A woman was killed and a man was injured in a hit-and-run collision when they were both struck by a driver, who officials say, was street racing in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. According to a WABC news report, investigators say three cars were racing each other on Utica Avenue, far exceeding the 25 mph speed limit, when one of the vehicles jumped the curb and struck the two victims who were waiting at a bus stop.
Ongoing Investigation
A witness told the news outlet that he saw the woman struck by the vehicle take
her last breath. The 20-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries while the 23-year-old man, who was with her, was hospitalized and in stable condition with abrasions to his legs. The driver of the vehicle that struck them jumped into another vehicle and fled the scene.
Community activists say that section of Utica Avenue near Eastern Parkway where this incident occurred is a straight shot downhill, and that it is a well-known spot for illegal street racing. Because traffic is light, vehicles come tearing down the street at high speeds, residents say. Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver in this case and haven’t made any arrests yet. The investigation is ongoing.
The Pandemic and Speeding
According to a recent Associated Press report, the latest data showing the number of highway deaths in 2020 was the greatest in more than a decade even though cars and trucks drove fewer miles during the pandemic. In New York state, the percentage of fatalities for which speeding was the primary cause as well as the total number of speeding tickets issued grew from January through June, compared to the year before the pandemic, officials said.
The report also said that in New York City, super cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis blazed down empty streets, with roaring engines disturbing residents trying to sleep and posed the risk of a major injury or even fatal crash. Speeding cars in New York City have particularly posed a serious risk of injury to pedestrians.
Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that higher vehicle speeds are strongly associated with a greater likelihood of pedestrian accidents and more serious injuries for pedestrians. Study results show that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. So, the higher the speed, the greater the risk of catastrophic injuries or death.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
A victim who has been injured by a hit-and-run driver should remember that he or she can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their 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. Victims and their families in such cases should retain an experienced personal injury lawyer right away to help protect their 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.
Injured victims of car accidents and pedestrian accidents by speeding or reckless drivers 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 lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they may be able to 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.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a 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.
For nearly 50 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/or 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.
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Source: https://abc7ny.com/brooklyn-crash-crown-heights-accident-drag-racing-fatal/10940097/