Last year the number of pedestrians killed and injured on NYC roadways and streets declined from previous years in what many hoped was a sign of things to come. Unfortunately, that downward trend has not continued through 2013. In fact, New York is on track for a dramatic increase in pedestrian accidents over last year’s numbers. According to the New York City Police Department’s official statistics, fifteen people were killed in NYC traffic in April alone. That’s compared to just 12 at this time last year.
Though the three victim difference may not seem like much, the increase isn’t limited to the month of April. In fact, this latest batch of unfortunate motor vehicle and pedestrian fatalities has contributed to the significantly higher numbers of injuries and deaths for 2013 as a whole. Total figures for the city show that 56 pedestrians have died due to auto accidents since January. Over 4,700 people have been injured as well (up nearly 1,400 over last year).
Though that’s just a fraction of the 15,000 motor vehicle accidents reported in the city, those are scary numbers. It’s clear that the city streets are becoming more and more dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and responsible motorists alike. Additionally, the thousands of accidents are responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of medical expenses, insurance co-pays, and lost wages.
While the NYPD primarily collates these cold facts, officials have also collected information pertaining to the individual accidents in an effort to understand the contributing factors so that the driving and walking public may be more aware of the dangers right outside their doors. Sadly, it appears that the vast majority of these fatal and injurious accidents could have been avoided.
130 of the accidents involved excessive alcohol consumption. 58 incidents of “road rage” were cited as significant contributing factors. Driver inexperience accounted for nearly 240. However, the biggest contributing factor by far is driver inattention or distraction Over 2,200 of the serious auto accidents in NYC occurred because one or more drivers simply wasn’t paying attention to the road and their surroundings or on their cell phone or texting while driving. Innocent individuals are killed and injured every day on New York City streets and their families are left with mountains of medical bills, legal expenses, and more. The financial burden is simply tremendous. Often, insurance companies barely cover basic needs. Individuals need to understand that if they’ve been injured in an auto accident, they have legal rights and should seek the help of a NYC personal injury attorney in order to get their life back on track.
If you or a loved one has been injured in any kind of motor vehicle accident, whether as a pedestrian, bicyclist, driver or passenger of a motor vehicle, call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at or 212-385-1122 for a free consultation to learn your rights.