Reports suggest driver inexperience may have contributed to a deadly e-bike accident in Queens earlier this year. The final report concerning the e-bike and pickup truck collision was recently released and showed that the teenage driver behind the wheel of the truck at the time of the fatal crash veered into the bike lane in which the victim was riding.
The collision happened along a stretch of Honeywell Street in Long Island City. The 32-year-old victim was traveling north in a dedicated bike lane at around 7:30 in the morning when he was struck. Documents reveal that the truck was traveling in the opposite direction when the driver somehow lost control and crossed the yellow line. The e-bike rider was struck and thrown from his vehicle. EMTs arrived at the scene within minutes and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital but his wounds were too severe. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Pictures from the crash site show just how hard the pickup truck struck the e-bike—the front grill of the truck was smashed and the bumper cover was torn off, leaving the mangle e-bike trapped under the truck’s front tire.
While there are many complaints about the dangerous way e-bikes are ridden in New York City, in this particular case, it was clearly the fault of the driver of the truck when he crossed into the opposite lane of traffic.
Studies show that these newly-licensed individuals are 12 times more likely to be involved in an accident within the first month then they are after one year behind the wheel. However, the accident rate for young individuals even after that first year is still much higher than more experienced drivers.
If you’ve been injured by a careless or inexperienced automobile operator while riding in the city, contact an experienced e-bike accident attorney in New York City to discuss your case today. Call the legal professionals at The Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.