A pizza delivery rider was seriously injured in a bicycle accident in New York City earlier last month. The man was riding down Delancey Street on The Lower East Side of Manhattan at around 6 PM on the evening of February 9th when he was struck by a Honda Accord. Witnesses phoned the accident into 911 and EMTs arrived within minutes to find the 40-year-old victim alive but unresponsive. They rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
The driver of the car—a 21-year-old—fled the scene of the crime on foot only to return some time later after having what appeared to be a crisis of conscience, complaining of wrist pain. The driver was immediately arrested and charged with multiple crimes including assault, reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident.
It’s very difficult for victims to get the compensation they deserve in the vast majority of hit-and-run bicycle accidents in New York City as the drivers and vehicle owners involved are often not identified. Even with the proliferation of security and traffic cameras (as well as personal recording devices like dash cams) a significant number of these crimes go unsolved.
Thankfully, in this case, the driver chose to do the right thing and returned to face justice. That also means that the victim now knows the identities of the owner and driver of the vehicle of the vehicle from whom he can pursue financial compensation for his pain and suffering and lost time from work. In addition, under New York’s no-fault law, the bicyclist will able to apply for no-fault benefits from the insurance company for the car that hit him which will cover the hospital and medical expenses related to the accident.
If you have been injured by a negligent driver while riding in the five boroughs, contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney in New York City straight away. The legal professionals at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel can help. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.