• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
(914) 220-1086

Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Just another WordPress site

  • Home
  • About
    • Attorney Profiles
      • Daniel F. Gallivan
      • Thomas L. Gallivan
      • James C. Freeman
      • Andrew J. Gilbride
    • Testimonials
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
      • Car Accident Lawyers
        • Lawsuits and Settlements
        • Distracted Driving Accidents
        • After a Car Accident
        • Passenger in a Car Accident
        • How To Get Compensation
        • Uninsured Motorist Accidents
      • 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Lawyers
      • Burn Injury Lawyers
      • Bus Accident Attorneys
      • Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
      • Slip & Fall Lawyers
      • Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
      • Traumatic Brain Injuries
      • Truck Accident Lawyers
        • Delivery Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death Lawyers
      • Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
      • Uber Accident Lawyers
    • Nursing Home Abuse
      • Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
      • Brain Bleeds
      • Bruises and Cuts
      • Elopement
      • Falls & Broken Bones
      • Group Home Abuse
      • Infections
      • Malnutrition
      • Medication Errors
      • Physical Abuse
      • Wrongful Death
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Birth Injury
      • Emergency Room Negligence
      • Failure to Diagnose
        • Stroke and Heart Attack
        • Lymphoma
        • Leukemia
        • Cancer
        • Breast Cancer
        • Colon Cancer
        • Prostate Cancer
        • Kidney Cancer
      • Hemiparesis
      • Gastric Bypass Malpractice
      • Medication Errors
      • Meningitis
      • Neurological Injuries
      • Statute of Limitations
    • Criminal Defense
  • Blog
  • Results
    • Medical Malpractice Results
    • Nursing Home Abuse Results
    • Personal Injury Results
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Nursing Home Citation Map
    • Nursing Home Citations
    • Westchester County
      • Westchester County Accident Lawyer
      • Westchester County Contingency Fee Lawyers
      • Westchester Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
    • New Rochelle
      • New Rochelle Car Accident Lawyers
    • Mamaroneck
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • Attorney Profiles
      • Daniel F. Gallivan
      • Thomas L. Gallivan
      • James C. Freeman
      • Andrew J. Gilbride
    • Testimonials
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
      • Car Accident Lawyers
        • Lawsuits and Settlements
        • Distracted Driving Accidents
        • After a Car Accident
        • Passenger in a Car Accident
        • How To Get Compensation
        • Uninsured Motorist Accidents
      • 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Lawyers
      • Burn Injury Lawyers
      • Bus Accident Attorneys
      • Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
      • Slip & Fall Lawyers
      • Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
      • Traumatic Brain Injuries
      • Truck Accident Lawyers
        • Delivery Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death Lawyers
      • Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
      • Uber Accident Lawyers
    • Nursing Home Abuse
      • Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
      • Brain Bleeds
      • Bruises and Cuts
      • Elopement
      • Falls & Broken Bones
      • Group Home Abuse
      • Infections
      • Malnutrition
      • Medication Errors
      • Physical Abuse
      • Wrongful Death
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Birth Injury
      • Emergency Room Negligence
      • Failure to Diagnose
        • Stroke and Heart Attack
        • Lymphoma
        • Leukemia
        • Cancer
        • Breast Cancer
        • Colon Cancer
        • Prostate Cancer
        • Kidney Cancer
      • Hemiparesis
      • Gastric Bypass Malpractice
      • Medication Errors
      • Meningitis
      • Neurological Injuries
      • Statute of Limitations
    • Criminal Defense
  • Blog
  • Results
    • Medical Malpractice Results
    • Nursing Home Abuse Results
    • Personal Injury Results
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Nursing Home Citation Map
    • Nursing Home Citations
    • Westchester County
      • Westchester County Accident Lawyer
      • Westchester County Contingency Fee Lawyers
      • Westchester Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
    • New Rochelle
      • New Rochelle Car Accident Lawyers
    • Mamaroneck
  • Contact Us
Call
Contact
Blog
Home  /  Personal Injury Law  /  Suffolk County DA Calls Upon Albany to Toughen Sentencing for Hit-and-Runs

