In spite of the numerous improvements put in place by the Mayor’s Office and the NYDOT as part of the City’s commitment to the Vision Zero policy, the number of car accidents in New York City is on the rise. In fact, January saw the number of car accidents in New York top 17,000 for the first time in recorded history. And while the overall number of pedestrian accidents in New York City has dropped slightly, the number of people killed in crashes on city streets has jumped significantly.
In January of 2016, there were 899 pedestrian accidents in New York City–just three less than January of the previous year. Worse, the percentage of victims who didn’t survive their injuries dramatically increased.
Crash data collected since October of 2015 shows that 64 pedestrians have died in accidents in New York City. That’s a 48% increase of last year’s numbers and on-par with 2014 figures.
The data seems to suggest that the numerous “slow zones,” increased pedestrian refuges, and crosswalk bump-outs that the city has spent so much money on hasn’t really helped. These improvements, modeled after programs across the country and abroad were intended to help eliminate all traffic deaths over the course of a decade.
While there have been some signs of improvement (car accidents in New York City did drop between 2014 and 2015) the city streets are still dangerous–especially for pedestrians. But victims of pedestrian accidents in New York do have legal options available to them. Regardless of any criminal charges stemming from the accident, victims (or their surviving family members) can seek financial compensation for their pain and suffering, unpaid medical expenses and lost income, from the time of the accident into the future.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian, contact a New York City pedestrian accident attorney. The expert personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122.