Rally Draws Attention to Recent Spate of NYC Pedestrian Accident Deaths

 On Sunday, about 200 people held a rally in City Hall Park wearing yellow shirts and buttons in memory of loved ones who have been killed in New York City traffic accidents. According to The New York Times, the rally was followed by a march to the United Nations for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Mayor Bill de Blasio, elected officials and safety advocates for pedestrians spoke about what they view as a safety crisis in New York City.
This march comes at a time when the city has seen a particularly deadly spate of pedestrian accidents. Since Halloween, more than a dozen pedestrians have died in traffic collisions. Mayor de Blasio spoke about his administration’s Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths. Among its initiatives are lowering the speed limit to 25 mph on city streets and adding speed cameras to beef up enforcement. However, the staggering number of pedestrian fatalities in just over the last 16 days seems to have dealt the administration a severe setback.

What Has Been Done So Far
Traffic and pedestrian deaths have dropped compared to last year. According to the city’s reports, there have been 197 deaths this year, 109 of which were pedestrians. Last year, at this time, there were 228 fatalities including 121 pedestrians. NYPD has also sought to tighten enforcement by cracking down on dangerous and reckless driving, deploying more officers to enforce speed limits and rules of the road, particularly relating to distracted driving and motorists failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Advocates are calling for harsher penalties on those who kill or injure bicyclists and pedestrians.
If You Have Been Injured
There are a number of steps you can take if you have been injured in a New York City pedestrian accident:
• Make sure you file a police report. Also, be sure to get a signed copy of this report.
• Get contact information for parties involved in the incident. Obtain pertinent information such as driver’s license, insurance, license plate, etc. Also, get contact information for any witnesses to the incident.
• Take photographs of the accident scene including the position of the vehicles, traffic conditions and your injuries.
• Get prompt medical attention for your injuries. This not only creates documentation of your injuries, but also puts you on the road to recovery. Follow your doctor’s advice and make sure you get the treatment and care you need to heal.
• Preserve all receipts and invoices that will serve as evidence of the losses you sustained as a result of the incident and injuries.
• Contact an experienced New York personal injury lawyer who will work diligently to stay abreast of the official investigation and to ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected.
Steps Motorists Can Take to Prevent Accidents
There are a number of steps drivers can take to help prevent tragic pedestrian accidents. First and foremost, drivers should pay attention to the roadway by avoiding all types of distractions. Distracted driving is negligent driving. Do not drink and drive. Be sure to follow the rules of the road, particularly yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections. A number of recent pedestrian accidents in New York City have occurred at busy street intersections.
Drivers should also operate their vehicles at a safe speed. There have been tragic accidents in the city recently where drivers have lost control of their cars and struck pedestrians on the roadway or sidewalk. Drivers should stick to the posted speed limit and drive at a speed that is safe, given traffic, roadway and weather conditions. Slow down and be particularly vigilant in school zones or residential neighborhoods where children may be playing or riding their bikes.
Justice for Injured Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a man who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: The New York Times