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected from the vehicle upon impact. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger was transported to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell and is expected to recover.

This devastating event underscores the critical importance of adhering to traffic laws and understanding the legal implications of high-speed driving in New York City.

Legal Implications of High-Speed Driving in New York

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A 65-ylocation of the fatal Bronx truck accidentear-old woman was fatally struck by a flatbed truck while crossing Franklin Avenue at East 169th Street in the Bronx on Monday morning. The devastating collision, which occurred just minutes after she visited a local bodega, underscores the persistent dangers pedestrians face on New York City streets—especially in areas with high truck traffic.

Surveillance footage (see video below) revealed that the victim, who used a cane and walked with a limp, was in the crosswalk when the truck began to move forward. As a yellow cab made a turn, the truck—seemingly preparing for a wide right turn—rolled over the woman, pinning her under its front right wheel. Despite frantic efforts from bystanders to alert the driver, the impact proved fatal. Emergency responders rushed the woman to Lincoln Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The 43-year-old truck driver remained at the scene and has not been charged as of now, but police continue to investigate. According to records, the truck has accumulated multiple traffic violations in recent years, including red-light infractions and speeding in a school zone—raising serious concerns about the vehicle’s history and the driver’s responsibility.

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A 95-year-old woman who survived some of history’s most devastating events, including the Nazi occupation of Ukraine, the Chernobyl disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic, lost her life in a tragic car accident on a Brooklyn street.

Mayya Gil was fatally struck by a cargo van on Cropsey Avenue near her Bensonhurst home while walking with her home health aide on Thursday afternoon. Despite her incredible resilience through decades of hardship, her life was cut short in a preventable traffic collision.location of the deadly Brooklyn Car Accident

The Incident

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FDNY_Ambulance_048A devastating car accident in Jamaica, Queens, on January 21, 2025, serves as a grim reminder of the dangers on our roads and the potential risks for property owners. A 63-year-old driver lost his life after his Toyota RAV4 collided with 3 garages,  burying a parked Toyota Prius under the rubble.

This tragic incident, which occurred around 5:20 a.m. at 90th Ave. and 143rd St., underscores how quickly a routine drive can turn fatal. For victims and their families, accidents like these often raise questions about fault, liability, and legal recourse.

Details of the Crash

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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.