Pedestrian Accidents

Published on: July 24, 2015

New York pedestrian dies in hospital after being viciously struck by an angry hit and run driver in a brutal act of “road rage”

A pedestrian died in the hospital after being struck by a hit and run driver with whom he just had an argument in Queens, NYC. 40 year old Aron Aranbayev, a well known jeweler, was getting dropped off on 71st Ave near 110th street in Forest Hills Sunday night around 11:00 pm when the driver who was stopped just behind him apparently got angry because he had to wait for him to clear the street and got out of his car to yell at Aranbayev. The driver got back in the car, backed up and then in an act of rage intentionally ran down the pedestrian and fled the scene. Aranbanyev suffered serious head trauma and died one day later in the hospital. Read more in The New York Daily News.

The intersection where the pedestrian was struck by the hit and run driver, source: Google map

Published on: July 24, 2015

As part of the Zero Vision Initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries in New York City, Queens Boulevard nicknamed “the Boulevard of Death” is getting a $100 million makeover

By GGCRBHS&M

Since 1990, 185 New Yorkers died in traffic accidents on Queens Boulevard, mostly pedestrians but also many bicyclists. Yesterday New York Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference in Queens to announce that the “Boulevard of Death” would now become the Boulevard of life and that a $100 million redesign will be implemented to make this dangerous road safer for Queens residents. The project will include additional crosswalks and safer crossing for pedestrians, protected bike lanes, expanded medians with green plants and intersections redesigned to decrease speed and deter reckless driving. The first phase started yesterday and will target a dangerous 1.3 mile stretch of the boulevard located between Roosevelt Ave and 73rd Street in Woodside. 6 people died, 36 suffered severe personal injury and 591 others suffered minor injuries in crashes in this specific area between 2009 and 2013. Read more on ABC New York

Queens Boulevard Redesign Project, Source: New York City Department of Transportation

Published on: July 20, 2015

A pedestrian with crutches suffered serious personal injury after being hit by a bus in New York

By GGCRBHS&M

A pedestrian with crutches was crossing the street in front of Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan when he was hit by a bus. According to the bus driver, the victim “lost his balance and ended up under the bus”. The victim was transported to the hospital in serious condition. The bus driver wasn’t charged. Another pedestrian who just happened to fall under a bus in N.Y.C. This is a classic statement by the driver that we have seen many times. Read more in the NY Post

Published on: July 15, 2015

The NYPD are still looking for a hit and run cyclist who seriously injured a 67 year old pedestrian in Manhattan last month

By GGCRBHS&M

The police are hit and run cyclist looking for a cyclist who struck a 67 year old female pedestrian on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and fled the scene of the accident leaving the victim lying on the road in critical condition.

The bicycle accident happened on June 9th as the 67 year old woman was crossing the bike lane at the intersection of First Ave and E. 87th Street.

The police are still looking for the reckless bicyclist and recently released a video showing the man riding away after he struck the woman.

Continue reading →

Published on: July 10, 2015

Two pedestrians suffered severe personal injury in an accident involving a truck and a car in New York City

By GGCRBHS&M

Two pedestrians were seriously injured in an accident between a car and a truck in Queens, NYC, on Tuesday. Two women, ages 47 and 50, were walking on a sidewalk near the intersection of Northern Blvd and 162nd St. in Murray Hill when a SUV was struck by a Long Island Jewish Hospital truck while turning from Northern Blvd onto 162nd St. The SUV jumped the curb and hit the two women. One of them was pinned under the car and her head smashed on the ground. The two women were taken to the hospital. They were seriously injured but in stable condition. Read more in the NY Daily News

Published on: July 3, 2015

A pedestrian who was trying to cross the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx, NYC, died after being hit by a car

By GGCRBHS&M

A 29 year old male pedestrian died in a car accident in New York City last Saturday night. For some unclear reason instead of using the nearby pedestrian overpass, Caje Dawkins decided to walk across the Bruckner Express Way near Stratford Ave, half a mile from where he lived. As he was trying to cross the busy highway he was struck by a SUV . The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene of the accident. Read more in the New York Daily News

Published on: July 3, 2015

A 21 year old pedestrian was fatally hit by a hit and run driver in Queens, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

The police are still looking for a hit and run driver who struck a pedestrian last Saturday around 12:30 in Queens. 21 year old Betty Jean DiBlasio was crossing Ditmars Blvd near 19th Street in Astoria when she was hit by a Chevrolet Impala. The driver sped away leaving the young woman lying on the pavement with a severe head injury. She died later at the hospital. Read more in the NY Daily News.

