An investigation into a fatal bicycle accident in New York City late last month has revealed that the 33-year old cyclist was killed when he “collided with the rear tire” of a tractor trailer truck. The truck was likely off-route and travelling city streets illegally. While the details of the bicycle accident in Park Slope are still unclear, some reports say that the truck passed the bicyclist causing the collision.
This marks the fourth fatal bicycle accident in New York City this year.
33-year old James Gregg was killed when a tractor trailer rolled over him. The truck, owned by National Retail Transportation, was on a stretch of road not designated as a truck route. The fatal bicycle accident occurred along Sixth Avenue near Sterling Place at around 8 AM. Under New York City regulations, trucks longer than 55 feet are not allowed on city streets without a permit. Even then, the load must be “non-divisible” (such as construction beams and pre-fab structures.) Box trucks hauling loose cargo, such as the one involved in this latest fatal bicycle accident in New York, are not allowed off-route.
Eyewitnesses report that the driver was wearing earbuds or perhaps a Bluetooth headset at the time of the accident. Further investigation will have to determine when the truck driver was distracted when the truck struck and killed the bicyclist.
Statistics clearly show that the majority of bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles are caused by the driver, not the rider. When a driver’s negligence contributes to a bicyclist’s death or injuries, the victim or their surviving family members can seek financial compensation for pain and suffering, unpaid medical expenses, lost wages and funeral costs along with lost financial support into the future in the event of a fatality.
If you’ve been injured while cycling in the city, contact an expert New York City bicycle accident attorney immediately. Call the professional personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at or 212-385-1122 today for a free consultation to learn your rights.