Queens, NY (October 15, 2026) – Two people were hurt after an SUV crashed into the back of a pizzeria on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach early Thursday afternoon.
According to reports, the crash was called in shortly before 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, at a restaurant in the 156-00 block of Cross Bay Boulevard. Emergency crews arriving at the scene found the SUV lodged in the rear of the one-story building, with debris pushed across the back of the dining area. Members of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit worked to pull the vehicle out, and the city Department of Buildings sent inspectors to decide whether the structure was still safe to occupy.
Authorities said two people, reported to be the driver and a customer who had been inside the restaurant, were taken to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center. Both were listed in stable condition, and their injuries were described as not life-threatening. Police had not released what caused the SUV to leave the roadway and strike the building, and the investigation remains open. No one involved has been publicly identified.
We hope those injured are able to make a full recovery.
What New York Law Says About Compensation After a Car Crash
New York is a no-fault state, so a driver’s or passenger’s own insurance pays the first round of medical bills and lost wages through Personal Injury Protection, no matter who caused the crash. That coverage runs out at a point. When a crash causes a “serious injury” under Insurance Law §5102(d), a category that includes fractures, significant disfigurement, and permanent loss of a body function, an injured person can step outside the no-fault system and bring a claim directly against the driver at fault.
A claim like that turns on negligence: proof that a driver failed to use reasonable care and that the failure caused the harm. When a vehicle jumps the curb and hits a building, the people hurt often include customers and workers who were doing nothing more than sitting inside. An injured person generally has three years from the date of the crash to sue under CPLR §214. A seasoned NYC car accident lawyer can act fast to pull surveillance video from nearby storefronts, request the vehicle’s event data, and document the damage before the scene is cleared. Compensation in a New York crash claim usually falls into two categories:
- Economic Compensation: Covers measurable financial losses such as hospital bills, ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Compensation: Accounts for less tangible impacts like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
A crash that damages a building can pull in more than one insurance policy, including the driver’s coverage and, in some cases, the property owner’s. Working out which policies apply takes an early, independent review of the claim before anyone signs a release.
Injured in a New York accident? The NYC car accident lawyers at Keith D. Silverstein & Associates have recovered millions for injured New Yorkers. Call 212-385-1444 for a free consultation to explore your compensation options.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is gathered from secondary sources, including media coverage and publicly available reports about the incident. Details may be updated as more information becomes available; if you identify any inaccurate information, please contact us so we can correct it promptly. This content is not legal or medical advice and is not intended as a solicitation for business. Any photos used are not from the actual scene. Attorney Advertising.
