Articles Tagged with wrongful death NYC
Canal Street Redesign Could Save Lives: Insights from a NYC Car Accident Lawyer
Between 2020 and 2024, three people were killed and more than 200 others — including 23 who suffered severe injuries — in crashes along Canal Street. The combination of heavy traffic, narrow sidewalks, and complex intersections has long made this corridor one of the most hazardous for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
Now, Canal Street is finally slated for a long-overdue safety overhaul. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has unveiled a comprehensive redesign proposal aimed at reducing crashes, easing pedestrian congestion, improving bicycle connections, and expanding public space.
As attorneys representing victims of car accidents in New York City, we know just how dangerous Canal Street can be for vulnerable road users. The numbers confirm what victims and their families already understand all too well: without meaningful infrastructure improvements, serious accidents are inevitable.
32-Year-Old Mother Killed in Bronx Hit-and-Run Accident Involving Truck
A devastating truck accident in the Bronx claimed the life of 32-year-old Dilmania Lopez de Rodriguez, a wife and mother, who was fatally struck while crossing Bruckner Boulevard near Leggett Avenue in Longwood.
Police say the crash happened around 12:10 a.m. Tragically, the truck struck Lopez de Rodriguez, who was later pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital. The truck driver never stopped, and investigators are still searching for the vehicle and its operator.
A Dangerous Intersection Despite a Major Redesign
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Police Chase Crash That Claimed the Life of Health Care Professional
A tragic car crash in Bushwick has brought renewed attention to the dangers of reckless driving and high-speed police chases in densely populated neighborhoods. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Juan Lopez, 33, of Cypress Hills, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges after causing a fatal collision while fleeing police in May 2024.
Reckless Fleeing Ends in Tragedy
According to prosecutors, police attempted to stop Lopez for speeding around 5:25 a.m. on May 26, 2024. Instead of pulling over, Lopez accelerated his black 2018 Mercedes-Benz sedan to nearly 75 mph, running a red light at Gates and Wilson Avenues. Moments later, he slammed head-on into a Honda Pilot traveling lawfully through the intersection at Central Avenue and Gates Avenue.
Legal Recourse After Being Hit by a NYPD Car
An NYPD officer fatally struck a pedestrian in Queens this past weekend, raising questions about accountability when accidents involve police vehicles. The tragic collision occurred near the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, just a day before the U.S. Open was set to begin.
According to police reports, the officer was driving a marked NYPD squad car at around 10 mph on United Nations Avenue South when she hit a man lying in the roadway around 4:39 p.m. Emergency medical services rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The officer remained at the scene, and the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is now investigating.
Can You Sue After Being Hit by a NYPD Car?
Did a Police Pursuit Lead to the Death of 15-Year-Old Antonio Benitez?
Queens 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.
Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash in the Bronx Underscores the Devastating Impact of High-Speed Collisions
A tragic three-car crash in Co-op City, the Bronx, has once again highlighted the severe consequences of traffic collisions in New York City. According to the NYPD, the crash occurred around 5:25 p.m. on Bartow Avenue, near The Mall at Bay Plaza. The violent chain-reaction collision left one woman dead and six others—ranging in age from 11 to 79—hospitalized.
At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, our NYC city car accident lawyers are closely monitoring developments in this case. Our team of Bronx car accident lawyers has decades of experience representing victims of large-scale, multi-vehicle crashes across the borough. We understand the complexities these cases present—from unraveling conflicting witness accounts to identifying all potentially liable parties.
What Happened in Co-op City?
Deadly Belt Parkway Crash in Queens Raises Alarming Questions About Reckless Driving
As 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.
Stand-Up Scooter Rider Killed in Cambria Heights Collision: Our Queens Car Accident Lawyers Call for Accountability
A fatal crash in Queens, NYC, tragically ended the life of a local stand-up scooter rider during morning rush hour, underscoring the increasing dangers faced by micromobility users on city streets.
According to the NYPD, 39-year-old Shaun Lagredelle was riding his electric scooter westbound on 116th Avenue in Cambria Heights just before 6:40 a.m. on June 26, when a Ford Transit van traveling eastbound attempted to turn left onto Nashville Boulevard. The van collided with the scooter, throwing Lagredelle to the pavement. He sustained severe head and body injuries and was rushed by EMS to Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
As Queens car accident lawyers, we have seen far too many cases involving electric scooters and bicycles where drivers fail to yield or misjudge turns—often with fatal consequences. These cases raise urgent questions about visibility, driver attentiveness, and the adequacy of street design in protecting vulnerable road users.