An early morning ride quickly turned tragic in Queens Sunday when a motorcycle carrying two men went out of control and struck a barrier in the northbound lane of the Cross Island Parkway. David Wilson, a 27-year old resident of South Richmond Hill, was at the controls when the bike veered off course and struck an immovable barrier at a high rate of speed. Both he and his passenger, who is as yet unidentified, were launched from the back and sustained massive trauma.
By the time rescue workers arrived, Wilson had died but his passenger was still clinging to life. The man was rushed to Queens General Hospital with serious injuries. The hospital later acknowledged that the man was in stable condition and is expected to recover though there’s no indication of what sort of lasting injuries he made need treatment for.
This Queens motorcycle accident is just one of the 1,600 that will be reported to the NYPD this year alone. In 2012 (the last year there are complete statistics available) there were over 1,600 hospitalizations related to motorcycle accidents warranted severe enough to be reported to the police. That’s 30 accidents a week but doesn’t begin to account for the 4,000 ER total visits related motorcycle accidents (many of which go unreported). On average, 165 of those accidents result in fatalities to the motorcycle driver, passenger, or another individual involved in the crash.
This case highlights a disturbing trend in the media. While most coverage of motorcycle accidents centers around the driver, very little is often discussed concerning others affected by the same accidents. While it’s tragic that the driver died in this crash, the passenger-who had no control at the time-will have life-long emotional and physical scars.
On top of that, he will likely be saddled by hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of medical expenses-some or all of which insurance may refuse to pay. And the costs can be staggering to a family who depends on an injured individual for a paycheck. Indeed, the NIH recently released numbers that are shocking. Average ER visits for even minor issues can cost more than the average New Yorker’s monthly rent.
Often times, the only way for injured parties to get the compensation they deserve is to contact a New York motorcycle accident attorney and take their case to court. Meeting with qualified legal counsel immediately after such an accident is essential in order to secure the victim’s right to financial awards. If you or a loved one has been injured in any kind of motorcycle accident, contact an experienced attorney today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.