According to the Vision Zero Queens Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, 16% of Queens pedestrians fatalities happen between 12:00 and 6:00 am though less than 4% of pedestrian activity takes place during these hours. 75% of Queens pedestrian fatalities are caused by dangerous drivers choices such as speeding, failing to yield to pedestrians, red light running, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.

Published on: June 19, 2015

Following the death of 8 year old Noshat Nahian whose family is represented by our personal injury law firm, The New York State Senate passed the Gianaris bill, new legislation that stiffens penalties for motorists who injure and kill people while driving without a valid license

By GGCRBHS&M

A bill that makes it a felony for drivers to kill or injure others while driving without a license was passed yesterday by the New York State Senate. The bill was introduced by state Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) following the death of Noshat Nahian, an 8 year old pedestrian who was on his way to school when he was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer driven by an unlicensed driver. Our partner, personal injury lawyer Anthony Gair (picture) who is in charge of the case commented: “This is a very important bill and long over due. In this tragic case, all charges against the driver were dismissed except for driving without a licence for which he paid an $85 fine. This is outrageous in a case in which Noshat was in the crosswalk with the right of way and easily visible at the time the tractor trailer turned left striking him. Hopefully the law will also discourage commercial carriers from hiring unlicensed truck drivers.” Read more in the Times Ledger

Published on: June 18, 2015

The monthly number of pedestrians who died or who suffered personal injury in a traffic accident in New York City was at its lowest in April while the number of deaths and injuries related to bicycle accidents remained high

By GGCRBHS&M

5 pedestrians died and 696 suffered personal injury in April in New York City compared to respectively 8 and 854 in April 2014 and 12 and 904 in April 2013. Pedestrian fatalities have been declining since the beginning of this year and reached their lowest in April. The total number of pedestrian fatalities since the beginning of the year was 28 compared to 39 for the same period of 2014 and 55 for the same period of 2013. Since the beginning of the year there was also a decrease in the number of pedestrians who suffered personal injury in a traffic accident in NYC.

2 people died and 300 were injured in a total of 300 bicycle accidents in New York City in April compared to respectively 1, 306 and 382 in April 2014 and 0, 288 and 358 in April 2013. The number of cyclists fatalities and injuries remains elevated in the City.

Even though there was an unusually high number of 10 motorist deaths last April the total number of traffic fatalities in New York City since the beginning of the year is down compared to the same periods of 2014 and 2013.

Continue reading →

Published on: June 17, 2015

New York Bus Drivers’ Union initiated a work slowdown this morning to protest a new Zero Vision Law that makes it a misdemeanor for drivers to strike pedestrians or cyclists with the right of way.

By GGCRBHS&M

In New York every year several pedestrians and cyclists die and many others suffer personal injury after being struck by an MTA Bus. In many of these accidents investigation shows that drivers were negligent and failed to yield or failed to exercise due care. Since the beginning of the year a few bus drivers were arrested after a new Vision Zero Law made it a misdemeanor for drivers to strike pedestrians or cyclists who have the right of way. TWU Local 100, the bus drivers Union is against this new law and would like bus drivers to be exempted from it. This morning TWU local 100 launched a work slow down on 181st Street in Washington Heights between 7:00 am and 9:00 am to protest the law.

The flyers handed out to bus drivers by the Union (see picture) said “DO NOT TURN UNLESS THE INTERSECTION IS CLEAR!”. Isn’t that what bus drivers are supposed to do to keep NYC streets safe?

Read more in the New York Post and on Streetblog