Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a State Assembly Member from Queens, was injured in a pedestrian accident in Jackson Heights that left her with a broken arm and bruises. According to a report on Streetsblog.org, Gonzalez-Rojas said she was on her way to meet friends the night of Jan. 4 when she was hit by a driver in the crosswalk at 78th Street near 35th Avenue. The driver was heading west on 35th Avenue when he made a left turn on to 78th Street. The vehicle struck Gonzalez-Rojas knocking her to the ground.
She was assisted by passersby. Gonzalez-Rojas said the driver was turning at a slower speed, which is probably what prevented the crash from turning fatal. Gonzalez-Rojas suffered a broken left elbow, Streetsblog reported. We wish Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Dangerous Street Intersections
She said the crash reminded her of others in her constituency who did not make it alive out of pedestrian accidents such as 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun who was struck and killed last February by a driver at an Astoria intersection. That intersection, like the one where Gonzalez-Rojas was struck, suffered from poor visibility highlighting the need for more “daylighting,” which refers to clearing the corners of parked cars. When vehicles are parked at the intersection, there is reduced visibility for the pedestrian as well as the driver, she said.
Gonzalez-Rojas also said she is determined to push her colleagues in Albany to pass Sammy’s Law. This legislation will allow New York City to set speed limits below the current 25 mph standard. According to QNS.com, in 2023, 256 people died in traffic accidents citywide. While this number is down from the 261 accident fatalities in 2022, Queens was the only borough to see a 25% increase in traffic accident cases — from 68 in 2022 to 85 in 2023.
Failure to Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks
Failing to yield the right of way in a crosswalk often results in serious injuries or even fatalities. In New York City, pedestrians generally have the right of way in crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked. According to the law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in these areas, and it is illegal for motorists to pass other vehicles that have stopped at a crosswalk.
Impairment, inattention and/or distraction tend to be factors that are cited in such cases where a driver fails to see a pedestrian who is crossing at an intersection. When this occurs, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Some of the common injuries suffered in these types of accidents include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal organ damage, etc.
Compensation for Victims
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost future income, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should also 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.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle 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 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We 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. 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, 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://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/01/07/queens-pol-recovering-from-broken-arm-bruises-after-driver-strikes-her-in-crosswalk