Edgar Torres-Hernandez, 35, was killed in a Brooklyn bicycle accident after he collided with an SUV. According to the Brooklyn Paper, the fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue in Sheepshead Bay the night of May 26. Police said Torres-Hernandez was riding his bicycle along the Avenue when a 50-year-old driver in an SUV traveling northbound hit him.
The bicyclist was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. He remained in the hospital for four days and died from his injuries on May 30. The driver of the SUV remained at the scene, but was not arrested, the media outlet reported. NYPD is investigating this incident. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Edgar Torres-Hernandez for their tragic loss. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Lack of Bicycling Infrastructure
The Brooklyn Paper reports that Southern Brooklyn including Sheepshead Bay where this fatal bicycle accident occurred, lacks cycling infrastructure compared to the borough’s northern half. The article states that the roadway lacked any form of dedicated space for bicyclists and there wasn’t an alternative route with a bike lane for Torres-Hernandez within a five-block radius.
He was the 14th bicyclist to die so far this year in New York City according to the traffic accident data-tracking site Crash Mapper, which does not include the recent death of Adam Uster who fatally collided with the driver of a flatbed truck on May 1. According to Transportation Alternatives, a commuter advocacy group, this year has by far been the deadliest in the Vision Zero era for bicyclists.
In 2022, 17 bicyclists were killed on city streets and 4,647 suffered injuries. Safety advocates are calling for immediate action from city leaders and are asking Mayor Eric Adams’s administration to make good on their promises to install at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of the year.
Under a 2019 law, the city must add 250 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of bus lanes over five years with at least 30 miles for bicycles. Advocates are also urging state Assembly members to take a vote on Sammy’s Law — a legislation that would allow the city government to set its own speed limits as low as 20 miles per hour. The legislation is named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein who was killed by a speeding driver in Brooklyn in 2013.
Bicycle Accidents Caused by Negligence (carelessness)
There are a number of reasons why accidents occur at street intersections between cars and bicyclists. Many of these accidents happen because of a driver who is negligent or careless behind the wheel. Often, bicyclists are hit by drivers who are distracted, speeding or fail to yield the right of way. When a passenger vehicle or other vehicle such as a bus or truck and a bicycle collide at an intersection, it is important to look into the factors that led to it including, who had the right of way at the intersection. Under New York law, bicyclists have the same rights as drivers of other vehicles.
If you have been injured in a New York bicycle accident, you may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. In cases where negligence (carelessness) is involved, families of deceased bicycle accident victims can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer will be able to guide victims’ families through what is often a complex legal process.
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 51 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/cyclist-dies-sheepshead-bay-avenue-r/