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

Published on:

location of the deadly pedestrian accident in East Harlem, NYCIn East Harlem, a tragic incident unfolded 2 days ago, highlighting the grave dangers posed by reckless driving in urban areas. Nadjari Reid, a 51-year-old pedestrian, was killed in a chain-reaction crash caused by a speeding Mercedes-Benz driver.

Reid was crossing the street when a speeding Mercedes-Benz, driven by Angel Melendez, ran a red light and mounted a concrete island. The car struck a parked motorcycle, a Chevy Tahoe, and finally a parked Infiniti, pinning Reid between the Tahoe and a postal truck. Despite immediate medical attention, Reid succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The driver, Melendez, was found to have a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, adding another layer of recklessness to his actions. He now faces serious charges, including manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

Published on:

car-accident-scene-in-Manhattan-scaledAs car accident attorneys in New York City, it’s heartbreaking to witness the increasing frequency of deadly accidents on our streets. Over the past few days, our city has been struck by multiple tragic incidents, highlighting the urgent need for improved traffic safety measures.

Harlem Tragedy: A Family’s Worst Nightmare

On Thursday evening, a devastating crash in Harlem claimed the life of three-year-old Jaynelyse Valdez and injured her two younger brothers and mother. The family was crossing Malcolm X Boulevard with the walk sign when a 40-year-old driver, turning left onto W. 135th Street, struck them. Despite efforts to rush Jaynelyse to NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Her two-year-old and four-month-old brothers, along with their mother, sustained minor injuries.

Published on:

schoolbus1The recent tragedy in Mamaroneck, New York, where a young kindergarten student and his mother were fatally struck by a school bus while walking to school, has left our community in shock and mourning.

As school bus accident attorneys, we are deeply familiar with the complexities and dire consequences of such tragic events. The details of this particular incident are heart-wrenching: a 6-year-old boy and his 43-year-old mother, just half a block away from Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School, were hit by a school bus as they rightfully crossed the street at a designated crosswalk. Despite the walk sign being on, the bus, carrying several students and an aide, turned left and tragically struck the pedestrians.

The young boy was pronounced dead at the scene, and his mother succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to the hospital. This loss is not just a statistic; it represents a significant and irreplaceable loss to their family and our community.

Published on:

ar accidents near the intersection of Wallabout and Wythe StreetAs pedestrian accident lawyers, we find ourselves constantly grappling with the devastating consequences of traffic collisions, particularly those involving vulnerable road users like children. The recent incident in Williamsburg, where a 10-year-old girl lost her life after being struck by a driver, is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need for safer streets and stricter accountability measures.

The details of the crash, as reported by Streetsblog New York City, are distressing. A 62-year-old driver fatally struck the young girl at the intersection of Wallabout Street and Wythe Avenue. While the driver remained at the scene, questions loom regarding potential charges and the circumstances leading to this tragic event.

The tragic accident unfolded in an area notorious for its perpetual congestion, where the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway’s numerous entrances and exits intertwine with multiple schools and a playground. This complex intersection of vehicular and pedestrian traffic has been the cause of multiple crashes in the past.

Published on:

NYC accident sceneIn the span of just two days, the East Side of Manhattan has witnessed three alarming accidents where pedestrians were struck by cars, highlighting a disturbing trend of vehicular accidents in one of the busiest areas of New York City. As New York pedestrian accident attorneys dedicated to advocating for the safety and legal protection of individuals on foot, we are compelled to address these accidents and the urgent need for enhanced pedestrian safety measures.

Accident One: A Close Call in Midtown Manhattan

On Monday morning, a 40-year-old female driver, navigating her SUV northbound on Third Avenue, swerved to avoid colliding with another vehicle. In a harrowing sequence of events, her vehicle veered off the road at East 58th Street, striking a 22-year-old male pedestrian and crashing into sidewalk scaffolding. The impact, captured on video, left the SUV ensnared in the wreckage of the scaffolding, painting a stark picture of the chaos unleashed in mere moments. The young man was quickly transported to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center with a leg injury, the severity of which remains unclear. Miraculously, no criminality was suspected in the crash, and the driver remained at the scene, cooperating with law enforcement.

