A Queens woman was killed while crossing the street late last month. 61-year old Nancy Ventura was crossing College Point Boulevard mid-morning on January 22nd–just one block from her home–when she was struck and killed by a cement truck. There are conflicting reports as to whether this latest commercial truck accident in Queens could have been avoided.
It appears that the cement truck was either travelling down College Point Boulevard or perhaps turning onto that street from nearby 15th Avenue when it struck Mrs. Ventura. Rescue crews arrived and took the victim to a nearby hospital but she did not survive her injuries.
Police questioned the driver of the cement truck but no charges were filed at the time and, in a statement to the media, an NYPD spokesperson said that he did not expect any to be.
Drivers of these massive vehicles have limited visibility from their raised cabs. However, after an accident, truck drivers in New York, City don’t generally admit to not seeing pedestrians walking in front or beside their vehicles. However, neither the size of the vehicle nor the difficulty of maneuvering it absolves a driver from their responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe and proper manner. Not only pedestrians but other motor vehicles are also not safe from inattentive truck drivers. Other truck drivers sometimes use the size of their vehicle to run roughshod over smaller vehicles.
If an investigation reveals that a driver’s negligence contributed to the victim’s injuries, the driver and truck owner could be held liable . Victims of truck accidents in New York or their surviving family members would be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you or a loved one has been struck by a commercial truck on New York streets, contact an expert New York City truck accident attorney today to discuss your case confidentially. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.