You need to find out what type of rules New York follows as far as Negligence is concerned.
Is it comparative or contributory negligence?
If it is contributory negligence and the driver of the other car sues your father's estate/insurance company, he will be possibly barred from recovering if he was contributorily negligent by driving with a suspended license. However, there is a little catch to this. If it is found that your father had the last chance to prevent the accident, then the other driver is not barred from recovery. Confusing I know.
If it is a comparative negligence state, the percentage of fault falling on each party (as determined by the court) will determine if the other driver can recover. 50 or less? 51% or more?
This is the law I found for New York:
ARTICLE 14-A
DAMAGE ACTIONS: EFFECT OF CONTRIBUTORY
NEGLIGENCE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
1411. Damages recoverable when contributory negligence or assumption of
risk is established.
1412. Burden of pleading; burden of proof.
1413. Applicability.
Sec. 1411. Damages recoverable when contributory negligence
or assumption of risk is established. In any action to recover
damages for personal injury, injury to property, or wrongful
death, the culpable conduct attributable to the claimant or to
the decedent, including contributory negligence or assumption of
risk, shall not bar recovery, but the amount of damages otherwise
recoverable shall be diminished in the proportion which the
culpable conduct attributable to the claimant or decedent bears
to the culpable conduct which caused the damages.
Sec. 1412. Burden of pleading; burden of proof. Culpable
conduct claimed in diminution of damages, in accordance with
section fourteen hundred eleven, shall be an affirmative defense
to be pleaded and proved by the party asserting the defense.
Sec. 1413. Applicability. This article shall apply to all
causes of action accruing on or after September first, nineteen
hundred seventy-five.