Published on:

location-of-the-Manhattan-fatal-hit-and-run-accident-A pedestrian lost their life in a hit-and-run accident on Canal Street recently. The details of this case underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures on one of New York City’s most dangerous thoroughfares.

Canal Street, notorious for its high rate of accidents and fatalities, has long been a focal point for street safety advocates. Despite repeated calls for action and promises of improvement, the reality remains grim. The statistics speak for themselves: 84 reported crashes on just half a mile of Canal Street last year, resulting in numerous injuries and, tragically, loss of life. In the past decade alone, thousands of crashes have occurred, leaving hundreds injured and several dead.

With narrow sidewalks, lengthy crossings, and an overwhelming dominance of car traffic, it’s no wonder this stretch of road has earned its reputation as a “car sewer.” Yet, despite community outcry and ongoing studies by the Department of Transportation, tangible improvements remain elusive.

Published on:

NYC accident sceneShawn Gooding, a resident of the East Village, tragically lost his life on Friday night after being struck by an MTA bus at the intersection of Avenue D and East 10th Street. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised significant legal questions and concerns, particularly regarding accountability and liability.

As wrongful death attorneys, it’s crucial to examine the events leading up to Gooding’s untimely demise. Reports suggest that Gooding tripped into the street and was subsequently struck by the bus, which allegedly continued driving after the collision. Despite efforts by EMS, Gooding succumbed to his injuries at NYC Health + Hospital Bellevue.

The legal implications of this incident are multifaceted

Published on:

location of the fatal pedestrian pickup truck accidentThe tragic death of Danielle Aber in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, after enduring a week of suffering from injuries sustained in a truck accident, casts a stark light on the vulnerabilities pedestrians face and the critical need for stronger legal safeguards. This accident not only highlights the physical and emotional toll on the victim and their loved ones but also highlights the gaps in our legal and traffic safety systems.

Danielle Aber’s prolonged fight for life before succumbing to her injuries raises significant legal and ethical questions about the responsibilities of drivers, particularly those operating large vehicles in densely populated areas. The charges against the pick-up truck driver, Stanley Manel who had 26 previous camera violations, for failing to yield and exercise due care, while necessary, prompt a broader discussion on the adequacy of such measures in addressing the severity of the consequences of traffic violations.

The Urgent Need for Legal and Policy Reform

Published on:

The intersection where the unlicensed driver killed ChristianFourteen-year-old Christian Antoine was struck and killed by the reckless actions of an unlicensed and speeding driver last Saturday evening in Brooklyn, NYC. The accident occurred at the intersection of Glenwood Rd. and E. 81st St. in Canarsie.

Christian was more than just a statistic in the rising toll of pedestrian fatalities; he was a young boy with dreams, a loving family, and a future that was unjustly cut short. According to reports, 45-year-old Rayan Salmon, driving a 2018 Mercedes SUV at an unsafe speed, caused a chain-reaction crash that ultimately led to Christian’s untimely death. This incident is a reminder of the catastrophic consequences of negligent driving and the critical need for stringent enforcement of traffic laws.

As pedestrian accident lawyers in NYC, we have seen the aftermath of such tragedies unfold too many times. Families are left to navigate their grief while grappling with the legal complexities of seeking justice for their loved ones. In Christian’s case, the charges against Salmon for aggravated unlicensed operation underscore the severe risks unlicensed drivers pose to public safety. However, these charges are just the beginning of a long legal journey for Christian’s family to seek accountability and compensation for their loss.

Published on:

Queens Boulevard, once notoriously dubbed “the Boulevard of Death,” has seen a remarkable turnaround. In 1997, this street was a pedestrian nightmare, claiming 18 lives. However, since Vision Zero’s implementation in 2014, fatalities have drastically reduced, with some years witnessing zero deaths.

ThAtlantic Avenueis transformation didn’t happen by chance. It was the result of a concerted effort by the city, involving adjustments in pedestrian signal timings, road safety improvements, and the introduction of bike lanes. These measures not only enhanced safety but also fostered a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly environment.

However, Atlantic Avenue tells a different story. Despite being another major NYC artery, it hasn’t received the same level of attention or intervention. The result is alarming: in the last decade, Atlantic Avenue has witnessed 40 traffic deaths, a number four times higher than that of Queens Boulevard. This stark contrast exemplifies the uneven application of Vision Zero across the city.