Our NYC Car Accident Lawyers Call for Accountability After Surge in Traffic Fatalities
As NYC car accident lawyers, we see firsthand the devastating consequences of reckless driving and inadequate enforcement. The latest Transportation Alternatives report confirms what we have long argued: New York City is failing to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and children from preventable crashes.
For years, we have fought for victims and their families—securing compensation for their injuries and losses—but legal remedies alone cannot prevent tragedies. The real solution lies in stronger enforcement, better infrastructure, and holding repeat offenders accountable before they cause harm.
Why Legal Accountability Matters
- Repeat offenders should not be on the road. The fact that 132 vehicles received 100+ speeding tickets—with two exceeding 500 violations—is an indictment of NYC’s failure to impose real consequences on reckless drivers. Many of these drivers have already injured or killed pedestrians. We have represented victims of these repeat offenders, and too often, the city’s inaction plays a role in these preventable tragedies.
- Intersections are still deadly. As attorneys, we frequently handle cases involving pedestrians hit at intersections with poor visibility. The report confirms that 90% of pedestrian fatalities at intersections occurred at locations without daylighting. The law requires drivers to yield, but poor design creates conditions where crashes are inevitable. The city must eliminate parking spots near intersections to improve visibility.
- Cyclists remain at risk. We have represented families of cyclists killed on NYC streets, and in nearly every case, the crash occurred on a road without protected bike lanes. The fact that 85% of cycling deaths in 2024 happened on streets lacking this critical infrastructure underscores the city’s failure to deliver on its promises.
Legal Solutions NYC Must Enforce
From a legal perspective, several policies must change immediately to hold reckless drivers accountable:
- License Suspensions for Recidivists – If a driver has six or more speed camera tickets, they should face a license suspension and mandatory driver education before regaining privileges. We have seen far too many cases where habitual offenders remain on the road until they kill someone.
- Vehicle Seizures for Chronic Speeders – If a vehicle racks up over 100 speed camera violations, it is clear the driver will not stop. The law must allow the NYPD to impound and seize these cars, as fines alone are ineffective deterrents.
- Stronger Civil Penalties for Victims – Families who lose loved ones to reckless drivers deserve stronger avenues for civil recovery, including higher punitive damages and faster access to justice.
- Holding the City Liable for Dangerous Road Conditions – If the city knows an intersection is deadly and refuses to fix it, they should be held accountable in court. We are already pursuing lawsuits against the city for failing to implement basic safety measures. More legal action will follow if these failures continue.
The Bottom Line: Action Must Replace Excuses
As NYC car accident lawyers, we know that no lawsuit, settlement, or verdict can bring back a lost child or undo the damage caused by a reckless driver. But we also know that legal accountability is one of the strongest tools available to force change.
If the city fails to act, more victims will suffer—and we will be here, fighting for them in court. But we would much rather see proactive safety measures that prevent these tragedies in the first place.
The time for excuses is over. New York must act now.