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:

By

Location of the fatal hit and run accidentAs pedestrian accident lawyers, we have seen the devastating aftermath of road accidents far too often. The recent tragedy involving Yvonne Sandiford, a cherished 79-year-old Brooklyn resident, is a reminder that our streets are failing the most vulnerable among us.

The accident, which unfolded on a dangerous street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, involved not one, but two hit-and-run drivers. It is a grim portrayal of the violence that can occur on our roads — violence that should be met with the same urgency and prevention as any other act of violence in our society.

It is deeply troubling that this fatal crash occurred within what is designated as a Senior Pedestrian Zone — areas where the city has pledged to enhance safety for older residents. Yet, the intersection of Herkimer Street and New York Avenue, notorious for being perilous, had seen no safety upgrades. This is not just a failure of infrastructure but a failure of duty to protect those who are most at risk.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

location of the car crash on 47th street and Queens BoulevardThe legal world frequently encounters instances of repeat offenders, individuals who, despite having faced the consequences of their actions, find themselves entangled with the law again. The story of Michael Moreno from Stormville, NY, is one such  reminder.

In October 2015, Gabriela Aguilar-Vallinos, a dedicated waitress, was fatally struck while cycling home from work. The individual behind the wheel, Michael Moreno, did not stop. After two weeks of silence, Moreno turned himself in to the authorities. His decision to wait meant that key evidence, such as alcohol involvement, was lost.

The court found Moreno guilty of criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. He was sentenced to six years in prison, providing some solace to Gabriela’s grieving family and the community.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

Location of the fatal NYPD tow truck accidentYesterday morning, a 7-year-old boy lost his life in Brooklyn, NYC, after being struck by a New York Police Department (NYPD) tow truck. The accident occurred at the northern border of Fort Greene Park.

The collision occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. when the young boy and his mother crossed Myrtle Avenue in a marked crosswalk. The tow truck driver, identified as Stephanie Sharp, a 54-year-old traffic enforcement agent with the NYPD, attempted to make a right turn onto North Portland Avenue and tragically struck the boy, who was on his way to school. Despite the swift arrival of emergency medical workers, they were unable to save the young life, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Legal consequences

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

yearly pedestrian fatalities in New York CityA grandmother who was pushing her 2-year-old granddaughter in a stroller was fatally struck by the driver of a pickup truck who failed to yield to them. The pedestrian accident occurred yesterday afternoon around 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of Bay 25th Street and Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The 56-year-old driver of the pick-up truck,  identified as Faheem Shabazz, was making a left turn when he struck the grandmother and her goddaughter. He remained at the accident scene and was later charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian. According to How’s my driving, the pick-up truck has a history of recklessness. In the last 9 months, the pick-up truck received 9 violations for a total of $850 in fines. 4 of them were school zone speed camera violations.

The 66-year-old grandmother was transported to the hospital in critical condition but she did not survive. Miraculously her granddaughter survived and was not injured.

In New York City,  the Right of Way or Failure to Yield Law was passed in May 2014 to reduce pedestrian fatalities. Under this law drivers who fail to yield to a pedestrian or a cyclist can be subjected to a fine of up to $150 and up to 15 days in jail.  While this law and other initiatives such as the lowering of the city speed limit and the installation of speed cameras in school zones have led to a decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the city, large vehicles driven by reckless drivers remain a significant danger for pedestrians. Last year 116 pedestrians died in car accidents in New York City and 8,500 of them were injured.  While these numbers are lower than in 2013, before Vision Zero,  when 168 pedestrians were killed and 11,978 were injured they are far from the “zero” fatality goal of the Vision Zero program.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

Long Island, NY, has seen a record number of fatal crashes in AugustIn August alone, more than 30 traffic accident fatalities were recorded on Long Island roads. September started badly as well, with two pedestrian deaths occurring over the weekend. On Saturday night around 11:00 pm, 50 year old Christopher Briscoe was killed by a 28 year old driver as he was attempting to cross Montauk Highway. The driver wasn’t charged as no criminality was suspected. A day later, 47 year old Santos Aguirre was struck by two hit and run drivers in Amityville. One of them, 26 year old Danielle Lapersonerie was driving intoxicated and was caught by the police shortly after the accident. The other driver is still at large.

Janine Logan of the group Walk Safe Long Island aptly describes the situation as a “silent epidemic” because it happens far too often. Over the past three years in Nassau and Suffolk counties, 515 people have been hit and injured while walking or biking.

Many of these accidents involve elderly individuals attempting to cross the road, often when vehicles are making left-hand turns. Additionally, joggers face significant risks, especially in areas lacking sidewalks. The recent tragic case of Ilyona Kaydanov, a 22-year-old ballroom dancer from Commack, who was hit and killed while jogging, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers pedestrians and cyclists face daily. Her family’s grief is compounded by the fact that the driver responsible has not been charged.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

Multiple pedestrians and a cyclist where injured in a multiple-collision crash caused by the driver of a stolen car who was trying to escape the police near Grand Central Station

As car accident attorneys in New York City, we have witnessed numerous devastating cases resulting from reckless driving and accidents. However, one particular type of accident that stands out as particularly dangerous is police chases and we have handled many such cases with excellent results.

