Since New York is so busy, there will be frequent car accidents. Many will simply result in damage to the vehicle and no one will be injured. Those who are in these accidents and who avoid serious injuries are lucky. However, some of the worst kinds of car accidents in a large city involve pedestrians. As vulnerable as they are, there can be broken bones, head injuries, long-term damage and even death. Compounding a pedestrian being hit by a car is when it is totally unexpected. People in this type of crash should know their rights to a lawsuit after injuries and the loss of a loved one.
An evening accident between a vehicle and seven pedestrians led to the death of one and injuries to the others, according to recent reports. The accident occurred in Lower Manhattan not long before 7 p.m. According to the investigation, a Toyota Sienna being driven by a 70-year-old man went out of control and backed into fruit carts and hit the pedestrians. The man apparently thought he was putting his foot on the brake and hit the gas instead.
He was given several citations, including failure to yield to pedestrians, not exercising due care, unsafe backing up and for driving his vehicle onto the sidewalk. He is not believed to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A man said to have been between 45 and 55 years of age was killed. Two others suffered critical injuries. The investigation into the pedestrian accident is continuing.
For a pedestrian, there is no defense and nowhere to go when a vehicle is heading straight at them as they are walking. Oftentimes, these accidents are in crosswalks or are intersection accidents when vehicles do not stop as they are supposed to. Even more dangerous are the accidents in which a vehicle goes out of control and veers straight toward people who mistakenly believe they are safe on the sidewalk. With the medical costs, lost wages, lost companionship and an uncertain future, having legal help is vital to attempting to receive adequate compensation to cover all that was lost. A law firm that understands the ins and outs of a pedestrian accident can investigate the case and help the victims attempt to pursue a legal filing.
