A Big Apple Circus worker recently died in a Queens bicycle accident. The 39-year-old cyclist was riding down Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows when the driver of a car that was parked along the side of the road opened his door directly into the path of the cyclist, according to the NY1.
The cyclist slammed directly into the door. He was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.
The bicyclist was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Officers say that the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated. He has not been charged. Sunday’s circus performance was dedicated to their fallen circus member.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration‘s (NHTSA) most recent statistics, there were more than 600 bicyclists who were killed across the U.S. in traffic-related accidents in 2010. There were another 50,000 people who were injured in these accidents. Our Queens bicycle accident attorneys understand that bicyclist fatalities accounted for about 2 percent of all roadway fatalities for the entire year.
The 2010 statistics represent a 2 percent decrease from the previous year. Still, bicycle and pedestrian accidents are a primary threat in the city. It’s important to keep safe travel habits as a number one priority and to keep yourself as predictable and as visible as possible. When drivers can see you and can predict your movements, accidents are less likely. Being a proactive rider can help to keep you out of a potentially fatal accident.
In the state of New York, there were nearly 40 people who were killed in bicycle accidents in 2010. In our state, these accidents accounted for about 2 percent of all of the fatal traffic-related accidents that we saw during the year.
Throughout the summer travel season, bicyclists are warned to be cautious along our city’s streets. During this time of the year there’s an increase in the volume of vehicular traffic and with that increase comes greater risks for a potentially fatal accident, especially if you’re on a bicycle.
Bicyclists are also warned to stay sober. Just because you’re on a bike does not mean you’re good to go. According to the NHTSA, about a quarter of all of the bicyclists who were killed in traffic-related accidents in 2010 returned a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading of .08 or higher, meaning they were legally drunk.
If you’re a guy we’re sending an extra warning your way. In 2010, more than 85 percent of bicyclists who were killed were males. If you’re between the ages of 45- and 54-years-old you are in the age group that saw the highest number of fatalities.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan or in any of the surrounding areas, contact injury attorney Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free consultation to discuss your case. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Fatal New York Car Accidents Down; Still Too Many Deaths, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 6, 2012
Brooklyn Bicycling Accident Evidence Allegedly Overlooked by Investigators, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, January 24, 2012
