A commercial truck driver’s failure to yield caused a fatal bicycle accident in New York City earlier this month. 27-year-old Leah Sylvain was critically injured on Evergreen Avenue while riding her bicycle properly in a bike lane. She was struck by a commercial fuel truck driven by 52-year-old Joseph Cherry when he turned left, cutting across her path and causing the fatal crash. EMS crews arrived to find her bleeding on the street with severe head trauma. They rushed her to nearby Woodhull Hospital but were unable to save her life.
The driver of the truck stayed at the scene and was charged with careless driving and failure to yield.
Failure to yield is one of the most common violations cited by NYPD in fatal and non-fatal bicycle accidents in New York City. In some cases, the driver of the vehicle is distracted but in other cases, the driver is simply not paying attention or looking before turning.
Failure to yield is also fairly common in commercial truck accidents in New York City involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists. Because of the size of the vehicle, it’s harder for drivers to see innocent pedestrians and bicyclists around them. In certain situations, if a truck driver does exercise extreme caution before proceeding, an accident is sure to result.
Sylvain’s tragic crash was the fifth fatal bicycle accident in New York City this year and the fourth in Brooklyn. Most of these fatal bicycle accidents have involved failure to yield violations. Safety advocates say the most effective way to decrease these types of crashes is to ramp up enforcement and increase punishments and fines for drivers who cause these crashes.
If you’ve been injured by a distracted or inattentive driver while riding your bike, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Having an experienced New York City bicycle accident lawyer on your side is the best way to get the compensation you deserve. Contact the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel to learn your rights. Call 800-734-7338 or 212-385-1122 today.