Noach Klein, an 84-year-old man, was killed in a pedestrian accident in Brooklyn after officials said a man driving a van without a valid license struck him as he was walking across the street the evening of Oct. 29. According to a report in The Gothamist, the fatal pedestrian collision occurred when Klein and another 54-year-old man were crossing 18th Avenue near 49th Street. The pair were crossing with the green light in their favor, police said. After the collision, both men were transported to Maimonides Medical Center where officials pronounced Klein dead. The other man is said to be in stable condition.
Driver Charged in Fatal Crash
The driver, 38-year-old Jose Ramirez, remained at the scene and was charged later with unlicensed aggravated operating of a vehicle after police determined he was not registered or insured to drive in New York state. Police data show at least 164 pedestrians have been involved in collisions in the 66th Precinct so far this year, which covers the neighborhoods of Borough Park, Midwood and Kensington.
Pedestrian deaths have increased slightly in 2025 in this precinct. Klein is the fourth pedestrian fatality this year while there were two such deaths around this time last year. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Noach Klein for their tragic loss. We also wish the injured pedestrian the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Pedestrians’ Rights in New York City
In New York City, pedestrians have clearly defined rights. Pedestrians have the right of way at intersections and marked crosswalks, whether or not a traffic signal is present. When a “Walk” signal is displayed, pedestrians may cross safely, and motorists must yield. Sidewalks are designated for pedestrian use only, meaning vehicles, bicycles and scooters must not obstruct or drive on them. New York City law also requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic, school zones or senior centers.
Motorists have serious responsibilities to ensure pedestrian safety. They must yield the right of way when turning, avoid blocking crosswalks, and never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks — since those vehicles may be yielding to pedestrians. Speed limits in the city are strictly enforced, typically 25 mph unless otherwise posted, to minimize the severity of collisions. Drivers are also prohibited from using handheld phones or engaging in distracted driving.
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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company.
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.
For over 54 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 recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
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). 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. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
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://gothamist.com/news/van-driver-in-borough-park-kills-84-year-old-pedestrian-injures-another-police-say