Manhattan Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

New York police recently responded to an auto-pedestrian accident in Harlem. When they arrived, they found an older man on the ground who had been hit by a car. Sadly, he had already succumbed to his injuries. The driver responsible and the driver of another vehicle that was also impacted in the fatal accident both suffered injuries and were transported to an area hospital for care.

Witnesses to this event called it horrifying. They say that it happened at West 128th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard -- an intersection that is known by locals to be dangerous. At approximately 1 p.m., on July 7, a 71-year-old male driving a cab is said to have struck the victim -- a 64-year-old male -- as he was crossing the street. The taxi then struck another vehicle before coming to a stop. The driver of the second car was only described as a 27-year-old.

New York is home to a lot of people who choose to walk or ride bikes around the city rather than spend the money on automobiles. With so many pedestrians out and about regularly, one would think that drivers would already be hyperaware of their presence. Unfortunately, auto versus pedestrian accidents happen all too often. When a pedestrian accident does occur, the victim, if he or she survives, is left with physical and emotional scars that can affect various aspects of his or her life.

When hit by a car, physical injuries are expected. The human body simply is not built to withstand a hit from a 3,000 plus pound automobile fully. Some victims may recover from their injuries, while others may find their bodies will never be what they once were.

Impaired driving is a big issue in the state of New York. When someone is said to have been driving under the influence, most people automatically contribute such an action to alcohol use. However, there are quite a few other substances out there that can affect a driver's ability to operate his or her vehicle safely -- such as marijuana.

More states are legalizing marijuana, which has increased the number of drivers police have found operating vehicles while under the influence of THC -- the main active ingredient in the drug. Of course, many police officers have yet to be trained on how to identify a person who is high on marijuana. Right now, a blood test is necessary to prove an individual is driving while THC impaired.

Memorial Day weekend is typically a time for family get-togethers as the traditional start to summer kicks off. For one family in upstate New York the weekend took a tragic turn due to an accident that was caused by an alleged drunk driver. The accident took the life of three family members. A four-year-old girl remains in the hospital fighting for her life.

The accident occurred on Sunday morning as a van carrying as many as seven family members was traveling on Route 20A near Sheldon. The van was reportedly struck by a pickup truck that failed to stop at a stop sign. The force of the impact ejected several occupants of the van. Two women and a child were pronounced dead at the scene and four other people were injured and transported to an area hospital where three of them were treated and released. The 4-year-old-girl remains in the intensive care unit in critical condition.