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 Posted in Auto Accidents

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the victim posted a picture of her car on IGA woman standing next to her car was fatally hit by a tractor trailer truck in NYC last week. 27 year old Keara Rosa had just purchased a used car two weeks before with some cash that she had been saving. She was very proud of her purchase and posted a picture of the new car on Instagram and commented “HARD WORK PAYS OFF , Thank you god”. Last Wednesday around 12:15 she was driving her car on the  Cross Bronx Expressway  near Southern Boulevard when something went wrong with it. She pulled over onto the shoulder and got out of her car. As she was standing next to her car, a massive truck crashed into it, pinning Keara between the car and the wall of the expressway and killing her.

The out of control truck hit several cars injuring two before fatally crashing into Keara’s car

According to the police, the 55 year-old truck driver was driving in the right lane of the 3-lane Bronx Expressway when he swerved to the left to avoid slow traffic ahead of him. As he was doing so, he  lost control of his truck and hit 3 cars: a Toyota Corolla driven by a 51 year-old man, a Toyota Camry driven by a 29 year-old woman and a Lexus driven by a 58 year old woman. After hitting the 3 cars, the truck swiped the concrete divider in the middle of the highway.  It then swerved back to the right side crashing into Keara’s car and killing her.

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37 motorists died in car accidents in New York City during the first semester of 2020 compared to respectively 26, 26, 25, 31, 30, 23 and 29 during the first semester of 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.  This record number of motorist fatalities occurred over a period of 6 months during which most New Yorkers stayed at home between the end of March and the end of June to comply with the Covid-19 lock-down order. Most of these fatalities indeed occurred during the lock-down. Among the 37 motorists who died in crashes, 10 died between January and March and 27 died between April and June. Empty streets and roadways  lead to all kinds of reckless driving behavior and many of the deaths recorded during the lock-down were related to speed and drag racing.

NYC motorist deaths 1st semester 2020
While motorist fatalities were at a record high, pedestrian fatalities reached a record low. Bicycle accident fatalities were lower and passenger deaths stayed almost the same during the first semester of 2020 than during the first semester of 2019. Globally a total of 92 people died in traffic accidents during the first semester of 2019 compared to respectively 101, 84, 96, 107, 107, 97 and 121 during the first six months of 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

YC traffic deaths by road users first semester 2020
Motor vehicle accident injuries reached a record low during the first six months of the year. Motorists and passengers accounted for more than two thirds of them.

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location of the truck accidentSeveral people were injured in a pickup truck accident in New York City last week . The crash occurred in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYC.  The driver of a Ford pick up truck crashed into the barriers of  an outdoor dining areas erected on Fifth Avenue near 41st Street by L’Wren restaurant (see Google map Picture on the left). “Open Restaurants”, the city’s initiative to expand dining area into the street to reduce the risk of covid-19 propagation is allowing restaurants to create outdoors dining area on parking spaces. As a result cars are driving right on the side of people having food and drinks. Protective barriers are mandatory, however in the case of the accident that occurred at L’Wren restaurant, the 5000-pound pick up truck knocked them down onto the floor.  3 patrons were injured and taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. A mother just had the time to scoop her two kids away to prevent them from being injured. The scene was really scary according to witnesses and it could have been much worse. The driver of the pickup truck stayed at the scene of the accident. The police found that he was unlicensed and he was issued a summon for driving without a license and let go. Read more in Street Blog.

This is the second time that a vehicle plows into the outdoor area of a restaurant in New York City

On July 13, a driver made a mistake and press on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal and crashed into the outdoor seating of 12 Corazones Restaurant and bar on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. A waitress and 4 customers were injured and hospitalized after the car jumped the sidewalk and crashed into the restaurant at full speed destroying not only the seating area but also the indoor structure of the establishment. (see video here).

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29 people including 4 cyclists and 9 pedestrians died in crashes in New York City last June. While truck and bus accidents remain lower than usual, reckless car driving and speeding continue to be a cause of many injuries and deaths.

After dipping to a record low of 5 deaths during the Covid-19 lock-down, traffic fatalities peaked to 29 in June. Since Vision Zero started in 2014, this is a record high number of fatalities that was only reached once previously in June 2016. Injuries were on the rise too in June compared to the previous months of May and April but not as dramatically as the fatalities.  The total number of accidents increased as well. One of the main reasons why the total number of accidents dipped so dramatically is because since last March the NYPD doesn’t dispatch officers anymore at the scene of minor accidents. As a result the big drop observed since March is not only related to the Covid-19 crisis but also to the the fact there are no more NYPD reports for minor accidents.

Auto Accident NYC Injuries Deaths June 2020
New York traffic accident fatalities were on the rise for all categories of road users. 11 motorists, 5 passengers, 4 cyclists and 9 pedestrians died last June compared to respectively 7, 0, 2 and 2 during the previous month and 6, 3, 3, 8 in June 2019. Many of these fatalities are related to speed and reckless driving. While the city has slowly started to get back to normal, the traffic is not as heavy as it used to be before the coronavirus crisis and many motorists are driving over the speed limit.

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accident sceneFatal car accidents related to speed are on the rise in New York City and many of them are caused by young inexperienced drivers behind the wheel.

While New Yorkers witnessed or heard the noise of drag racing all over the city during the coronavirus lock-down that started at the end of March, the city is now about to enter phase 4 of reopening but many drivers seem not to have realized that they are not alone on the road anymore.

