Local residents in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Sunset Park are demanding action for improving the safety of the Fourth Avenue bike lane after a May 22 bicycle accident that killed a 49-year-old man. According to the Brooklyn Paper, the bicyclist who some say was a delivery worker, was heading south on an e-bike. As the bicyclist crossed 53rd Street, the driver of a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado who was turning left onto 53rd Street struck him. The victim, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver remained on the scene. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the deceased bicyclist for their tragic loss.
Bicycle Safety Issues
Brooklyn Paper reports that the Fourth Avenue bike lane has been a source of contention between bicyclists and city officials for several years now. Last summer, the safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, launched the “Fix 4th Avenue” campaign, urging the city not only to fix the bike lane, but also do more to discourage bad driver behavior such as parking in the bike lane or on sidewalks. Bicyclists have also criticized the city for failing to install temporary bike lanes during construction along Fourth Avenue.
After the fatal bicycle accident, Transportation Alternatives said the protected bike lanes here do not extend out at intersections such as the one where this deadly collision happened. The advocacy group says there are no measures in place to slow drivers as they turn. According to the group, at least 31 people have been injured on Fourth Avenue since 2022, including 12 bicyclists who were seriously injured. NYPD’s accident records show at least 37 incidents along the thoroughfare so far this year, with nine involving bicyclists. Many of those crashes were caused by driver inattention, failure to yield or improper passing or use of lanes.
At least 27 traffic deaths have been reported in Brooklyn so far this year, according to NYPD data. The neighborhood has also seen other bicycle accident fatalities. In 2019, 31-year-old Em Samolewicz was struck by a tractor-trailer on Third Avenue after she swerved to avoid being doored by someone getting out of a parked car. A year later, 31-year-old Clara Kang died on the same avenue when she was struck by a motorcyclist while biking home from her job at NYU Langone-Brooklyn prompting neighbors to call for better safety measures.
What Causes Bike Lane Accidents in NYC?
Bike lane accidents in New York City can occur due to a variety of reasons. One common cause is driver negligence (carelessness), where motorists fail to yield to cyclists while turning, merge into bike lanes without checking for oncoming bicycles, or open car doors without looking for approaching cyclists. Additionally, poor road conditions, including potholes, debris, or uneven pavement within bike lanes, pose hazards to cyclists.
Lack of visibility, especially during low-light conditions or inclement weather, increases the risk of collisions between cyclists and other road users. Bicycle accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage and internal organ injuries, or even death.
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 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.
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://www.brooklynpaper.com/locals-action-fourth-avenue-cyclist-killed/