Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with a horrific car accident in Staten Island on June 13 that left a pregnant woman injured and cost the life of her child. According to a news report in The Staten Island Advance, the 21-year-old driver faces multiple charges including second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and driving without a license.
Injuries and Death
A preliminary NYPD investigation determined that the driver was operating at a high rate of speed at the time and collided with another vehicle near the intersection of Hyland Boulevard and Cornelia Avenue close to Wolfe’s Pond Park. The man was headed northbound in a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he moved into the left turning lane and lost control before slamming into a Nissan Rogue occupied by a 26-year-old male driver and a 28-year-old female passenger.
The Nissan’s driver was on the southbound side headed toward Tottenville, attempting to make a left turn onto Cornelia Avenue at the time of the crash. The impact of the crash sent both vehicles northbound across both lanes of traffic and into a patch of woods.
The female passenger was transported to a local hospital where doctors performed an emergency C-section. The baby succumbed to injuries and died. The woman was listed in serious but stable condition. Officials are waiting for a report from the Medical Examiner to determine whether the child had taken its first breath at the hospital. If that was the case, the driver could face homicide charges under New York law. The male driver of the Nissan suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Role of Negligence (Carelessness)
In this case, based on preliminary investigations, officials believe that the driver who caused the accident was traveling at a high rate of speed. Under New York’s Basic Speed Law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle over the posted speed limit or at a speed that is unsafe, given the roadway, traffic and weather conditions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2018, speeding killed 9,378 people. In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities.
Reckless driving is the most common cause of car accidents in New York that result in major injuries and fatalities. Drivers who speed, or drive while distracted and/or impaired, drivers who fail to yield the right of way or run red lights and stop signs pose a definite danger to other road users and have the potential to cause not just vehicle-related accidents, but also pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents. Negligence (carelessness) is a factor in a majority of car accidents occurring in the city, leading to fatal injuries or those that prove disabling for victims.
In such cases, the at-fault driver may face charges and penalties. In addition, he or she can be held financially liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Injured victims of car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car 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 49 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 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. 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 and medical malpractice 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
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Source: https://www.silive.com/crime/2020/06/exclusive-driver-21-arrested-in-violent-crash-involving-pregnant-woman-on-south-shore.html