Dangerous New York Intersections and Motor Vehicle Accident Rates
Pedestrians and bicyclists in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and other NYC boroughs must constantly be aware of the hazards posed by their close proximity to cars, trucks and buses on city streets. A bicycle or motorcycle is no match for the mass of another vehicle when a driver fails to heed a stop sign or walk signal, or fails to yield right of way when merging or turning.
New York Department of Transportation statistics underscore the particular risks present at New York City’s many urban intersections, even those featuring the most basic safety upgrade: the stoplight. In urban locations within New York, nearly one third of all motor vehicle accidents were at one-to-four lane intersections that have a traffic signal in place. New York City alone has almost 12,000 signalized intersections.
Because the human cost of such accidents is so high, including spinal cord injuries, brain damage, knee surgery and shoulder surgery, improving safety should remain a top priority. One encouraging solution has been the Red Light Camera Program, which was first introduced almost two decades ago in New York City, the first program of its kind in the U.S.
Installations of automated cameras that capture high-resolution license plate images from cars that ignore red lights have been shown to reduce infractions by 40 percent. At the 150 intersections throughout New York City where such equipment has been installed, this common sense measure has prevented the heartache of a serious personal injury or wrongful death for untold New York families.
A New York Personal Injury Lawyer Can Investigate the Circumstances
NYC pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists are at a heightened risk at intersections because they have lower visibility and are not well protected in the event of a collision. In the aftermath of any motor vehicle accident, two distinct sets of facts must be assessed: evidence that indicates who was at fault, and thorough records of the extent of injury and likelihood of a full medical recovery.
An experienced NYC personal injury attorney can help injury victims and surviving family members understand their legal options and prospects for recovery. Prospective clients should be aware that most law firms handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that plaintiffs pay no attorney fees unless they receive compensation for their injuries or other losses.