Man Riding Electric Bicycle In Rochester Killed In Car Accident With Police Vehicle By West Bear Street and Liberty Street
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK (December 20, 2023) – A man riding an electric bicycle has tragically died in a Rochester car accident with a patrol vehicle by West Bear Street and Liberty Street.
Rochester police officials are saying that the collision took place around 1:00 a.m. on Monday. A 25-year-old man was riding an electric bicycle when he was hit by a patrol vehicle.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. He was taken to Upstate Hospital with critical injuries.
Despite life-saving measures, he was later pronounced dead. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Rochester Police Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “2021 marks the second consecutive year of increasing deaths involving motor vehicles. Deaths increased 11% in 2021 following an 8.3% increase in 2020. In 2021, 46,980 people died in motor-vehicle crashes compared to 42,338 in 2020 and 39,107 in 2019.” Police vehicles can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians for many reasons.
- Police officers often speed as they are responding to emergencies.
- Police officers are often distracted by their onboard computers.
- Police officers often work at odd hours when pedestrians may be less visible.
Police officers tend to have a great deal of immunity when they are involved in collisions. However, the officer must have been responding to an actual emergency with their lights and sirens on. When a police officer is not responding to an emergency, they must obey the rules of the road like every other driver. If a police officer fails to slow down to avoid hitting a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any police vehicle accident.
- Video footage from the officer involved should be reviewed.
- Medical records related to the crash should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable. They often involve drivers that are speeding or distracted. Sadly, though, police departments will often work hard to deny liability if one of their officers is involved in a collision. The family of any person that died in a car accident with a police vehicle may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating New York Bicycle Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man that died in this Rochester collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should speak with investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of this victim’s family.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Rochester bicycle accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for their negligence. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
