A 59-year-old man in Greenwich Village was left in critical condition after he was struck by a United States Postal Service truck on the morning of Sunday, May 10, 2020.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:50 a.m., on 14th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan. According to the New York Daily News, the driver of the mail truck was backing up in order to avoid an approaching MTA bus. In doing so, he hit the pedestrian, who was immediately taken, unconscious, to Bellevue Hospital. The USPS driver remained at the scene.
The street was nearly deserted at the time of the accident, and most businesses were closed due to COVID-19. There were not many witnesses or surveillance camera footage for detectives to make use of. No charges have been brought as of yet; the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
We hope the victim is able to make a quick and full recovery.
Throughout March 2020 (the most recent data shown by New York City’s Vision Zero website), there were only three reported pedestrian fatalities citywide. Although COVID-19 has greatly reduced the number of traffic accidents in New York, Sunday’s incident proves they can still occur. Both pedestrians and drivers must always be vigilant in order to remain safe and prevent accidents.
All motorists, whether driving personal or commercial vehicles, have a responsibility to follow the rules of the road and provide a reasonable duty of care for pedestrians and other drivers. New York State’s website lists steps that both pedestrians and motorists can take to prevent accidents. In particular, drivers should:
- Stay alert, watching for pedestrians at all times
- Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked
- Avoid driving aggressively
- Follow the speed limit and always be prepared to stop
- Look carefully behind your vehicle before backing up
When motorists do not take proper precautions while driving and become involved in an accident, they may be found at fault for their negligence and could be legally obligated to compensate the victim for any losses. Additionally, there can be complications when the driver involved in the accident was driving a commercial vehicle, such as the USPS truck in the incident above. In these cases, the company that owns the vehicle may also be found vicariously liable for the accident.
When drivers breach their duty of care and drive unsafely, they can cause great harm to pedestrians. The victim may not only sustain life-altering injuries, but as a result, may have to pay expensive medical bills, become unable to return to work full-time, and suffer an overall loss of quality of life.
The pedestrian accident lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy understand how a driver’s negligence can completely upend a person’s life. We have extensive experience handling pedestrian accident cases, including those involving commercial vehicles. Notable results include:
- $32,756,156 record-breaking jury verdict for a 60-year-old veteran who was severely injured when he was struck by a reckless, impaired driver
- $13,500,000 record-breaking settlement for a 24-year-old woman in Suffolk County who was struck by a company-owned vehicle while walking home
- $5,000,000 settlement in a wrongful death case for the surviving family of a mother who was tragically killed when a garbage truck ran up onto the sidewalk and hit her
- $4,000,000 settlement for a 12-year-old girl who was struck by a vehicle while walking in a crosswalk
- $3,400,000 settlement for a 49-year-old man who had to undergo spinal surgery after he was hit by an NYC Parks Department vehicle while refereeing a youth basketball game
If you or someone you love is a pedestrian that has been injured in a car accident, whether with a commercial or personal vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Call 212-736-5300 or fill out our contact form to discuss your case in a FREE, no-obligation legal consultation.