Suffolk County DA Calls Upon Albany to Toughen Sentencing for Hit-and-Runs

gavel

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC 23 Jun2014

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota called upon Albany lawmakers in June 2014 to toughen the penalties for hit-and-run drivers. Spota stated that many drivers who are drunk or impaired by drugs often flee the scene of accidents because they know that hit-and-run penalties are not as severe as sentences for DWI charges. Spota remarked, “A drunk or drug impaired driver who kills someone may face up to 25 years in prison. But fleeing the accident scene allows the wrongdoer a chance to sober up, and under the current law, any driver guilty of a hit-and-run faces a maximum prison sentence of seven years–even when someone dies or even if the defendant has a prior felony record.”

Spota’s remarks came the day before an Eastport man, Peter Torrillo, a married 48-year-old man with four children, received a sentence of 28 months to seven years after leaving the scene of an accident that killed a young mother and seriously injured her passenger. On November 2, 2013, Torrillo was driving on Montauk Highway in Eastport when he hit Erika Strebel, 27, and Edward Barton, 26. Strebel and Burton were pulled over on the side of the road to fill up their jeep which had run out of gas. Strebel, a mother of a 5-year-old boy, was rushed to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Burton was airlifted to another hospital for sustaining serious injuries that have left him in a wheelchair.

According to prosecutors, Torrillo, who was convicted of driving while ability impaired in 2012, knowingly fled the scene of the fatal accident. When Torrillo got home, he showered, shaved and headed back out to a local bar. While driving to the bar, Torrillo passed the scene of the accident. The next day, he took his car to a repair shop in Queens in an attempt to cover up the crime. Relying on a witness who saw Torrillo flee the scene, investigators were able to match paint chips left at the accident with paint on Torrillo’s repaired car. Three weeks after the accident, he was arrested and charged with a fatal hit-and-run.

Assistant District Attorney Carl Borelli stated that police investigators believe that Torrillo was impaired at the time of the accident and fled the scene in order to avoid harsher penalties. Borelli stated, “It is that belief that someone takes off essentially because they are drunk or high. Just like this–you know, this guy had a prior impaired conviction for driving while impaired by drugs.”

While reading a victim impact statement at Torrillo’s sentencing, Tammy Barton, Edward Barton’s sister-in-law, stated that Strebel’s death has had a profound impact on Strebel’s young son Ayden. On Mother’s Day, she brought the boy to visit his mother’s grave. The boy laid down at the foot of his mother’s tombstone and began talking to her. Barton looked over at Turrillo and remarked, “Picture this, Peter, okay? I hope you have this image in your head, because it’s burned into mine.”

Website Resource: L.I. Man Sentenced For Hit-And-Run Crash That Killed Young Mother, CBS News
Maximum Sentence For Driver In Fatal Eastport Hit-And-Run Accident, The Southampton Press, Kyle Campbell, June 10, 2014

Posted in: Personal Injury Law, DWI/Criminal, Traffic Accidents

Primary Sidebar

Get In Touch

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
    • Wrongful Death
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Trucking Accidents
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Construction Accidents
    • Scaffolding Accidents
    • Slip, Trip & Falls (Premises Liability)
    • Negligent Supervision at a School or Day Care
    • Sidewalk Falls
    • Elevator Accidents
    • Train and Subway Accidents
  • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
    • Falls & Fractures
    • Malnutrition and Dehydration
    • Physical and Sexual Abuse
    • Wandering & Elopement
    • Unexplained Bruises and Cuts
    • Infection
    • Choking Incidents
    • Medication Errors
    • Group Homes
    • Assisted Living Facilities
  • Criminal/DWI Defense
    • DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)
    • Criminal Defense
    • Traffic Violations
    • DMV Refusal Hearings
    • Sex Crimes
    • Shoplifting & Larceny
    • Assault & Vehicular Assault
    • Drug Possession
    • Drug Sales
    • Weapons Charges
    • Domestic Violence
    • How is a DWI Defined in New York?
    • Is the Driver’s License Confiscated Immediately Upon a DWI Arrest?
  • Medical Malpractice
    • Failure to Diagnose Cancer
    • Birth Injuries (Gynecological, Obstetrical)
    • Medication Errors
    • Surgical Errors
    • Gastric Bypass Surgery Errors
    • Emergency Room Errors
    • Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack or Stroke
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Erbs Palsy Birth Injury
  • Trusts + Estates
    • Wills & Trusts
    • Divorce, Child Support, Custody Issues
    • Elder Law
    • Estate Planning
    • Guardianships
    • Medicaid-Planning
    • Power of Attorney / Health Care Proxy
    • Probate and Estate Administration
    • Surrogate Court Litigation
    • Real Estate
    • Business Formation
    • Wills
    • Will Contests

