Jael Zhinin, 16, was killed and her younger sister, Leslie, 8, was critically injured, in a pedestrian accident that happened at a Queens street intersection. According to a news report in the New York Daily News, the girls were walking home after a trip to a nearby park when they were hit by a water delivery truck. The girls were struck while inside the crosswalk on 47th Avenue near 46th Street in Sunnyside the afternoon of June 26.
Ongoing Investigation
Family members say Leslie Zhinin is heartbroken for the loss of her sister, but survived with an injured left leg and a head injury. She is likely to be discharged from the hospital soon, they said. Police initially thought the victims were struck by a hit-and-run driver. However, the 28-year-old driver of the box truck was taken into custody a block away from the intersection.
Police are still investigating the circumstances of this fatal accident. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Jael’s funeral expenses and Leslie’s medical care and recovery, the Daily News reports. There was no crossing guard at the intersection at the time of this collision as the school day had ended. Police said the driver does not face criminal charges at this time. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Jael and Leslie for their tremendous loss. They will be in our prayers.
Pedestrians’ Right of Way in Crosswalks
In New York City, yielding the right of way to pedestrians is a legal requirement that is meant to ensure pedestrian safety. The law mandates that drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked, as well as at intersections where there are no traffic signals or where pedestrians have a “Walk” signal. The law applies regardless of whether the pedestrian is crossing legally or illegally, emphasizing the priority given to pedestrian safety.
Failing to yield to pedestrians can result in serious consequences, including fines and points on a driver’s license. Drivers must exercise caution and be prepared to stop whenever pedestrians are crossing or about to cross the street. This responsibility extends to turning vehicles, where drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks before making a turn.
Injuries and Compensation
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 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.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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 53 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.
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.nydailynews.com/2024/06/27/accident-that-killed-16-year-old-injured-little-sister-leaves-queens-family-devastated/