A Brooklyn Tragedy. Children Among the Dead. Injured Survivors. A Community Demanding Answers.
"Flatbush, Brooklyn. Born There. Raised There During My Formative Years. It's Where My Story Began. Fighting for New Yorkers Is My Life's Work."
— Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff
A devastating building collapse in Flatbush, Brooklyn, claimed eight lives, including two children, and injured 18 others on November 11, 2026. Reports of children among the injured survivors have not yet been independently confirmed.
Children have lost their lives. Families are grieving. Injured survivors face uncertain futures, and an entire Brooklyn community is demanding answers.
For the children who died, the families who lost loved ones, and every injured survivor, there must be answers, accountability, and justice.
For attorney Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff, this tragedy strikes especially close to home.
"Flatbush Brooklyn Isn't Just a Borough to Me. It's Where My Story Began."
Brooklyn isn't just a borough where most of my clients live and where I practice law. It's where my story began. I was born in New York, my family's roots are in Brownsville, and I spent my formative years growing up in East Flatbush. These aren't just neighborhoods on a map to me. They're part of who I am.
I know these streets. I know these neighborhoods. I know the hardworking families who call Brooklyn home. I built my law firm here in New York. I built my reputation here. And I've spent my career fighting for New Yorkers who have suffered devastating injuries and losses.
When a tragedy like this strikes Flatbush, it isn't just another headline to me. It's personal.
My heart goes out to every family mourning a loved one, every injured survivor, and every neighbor whose life has been turned upside down. They deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve justice.
— Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff
What Happened in the Brooklyn Building Collapse?
According to Fox News, the collapse occurred shortly after 4 p.m. at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, where a three-story building fell into a neighboring active construction site.
Approximately 250 emergency personnel responded, with firefighters and rescue teams working through unstable debris to locate survivors.
Subsequent reports confirmed eight fatalities, including two children, and at least 17 injuries. The Fire Department concluded its search operations on November 12 after determining that no additional victims remained trapped.
Officials are investigating what caused the structure to collapse. Excavation work was underway at the neighboring construction site, but investigators have not established the precise cause of the disaster or determined legal responsibility.
The tragedy raises critical questions about structural integrity, construction safety measures, building inspections, and whether proper precautions were taken to protect nearby residents and workers.
Children Killed or Injured: A Particularly Heartbreaking Tragedy
There is perhaps nothing more heartbreaking than the death or catastrophic injury of a child.
Two children reportedly lost their lives in the Flatbush building collapse. Their families face a loss that no amount of money can repair.
The possibility that other children survived with injuries raises additional concerns about their medical treatment, recovery, and long-term well-being.
Serious childhood injuries can affect physical development, education, emotional health, and future independence.
A child's life cannot be measured in dollars. But when negligence causes a child's death or serious injury, New York law may provide a means for families to pursue accountability and compensation.
For families who have lost children or loved ones in tragic accidents, pursuing a wrongful death claim can help establish responsibility, uncover critical facts, and provide a measure of accountability. When negligence causes a preventable death, New York law may allow surviving families to seek compensation for their losses.
When Buildings Collapse, the Consequences Can Be Catastrophic
Building collapses are among the most devastating accidents that can occur in New York City. Victims may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, permanent disabilities, or death.
Beyond the immediate physical injuries, these tragedies can leave families facing overwhelming medical expenses, lost income, emotional trauma, and an uncertain future.
Building collapse investigations frequently involve questions surrounding structural deficiencies, excavation procedures, construction practices, property maintenance, and compliance with New York City's building codes.
When negligence contributes to a collapse, property owners, contractors, construction companies, engineers, or other responsible parties may face legal liability.
Our experienced New York City building collapse attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and the importance of conducting thorough investigations to determine what happened, why it happened, and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
Injured Survivors: Their Fight May Be Just Beginning
For the people who survived the collapse, escaping with their lives may have been only the beginning of an extraordinarily difficult journey.
Catastrophic building collapses can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, crush injuries, permanent disabilities, and psychological trauma.
Some survivors may require surgery, rehabilitation, or lifelong medical care.
Depending on the circumstances, injured survivors may have claims for medical expenses, lost earnings, future care, pain and suffering, and other legally recoverable damages.
Beyond the immediate physical injuries, survivors and their families may face overwhelming medical bills, an inability to return to work, emotional trauma, and an uncertain future.
Every injured survivor deserves to be heard, and every family deserves answers.
Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff: More Than 30 Years Fighting for Victims of Catastrophic Accidents
For more than three decades, Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff has dedicated his career to fighting for victims of serious and catastrophic accidents throughout New York City.
As one of New York City's highest-rated personal injury attorneys, Michael has built his reputation on relentless advocacy, aggressive litigation, and a commitment to holding negligent parties accountable.
