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 Pedestrian Accidents

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the shed before its collapseThe sidewalk shed collapse on 29th Street in Chelsea yesterday morning tragically underscores the dangers pedestrians face in New York City. According to recent updates from the Department of Buildings (DOB), the shed was struck by a box truck, causing the structure to collapse. The incident resulted in three injuries—one person critically injured with severe TBI and two others seriously hurt.

How Did This Accident Happen?

The DOB has now confirmed that a box truck collided with the sidewalk shed’s support beams, leading to its collapse. This revelation highlights the risks posed by vehicles operating in close proximity to construction sites and temporary structures. The crash occurred around 8:20 a.m., a time when many pedestrians were using the sidewalk. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying sound of the collapse, with nearby residents rushing to assist those trapped under the debris.

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NYPD carA recent announcement by the New York Attorney General’s office has reignited concerns about the tragic consequences of high-speed police chases on the streets of the Bronx. In a decision that has drawn mixed reactions, it was determined that no criminal charges would be filed against an NYPD officer who fatally struck a pedestrian, Sofia Gomez, during an emergency response.

The Tragic Incident in the Bronx

The accident occurred on October 5, 2020, when an NYPD officer was responding to an urgent call on the Throgs Neck Bridge after receiving reports of “shots fired.” The officer, driving a marked police vehicle with lights and sirens activated, was traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph. As the officer approached the intersection of Pelham Parkway South and Wallace Avenue, he drove through a red light and tragically struck 23-year-old Sofia Gomez, who was crossing the street in a designated crosswalk.

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Jaywalking is now legal in NYCIn our work as pedestrian accident lawyers in New York City, we frequently encounter the tragic aftermath of accidents where pedestrians are struck while crossing the street. With jaywalking now decriminalized, the city’s new law means New Yorkers can legally cross streets mid-block or against traffic signals without fear of receiving a summons. While this change responds to public calls for decriminalization and fairness, it also raises pressing questions about pedestrian safety in a city already grappling with high rates of traffic injuries and fatalities.

The Risks of Legalized Jaywalking

New York City’s streets are busier than ever, with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists sharing tight urban spaces. According to city transportation officials, crossing outside a crosswalk or against a light accounts for about 34% of all pedestrian fatalities, with nearly 200 people losing their lives in such accidents over the past five years. This law, while freeing, could further endanger pedestrians, especially if drivers fail to recognize pedestrians’ rights or act recklessly. From a legal perspective, this shift underscores the importance of ensuring that those injured in crosswalk-free zones have robust legal representation.

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dangerous intersection E59th Street and 2nd AveAn elderly woman walking with a cane was tragically injured in a hit-and-run accident on the Upper East Side. The incident occurred Monday morning when the woman, believed to be in her 80s, tripped and fell into the street near the dangerous intersection of E. 59th St. and Second Ave., just feet away from the entrance to the Queens-bound Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. At around 10:10 a.m., she was struck by a box truck, and the driver continued on without stopping, heading across the bridge into Queens.

Medics arrived quickly on the scene and transported the woman in critical condition to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. As of now, the driver is still being sought.

This tragic accident highlights the dangers pedestrians face daily, especially seniors who may have limited mobility. The outcome of this case hinges on locating the driver, but regardless of the circumstances, it’s crucial for the victim and her family to explore their legal options.

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Intersection of Dekalb and Wyckoff where a pedestrian was killed by a Box truckMarco Gallardo Tirado, a 59-year-old retired Brooklyn home health aide, was fatally struck by a box truck in Bushwick while on his way to a doctor’s appointment. The accident occurred on DeKalb Avenue near Wyckoff Avenue around 9:35 a.m. on Friday morning. Sadly, Mr. Tirado’s life was cut short just blocks from Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where he was rushed but could not be saved.

The driver, identified as Lennis Escalona Luna, did not stop at the scene but was later identified through his truck’s U.S. Department of Transportation number. He now faces charges of failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care. However, the emotional toll on Mr. Tirado’s family is immeasurable, as they mourn the loss of a kind and caring man who had simply been on his way to a routine checkup.

This incident is just one of several fatal truck accidents that have plagued New York City over the past few days, bringing increased urgency to the conversation around pedestrian safety. As truck traffic continues to rise in the city, especially in densely populated areas like Brooklyn, so too does the risk to pedestrians.

