Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

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Amanda Servidio vigile invitationTonight, the family of Amanda Servedio, along with members of Bike and Brew, Families for Safe Streets, and Transportation Alternatives, will gather to honor Amanda’s memory with a vigil and ghost bike installation, followed by a memorial ride. Amanda, an avid cyclist and active Bike and Brew member, lost her life when a pickup truck, engaged in a high-speed police chase, collided with her as she rode her bike through Queens. This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern that has turned the 114th Precinct into an epicenter of reckless high-speed chases on residential streets.

In Queens, the 114th Precinct has seen 38 police chases this year alone—a staggering number for a largely residential area. These pursuits are often initiated on quiet neighborhood streets, placing lives like Amanda’s at extreme risk. The lack of regulation and accountability for these chases has created an epidemic of reckless endangerment in Astoria, where police should prioritize public safety, especially on streets heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.

While the NYPD patrol guide dictates that officers terminate pursuits when the danger to the public outweighs the need for apprehension, these guidelines seem far from effectively enforced. Amanda’s death painfully underscores this issue—officers pursued a suspect with a staggering record of over 80 speed- and red-light violations, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed a known repeat offender to remain on the roads. The tragedy reflects a disregard for policies meant to protect lives, as the NYPD’s patrol guidelines about high-speed pursuits remain removed from public versions of the guide, further obscuring transparency.

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New York Police Chase Accident LawyerA tragic police chase in Astoria, Queens, on Tuesday night claimed the life of a cyclist when a driver, fleeing from NYPD officers, fatally struck her. The driver, who was attempting to evade arrest for burglary, was speeding along 34th Avenue before hitting the cyclist on 37th Avenue. This marks yet another fatality resulting from the surge in police chases under Mayor Adams’ administration, prompting concerns about the NYPD’s policies regarding high-speed pursuits.

As NYPD chase accident lawyers, we understand the devastating consequences of reckless pursuits in densely populated neighborhoods. In this case, the police pursuit resulted in not only the senseless death of a cyclist but also intense public outcry about the necessity and safety of such actions.

In New York City, where traffic is already chaotic, engaging in high-speed chases in residential areas is a recipe for disaster. The aftermath of this chase, in which the suspect continued to evade police while an innocent cyclist lost her life, raises the question: Was it worth it? As advocates for victims of road violence, we firmly believe that no property crime, such as burglary, should justify endangering lives in this manner.

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intersection of Westchester and Commonwealth Avenues where the cyclist was fatally struck by the pick up truckA 66-year-old bicyclist was fatally struck by a pickup truck in the Bronx at the intersection of Westchester and Commonwealth Avenues on Saturday. Emergency Medical Services rushed the cyclist to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was tragically pronounced dead.

The driver of the pickup, a 24-year-old man, remained at the scene following the accident. While police have indicated that no criminality is suspected, it has been reported that the pickup truck lacked front plates, which raises potential legal concerns about vehicle compliance.

The Increasing Risks for Cyclists in NYC

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Location of the deadly Brooklyn Bike Accident on Union Street and Lynch StreetOn Sunday morning, Luis Mendez, a 46-year-old cyclist, was struck and killed by a van driver on Union Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Can Homer, was allegedly operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driver’s license. This devastating event highlights the serious and ongoing issue of road safety for cyclists in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn.

The Legal Ramifications of Bicycle Accidents in Brooklyn

When a cyclist is injured or killed in an accident, the legal landscape can be complex, but it is crucial for justice to be pursued. In this case, the driver, Can Homer, has been charged with multiple serious offenses, including vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and driving without a license. These charges carry significant legal consequences, and the pursuit of justice for the victim and his family will likely involve a thorough investigation and litigation process.

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Bicycle accidentYesterday morning, the Upper West Side of  Manhattan witnessed two disturbing incidents where cyclists were struck by vehicles within 20 minutes of each other. These accidents, which occurred at Broadway near 108th Street and Central Park West near 106th Street, highlight the constant dangers cyclists face on New York City streets. If you’ve been involved in a similar accident, understanding your legal options is crucial. Here’s what you need to know to protect your rights and pursue justice after a bike accident.

First Incident involving a bicyclist struck by a vehicle: Broadway at 108th Street

At approximately 8:30 a.m., a 64-year-old cyclist was struck by a vehicle while riding southbound on Broadway. The driver, instead of staying to help, fled the scene after offering a brief apology. The injured cyclist was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with injuries to his arm and leg. The incident is currently being investigated as a hit-and-run.

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Juraed Umedjon was killed in a bicycle accident in BrooklynCyclist deaths in New York City have reached alarming levels, with 2023 marking the highest number of fatalities in 24 years. Despite Mayor Eric Adams’ promises to make the city safer for cyclists by building 300 miles of protected bike lanes during his first term, the city has only constructed 58 miles so far. This shortfall has left cyclists increasingly vulnerable on the city’s streets, as evidenced by the recent tragic incidents that have claimed the lives of several riders.

