During the last three days, six pedestrians throughout the city were hit by motor vehicles-four of whom were killed. The most recent death occurred yesterday at 8:30 a.m. when a 77-year-old woman was hit by a livery cab while attempting to cross the street at the intersection of Madison Ave. and 36th Street.
As the woman lay pinned under the car, eyewitnesses rushed to her aid and worked to free her by lifting the car up onto its side. Tragically, the woman suffered numerous and serious injuries including a major cardiac event and she was declared dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. The 49-year-old cab driver remained at the accident scene and was arrested by police and charged with "failing-to-yield to a pedestrian and failing to exercise due care."
The woman's death was preceded by two other pedestrian injuries and three pedestrian deaths over the weekend. In all five of these accidents, none of the drivers stopped. Just two months into 2016, city records indicate that already more than 900 pedestrians have been injured and 19 killed in traffic accidents.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has made pedestrian safety a key priority and, under his administration's Vision Zero plan, has pledged to reduce the number of pedestrians, drivers, and passengers who are killed in traffic accidents to zero. Last year, the administration seemed one step closer to this goal when, for the second consecutive year, "the number of fatal traffic collisions involving pedestrians in the city decreased."
Individuals and family members who have been injured or who have lost loved ones in a pedestrian accident may choose to take legal action. A successful personal injury or wrongful death claim can result in damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, disability, loss of consortium, funeral expenses, and loss of benefits being awarded.
