2019: Bad Year for Pedestrians & Bicyclists in New York

After reaching a record low at 199 in 2018, crash fatalities in New York increased to 214 in 2019. Traffic fatalities were gradually decreasing every year since 2013. Last year was the first year since Vision Zero was implemented in 2014 that fatalities hiked from one year to the other. Although deaths are on a global declining trend, the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes in New York is on a rising trend.

New York car crash injuries reached a record high in 2019 at more than 6,000 for the first time. These crashes include victims involved in all types of motor vehicle accidents, including bicyclists and pedestrians. More specifically, 29 bicyclists, 122 pedestrians, 17 motor vehicle passengers and 57 drivers were killed in 209,291 auto accidents in New York City in 2019. Although the overall number of crashes was significantly lower than the 3 previous years, fatalities were higher.

Bicyclists Are at the Greatest Risk

Bicyclists in the streets of New York remain the only category of users on New York’s road who continue to experience a rising trend of crashes, injuries and fatalities. After reaching a record low at 9 in 2018, cyclists reached a record high at 24 in 2019. As a result of the surging numbers, Mayor de Blasio announced a new bicycle safety plan called the Green Wave last year. The plan involves:

• to build 30 miles of protected bike lanes in the city annually
• to improve intersections design
• to deploy NYPD enforcement to protect cyclists
• to create a truck safety task force
• to develop safety policies and to continue the outreach and education program with Vision Zero campaign educating drivers on bicyclists safety.

What To Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident

You may take every step to try to avoid an accident, but given the statistics, you may become a victim despite your efforts to avoid it. As such, it is important that you are prepared and know the steps to take in the event of an accident.

• Check for injuries. If you or someone else involved is seriously injured, call 911.
• Move to a safer area, if possible.
• Exchange information and documentation with all parties involved in the crash.
• Get the contact information of any eye witnesses to the accident
• Take pictures of the scene of the accident.
• Seek medical, even if you don’t feel any immediate symptoms. Symptoms of certain injuries may not surface
• until days after an accident.
• Call an experienced NYC accident attorney to protect your legal rights.

Contact Our New York Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in an accident in New York City, you need to immediately contact an experienced New York City accident attorney to protect your legal rights and get you the full compensation that you deserve. For more information or to consult with an experienced New York City accident attorney, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1-516-908-9792.