The recent incident that occurred on August 1, 2023, where ten people were injured during a police chase in one of the most busy areas of Manhattan, highlights the urgent need to address the hazards associated with these pursuits.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

When the total number of crash fatalities during the first semester of 2023 is lower than the previous years, one category of road users, the cyclists, had a record number of fatalities with 14 deaths. Pedestrian fatalities were lower than usual with 41 fatalities. The NYPD also recorded 31 driver fatalities and 16 passenger fatalities for the first semester of 2023.

After two years of an unusually high number of auto accident fatalities in New York City during the first six months of the year, the total number of crash fatalities for the first six months of 2023 was pretty much similar to the levels observed before the Covid19 crisis, oscillating around 100 for the first six months of the year. In 2023, 102 people died in crashes during the first semester compared to 113, 118, 92, 101, 84, 96, 107, 107, 97, and 121 during the semesters of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 respectively.

NYC car accident deaths by category June 2023
During the first semester of 2023, 24,535 people were injured in crashes. This number is slightly higher than the two previous years, during which 23,963 and 22,898 people were injured during the first semester of 2022 and 2021, respectively, but still lower than what it was before the pandemic when the number of traffic injuries for the first six months of the year was above 25,000. Among the category of road users, drivers were the most injured with 10,785 injured motor vehicle operators for the first semester, followed by passengers (7,564), pedestrians (4,098), and cyclists (2,088).

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

GSHA pedestrian fatalities reportThe alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities in the United States has reached its highest level since 1981, according to a recent report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The GHSA report reveals that in 2022, at least 7,508 pedestrian died marking a staggering 77% increase since 2010. This tragic statistic signifies not only a significant loss of life but also a growing safety disparity for pedestrians compared to other traffic-related fatalities, which saw a 25% increase over the same period.

Multiple factors contribute to this escalating crisis. Dangerous driving behaviors, inadequate infrastructure, and the prevalence of larger and heavier vehicles all play significant roles in the rising number of pedestrian fatalities. Regrettably, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic witnessed a surge in dangerous driving practices, which have persisted and further jeopardized the safety of pedestrians.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

As car accident attorneys, we are acutely aware of the devastating consequences of reckless driving in New York City. Indeed, the city’s high population density means that millions of people and vehicles share limited road space, leading to increased risks associated with reckless driving. This congestion heightens the likelihood of collisions and resulting injuries. Furthermore, New York City boasts a complex network of streets, intersections, and areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, underscoring the importance of drivers exercising caution and adhering to traffic laws. Reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, running red lights, aggressive maneuvers, and failure to yield to pedestrians can have dire consequences in such an urban environment. Additionally, the presence of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, further elevates the potential for severe injuries or even fatalities when reckless driving occurs.

Over the past weekend, several people were injured, and significant property damage occurred due to reckless driving.

A 6-year-old boy in East Harlem Park was critically injured when he was struck by a moped-like vehicle, which then fled the scene. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, causing severe head trauma to the child. The suspect initially stayed but fled before the police arrived. The vehicle was described as similar to a moped, and it was last seen heading northbound in the park. This hit-and-run occurred just before the city’s plan to lift a ban on e-bikes and scooters in parks as part of a yearlong pilot program, which excludes faster, heavier mopeds. The pilot program will allow e-bikes and scooters under 100 pounds to operate on park drives and greenways but not on pedestrian paths. The Parks Department emphasizes maintaining rules against reckless behavior throughout the pilot period, which starts on Tuesday and ends on May 31, 2024.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

Families for Safe Street fight to reduce car accidents in NYCNew York City has long been striving to make its streets safer for pedestrians and reduce the number of tragic accidents caused by speeding vehicles. A proposed law known as Sammy’s Law, named after a young child who lost his life to a speeding driver, has become a symbol of the urgent need for change. However, despite widespread support, the law has faced obstacles in the State Legislature. In a powerful display of their determination, advocates are planning a hunger strike to shed light on the importance of passing this life-saving bill. As car  accident lawyers in New York City, we believe it is crucial to discuss the significance of Sammy’s Law and the urgent need for its implementation.

Sammy’s Law is dedicated to Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in 2013 when he was struck by a speeding van while retrieving a soccer ball in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Since Sammy’s death, an alarming number of 98 children have lost their lives in traffic collisions on the city’s streets, highlighting the pressing need for measures to improve safety. Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother, along with others who have suffered the loss of loved ones in similar accidents, founded Families for Safe Streets, a group advocating for safer streets and stricter regulations.

Continue reading →
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. ...
  11. 54
Badges
Super Lawyers Best Lawyers Martindale-Hubbell
SEE NEW JERSEY DISCLAIMER PAGE- AWARD METHODOLOGY