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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From the E-Bike Accident Attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf

Another fatal e-bike crash has claimed the life of a Queens resident, underscoring the rising dangers faced by cyclists and micromobility users on New York City streets. Zhao Feng Zhen, a 55-year-old woman from Bayside, was tragically killed on July 31, 2025, after an SUV struck her while both vehicles were traveling southbound on Hollis Court Boulevard in Queens Village.

According to NYPD reports, the fatal crash occurred just after 2:00 p.m. when a 2015 Nissan Rogue driven by a 62-year-old woman collided with Ms. Zhen’s e-bike near 50th Avenue. The impact ejected the victim from her e-bike, causing severe chest trauma. EMS transported her to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is still investigating. No arrests have been made.

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Benito died in a police chase accidentQueens Tragedy Raises Questions About NYPD Pursuit Practices and Accountability

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our Queens car accident attorneys represent families whose lives have been shattered by high-speed police chases gone wrong. The recent death of 15-year-old Antonio “Anthony” Benitez—struck by an unlicensed driver during an NYPD pursuit in Queens—is the latest incident that underscores the dangers of police chases in densely populated neighborhoods.

According to the NYPD, the fatal incident began with a 911 call at 8:01 p.m. on Saturday reporting a knifepoint robbery outside a pharmacy on Hillside Avenue and 257th Street in Floral Park. Responding officers began canvassing the area and encountered a group of teens. One of them—Antonio—fled on an electric bike. Officers pursued him for over a mile until he was fatally struck by a Lexus driver who was allegedly unlicensed.

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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.