A local man was hit and killed by a passing city garbage truck. According to the NY Daily News, the man allegedly tripped over some trash and fell right into the pathway of the passing vehicle. The 31-year-old resident was crossing East 84th Street in Manhattan at roughly 1:30 p.m. when he was hit by the Department of Sanitation vehicle.
The truck driver stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with officials. He is not being charged in the crash. Following the accident, the nearby pizzeria, Two Boots, was handed a summons for sidewalk obstruction. That obstruction was the pile of garbage bags over which the victim tripped. After the accident, the man was taken to the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead.
Our New York City pedestrian accident lawyers understand that those same garbage bags that the pedestrian tripped over before the accident were still sitting out along the sidewalk hours after the accident. An employee said that the construction of the nearby subway has forced their company to put these bags on street corners instead of in the front of their store where they usually put them.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 4,200 pedestrians who are killed along U.S. roadways in just 2010. Another 70,000 pedestrians were injured in these same incidents. In the state of New York, there were more than 300 people killed in pedestrian accidents in 2010. We were ranked as the fourth most dangerous state in the country for these kinds of accidents.
Sidewalk sales, sidewalk cafes and other instances in which a business’ operations protrude into the right-of-way can lead to liability on the part of the business owner in the event of an accident.
To help to eliminate these risks and to help to keep pedestrians safe, officials with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) are here with some simple pedestrian safety tips.
-Remember that drivers aren’t usually looking for you.
-Avoid darting out into the street. Remember that it takes a car about 125 feet to step when it’s traveling at just 30 miles per hour.
-Make sure there are no vehicles coming before pushing a stroller into the street.
-Remember that larger trucks need more room to turn. Don’t get in their way. Steer clear.
-You should also listen for oncoming traffic.
-Always cross the road by using a crosswalk or at a street corner.
-Whenever there is a sidewalk available — use it!
-Avoid walking at night. Drivers cannot see you as well during this time.
-Make eye contact with drivers before attempting to cross the road.
-Be extra careful when walking in inclement weather. In these cases, drivers may not be able to stop as easily.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free consultations to accident victims. Call 1-877-313-7673 to speak with someone about your case and to discuss your rights today!
More Blog Entries:
“LOOK” Campaign to Reduce Pedestrian Accidents in NYC, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 20, 2012
New 6 ½ Avenue in Midtown to Better Protect Pedestrians, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 11, 2012
