NYPD Tow Truck Was Making Right Turn Before Fatal Collision in Fort Green, Brooklyn
FORT GREEN, NEW YORK (October 26, 2023) – A 7-year-old boy has tragically died in a Fort Green, Brooklyn NYPD tow truck accident by North Portland Avenue and Myrtle Avenue.
New York City police officials are saying that the incident took place around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. A child was attempting to cross the street with his mother.
Witnesses have said that the boy was on his scooter. An NYPD tow truck was making a right turn when it struck the young boy.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, the boy died due to his injuries.
A full investigation into the Fort Green collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For New York City Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian collisions have become increasingly common across New York City. According to PIX 11, “New York City is the deadliest city for pedestrians in the United States […]. New York City ranked the highest among U.S. cities with 1,260 pedestrian deaths between 2011 and 2020, followed by Los Angeles (1,133 deaths), Phoenix (717 deaths), Houston (647 deaths) and Dallas (501 deaths).” City officials have proposed a number of solutions to help reduce pedestrian fatalities.
- City officials have proposed redesigning dangerous intersections.
- City officials have proposed reducing speed limits on certain streets.
- City officials have proposed pedestrian islands and sidewalk extensions.
- City officials have proposed improved lighting at dimly lit intersections.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and domestic animals in the roadway. When a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting pedestrians, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a collision could extend beyond any driver.
If a tow truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. This might be a private corporation or it could be a municipal entity. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a tow truck operator may have been transporting a vehicle or person when they crashed. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records related to the crash should be preserved.
- Work records for the driver involved should be sought.
- Surveillance footage of the crash should be examined.
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable and involve some amount of driver error. Drivers may simply fail to check their blind spots before turning into a pedestrian. The family of any person that is killed in a pedestrian accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating New York City Pedestrian Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the boy killed in this Fort Green collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this intersection safer so that other tragedies can be prevented.
Do you need more information about a Fort Green, Brooklyn pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims and fighting to make our city safer for all pedestrians. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