His connection to Brooklyn runs deeper than his professional experience. Having spent his formative years growing up in East Flatbush, Michael understands the neighborhoods, communities, and hardworking families whose lives can be forever changed by devastating accidents.
Under his leadership, The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for injured clients and their families.
Known as "The Bull" for his aggressive and unwavering approach to litigation, Michael has spent his career challenging powerful corporations, insurance companies, and other defendants on behalf of injured New Yorkers.
His philosophy is straightforward: prepare every case for trial, aggressively pursue accountability, and never allow insurance companies to dictate what an injured person's future is worth.
For families confronting the aftermath of catastrophic accidents, that experience can make a meaningful difference.
Over $1 Billion Recovered: The Bull's Record of Fighting for Victims
The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff has secured substantial settlements and verdicts involving construction accidents, unsafe property conditions, catastrophic injuries, transportation disasters, and other life-altering incidents.
Among the firm's highest-profile recoveries are:
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$37 Million – Construction Accident: A settlement for an elevator mechanic who fell 25 feet inside an elevator shaft, suffering devastating spinal injuries that left him quadriplegic. The firm secured the settlement shortly before jury selection to help provide for his lifelong medical needs.
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$16 Million – Sexual Abuse Verdict: A jury verdict against the New York City Department of Education on behalf of a young girl who was sexually abused by her teacher. The jury also found reckless supervision by the Department of Education.
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$14 Million – Construction Accident: A settlement reached at trial for a seriously injured construction worker, reflecting the firm's commitment to aggressively litigating complex workplace injury claims.
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$12.157 Million – Train Derailment: Compensation recovered for victims of a major train derailment. Michael Lamonsoff obtained substantial awards for clients involved in the high-profile transportation disaster.
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$12 Million – Construction Accident: Total compensation secured for a construction worker who fell more than 15 feet through plywood covering an opening at a worksite, suffering catastrophic injuries.
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$11.75 Million – Wrongful Conviction: Total compensation obtained for Fernando Bermudez, who spent 18 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit.
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$11 Million – Bus Accident: A jury award and estimated prejudgment interest for a victim injured in a serious bus accident, demonstrating the firm's ability to pursue complex transportation injury litigation through trial.
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$11 Million – Construction Accident: A jury verdict for a construction laborer who sustained serious injuries after falling onto negligently placed rebar at a construction site.
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$7.87 Million – Premises Liability Accident: A jury verdict awarded to a client who suffered serious injuries due to unsafe and improperly maintained stairs at a New York City apartment building. Despite a low settlement offer from the defense, the firm pursued the case through trial, where the jury determined that the dangerous property conditions caused the client's injuries.
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$7 Million – Construction Accident: A recovery for a construction laborer who was seriously injured when heavy sheets of metal fell onto him at a New York City construction site.
These results demonstrate the firm's extensive experience representing victims of catastrophic accidents and fighting for accountability when negligence or misconduct causes devastating harm.
From building collapses and construction accidents to transportation disasters and wrongful deaths, Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff understands the enormous physical, emotional, and financial toll these tragedies take on victims and their families.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Seeking Justice After a Building Collapse in New York City
While authorities continue investigating the Flatbush collapse, the tragedy underscores the importance of protecting New Yorkers from dangerous structural conditions and unsafe construction practices.
When preventable negligence results in serious injuries or death, victims and surviving family members may have legal options to pursue compensation.
Cases involving building collapses require careful analysis of engineering evidence, construction records, inspection histories, building code requirements, and the responsibilities of potentially liable parties.
Experienced building collapse attorneys may investigate whether property owners, contractors, construction companies, engineers, or other parties failed to meet their legal obligations.
At The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, our attorneys have the experience and resources to pursue complex catastrophic injury claims and fight for families whose lives have been permanently altered.
For Michael, this commitment to justice extends beyond the courtroom. It reflects a lifelong connection to New York City and the Brooklyn neighborhoods where his story began.
The Bull Stands With Flatbush, Brooklyn
The Flatbush building collapse is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly lives can change and how devastating the consequences can be when structures fail.
Children have lost their lives. Families are mourning. Survivors face physical and emotional challenges that may last for years.
As investigators work to determine what caused this tragedy, the victims and their families deserve a thorough investigation and clear answers.
For more than three decades, Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff has stood alongside New Yorkers facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
His commitment to fighting for victims of catastrophic accidents remains as strong today as when he founded his firm.
And for Michael, the tragedy in Flatbush is deeply personal.
"They deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve justice."
— Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff
Injured or Lost a Loved One in the Flatbush Collapse?
The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff has recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for injured clients and families.
Our firm handles catastrophic injuries, construction accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death litigation throughout New York.
Call Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff 212-962-1020
Free, confidential consultation. No attorney's fee unless we recover compensation.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The firm does not claim to represent any victim of the November 11, 2026, Flatbush building collapse unless separately confirmed.
