A man was critically injured in an MTA bus accident in Brooklyn after his scooter was struck by the bus. According to an AMNY news report, the 44-year-old man was riding a scooter near Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brownsville when he collided with a B35 bus the afternoon of Oct. 20. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The 35-year-old man who was driving the bus remained at the scene. One witness said she saw the victim under the vehicle’s tire. The investigation into this major injury collision is still ongoing.
AMNY reports that the same intersection was the site of a fatal pedestrian accident involving a minivan in 2016. Linden Boulevard, which is a wide roadway that traverses Brooklyn and Queens, is a notoriously deadly thoroughfare claiming 28 lives in the stretch between Kings Highway and South Conduit Avenue since 2011, according to NYC Crash Mapper. That death toll includes 16 pedestrians, nine motorists and three bicyclists. Thousands have been injured on the same stretch of roadway over the same period, AMNY reports based on Crash Mapper data.
Rights of Scooter Riders in NYC
Scooter riders in New York City are entitled to use bike lanes where available, which offers a safer alternative to the general flow of vehicle traffic. The city allows scooters to operate on most streets with a maximum speed limit of 30 mph or less, while scooter-specific speed limits are capped at 15 mph in many areas to reduce the risk of collisions.
Scooter riders have the right to occupy the bike lane fully and are prioritized over vehicles turning across these lanes, meaning cars and other vehicles must yield to scooters in these designated spaces. New York City law also protects scooter riders by mandating that drivers provide ample space when passing. This helps prevent accidents and provides more safety in congested areas.
The Role of Driver Negligence (carelessness)
Negligence (carelessness) on the part of drivers is a leading cause of scooter accidents. One common form of negligence (carelessness) is failing to notice scooters, especially when changing lanes or making turns. Drivers often misjudge the speed or distance of scooters, cutting them off or merging into their path. Distracted driving greatly increases the risk of colliding with a smaller vehicle such as a scooter or moped.
Another major issue is failing to yield the right of way at intersections. Also, aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating or speeding create hazardous situations for scooter riders, who are more vulnerable due to the lack of safety features that are more commonly found in cars. These acts of driver negligence (carelessness) can result in severe injuries for scooter riders, as they have little to no protection in collisions compared to other motor vehicles. Scooter riders are particularly vulnerable to head injuries, spinal cord trauma, broken bones, severe lacerations and internal organ damage.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of scooter or moped accidents can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in such accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a scooter 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.
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Source: https://www.amny.com/new-york/brooklyn/scooter-rider-struck-mta-bus-10202024/