Recent Queens Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident Proves Fatal

Hit and run accidents are on the rise everywhere and that includes New York too.

A recent pedestrian hit and run accident in our area took the life of a 29-year old Tribeca man. The victim was crossing a street in Forest Hills in the early evening when he was struck by a sedan which – according to witnesses – never even slowed down. With severe trauma to the head and body, the victim later died at the hospital.

The vehicle was identified and the driver later arrested.

Local residents are calling for changes and cited a years-long push to install speed bumps in the neighborhood. So far the city has denied the requests, citing too many cut-out driveways. Many drivers use this quiet neighborhood as a dangerous cut-through.

Hit and Run Deaths Are at an All-Time High

According to an AAA study, the number of hit-and-run deaths spiked by an alarming rate, 60% between 2009 and 2016, with the highest annual total of these fatalities – 2,049 – occurring in 2016. Pedestrians and bicyclists account for 65% of those fatalities.

A major factor in this dramatic rise is the increase in driver distraction, primarily due to the use of electronic devices. Pedestrians and bicyclists are distracted too.

But other factors are equally concerning, such as drivers who are impaired with alcohol or drugs and leave the scene in a panic. The driver may have been using electronics illegally while driving, for example using a handheld device to text or to make a call. Or the driver may be driving a vehicle that is not insured or not registered or may be operating while under license suspension.

Do Not Leave the Scene of an Accident

In New York, the law requires that you stop your vehicle and share identification and insurance information with any pedestrian, bicyclist or other driver involved in the incident. Leaving the scene of an accident – i.e., “hit and run” – can bring very serious consequences.

Getting a hit and run ticket in New York comes with a fine and/or imprisonment and/or license suspension. You’ll have points added on to your license and your car insurance may skyrocket. Note that the violation occurs when you leave the scene of an accident regardless of who was at fault.

If you witness a hit and run accident, call the police and convey as much information as you can including vehicle type, color and whether there was any visible damage.

Let Us Know If You Have Been Injured in a Vehicle Accident

If you or a family member has been harmed by a car accident, truck accident, construction accident, slip and fall or any other type of personal injury, please contact StolzenbergCortelli, LLC Attorneys at Law immediately. Please call us for a free consultation. Attorneys Howard Stolzenberg and Terrence James Cortelli, personal injury attorneys in White Plains, Nyack and New York City, will fight to secure justice for you and your family. You can reach us at (914) 361 – 4888 or contact us via the website.