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.
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top-10-patient-safety-concern-ECRIAs medical malpractice attorneys representing patients across New York, We’ve witnessed the serious harm that can result when patients rely on false or misleading medical information.. Today, the widespread and viral nature of medical misinformation is not just a public health issue—it is a patient safety crisis.

According to the 2025 ECRI Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns report, one of the most urgent dangers in healthcare today is the “Wide Availability and Viral Spread of Medical Misinformation.” False or misleading health claims are being shared online faster than ever before—often outpacing efforts to stop them. Research has shown that false health claims are 70% more likely to be shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and can spread up to six times faster than accurate information.

This viral spread of misinformation leads to real-world consequences:

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fatal-brokklyn-intersection-Scott-and-FlushingAs New York truck accident lawyers, we understand the devastating consequences that unsafe roadway design can have, not just for pedestrians and cyclists, but for drivers as well. A recent announcement by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to redesign a hazardous Bushwick intersection highlights a tragic reality: too often, meaningful safety improvements come only after a life has been lost.

Last August, 29-year-old motorcyclist Philippe Haussmann was fatally struck by a box truck driver at the intersection of Scott and Flushing Avenues in Bushwick. The collision took place at a complicated and confusing section of the roadway where poor visibility and unclear traffic controls have long posed a danger to motorists and non-motorists alike.

Following significant advocacy from Haussmann’s family and local officials, the DOT has proposed a series of long-overdue changes to improve safety in this critical area, which sits at the nexus of residential, commercial, and industrial zones along the Brooklyn-Queens border.

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Accident sceneAt Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we are deeply saddened to learn of two fatal pedestrian crashes that occurred in New York City this past Friday — tragic events that underscore the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians across the five boroughs.

Upper West Side: 57-Year-Old Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Ford Van

Early Friday morning, Patrice Brooks, a 57-year-old resident of the Upper West Side, was struck and killed by a Ford van while crossing the intersection at 86th Street and Broadway. According to the NYPD, Brooks was crossing diagonally at approximately 4:27 a.m. when the eastbound van, operated by a 41-year-old woman who had the green light, struck him.

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construction workers must be protectedConstruction remains one of the most hazardous industries in New York City, placing not only workers but also pedestrians and residents at risk when safety corners are cut. As NYC construction accident lawyers representing injured workers and families for decades, we have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of preventable site accidents. The recent announcement by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) to create a new task force targeting risky construction sites is a critical step toward enhancing accountability and protecting lives.

According to CBS New York, DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo is launching an aggressive initiative to identify unsafe job sites and scrutinize the developers, contractors, and engineers responsible for them. The move comes in response to persistent safety failures, including high-profile collapses like the 2023 Bronx building disaster and more recent incidents involving crane mishandling in Midtown.

A Dangerous Industry with Preventable Tragedies

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Justin Diaz killed by a drunk driverThe recent arraignment of Michael Peña, a former FDNY firefighter accused of causing a fatal car crash in Kew Gardens while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the urgent need for accountability in our justice system.

On February 26, 2025, 23-year-old Justin Diaz (picture) was just a block and a half from his family’s home, driving to an early shift at LaGuardia Airport, when his life was tragically cut short. According to prosecutors, Peña—who was off-duty at the time—was traveling at 83 mph, nearly three times the speed limit, when he ran a red light at Northern Boulevard and 107th Street and slammed into Diaz’s vehicle. The crash proved fatal.

Our Queens car accident attorneys represent families devastated by senseless, preventable crashes like this one. No one expects that a loved one commuting to work will be killed by a driver allegedly intoxicated by alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine—especially not someone sworn to protect the public.

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IMG_4235-scaledIn a groundbreaking ruling, the New York Court of Appeals has eliminated a long-standing legal hurdle for dog bite victims. For the first time, individuals injured by dog attacks in New York can file negligence claims against dog owners—even if the animal had no known history of aggression.

A Departure from the Old Standard

Historically, New York law required victims to prove that a dog had “vicious propensities” and that the owner was aware—or should have been aware—of this dangerous behavior. Without clear evidence of prior attacks or threatening conduct, many victims were left with no legal recourse.

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NYPD Chase LawyersOn April 2, 2025, a high-speed police chase through Upper Manhattan ended in tragedy when a stolen 2025 Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood and burst into flames. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, was killed in the fiery wreck. Now, his family is demanding accountability—and legal experts are questioning whether NYPD officers violated pursuit policies that were specifically designed to prevent such outcomes.

As NYC car accident lawyers who have represented families in cases involving police chase fatalities, we understand the legal and emotional turmoil these cases leave behind. This incident, like many others, raises troubling questions about the balance between law enforcement efforts and public safety.

Family Left in Agony as Identification Delayed

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St John Episcopal HospitalThe tragic death of 24-year-old Tenisha Evans, a first-time mother who passed away just 15 days after delivering twin boys via C-section at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, has left her family and community searching for answers—and justice. As New York birth injury lawyers, we know that stories like Tenisha’s are far too common, especially among Black and Brown women in the city.

Her family believes her death may be linked to complications from the cesarean section, yet they say the hospital has not provided any follow-up or explanation. “When she came home from the hospital, nobody reached out,” said her mother, Lynette Williams. “It’s like my other half is gone.”

Now, Tenisha’s newborn sons—Angel and Liam—are being raised by their grandmother as the family navigates unimaginable grief and the uncertainty of what legal options are available.

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Queensboro_Bridge_from_Manhattan_sideDespite years of planning and a near-complete pedestrian infrastructure project on the Queensboro Bridge, New York City continues to favor motor vehicles over the safety of its most vulnerable road users. On Saturday, more than 200 activists, including local officials and transportation advocates, walked across the southern roadway of the bridge to protest Mayor Adams’s failure to open the long-promised pedestrian pathway.

As New York City bicycle crash attorneys and pedestrian accident lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand how overcrowded, dangerous infrastructure contributes to severe injuries and fatalities. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Queensboro Bridge, where pedestrians and cyclists are forced to share a single, narrow 10-foot path—often resulting in collisions, near-misses, and chaos.

A Preventable Safety Crisis

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Ben Rubinowitz to speak at Trial UniversityGair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is proud to announce that Managing Partner Ben Rubinowitz will be speaking at the upcoming Trial Lawyers University (TLU) Skills Training Bootcamp, taking place June 4–7 in Huntington Beach, California.

This immersive four-day event brings together some of the nation’s top trial lawyers to focus on the science and technique of human connection in the courtroom. Developed over nearly a decade, the TLU Skills curriculum breaks down complex courtroom communication into identifiable, repeatable micro skills—such as eye contact, voice and emotional control, word selection, and listening. These skills are practiced, recorded, and coached in the context of voir dire, opening statements, and cross-examination.

Ben Rubinowitz’s session will focus specifically on jury selection, a foundational moment in any trial that can determine how a case unfolds. Ben will lead a workshop on how to question jurors about: