Driver Fleeing Police Seriously Injured Cyclist In Astoria, Queens By 35th Avenue and 29th Street
QUEENS, NEW YORK (July 15, 2024) – A cyclist has been critically injured after being hit by a vehicle fleeing the NYPD in Astoria, Queens.
New York City police officials are saying that the incident took place early on Wednesday. The police attempted to pull over a vehicle, but the driver took off.
The vehicle ended up striking a male cyclist. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
The cyclist was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Queens Car Accidents
Speeding remains one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “Speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, killing 12,151, or an average of over 33 people on a typical day. The total number of fatal motor-vehicle crashes attributable to speeding was 10,922.” Several other factors could contribute to a car accident.
- Driver distraction
- Inclement weather
- Driver intoxication
- Poor road conditions
- Driver fatigue
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. To that end, no driver is permitted to operate their vehicle faster than what would be safe given the prevailing conditions of the road. During periods of heavy traffic or inclement weather, drivers may need to slow down well below the speed limit. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a cyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The police report for the incident should be collected.
It can be hard to know what to do after a bicycle accident. Victims are often left with very serious injuries and may need to take extensive time away from work. It is also common for victims to have high medical bills. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. Any person injured due to the negligence of another driver may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help After A Bicycle Accident
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the cyclist injured in this crash. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a bicycle accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys is 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. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
