Woman Dies Days after Brooklyn Bicycle Accident

 A 55-year-old woman who was run over by an unlicensed drunk driver in Brooklyn has died from her injuries. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the woman died 12 days after this bicycle accident, which officials say, was caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. The woman was making her way through the Brooklyn leg of the NYC Century Bike Tour. She was stopped at a light on 12th Avenue near 39th Street in Borough Park with several other bicyclists when the man rammed into them. When first responders arrived, the victim was unconscious under the minivan that hit her.

Severe Internal Injuries
The bicyclist was rushed to an area hospital with a head injury, lacerations to her liver and abdominal bleeding. She lapsed into a coma and doctors had to remove her spleen, according to court papers. Officials said the driver’s blood alcohol level was 0.266, more than three times the legal limit. The man was reportedly looking for a parking spot when he struck another car and rammed into the group of bicyclists. He injured five people including the woman who died.
He admitted to officials that he had no license and had spent the night drinking margaritas and beer. He has been charged with drunk driving, vehicular assault and driving without a license. Around 6,000 bicyclists participated in the bike tour, which is organized by Transportation Alternatives, a group that advocates for pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
The Dangers of Driving Under the Influence
It is against the law in New York to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Under state law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration or BAC of 0.08 percent or higher. Drinking and driving can negatively affect crucial skills that are needed for driving such as judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination (motor skills), vision and reaction time. Here are few ways in which motorists can avoid drunk driving.
• Do not drink and drive. If you plan to consume alcohol, call a taxi or rideshare service.
• Use a designated driver and make sure he or she is sober as well.
• If you are impaired, remain at your host’s residence until you are sober.
• If you are hosting a party, take away the keys of anyone who appears to be intoxicated and shouldn’t be driving.
• If you are a party host, make sure you have food available. Stop serving alcohol well before people are ready to leave.
• Use public transportation if possible.
Driving under the influence is negligent driving. In addition to facing criminal charges and penalties, DUI drivers can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. In cases where a driver is uninsured, an experienced New York personal injury lawyer can help victims determine if they can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their own auto insurance policies. Victims may also seek compensation through a quasi-state agency if there is no motor vehicle in their household.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Bicycle accident victims may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. The family of a deceased victim may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault parties seeking compensation for damages including, but not limited to, lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a 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.
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.
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: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/cyclist-dies-days-drunk-driver-slammed-tour-group-article-1.3545213