View All Practice Areas

View All Blogs

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

" Last year I was injured in an accident, and for the first time, needed the advice of an attorney regarding how to proceed. I was referred to Thomas Gallivan through a family member who is a lawyer in Massachusetts. I am beyond pleased with how Thomas handled my case. He was knowledgeable, professional, and although the case was not as straightforward as some, he used every resource to ensure a positive outcome. Thomas communicated with me regularly and I felt completely informed and confident in his ability. He expertly negotiated a fair settlement that I was very happy with. The entire experience was extremely positive, during a stressful time for me. Thank you Thomas. "

Melanie

" Attorney Thomas Gallivan is a wonderful attorney!! I particularly liked his professionalism, consistency, always kept us updated on the case, and available upon request. He worked extremely hard and was persistent on getting the best settlement in a timely matter. I truly appreciated his prompt responsiveness to emails and phone calls. The office staff was very pleasant and made sure to get messages to him asap. Glad we chose this law firm, would highly recommend and in the event that we ever need an attorney again, Gallivan & Gallivan would be my primary choice. "

Katherine R.

" I was a passenger on a motorcycle and ended up falling off the back of the bike due to the driver acting like an idiot. I fell off at a high rate of speed and was very banged up. Fractured wrist and road rash down my back and elbows. I am lucky I didnt die. Not knowing what to do I contacted Thomas and he could not have been anymore helpful!! He went out of his way to meet with me. He actually came to my house for the initial consultation. I know nothing about law or what my options even were. He took me through everything step by step. "

Colin W.

View All Testimonials

245 Main St Suite 450 White Plains, NY 10601

Phone:
(914) 220-1086

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

555 5th Ave 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Toll Free:
(855) 228-7369

(By Appointment Only)

1370 RXR Plaza
Uniondale, NY 11556

Phone:
(914) 594-6820

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

12 1st St
Riverhead, NY 11901

Phone:
(914) 825-5855

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

Personal Injury

  • Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
  • Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers
  • Wrongful Death Lawyers
  • Personal Injury Lawyers
  • Construction Accident Lawyers
  • Westchester County Personal Injury Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse

  • Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
  • Bedsores Lawyer
  • Brain Bleeds
  • Bruises and Cuts
  • Elopement
  • Falls & Broken Bones
  • Group Home Abuse
  • Infections
  • How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

Car Accidents

  • Car Accident Lawyers
  • Car Accident Settlements
  • Distracted Driving Accidents
  • Truck Accident Lawyers
  • Delivery Accident Lawyers
  • Uber Accident Lawyers

Medical Malpractice

  • Medical Malpractice Lawyers
  • Emergency Room Negligence
  • Medication Errors
  • Neurological Injuries
  • Orthopedic Malpractice
  • Ophthalmology Errors
  • Failure to Diagnose
    • Heart Attack or Stroke
    • Leukemia
    • Cancer
    • Bladder Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    • Colon Cancer
    • Skin Cancer

Birth Injury

  • Birth Injury Lawyers
  • Erb’s Palsy
  • Birth Asphyxia
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Sepsis Infections
  • Neonatal Infections
  • Brachial Plexus
  • Hypo-Ischemic Encephalopathy
  • Shoulder Dystocia
  • Jaundice
  • Encephalomalacia

Helpful Content

  • Stage 4 Bedsore Lawsuits and Settlements
  • Nursing Home Abuse Citation Map
  • Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
  • Riverhead NY Injury Lawyers
  • White Plains Accident Lawyers

Footer

  • Personal Injury
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Car Accidents

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

Copyright © 2022, Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC | Sitemap