A 64-year-old man was fatally injured in a pedestrian accident after he was struck by a cab driver in 
Harlem. According to a CBS New York news report, the deadly collision occurred at the intersection of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and West 128th Street. The victim was reportedly thrown in the air by the impact. Police said the accident occurred the afternoon of July 7 when a 71-year-old livery cab driver who was heading south on Frederick Douglass Boulevard hit the man who was walking with a cane. Some reports said the cab driver was traveling in the wrong direction.
Another car driven by a 27-year-old was also struck. The driver and the cab driver were transported to a local hospital with injuries. People who live in the neighborhood said the intersection where the fatal crash occurred is a busy and dangerous one. Some residents said the intersection needs speed bump or some device to slow the cars down. Police said the cab driver is cooperating with officials. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
According to NYPD’s data, as of May 2019, 65 people were killed in traffic accidents – up from 50 during the same time in 2018. Nationally, pedestrian accident fatalities are at an all-time high. A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimated 6,227 pedestrians were killed in 2018, an increase of 250 from 2017. Pedestrian fatalities have increased 41 percent since 2008 and now account for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities, the association says.
Laws and Liability Issues
New York law requires motorists to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are walking in crosswalks or are crossing the street at an intersection. In this particular incident, based on some reports, the cab driver was going the wrong way when he struck and fatally injured the pedestrian. In such cases, it is important for law enforcement officials to look into a number of factors that might have contributed to the crash including, but not limited to, impaired driving, distracted driving, a medical condition, drowsy driving, etc.
In these types of pedestrian accidents, it is the pedestrian who suffers catastrophic or fatal injuries. This is due to the larger mass and speed of the vehicle involved. The impact may leave the victim with major, life-threatening injuries such as brain trauma, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, etc.
In accident cases involving livery cabs, the owner of the vehicle or the company that operates the cabs may be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Victims who have been injured in New York City pedestrian accidents may be able to 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 pedestrian 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. It is important to remember that pedestrian accident victims may be able to seek compensation for injuries or losses in a collision even if they were not walking in a marked crosswalk.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or 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 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. 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 medical malpractice 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://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/07/07/harlem-fatal-car-crash-man-killed-nypd/