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 Queens Personal Injury

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NYPD chase can result in dangerous accidentsA chaotic scene unfolded early Sunday morning in Jackson Heights, Queens, when a high-speed police chase ended with a car careening onto the sidewalk and striking pedestrians at the intersection of 80th Street and Northern Boulevard. The incident, which sent two people to the hospital, raises serious questions about public safety during police pursuits and the accountability of reckless drivers.

The chase began around 2 a.m. in Astoria when NYPD officers attempted a routine traffic stop. Instead of complying, the driver of a white BMW sped away, leading police on a two-mile pursuit. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed into an FDNY call box near Northern Boulevard, narrowly avoiding a restaurant.

Unfortunately, the out-of-control vehicle struck four pedestrians, two of whom required hospitalization. A 23-year-old man suffered a leg laceration, and a 28-year-old woman sustained back injuries. Both are reported to be in stable condition. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one local resident, Danny Rojas, expressing relief that no lives were lost and hoping for justice.

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location of the Queens drunk driving accidentEarly Sunday morning, a suspected drunk driver caused a head-on collision with an FDNY ladder truck at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 115th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens. This incident underscores the severe risks posed by impaired driving, not only to the driver but also to others sharing the road.

Details of the Collision

Jimmy Lealecheverria, a 41-year-old driver from Harrison, New Jersey, was behind the wheel of a white panel van traveling eastbound on Jamaica Avenue when the crash occurred. The van collided with Ladder Co. 143, which was stationary and facing westbound at the time.

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Koscuiuszko bridgeA tragic multi-vehicle collision at the base of the Kosciuszko Bridge on November 21, 2024, claimed the life of a 75-year-old man and left seven others injured, including a 9-year-old girl. This devastating accident highlights the dangers posed by inclement weather, congested roadways, and potential driver negligence.

Details of the Kosciuszko Bridge Crash

The accident occurred on the Brooklyn-bound side of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) near Exit 34, at Meeker and Morgan Avenues, in Maspeth, Queens. Initial reports indicate that a 46-year-old driver operating a pickup truck rear-ended another vehicle, triggering a chain reaction involving four vehicles: a pickup truck, a green “boro taxi,” an SUV, and a sedan.

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location of the MTA bus accident in QueensIn a tragic MTA bus accident yesterday near 46th Street and Queens Boulevard, multiple people were injured when a bus crashed into a bench and several parked cars. According to the FDNY, the crash was caused by a 51-year-old bus driver who experienced a sudden medical episode behind the wheel. The exact nature of the driver’s medical episode remains unknown, but it resulted in a chaotic scene that left several people hurt.

Injuries from the Queens Bus Accident

Two female passengers, ages 34 and 64, were injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment. The bus driver was also taken to a nearby medical facility for evaluation. Thankfully, it appears that none of the injuries were life-threatening; however, the impact on the victims’ lives can still be significant.

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Amanda Servidio vigile invitationTonight, the family of Amanda Servedio, along with members of Bike and Brew, Families for Safe Streets, and Transportation Alternatives, will gather to honor Amanda’s memory with a vigil and ghost bike installation, followed by a memorial ride. Amanda, an avid cyclist and active Bike and Brew member, lost her life when a pickup truck, engaged in a high-speed police chase, collided with her as she rode her bike through Queens. This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern that has turned the 114th Precinct into an epicenter of reckless high-speed chases on residential streets.

In Queens, the 114th Precinct has seen 38 police chases this year alone—a staggering number for a largely residential area. These pursuits are often initiated on quiet neighborhood streets, placing lives like Amanda’s at extreme risk. The lack of regulation and accountability for these chases has created an epidemic of reckless endangerment in Astoria, where police should prioritize public safety, especially on streets heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.

While the NYPD patrol guide dictates that officers terminate pursuits when the danger to the public outweighs the need for apprehension, these guidelines seem far from effectively enforced. Amanda’s death painfully underscores this issue—officers pursued a suspect with a staggering record of over 80 speed- and red-light violations, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed a known repeat offender to remain on the roads. The tragedy reflects a disregard for policies meant to protect lives, as the NYPD’s patrol guidelines about high-speed pursuits remain removed from public versions of the guide, further obscuring transparency.

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New York Police Chase Accident LawyerA tragic police chase in Astoria, Queens, on Tuesday night claimed the life of a cyclist when a driver, fleeing from NYPD officers, fatally struck her. The driver, who was attempting to evade arrest for burglary, was speeding along 34th Avenue before hitting the cyclist on 37th Avenue. This marks yet another fatality resulting from the surge in police chases under Mayor Adams’ administration, prompting concerns about the NYPD’s policies regarding high-speed pursuits.

As NYPD chase accident lawyers, we understand the devastating consequences of reckless pursuits in densely populated neighborhoods. In this case, the police pursuit resulted in not only the senseless death of a cyclist but also intense public outcry about the necessity and safety of such actions.

In New York City, where traffic is already chaotic, engaging in high-speed chases in residential areas is a recipe for disaster. The aftermath of this chase, in which the suspect continued to evade police while an innocent cyclist lost her life, raises the question: Was it worth it? As advocates for victims of road violence, we firmly believe that no property crime, such as burglary, should justify endangering lives in this manner.

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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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Accident sceneLabor Day weekend was marred by a series of fatal collisions across New York City, resulting in the loss of six lives. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about road safety in our city and the need for careful attention from all road users.

A Weekend of Fatal Collisions

The unfortunate events began on Thursday, August 29, when a 55-year-old  pedestrian identified as Jacqueline Healy of Jamestown was struck by a Ford pickup truck while crossing Cross Bay Boulevard at Pitkin Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens. The driver, Keith Ryan, 47, was arrested and charged with driving with a fake license.

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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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Fitz Herbert Slowe was killed by a reckless driverThe tragic death of Fitz Herbert Slowe, a beloved 71-year-old great-grandfather, serves as a painful reminder of the devastating consequences that reckless driving can have on our community. On December 18, 2023, Mr. Slowe’s life was tragically cut short when another motorist, Mario Hill, ran a red light and collided with his vehicle at the intersection of Guy R. Brewer Blvd. and South Conduit Ave. in Springfield Gardens, Queens. Now, after more than nine months, Hill has been criminally charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving, as he rightfully should be.

Understanding the Legal Implications

As Queens personal injury lawyers, we often see the profound impact that reckless and negligent actions on the road can have on victims and their families. The charges brought against Hill are not just about punishing him for his actions, but about seeking justice for Mr. Slowe and ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future.

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