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 wrongful death NYC

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Prima Donna restaurant might have some responsibility in the death of the pedestrianExploring wrongful death, personal injury, and bar liability after an alcohol-fueled, intentional vehicle attack

A horrifying incident in Queens left 16-year-old Jhoanny Alvarez dead after, prosecutors say, a man intentionally drove his Chevrolet Suburban into a group of people outside the Prima Donna Restaurant in the early hours of September 15, 2025. The Queens District Attorney has since charged 38-year-old Edwin Cruz Gomez with murder, attempted murder, and related counts. Police report that Cruz Gomez’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.137% after the crash.

When a violent act with a motor vehicle results in death, victims’ families face two separate paths to justice: criminal prosecution and civil recovery. In addition to a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, the family may have grounds to pursue Dram Shop liability against any establishment that negligently sold or served alcohol to the driver before the attack. In catastrophic cases involving alleged intentional conduct and intoxication, a thorough civil investigation can mean the difference between partial and full accountability.

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Canal street is dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists

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.

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deadly-Bronx-intersection-of-Bruckner-Blvd-and-Leggett-AveA 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

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Gates and Wilson where the Boorklyn Car Accident occuredA 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.

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United Nation S where the cop fatally hit the pedestrianAn 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?

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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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Accident sceneA 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?

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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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Location of the fatal collision between the car in the scooter in QueensA 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.