Newsday reports that this pedestrian accident follows what has been a deadly week on Long Island roadways. Earlier in the week, six people, including three children and a 72-year-old pedestrian, were killed in crashes in one 24-hour period in Nassau and Suffolk. Police said speed, intoxication and loss of vehicle control caused those crashes. Also, on Tuesday, an e-bike operator was seriously injured in an accident in East Rockaway.
After decades of declines, U.S. roadway fatalities flattened and then began rising about 20 years ago. About 42,915 people died in traffic accidents during 2021 — which marked a 16-year high. Notably, the increase in fatalities coincided with the nation’s preference for SUVs and pickup trucks, which first outsold cars in the U.S. in 2022. Since then, they have consistently surged in popularity.
Visibility has been an issue with SUVs and pickup trucks because of their size and height. Drivers in smaller cars often struggle to see over taller vehicles ahead. On the other hand, drivers of SUVs and pickup trucks tend to have issues seeing pedestrians or bicyclists, particularly when they are making a turn.
A 2015 federal study found that an SUV is two to three times more likely to kill a pedestrian compared to a car. Researchers have tied the ascent of SUVs to an increase in pedestrian deaths, which hit a four-decade high in 2021. Bicyclist deaths rose 44% from 2010 to 2020. The size and weight of these larger vehicles also result in more severe injuries. The heavier weight of SUVs and trucks generates a deadlier force in a collision. Their tall front ends increase the likelihood of striking a person’s torso rather than his or her legs. These vehicles also have larger blind spots.
Pedestrian accidents prove costly for victims and their families, who face significant and mounting medical costs due to emergency transportation, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, etc. These types of accidents also cause permanent injuries and disabilities that result in loss of earning capacity or the need for round-the-clock nursing care.
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle 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 pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost future income, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should also remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one million dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle 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 51 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We 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. 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.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/pedestrian-struck-crash-west-hempstead-ot3wc9qu