A 77-year-old man was killed in a fatal bicycle accident in New York late last March. The Queens man was killed when his bicycle hit was what officials listed as a “road obstruction” near the intersection of 40th Drive and 95th Street in Corona. The accident happened around 11:15 in the evening leading investigators to suspect that visibility played a part in the collision.
Details from the crash scene show that the bicyclist was thrown from his machine, landing head-first on the pavement. When EMTs arrived, they found him suffering from severe head trauma. They rushed him to nearby Elmhurst hospital but he was later declared dead.
While this many seem like a tragic accident and nothing more, the true nature of this fatal bike accident in New York depends on what exactly the “road obstacle” was. If the obstacle was debris or something that should not have been in the road (such as construction debris or equipment that was not removed), that could place the legal liability for the victim’s death on whoever left the object in the road. Or, If the “object” was a defective stretch of road (a pothole, an uneven manhole cover, etc.) and city officials knew about the defect prior to the collision but hadn’t down anything to rectify the issue or protect passersby, that could place the liability on the city.
In cases such as those listed above, determining liability is essential for the surviving family members of the victims. This is why you would need an experienced attorney. Doing so could lead to significant financial compensation for their loss—including compensation for the loss of future financial support.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash while riding anywhere in the city and you think someone else’s negligence or carelessness has played a part, you need to speak with an experienced bicycle accident attorney in New York City as soon as possible. Contact the legal professionals at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel, PLLC. Call 800-734-9338 OR 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.