Young Manhattan woman dies after car jumps curb
As we know all too well, you don’t have to be in a vehicle to be injured or killed in a car accident. Here in Manhattan, where many people walk to their destinations or at least to public transportation, negligent and reckless drivers can pose a danger to pedestrians — even when those pedestrians are not doing anything wrong.
Earlier this month, three young women were hit, one of them fatally, when a motorist jumped a curb at the corner of East 49th Street and 2nd Avenue on Manhattan’s East Side. The three women were all in their early 20s. The Manhattan woman who succumbed to her injuries almost a week after the accident was 24.
The 2004 Mercedes-Benz reportedly pinned the victim against a light pole when the driver ran onto the curb as he was driving on 2nd Avenue, going southbound. He told law enforcement that he was forced to make the move in order to avoid another vehicle that had cut him off in traffic.
No charges have been filed in the accident, which occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. However, law enforcement is still investigating.
As anyone who lives or works in the area knows, the sidewalks are packed with pedestrians in the late afternoon and early evening hours. Of course, we now have the addition of tourists enjoying the final weeks of summer here in the city. There’s little, if anything, that pedestrians can do if a vehicle suddenly drives into their path.
Vehicle-pedestrian injuries can be particularly severe to the pedestrian. Even if they are fortunate enough to survive, they may face months, if not years, of medical treatment, physical therapy and the inability to work. That’s why it’s essential for victims and their families to have the guidance of an experienced New York personal injury attorney who can determine the appropriate amount of compensation to seek in order to cover these financial burdens as well as other damages.
Source: ABC 7 New York, “Police identify young woman killed when car jumped curb on east side of Manhattan,” Aug. 18, 2015
