A 75-year-old man died and seven others, including a 9-year-old girl, were injured after a car accident involving several vehicles at the Kosciuszko Bridge in Queens the morning of Nov. 21. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the multi-vehicle crash occurred in Maspeth on the Brooklyn-bound side of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway approaching Exit 34 at Meeker and Morgan avenues. The Kosciuszko Bridge spans Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens.
Fatality, Injuries and an Ongoing Investigation
The vehicles involved in the crash included a pickup truck, a New York City “boro taxi,” an SUV and a sedan. Based on a preliminary report in the Daily News, NYPD investigators say a 46-year-old man driving the pickup truck triggered the collision by crashing into a vehicle in front of him. That vehicle then proceeded to hit two other vehicles, police said.
Eight victims from the four-car pileup, including the 75-year-old man and the 9-year-old child, were transported to an area hospital. The name of the 75-year-old victim, who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, has not been released yet. Police said the girl was unconscious at the scene of the crash, but regained consciousness at the hospital. She is reported to be in stable condition. NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad was at the scene. The 46-year-old driver of the pickup truck remained at the site of the crash, the Daily News reports. Charges were not immediately filed pending the ongoing investigation.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased victim. We wish all those who were injured in this horrific crash the very best for a quick and full recovery. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents — also known as pileups or chain-reaction crashes — are often caused by a combination of factors. Among the most common causes is distracted driving, where drivers fail to react in time to traffic changes while texting, eating, or other engaging in other distractions. Speeding is another significant factor in such collisions as high speeds reduce the reaction time of the driver, making it difficult for him or her to stop, particularly in heavy traffic or poor weather conditions.
- Tailgating increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions because in such situations, drivers have insufficient space to stop safely if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly. Weather conditions, such as rain, fog, or snow, can also contribute by reducing visibility and creating slick road surfaces that make it harder to control vehicles.
- Negligent (careless) driving is a leading cause of car accidents, and liability often falls on the driver responsible for being careless. Negligence (carelessness) occurs when a driver fails to exercise reasonable care, which leads to harm or damage. Dangerous driver behavior such as distracted driving, speeding, running red lights, tailgating, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs — all constitute forms of negligent (careless) driving.
In car accident cases, establishing liability can require proving that the negligent (careless) driver breached their duty of care and that this breach directly caused the accident and resulting damages. Evidence such as police reports, eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage, or accident reconstruction can help support your injury accident claim. Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers 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 car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car 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. 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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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/11/21/man-75-dies-massive-four-car-crash-kosciuszko-bridge-nypd/