More so than many other places, New York drivers have to deal with far more than just other cars; they also have to worry about the many pedestrians and bicyclists that are ubiquitous in New York. Most drivers negotiate these challenges safely, but it only takes one mistake.
Those mistakes add up, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2012, for instance, more than 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in accidents with motor vehicles. That works out to more than a dozen people per day.
Injuries stemming from pedestrian, bicyclist and vehicle accidents are far higher. In 2012, 76,000 pedestrians suffered injuries in accidents involving vehicles. Meanwhile, in 2012, nearly 50,000 bicyclists also suffered injuries in accidents involving motor vehicles.
Two factors increased risks for pedestrians and bicyclists: alcohol and time of day. For pedestrians who died in an accident, more than one-third had a blood alcohol content level above the legal limit, while about one-third of the accidents took place between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. For bicyclists who died in accidents, nearly one-quarter had a BAC level above the legal limit, while about one-third of the accidents took place between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Like those injured and killed in the figures above, New York pedestrians and bicyclists who are injured (or if they are killed, their loved ones) have legal rights. These include filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. To learn more about how to pursue these options, New Yorkers may benefit from discussing their case with an experienced car accident attorney.
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, “Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Statistic,” accessed Dec. 2, 2014
