A surveillance video taken outside a deli in Washington Heights shows its owner rushing to rescue a pedestrian after he was struck by an SUV that left the scene of the crash. According to a CBS New York news report, the incident occurred at the intersection of West 157th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights. The video captures footage of an SUV slamming into the 62-year-old victim as he was about to cross the street.
A Timely Rescue
The injured man can be seen lying under the vehicle as the deli owner runs over quickly to free him from the wreckage. The good Samaritan told the news outlet that he had to pull the victim out within a matter of seconds as the tires of the vehicle were very close to his head. The man was also losing a lot of blood, he said. Another witness said if the man was not pulled away, the driver might have backed over him.
After the initial crash, the driver of the SUV can be seen going in reverse into the intersection and then back toward the victim. Police also say the driver struck two other vehicles. Witnesses say the suspect eventually ditched the SUV and ran away from the scene. Police have yet to arrest the suspect. The victim who was hit was transported to an area hospital and is expected to survive. The nature and extent of his injuries is not known. The investigation is still ongoing.
NYC Hit-and-Run Crashes
According to data from the NYPD, over a period of five years, hit-and-run crashes citywide had increased 26% — from about 36,000 incidents in 2013 to 46,000 in 2017. While most of these crashes involved property damage and not injuries, in 2017, more than 5,000 hit-and-runs resulted in injury, which was a 14% increase since 2013.
At least one person was killed in a hit-and-run crash each week in 2017, according to figures provided by the New York City Council. It is also a matter of concern that not everyone who breaks the law and leaves the scene in an injury crash is arrested. NYPD data shows that only 9% of hit-and-run drivers who injured someone in New York City were arrested.
Seeking Compensation in Hit-and-Run Crashes
Nationwide, statistics also show that a vast majority of hit-and-runs are caused by negligent (careless) drivers who are speeding or violating the rules of the road. Such drivers can be held financially responsible for a crash and the injuries caused, whether or not they are arrested and/or charged. If a hit-and-run driver has injured you, please remember that 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.
In such cases, the at-fault driver (when identified) may face charges and penalties. In addition, he or she can be held financially liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. You should retain an experienced personal injury lawyer right away to help protect your legal rights. A family who has lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car 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 49 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 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/2020/09/06/washington-heights-hit-and-run-surveillance-video/