Traffic fatalities in New York City fell 7 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to a news article in The Wall Street Journal. Pedestrian deaths in particular dropped from 148 to 101. However, more drivers, bicyclists and motorcyclists were killed in accidents, a report released by Mayor Bill de Blasio stated. Safety advocates with Transportation Alternatives said there is much more work to be done especially in terms of installing more bike lanes and speed cameras in school zones.
Vision Zero Plan
Mayor De Blasio launched the “Vision Zero,” an ambitious, 10-year effort to get the city down to zero traffic fatalities. Since the program began, there has been an overall 28 percent decrease in traffic deaths and a 45 percent decline in pedestrian accident fatalities, the report states. The city lowered speed limits, redesigned a number of dangerous roadways, closed more areas of the city to car traffic and beefed up enforcement of traffic laws. The mayor has urged state legislators to expand the city’s speed camera program, an increase in fines for violations that are caught on camera and make laws to suspend registrations on vehicles that repeatedly speed in school zones or run red lights.
Recent Fatal Pedestrian Accident</strong
The issue of pedestrian safety in the city remains in focus after two children were fatally struck and killed in recent weeks by a car while walking in a crosswalk in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn. This was an intersection that had long been considered dangerous for pedestrians. The children, ages 4 and 20 months, were killed in the March 5 crash and their respective mothers were injured. The driver, a 44-year-old Staten Island woman, said she had a seizure at the time of the incident.
However, the license plate on the car involved in this tragic crash had been cited four times for running red lights and another four times for speeding in school zones since July 2016. The Wall Street Journal did its own analysis of city records, which showed thousands of repeat speed and red-light violators. However, the current state law makes it possible for these repeat violators to escape any type of penalty or punishment.
As New York City pedestrian accident lawyers, we hope legislators will take the necessary steps to hold negligent drivers accountable. While drivers who cause pedestrian accidents due to their recklessness or wrongdoing may be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses, tougher laws should prompt them to use greater caution while on our roadways.
Some of the steps that can be taken to prevent these tragic accidents include not driving while impaired, putting away cell phones and other electronics and focusing on the road, not driving while drowsy, following the rules of the road, yielding the right of way to pedestrians, etc.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Pedestrian accidents may cause severe injuries that have a long-term or even lifelong impact on the victims and their families. Injured victims of pedestrian accidents can seek compensation from the at-fault motorist for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injury, disability, loss of livelihood, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages as well.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a car crash caused by a distracted or negligent 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 46 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.
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 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.
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Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-traffic-fatalities-fell-in-2017-by-7-report-says-1521848322