Just last week, a 16-year-old cyclist, Juraed Umedjon, was killed by a truck driver on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. This marks the 15th cyclist death this year and the 12th child to lose their life on New York City’s roads in 2024. The intersection of Ditmas and Coney Island avenues, where the crash occurred, is notorious for its dangers. Despite being a Vision Zero priority zone since 2015, the area has seen little in terms of safety improvements. The promises made by Mayor Adams to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists have yet to materialize, leaving dangerous roadways like Coney Island Avenue largely unchanged.

The failure to build adequate protected bike lanes is not just a matter of missed targets; it is a matter of life and death. The recent death of Juraed Umedjon, along with the injuries to his fellow riders, underscores the urgent need for action. Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safer streets, has highlighted that more children have been killed so far in 2024 than in nine of the last ten years. This is a clear indication that the city’s current approach is insufficient.

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truck in NYCThe New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking a significant step towards making our streets safer and more efficient with the introduction of two new delivery microhubs beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). These hubs, part of a broader plan to establish 20 such zones citywide, aim to transform the way goods are delivered in the city, significantly reducing the number of large trucks on our residential streets. This initiative is not only about streamlining deliveries but, crucially, about enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists and preventing truck accidents, a concern that truck accident lawyers in New York City often deal with.

Reducing Truck Traffic for Safer Streets

The microhubs at Meeker and Kingsland avenues in Greenpoint and Park and Washington avenues in Clinton Hill will serve as transfer points where packages are moved from large trucks to smaller, more agile delivery vehicles like cargo bikes. This shift is expected to drastically cut down on the number of large trucks navigating through dense residential areas, which has been a major concern for pedestrian and cyclist safety.

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Ghost bike showing locations of previous NYC deadly bicycle accidentsAs personal injury lawyers serving the Queens community, we are deeply saddened and concerned by the recent tragedy that occurred on August 5, 2024. A cyclist was struck and killed by a truck driver at the intersection of 34th Street and 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens. This unfortunate event marks the 148th traffic fatality in New York City this year, with 42 of these deaths occurring in Queens alone. These statistics highlight the ongoing dangers that cyclists face on our streets.

The cyclist was riding in a protected bike lane, a crucial link between the Queensboro Bridge and Queens Boulevard. However, the protection ended at the intersection, leaving the cyclist vulnerable. This incident underscores the inadequacy of current infrastructure, which often relies on temporary measures rather than permanent, concrete solutions that could offer true protection.

Elizabeth Adams, Interim Co-Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, expressed the collective grief and frustration poignantly: “We are heartbroken and outraged to learn that a truck driver struck and killed a person biking in Sunnyside today. All New Yorkers have a right to get where they’re going safely, and our city’s leaders failed to protect this bike rider today.”

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Bicycle accidentAs bicycle accident lawyers in New York City, we have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of unsafe cycling conditions on our streets. A recent data analysis on Bedford Avenue by Replica underscores the urgent need for a protected bike lane, which would not only enhance safety but also benefit the local residents and businesses in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill.

A significant portion of the thousands of cyclists who traverse Bedford Avenue daily are local residents commuting to homes, shops, and workplaces within the neighborhood. This debunks the myth that street safety projects cater primarily to non-residents. The data, compiled by Replica, highlights that 56% of these cyclists are people of color, and 45% end their trips in Bed-Stuy or Clinton Hill. Furthermore, 60% of these trips conclude at residential locations, while 29% end at retail spots, demonstrating the reliance of local cyclists on this corridor.

The push for a protected bike lane has garnered substantial support from local businesses. Forty-one businesses along Bedford Avenue between Dean and Flushing have signed a letter backing the project. McKendree Key, founder of the Artshack ceramic studio, emphasized the safety concerns, noting that the current bike lane is frequently obstructed by vehicles, posing risks to the many children and adults who visit the studio each week.

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Brooklyn location of the fatal bicycle accidentOn Tuesday morning a cyclist was fatally injured in a collision precipitated by a suddenly opened car door in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The impact sent the cyclist into the path of an oncoming Hyundai Elantra, resulting in catastrophic injuries that led to his untimely death. The accident occurred a block away from another fatal crash less than 12 hours prior.

As bicycle accident lawyers deeply entrenched in the fight for NYC cyclists’ rights and safety, these two accidents underscore a critical and ongoing issue within our urban infrastructure and legal systems.

While the driver of the Elantra remained at the scene and an investigation is underway, the legal journey ahead for the victims’ families will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges. In cases like these, a bicycle accident lawyer plays a crucial role in navigating the complexities of the legal system, advocating for the deceased’s rights, and ensuring that justice is served. This includes thorough investigations to establish liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and if necessary, litigating to secure compensation for the victims’ families.

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