Terri Valenti, 60, was killed in a pedestrian accident after she stepped off an MTA bus and was fatally struck by an electric bicycle. According to a report on Gothamist.com, Valenti was on her way to work when the collision involving the electric bicycle occurred. The bus stop that Valenti used at North Elliott Place is located next to a busy bike lane on Flushing Avenue that shares sidewalk space with pedestrians, the article states.
On the morning of Oct. 6, a 41-year-old man riding the bike with a 39-year-old female passenger, crashed into Valenti who died from her injuries a few hours after the incident, police said. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Terri Valenti for their tragic loss.
E-Bike Was Illegal, Officials Say
The e-bike in question was made by Movcan and is advertised as being able to travel around 30 mph, Gothamist reports. DOT officials said they are reviewing the bike lane for potential safety improvements. Officials also said any e-bike that is capable to going at that speed must have a license plate and be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bike that struck Valenti was not registered with the DMV.
Her death comes as law enforcement and city regulators struggle to rein in an increasing number of unlicensed motorbikes that delivery workers rely on and whose popularity is also surging among other commuters. E-bikes that are capable of doing 30 mph or more can result in fines, confiscation, or other penalties if operated on public roads without proper authorization.
Faster e-bikes can also be dangerous for pedestrians because their higher speeds reduce the rider’s reaction time and increase stopping distances. In crowded areas in particular, it can be difficult for fast-moving e-bikes to stop in time to avoid a collision. Also, when an e-bike travels at 30 mph or more, the impact of a crash can cause serious injuries to both the rider and the pedestrian.
E-bikes are often quiet. So pedestrians may not hear them approaching, especially in noisy city environments. Many sidewalks and shared paths are not designed for high-speed vehicles, which increases the risk of accidents. Collisions between pedestrians and e-bikes have the potential to result in major injuries that can result in lifelong disabilities, or even fatalities.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident or 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. If you have been injured, it is in your best interest in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for your injuries, and definitely before any insurance company.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should 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.
For over 54 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 $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. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). 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. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
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.
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Source: https://gothamist.com/news/woman-killed-by-illegal-e-bike-in-brooklyn-was-beloved-colleague-at-nyc-elevator-company