Study: Children Living Near Housing Projects at Greater Risk for Accidents

A new study by Transportation Alternatives shows that vehicles are the No. 1 cause of death among New York children. Those who live near housing projects are at an even greater risk. According to a report in Gothamist, East Harlem and the Lower East Side are hot spots for fatal motor vehicle crashes involving children. The study takes into account accidents involving pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles. Children in East Harlem make up about 43 percent of accident victims, while children who live on the Upper East Side make up less than 15 percent of accident victims.
The study doesn’t explain the exact reason for the greater number of projects kids involved in these accidents, but it does point out there may be more speeding drivers and a larger population of children in these areas. Activists in the area say there is a need for New York police to make the streets near public housing projects just as safe as other streets in the city. Transportation Alternatives reported that the streets near these housing projects should be considered as school zones to curb excessive speeding on the part of drivers.
According to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there were 315,377 traffic accidents in 2010. Of those, 258,988 were reported to police. Statewide, there were 1,119 fatalities last year and 134,151 injury collisions. Government agencies are required to ensure all roadways, highways, and expressways are kept safe for motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and other users. This includes making sure a roadway is free of debris, has proper lighting, signage, and that intersections and crossings have clear visibility. An intersection that is frequently a hot spot for traffic accidents could be considered a hazard. If it is found the agency responsible for maintaining the roadway did not take any action to make it safe, that agency could be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result of that hazardous roadway condition.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York traffic accident, the experienced personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in 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: The Gothamist