Pedestrian Dragged Several Hundred Feet Before Truck Driver Stopped By Onlookers
EAST HARLEM, NEW YORK (May 29, 2023) – A pedestrian has tragically died in an East Harlem flatbed truck accident along 135 East 12th Street.
New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning. A pedestrian was crossing the street when they were hit by a flatbed truck.
The pedestrian was dragged several hundred feet before onlookers were able to get the attention of the truck driver. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, the pedestrian died due to the severe nature of their injuries. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For East Harlem Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are often very complex events. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There are a number of steps that truck companies should take to prevent collisions.
- Semi-trucks should be periodically inspected and well maintained.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Truck drivers should be well trained and not pressured to complete their routes on unrealistic schedules.
All truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order 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. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The police report for the collision should be examined.
- A pedestrian accident attorney should be consulted.
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable and involve some amount of driver error. The family of any person that is killed in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Sadly, though, companies will often fight hard to deny liability 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 New York Pedestrian Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian that died in this collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an East Harlem truck accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. 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.
