Rash of pedestrian accidents in NYC show much work to be done

In New York City, there has been a recent flourish of pedestrian accidents which demonstrate how serious the consequences of a car crash can be. Over a dozen pedestrians have reportedly been killed in the Big Apple since Halloween, despite Mayor de Blasio’s ongoing efforts to completely eliminate traffic deaths in the city.

While these efforts have obviously not yet eliminated traffic fatalities, pedestrian fatalities are at least lower than they were in 2014. So far this year, a total of 109 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. Over the same period in 2014 there were 121.

Mayor de Blasio’s plan to eradicate traffic fatalities, known as Vision Zero, has so far involved the reduction of speed limits to 25 miles per hour, increasing law enforcement presence setting up speed cameras, and changing traffic flow for particularly risky streets and crossings. Police have been focusing particularly on offenses like reckless driving, speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, parking in traffic lanes and distracted driving.

Obviously, a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure that pedestrians are safe in New York. This is a challenge faced by cities, though. For pedestrians who are harmed in a car accident, the important thing is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for their rights to ensure they have the best possible chance of recovery. For surviving family members, also, having a legal advocate helps ensure they have the opportunity to seek out the compensation they deserve for the death of their loved one.