A U.S. Postal Service truck driver struck and fatally injured a 71-year-old bicyclist in an unprotected intersection along the Central Park West bike lane, Streetsblog.com reports. Police said the USPS driver and the bicyclist were heading northbound on Central Park West, which got a protected bike lane last year.
Dangerous Location for Bicyclists
The truck slammed into the bicyclist as he turned the vehicle right on the 86th Street transverse, police said. The bicyclist suffered severe body trauma and was transported to a local hospital where he died. The postal worker was not charged initially, but police have said the investigation is ongoing. This victim is the seventh bicyclist to die this year in New York City. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family.
Even though the Central Park West protected bike lane went into effect last year, bicyclists have been observing a clear danger at intersections. One bicyclist told Streetsblog that the intersection where this bicycle accident occurred is dangerous especially when a bicyclist is riding north. Right-turning vehicles, he said, often encroach on the bike lane, which is not protected at that location. Motorists frequently disregard bicyclists in their impatience to get to the transverse, he said.
Accidents Involving USPS Drivers
According to Streetsblog, it can be more difficult for victims of accidents involving USPS trucks to get justice. In 2019, when a man was struck and killed by a USPS truck, police never made an arrest in the case, and Streetsblog said USPS did not respond to repeated questions about how the driver was disciplined, if at all.
After that crash, a Streetsblog investigation revealed that USPS paid more than $23 million in claims by New Yorkers who were injured or killed in crashes caused by postal truck drivers. Between 2013 and 2019, the USPS settled 661 traffic accident lawsuits brought by New Yorkers, about100 each year, with an average value of $35,000.
Over the same time period, USPS paid out about $353 million to settle 15,580 claims nationwide, according to Streetsblog’s reporting. Last year, the New York City Council passed legislation requiring the city’s Department of Transportation to oversee fatal crash investigations, which were previously carried out by the NYPD. This law went into effect in April 2021.
Injuries and Compensation
The fact remains that a number of bicycle accidents in New York City are still caused by negligent (careless) drivers. Bicycle accidents often result in major injuries to riders such as brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, multiple broken bones or fractures and internal organ damage. Victims who have been injured in bicycle accidents can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Families of deceased bicycle accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to guide you through what can quickly become a complex process and help you maximize the compensation you receive.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, there are a number of steps you would be well advised to take in order to protect your rights. File a police report and make sure you get a copy of the report for your records. Your New York bicycle accident lawyer can also help you obtain a copy of this report.
It is important that you get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. This helps establish a record of the injuries you suffered and the treatment you have received since. Make sure you preserve all documents including receipts of expenses and record of lost wages. Contact an experienced New York bicycle accident lawyer who will help protect your rights and ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your losses.
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 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
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/06/29/postal-service-truck-driver-hits-and-kills-upper-west-side-cyclist/