A fatal bicycle accident in New York City involving a charter bus late last year has resulted in a conviction for the bus’s driver. In 2017, a 36-year-old investment banker was riding a rented bicycle in Manhattan when he was struck and killed by a charter bus operated by Dave Lewis. An NYPD investigation into this fatal crash found that Lewis failed to yield the right of way to the victim and violated NYC traffic law. He was charged with multiple violations.
In a recent court decision, Mr. Lewis was found guilty and convicted of failure to yield (a misdemeanor). He was also convicted of a second charge-failure to exercise due care.
This bicycle accident case in New York is important not only because it is the first incidence of a fatality for the NYC bike share program Citi Bike, it also demonstrates the very real danger that buses and other large commercial vehicles pose to pedestrians and bicyclist every day.
While most bus drivers use extreme caution in the crowded city streets, this particular driver honked at the bicyclist and then attempted to squeeze his massive 50,000 pound vehicle around the rider. This blatant disregard for the victim’s safety is what led to the criminal charges. Even when drivers don’t make conscious decisions to act in an unsafe manner, inexperience, poor judgement, and simple mistakes can cost victims everything.
Regardless of the root cause of these types of accidents, drivers can often be held responsible and be made to pay financial compensation to victims they injure or the surviving family members of victims who don’t survive their injuries. Indeed, while the driver in this particular bicycle accident in Manhattan has been convicted of multiple violations, he may also be facing civil action on behalf of the victim’s family too.
If you’ve been injured by a careless, reckless, or aggressive driver while riding anywhere in NYC, you need an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in New York City to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call the experts at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.