Bicyclist Carling Mott Died In Manhattan Semi-Truck Accident By The Intersection of East 85th Street and Madison Avenue
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (July 31, 2022) – A woman riding a bicycle identified as Carling Mott was killed in a Manhattan collision with a tractor-trailer truck by East 85th Street and Madison Avenue.
New York City police officials are saying that the collision took place around 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday. Carling Mott was riding a Citi Bike when she suddenly fell off and was hit by a semi-truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. She was taken to the Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition but doctors were not able to save her.
Carling Mott was pronounced dead at the hospital. This collision took place after plans were scrapped to put a bicycle lane in place.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Manhattan Bicycle Accidents
Numerous intersections and streets in NYC can be particularly hazardous to bicyclists. According to the People Powered Movement, “In 2019, the five boroughs saw 18,510 collisions involving cyclists – 18,494 causing injury and 16 [fatalities]. Despite the fact that the city was under a lockdown for most of 2020, there were still 12,450 bike crashes in 2020.” Semi-trucks can be particularly hazardous to bicyclists for a number of reasons.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of bicyclists.
- Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and take a long time to stop.
- Semi-trucks have a wide turning radius and are much more likely to hit vehicles while turning.
Semi-truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Despite these high standards, many truck drivers become dangerously fatigued. Nearly 10% of truck drivers involved in a fatal collision reported feeling under pressure from work. According to the Centers for Disease Control, staying awake only 18 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% or higher.
Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians and bicyclists in the roadway. When a driver fails to yield to a pedestrian or fails to reduce their speed to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. If a truck driver goes past a yield sign without stopping, this may be considered prima facie evidence of their failure to yield. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
When a truck driver is negligent and causes an accident, they can be held at fault through a civil claim. The family of any bicyclist that is killed in a collision can seek aid through a wrongful death claim. It can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, truck companies will fight to avoid responsibility for any collision. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Manhattan Bicycle Accident
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Carling Mott. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family. It is our sincere hope that city officials will take action to prevent similar tragedies.
Do you need more information about a Manhattan bicycle accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
