An 85-year-old woman was killed in a pedestrian accident after a tow truck struck her as she was crossing the street. According to a report on Streetsblog.org, a preliminary NYPD report states that the woman was crossing East 17th Street between Park Avenue South and Broadway from south to north when she was struck by the driver of a large tow truck that was heading west. The woman died at the scene from her injuries. The driver remained at the scene and was not initially charged even though the investigation is ongoing.
Difficult Area for Pedestrians?
According to Streetsblog.org, there are not many reported crashes on East 17th Street in the area where this pedestrian accident occurred. However, residents know it can be a difficult spot to cross for pedestrians. There are a number of pedestrians and bicyclists who access the park in Union Square as well as a two-way protected bike lane along that roadway.
Pedestrians and bicyclists heading south on Broadway can be thrust back into significant traffic as they hit East 17th Street. Even though traffic may move at a slower pace, there is a danger for pedestrians, Streetsblog.org states. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members of the deceased victim as the investigation into this fatal pedestrian accident continues.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Occur
Reckless driving is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in New York City. Some of the other causes include distracted driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians. Under New York laws, pedestrians have the right of way when they are walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Drivers are required to exercise their duty of care by looking out for pedestrians and proceeding only when it is safe to do so.
Pedestrian accidents tend to result in major injuries for the victims such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, internal organ damage and multiple broken bones. These are the crashes that may also result in permanent injuries and disabilities. In such cases, injured victims may be unable to return to work and lose their capacity to earn a living.
Injured pedestrian accident victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of 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 lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a 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.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they may be able to 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.
For nearly 50 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/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been 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://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/07/14/truck-driver-kills-pedestrian-along-union-square-danger-strip/