A 26-year-old woman has suffered fatal injuries in a hit-and-run car accident in Hamilton Heights, which occurred the night of March 29. According to a report on Gothamist.com, the woman was killed while walking on Amsterdam Avenue at West 141st Street – a stretch of roadway that the city’s Department of Transportation has been trying to make safer for two years. NYPD officials stated that the driver, a 27-year-old man, who left the scene of the fatal crash, has been arrested and charged with seven offenses including vehicular manslaughter, driving while impaired by drugs, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this victim’s family members.
One of the City’s Most Dangerous Roadways
Gothamist.com reports that since February 2013, there have been 549 car accidents on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th Street and162nd Street. In these traffic accidents, three pedestrians and a motorist have been killed; and 249 pedestrians and 84 bicyclists have been injured. In March 2017, the Department of Transportation presented a plan to improve safety at that corridor including a painted bicycle lane, a left-turn lane, curb extensions and safety islands.
That plan has yet to be approved. Interestingly, this fatal pedestrian accident occurred on a stretch of Amsterdam Avenue where local residents and safe streets advocates have demanded a redesign that “puts safety ahead of drive convenience.” Since the beginning of 2019, 43 people have been killed on New York City’s streets, which is a 20 percent increase over 2018.
Compensation in Hit-and-Run Cases
Under New York law, it is illegal to leave the scene of an injury or fatal crash. Often, we find that victims of hit-and-run accidents or those who have lost loved ones in hit-and-run collisions face a number of challenges including being burdened with significant medical expenses and other related costs. Hit-and-run victims often have no one to hold accountable, particularly when an arrest is not made or when the at-fault driver is not identified. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run crash, it is important that you take a number of steps including filing a police report, gathering evidence from the scene and getting prompt medical attention, etc. You should also contact an experienced New York City hit-and-run lawyer promptly.
When the at-fault motorist is not located, it is the hit-and-run victim who is left facing numerous expenses including those associated with the treatment and recovery of his or her injuries. Please remember if a hit-and-run driver has injured you, you can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of your auto insurance policy even though the driver has not been identified or through a quasi-state agency if there is no motor vehicle in the victim’s household. You definitely should retain an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer immediately in these situations, because these are tricky and complex cases with a lot of pitfalls.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Victims who have been injured in 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. 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. If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to guide you through what may become a complex process and help you maximize the compensation you can receive.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a car 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.
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: http://gothamist.com/2019/03/25/pedestrian_killed_amsterdam_avenue.php