A Brooklyn bicyclist was fatally struck by a private sanitation truck last month, January 17, in Long Island City, Queens. Tragically, this was the first cyclist to be killed by a vehicle in 2015.
According to the New York Police Department, the 36 year old male victim was struck at the intersection of 41st Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City around 7:15 p.m.
The sanitation truck, traveling northbound on 41st Avenue, was making a right turn onto Vernon Boulevard when it hit the victim. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. The driver of the truck remained at the scene and the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is continuing their investigation.
As part of his Vision Zero plan, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has ordered the installation of truck-guards, which fit between the front and rear wheels of trucks and prevent anyone hit from falling under the vehicle. The guards are estimated to cost about $3,000 per truck. Mayor de Blasio has begun to retrofit more than 200 city trucks with protective guards to help prevent such fatalities
According to the mayor’s office, trucks make up only 3.6% of the vehicles on city streets but account for 32% of cyclist fatalities and 12.3% of pedestrian deaths in collisions. However, according to data provided by the New York Daily News, regions which have widely adopted the implementation of the truck guards have seen a 61% decrease in pedestrian-truck fatalities. Such areas include, Boston, Portland, and England.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a bicycle accident, contact our experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Ernest Holzberg and Associates. Securing effective legal counsel can result in the award of damages to compensate victims for medical bills, lost salary, pain and suffering, and lost future earnings. Call at (212) 391-1139 to schedule your free consultation.
