Bicyclist Struck and Killed by Truck Driver in Protected Bike Lane

bicycle accident attorneyA bicyclist was killed in a collision with a truck the morning of Aug. 5. According to a report on Streetsblog.org, the fatal bicycle accident occurred at 43rd Avenue and 34th Street, near the border of Sunnyside and Long Island City. Streetsblog also reports that photos posted on social media showed the victim’s electric bicycle under the box truck’s wheel. The truck appeared to have stopped in the middle of a right turn over concrete “armadillos” that are meant to encourage wider turns and slow driver speeds, based on the news report.

NYC Bicycle Accidents

The city’s Department of Transportation installed protected bike lanes on eastbound 43rd Avenue and its westbound counterpart, Skillman Avenue, in 2018 after the 2017 death of 32-year-old delivery worker Gelacio Reyes at 39th Street — five blocks away from this most recent fatal bicycle accident.

Data compiled by Transportation Alternatives shows that this deadly incident marks the 14th bicyclist killed by a driver so far this year in New York City and the third in Queens. Five of those 14 bicycle accident victims were struck by truck drivers. In a statement, the safety advocacy group pinned blame in part on the design of the 43rd Avenue protected bike lane, which relied on green paint and excluded any raised concrete to protect bicyclists at intersections. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased bicyclist.

Protected Bike Lanes Serve a Purpose

Protected bike lanes in New York City are specially designed lanes that separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic, typically using physical barriers such as bollards, parked cars, or curbs. These lanes are part of the city’s efforts to enhance cyclist safety by providing a dedicated space on the road where cyclists are shielded from the dangers of moving traffic. The protection these lanes offer helps reduce the risk of collisions, making cycling a safer and more attractive option for commuting and recreational travel.

Motorists in New York City are required to follow specific laws regarding bike lanes to ensure the safety of cyclists:

  • No driving or parking: Motorists are prohibited from driving or parking in protected bike lanes. This rule helps maintain the safety and integrity of the lanes by keeping them clear for cyclists.
  • Yielding when turning: When making a right or left turn across a bike lane, motorists must yield to cyclists who have the right of way. Failing to do so can result in a fine and increases the risk of accidents.
  • Dooring: Motorists and passengers must check for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors adjacent to bike lanes to prevent “dooring” accidents, which can be extremely dangerous for cyclists.

Contacting an Experienced Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, 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, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.

For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist 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, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.

We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.

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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, 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: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/08/05/truck-driver-kills-cyclist-in-long-island-city-protected-bike-lane