First Cyclist’s Death in 2015 called “Preventable”

The deadly bicycle accident in Queens claimed the life of Hoyt Jacobs on the evening of Saturday January 20th, just two weeks into 2015. The accident involved a privately owned garbage truck and occurred at the corner of Vernon Boulevard and 41^st Avenue.

It appears that the cyclist and the truck were both travelling in the same direction along Vernon Avenue when the truck made a hasty right turn, striking the cyclist and pulling him under the rear wheels of the vehicle. He was killed instantly.

Eyewitnesses say that Jacobs was wearing a headlamp on his helmet and would have been visible to the driver of the trash truck. Experts say that the lack of a continuous bike lane along Vernon Boulevard could have contributed to the accident. (At multiple points along the street the bike lane is interrupted by turning lanes and parking spaces.)

This bicycle accident in New York has renewed the efforts of City Council transportation chair Ydanis Rodriguez to mandate the addition of side guards to all large trucks operating within New York City, including privately and publically owned garbage trucks. The guards, Ydanis says, could reduce cyclists’ deaths by 61% as they have in London, England. NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg doubted the City’s ability to push such a measure through without State and Federal support.

Traffic safety advocates in New York disagree with NYC DOT’s official stance saying that the majority of bicycle accidents in New York City are preventable and many fatal accidents like the one involving Mr. Jacobs could be avoided altogether.

Regardless of the DOT’s position, any motorist who injures or cause the death of a cyclist, whether by impairment, recklessness, or simple negligence, should be held responsible and accountable for his or her actions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident while on a bicycle, contact a New York City bike accident attorney to discuss you case. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.