Manhattan Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

On Sunday, June 21, police in New York responded to a car crash that left three people injured. Two vehicles were involved, as were two pedestrians -- who were both injured. Another person with an unknown connection to the collision was also hurt.

According to reports, at a little after 2 p.m., two vehicles collided at the intersection of East 53rd Street and 5th Avenue. Two pedestrians in the area were hit by the cars. They suffered unspecified injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Their current conditions are unknown. A third person was also taken to a medical facility for care, but it is unclear how he or she was involved in the event.

Driving on New York City streets can be quite the experience. Roads are often extremely crowded and frustrating to maneuver, and as such, many drivers, particularly truck drivers, have adopted overly aggressive driving habits to deal with traffic conditions. What are the signs of an overly aggressive truck driver, and what can you do if you've been injured by one?

Aggressive driving comes in many forms. For truck drivers, it may come in the form of speeding, tailgating, dangerous passing or lane changes, and failing to adapt to weather-related adverse road conditions -- among others. Why do truck drivers do these things? They may be easily frustrated, impatient, on a tight schedule or overly confident in their vehicle's abilities.

If you travel by foot on a New York roadway, you're obligated to adhere to pedestrian traffic laws and safety regulations. This might include using specially marked sections of road to navigate crosswalks or waiting for a pedestrian crossing signal to change before stepping into the road. Motorists, too, are obligated to adhere to traffic laws, of course, and are expected to be cautious and alert behind the wheel, particularly in areas where pedestrians are present. If a pedestrian accident occurs, a driver may be deemed financially responsible for damages if evidence shows that he or she was negligent.

City areas are typically high-traffic locations where there might be an increased risk for pedestrian injuries. Sadly, however, many pedestrian accidents are later determined to have been easily preventable were it not for driver negligence or recklessness behind the wheel. Such cases can be complex, and many involve additional parties besides a driver and an injured pedestrian when a collision occurred.

The New York Police Department and other emergency response personnel were recently called to the scene of an auto-pedestrian accident that left the victim with critical injuries. This event occurred on the Upper East Side the evening of Wednesday, June 10. Sadly, the victim ultimately died of his injuries. It is unclear if the driver will face charges for this fatal accident. 

According to reports, the victim -- a 29-year-old male -- was crossing Fifth Avenue at 97th Street when he was run down by the driver of a BMW. He was in the crosswalk when he was struck. First responders promptly arrived on scene and transported the injured individual to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of medical personnel, this young man succumbed to his injuries.