A fatal bicycle accident in New York City claimed the life of an elderly woman earlier this month. The woman (who was reportedly in her seventies) was struck by an SUV on a stretch of East 14th street in Manhattan as the vehicle attempted to back into a parking space. The woman was alive but seriously injured and was rushed to nearby Bellevue Hospital but her injuries were too severe to overcome. She was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The intersection in which the bicyclist was struck consists of a service road that feeds onto 14th Street. While the road is angled to allow traffic to merge easily to the right, there is no signage stating that it is unlawful to turn left-as it appears the bicyclist may have been doing. However, while the intersection at which the crash occurred is confusing, individuals investigating the crash suggest that the type of vehicle involved may have played a bigger part in the collision that location.
SUVs, like the Cadillac that was involved in this latest crash, represent a disproportionate percentage of the vehicles reported in bicycle accidents throughout the city. Indeed, in 2019, SUVs were involved in 45% of all fatal bicycle accidents in New York City. So far this year (2020), there have been three deadly crashes all of which involved SUVs.
Regardless of the intersection’s configuration or the type of vehicle involved, the driver of the SUV had a duty to see what was there to be seen and to proceed with caution in the presence of cyclists and other potential victims (like pedestrians). Indeed, New York traffic laws are specifically written to place that responsibility on the shoulders of the driver.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a driver who failed to be aware of his or her surroundings, you need an experienced bicycle accident attorney in New York City to insure that you recover the compensation you deserve. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel today at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.