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16 year old Jahel Zihnin was killed in a truck accidentAs personal injury lawyers representing Queens victims, we are no strangers to the devastating impact that reckless drivers can have on families and communities. Recently, families in Queens have been calling for urgent action to protect children from the dangers posed by careless motorists. Yesterday, the group Families for Safe Streets, alongside lawmakers, gathered at IS-125 in Woodside to honor the lives of several young pedestrians who were tragically killed in traffic accidents, including 16-year-old Jael Zhinin (picture). She lost her life in a crosswalk, struck by a truck on the last day of class in June.

The grief and frustration felt by these families are not isolated. Many of our clients have experienced firsthand the sudden loss of a loved one or the long road to recovery after a serious accident. But the pain of losing a child, especially when they were simply walking in a crosswalk or standing on a sidewalk, is unimaginable.

Advocating for Change: Sammy’s Law

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children run over by cars statisticsAs pedestrian accident lawyers, we’ve seen the devastating consequences of vehicular negligence and poor design choices by automakers. The introduction of the Pedestrian Protection Act by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) represents a crucial step in addressing a long-overdue issue: the alarming rise in pedestrian fatalities caused by increasingly massive and dangerously designed vehicles.

For years, safety ratings for vehicles have been heavily skewed towards protecting those inside the car, while largely ignoring the risks these vehicles pose to pedestrians and cyclists. The new bill seeks to change that by requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop safety standards that consider the likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a crash with one of these massive trucks or SUVs.

Why This Bill Matters

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Ainsley Dalrymple was killed by a hit and run driver in QueensIn a significant development, the alleged driver responsible for a fatal hit-and-run accident in Queens in 2019 has been captured in Guyana, bringing some measure of closure to the family of the victim, Ainsley Dalrymple. Ravindra Dharamjit, the suspect who fled the country to evade justice, has been extradited to New York City, where he now faces serious charges.

The tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day in 2019 when Ainsley Dalrymple, a 67-year-old father of four, was struck and killed by a 2012 Toyota Tundra while crossing Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park. The truck, allegedly driven by Dharamjit, was traveling at an alarming speed—74 mph in a 25 mph zone—on the wrong side of the road. The force of the impact sent Dalrymple flying 157 feet, causing fatal injuries.

After the accident, Dharamjit reportedly returned the borrowed vehicle to its owner, claiming he had crashed it and would repair it later. However, within days, Dharamjit fled the United States, leaving the Dalrymple family to mourn their tremendous loss without justice.

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MTA_New_York_City_Bus_Orion_VII_Next_Generation_20091The recent MTA bus hit-and-run accident in Queens, which resulted in the tragic death of 31-year-old pedestrian Mishael Keys Amesha, underscores the importance of having an experienced Queens personal injury lawyer. This case, involving a pedestrian accident with an MTA bus, highlights the complexities of wrongful death claims and the critical role a skilled attorney plays in seeking justice and compensation.

On August 6, 2024, Mishael Keys Amesha was struck and killed by a Q85 MTA bus while crossing Bedell Street in Queens. The bus driver, Michele Washington, did not remain at the scene, leading to a hit-and-run investigation by the NYPD. With the MTA suspending Washington pending the outcome of the investigation, the focus now shifts to ensuring that justice is served and that the victim’s family receives the compensation they deserve.

When looking for a Queens Personal Injury Lawyer in a case like this one you want to make sure that your attorney has the following experience:

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truck in NYCThe New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking a significant step towards making our streets safer and more efficient with the introduction of two new delivery microhubs beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). These hubs, part of a broader plan to establish 20 such zones citywide, aim to transform the way goods are delivered in the city, significantly reducing the number of large trucks on our residential streets. This initiative is not only about streamlining deliveries but, crucially, about enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists and preventing truck accidents, a concern that truck accident lawyers in New York City often deal with.

Reducing Truck Traffic for Safer Streets

The microhubs at Meeker and Kingsland avenues in Greenpoint and Park and Washington avenues in Clinton Hill will serve as transfer points where packages are moved from large trucks to smaller, more agile delivery vehicles like cargo bikes. This shift is expected to drastically cut down on the number of large trucks navigating through dense residential areas, which has been a major concern for pedestrian and cyclist safety.