Brooklyn Injury Attorney: What if a Truck Accident Hurts a Pedestrian?
One day around the middle of March this year, a teenager was badly hurt in a truck accident in the Bronx area. The U-Haul truck crossed an intersection amid a yellow light and hit the 17-year-old boy, who was on his way to school that morning. The impact of the crash sent the boy flying about 10 feet from the spot where it happened and left him critically injured.
Later on, police discovered that the driver of the truck, Efrain Rodriguez, stole the vehicle and was high on methadone at the time of the accident. Past records show that Rodriguez had at least 16 previous suspensions on his license. He also caused significant property damage on the way to the street where it happened and after the crash with the boy, which was followed by the truck’s collision with a parked car and the two vehicles’ crash into the adjacent salon. Rodriguez was charged with various offenses, including “criminal possession of stolen property, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation,” according to Gothamist.
Truck accidents like these are not so rare in a packed urban area like New York. According to the New York State DMV, there were 237 total large truck/pedestrian crashes in 2013. Mostly, these incidents resulted in non-fatal injuries (209 pedestrians), but there were 27 pedestrians who were killed in the accidents, too. A majority of truck accidents (single, 2-vehicle, or 3 or more-vehicle crashes) had dome human factors involved, such as driver inattention or distraction and failure to yield.
What to Do When It Happens to You
When you or someone you know was a pedestrian that got hurt in a truck accident, speak to a practiced Brooklyn injury attorney right away. The lawyer can discuss your rights as a victim and fight for these entitlements in court. You can also get a better understanding of the laws surrounding these cases and be guided on the best next steps to take to get compensation for the injury.
Like in any other case, the possible compensation will depend on the variety of factors, but among the most important is the severity of the injuries sustained. A pedestrian victim may claim from the truck driver’s insurance (if any) or file a legal complaint against the driver for the court to decide liability. A personal injury attorney in Brooklyn, NY who has an extensive background in these cases, such as Joseph Lichtenstein, can help you determine the legal issues or implications involved in your case. Your lawyer can also represent you during settlements or court litigation.
(Source: Teen Critically Injured After Being Struck By U-Haul Truck In The Bronx, CBS New York, March 13, 2015)