Elderly Woman Injured In Manhattan Box Truck Collision

Victim Reportedly Tripped In Crosswalk Before Manhattan Truck Accident 

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (October 21, 2024) – An 81-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Manhattan box truck accident by 59th Street and Avenue D.

New York City officials are saying that the collision took place around 10:00 a.m. on Monday. A woman was walking when she tripped in the crosswalk and then was hit by a box truck.

The driver of the box truck left the scene. It remains unclear if the driver knew that they hit anything.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. She was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Liability For Manhattan Box Truck Accidents

Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable to the hazards posed by motor vehicles. This is especially true for larger SUVs and trucks. According to National Public Radio, “Vehicles with higher front ends and blunt profiles are 45% more likely to cause fatalities in crashes with pedestrians than smaller cars and trucks, according to new research published Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.” Truck drivers should take a number of measures in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.

• Truck drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
• Truck drivers should slow down in areas with heavy traffic.
• Truck drivers should use their horns when necessary.

All truck drivers are expected to operate their vehicles with a great deal of caution in order to avoid causing accidents. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists, and domestic animals in the roadway. If a truck driver fails to slow down in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a civil claim. Cities can take a number of measures in order to prevent pedestrian accidents.

• Cities should install pedestrian bridges in certain areas.
• Cities should heavily enforce traffic violations that lead to accidents.
• Cities should ensure that all intersections are well illuminated.

Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a truck accident could extend beyond any driver. The company that owned a truck involved in a collision could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees, insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Any person injured in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Investigating Manhattan Truck Accidents

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that she is able to make a full recovery. This is the second time in just a few months that a person was injured after tripping and being hit by a vehicle in an NYC crosswalk. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Manhattan truck accident on Avenue D? Our team of truck accident attorneys is here to help you. 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.