Two days ago a 21 year old driver was speeding on the southbound lanes of the Henry Hudson Parkway when he lost control of his Honda, slammed into the median, overturned and landed on the northbound side, hitting another driver in a Toyota

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New York CyclistsAfter a high number of deadly pedestrian and bicycle accidents in New York City, especially in Brooklyn, last year, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzales decided it was time to do something about it. The DA just announced that he has created a new unit that will be dedicated to investigate any fatal motor vehicle accident occurring in Brooklyn. Now anytime a motor vehicle accident involves a fatality not only the NYPD investigation squad will  investigate the accident (if they show up ) but also a prosecutor from the DA’s office will rush to the scene of the accident. The prosecutor will run his or her own investigation speaking to witnesses, collecting evidence, documenting and drafting warrants to collect evidence.This measure will hopefully bring more justice to the victims of reckless drivers who are too often being let go by the police with no charges.

Botched police investigations and poor follow up on deadly traffic accidents are common in New York City

In most accidents, including those in which people are killed, drivers are usually getting a free pass except if they were driving under the influence or if they committed an extremely reckless act.  With the new DA unit it will not be the case anymore in Brooklyn, not only drivers will be held accountable with detailed investigations but the unit will also work with lawmakers to pass new laws against reckless driving.

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accident sceneA NYC pedestrian was fatally hit by a car in front of his house on Saturday evening.  50 year old Jose Barrera, a construction worker and father of 4 was killed by a car in front of his 6 year old daughter. Barrera was working 6 days a week and Saturday was his day off.

The accident occurred on 39th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 10th Avenue in Brooklyn in front of his house. Barrera had just returned from grocery shopping at Cosco with his daughter and he was planning to cook for his family at night. He parked the car, carried his 6 year old daughter to the stoops and sat her there while he was unloading the car. As he was on the sidewalk carrying groceries, the driver of a 2014 Nissan Sedan lost control of his vehicle and hit him. Barrera was found by his wife laying on the ground covered in blood after she ran outside when she heard her 6 year old crying hysterically. When the ambulance arrived, it was already too late, They took him to he hospital but he could not be saved.

The driver identified as 21 year old Kareem Denton stayed at the scene of the accident. Denton and his passenger were both wearing work clothes from the Maimonides Medical Center. Police found Marjuana in the car and took Denton to the police station to be tested on suspicion that he was driving under the influence. Denton passed the test and was released a few hours later. He received a summon for Marijuana possession. No other charges were pressed against him.

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Satelite-view-of-Floyd-Bennett-AirportA tragic car accident resulted in 3 deaths and multiple injuries in New York City last Saturday night as a bunch of local teenagers gathered on a remote area of the Floyd Bennett airfield for some summer antics. Two 16 year old drivers with other young passengers on board crashed into each other while both were effectuating “donuts” on a runway converted into a road at the old Floyd Bennett Field airport.

Both drivers were 16 year old

According to the police report, 16 year old Emil Badalov was behind the wheel of a 2014 Kia Forte with 3 other people in the car: 11 year old Daniel Sidgiyayeva and his sister 18 year old Margarita, Sidgiyayeva as well as another 17 year old boy. Baladov was effectuating “donuts” when a Toyota Camry  crashed into them. The Toyota Camry was driven by another 16 year old boy who had two passengers: a 16 year old girl and an 18 year old boy. Baladov and the two Sidgiyayeva kids died while the other passenger is still hospitalized in critical condition. The 3 occupants of the Toyota Camry were all injured and hospitalized. They are in stable condition. No arrest were made.

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location of the fatal pedestrian accidentA pedestrian was fatally struck by a car backing up in a residential street in New York City.  64 year old Richard O’Flaherty was crossing Caffrey Avenue in Far Rockaway when he was hit by a car backing up the street. The driver initially made a turn from New Haven Avenue onto Caffrey Avenue and then proceeded to drive in reverse up Caffrey Avenue. He struck O-Flaherty who fell on the ground. He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and wasn’t charged. Read more in Street Blog

A few day before, another pedestrian was killed by a speeding hit and run driver in Midwood Brooklyn. 58 year old Mariya Ursachenko, was crossing in the crosswalk of the intersection of Ocean Ave and Avenue J when a speeding car blew a red light and collided with another car that careened into the pedestrian. The faulty driver then hit another car before coming to a stop. He then jumped out of his car and fled the scene of the accident on foot.  The police caught him a little bit later. He was identified as 25 year old Mohammed Nasim.  He was charged with reckless driving, failure to yield to a pedestrian, vehicular assault, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Ursachenko was rushed to the hospital but she didn’t survive. The driver of the car that was hit was also injured and transported to the hospital. His condition was stable.  According to the NY Daily News, Ursachenko was a baby sitter who was mostly working to help her family in Ukraine.  Her 61 year old roommate said that she was a lovely woman who didn’t have much luck.  In recent years, she broke her two arms in two separate accidents and had to undergo heart surgery. Read more in the NY Daily News 

Picture of the location of the first NYC fatal pedestrian accident: courtesy of Google Map

 

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accident sceneA man was killed in a box truck accident in New York City last Tuesday. Hamlet Cruz Gomez was going grocery shopping in his SUV when the driver of a stolen box truck lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the SUV.  The truck driver, Ramon Pera was behind the wheel of the stolen truck and his driving was so reckless that he struck a few other parked cars before crashing into Cruz-Gomez SUV at the intersection of  Metropolitan Ave and Rentar Plaza in Queens. Cruz-Gomez was rushed to the emergency room but he couldn’t be saved.

The 25 year old victim was a radiology technician at Montefiore Medical Center. During the covid-19 pandemic he isolated himself from his pregnant wife. He was able to return home and escort his wife to the delivery room to welcome his new daughter around a month ago. According to his family and friends Cruz-Gomez was a hard working generous man who was ecstatic about the arrival of his baby girl. They are devastated.

After the accident, the reckless truck driver, 37 year old Pera, tried to run away on foot but was arrested shortly after. He was arraigned on charges of reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, assault, manslaughter and grand larceny.

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