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 Tagged with Queens wrongful death

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Jewel Perez died in a Queens car accidentAs Queens car accident lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand the devastation reckless driving can bring to families and communities. The recent fiery crash on the Belt Parkway that killed 24-year-old driver Noah Thompson and his 22-year-old passenger Jewel Perez is a heartbreaking reminder of just how deadly these incidents can be — especially when speed, alcohol, and failure to wear seat belts may be involved.

According to reports, Thompson was driving a BMW eastbound on the Belt Parkway around 6 a.m. on Saturday when he lost control near the Cross Bay Boulevard exit in Howard Beach. He slammed into a concrete divider, causing the vehicle to go airborne, land on the opposite side of the highway, strike two other cars — a Honda CR-V and a red Hyundai — and burst into flames. Tragically, neither Thompson nor Perez survived their injuries. Three other passengers in the BMW miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

At the time of the crash, none of the BMW occupants were wearing seat belts. Police sources have indicated that authorities were seeking a warrant to test Thompson’s blood for alcohol before he died.

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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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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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Location of the Queens NYC Hit and Run Car AccidentA 78-year-old woman was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident in Murray Hill, Queens, NYC, after being struck by a gray minivan while crossing Northern Boulevard near Parsons Boulevard on March 14. The driver sped away, leaving her critically injured in the roadway.

Emergency responders rushed the victim, Jung Sook Ung, to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where she later died. Now, the NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad and the 109th Precinct in Flushing are searching for the driver responsible.

Hit-and-Run Crashes in NYC: A Growing Concern

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Fatal Queens Car Accident LocationA tragic crash in East Elmhurst, Queens, claimed the life of 23-year-old Justin Diaz after a Mercedes, allegedly driven by an intoxicated FDNY firefighter, sped through a red light and violently T-boned his BMW. The fatal collision, which occurred at 4:15 a.m. at the intersection of 107th St. and Northern Blvd., was caught on surveillance video (see below) and has since led to the arrest of 28-year-old firefighter Michael Pena, who now faces charges including vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Surveillance Footage Captures High-Speed Impact

Chilling video footage shows Diaz traveling north on 107th St. before entering the intersection, moments before the Mercedes, moving at high speed, plows into his vehicle’s driver’s side. The force of the crash sent both cars spinning across Northern Blvd., with the BMW ultimately slamming into a parked Toyota Sienna.

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the dangerous queens intersectionA tragic truck accident in Queens claimed the life of 29-year-old Kevin Thoral early Friday morning. Thoral was just a block from his home when a box truck driver fatally struck him while making a left turn at the intersection of 212th St. and Hillside Ave. Despite remaining at the scene, the 51-year-old driver has not been arrested, and the NYPD’s investigation remains ongoing.

Left-Turn Truck Accidents: A Deadly Pattern

Left-turning trucks are a well-documented hazard for pedestrians, particularly in busy urban areas like Queens. These large vehicles have significant blind spots and require wide turns, making it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians in the crosswalk. However, under New York traffic laws, drivers must yield to pedestrians when making left-hand turns. If the driver failed to check for pedestrians before turning, this could constitute negligence, creating grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.

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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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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.

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Amanda Servidio vigile invitationTonight, the family of Amanda Servedio, along with members of Bike and Brew, Families for Safe Streets, and Transportation Alternatives, will gather to honor Amanda’s memory with a vigil and ghost bike installation, followed by a memorial ride. Amanda, an avid cyclist and active Bike and Brew member, lost her life when a pickup truck, engaged in a high-speed police chase, collided with her as she rode her bike through Queens. This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern that has turned the 114th Precinct into an epicenter of reckless high-speed chases on residential streets.

In Queens, the 114th Precinct has seen 38 police chases this year alone—a staggering number for a largely residential area. These pursuits are often initiated on quiet neighborhood streets, placing lives like Amanda’s at extreme risk. The lack of regulation and accountability for these chases has created an epidemic of reckless endangerment in Astoria, where police should prioritize public safety, especially on streets heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.

While the NYPD patrol guide dictates that officers terminate pursuits when the danger to the public outweighs the need for apprehension, these guidelines seem far from effectively enforced. Amanda’s death painfully underscores this issue—officers pursued a suspect with a staggering record of over 80 speed- and red-light violations, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed a known repeat offender to remain on the roads. The tragedy reflects a disregard for policies meant to protect lives, as the NYPD’s patrol guidelines about high-speed pursuits remain removed from public versions of the guide, further obscuring transparency.

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New York Police Chase Accident LawyerA tragic police chase in Astoria, Queens, on Tuesday night claimed the life of a cyclist when a driver, fleeing from NYPD officers, fatally struck her. The driver, who was attempting to evade arrest for burglary, was speeding along 34th Avenue before hitting the cyclist on 37th Avenue. This marks yet another fatality resulting from the surge in police chases under Mayor Adams’ administration, prompting concerns about the NYPD’s policies regarding high-speed pursuits.

As NYPD chase accident lawyers, we understand the devastating consequences of reckless pursuits in densely populated neighborhoods. In this case, the police pursuit resulted in not only the senseless death of a cyclist but also intense public outcry about the necessity and safety of such actions.

In New York City, where traffic is already chaotic, engaging in high-speed chases in residential areas is a recipe for disaster. The aftermath of this chase, in which the suspect continued to evade police while an innocent cyclist lost her life, raises the question: Was it worth it? As advocates for victims of road violence, we firmly believe that no property crime, such as burglary, should justify endangering lives in this manner.