Although there is a truck route only two blocks away, many commercial trucks use West 55th Street in New York City. Truck accidents on this street that involve passenger cars, pedestrians or cyclists often result in fatalities that might have been avoided had the trucks used the nearby West 57th Street. One such a fatal accident occurred at an intersection on this route on a recent Thursday morning.
According to the New York Police Department, a 56-year-old cement truck driver and a bicycle rider traveled in the direction of the Hudson River when the truck operator turned right onto another street without yielding to the cyclist. The bicycle was stuck underneath the truck, and the victim was lying behind the truck when it came to a halt. The driver of the cement truck did not leave the accident scene.
When NYPD officers and emergency workers arrived at the scene, they found the victim unresponsive with severe bodily injuries and head trauma. Sadly, paramedics could not revive the victim, and they declared the cyclist dead at the accident scene. No charges were filed against the truck driver at the time of the crash.
Families who have lost loved ones in truck accidents may seek recovery of financial and emotional damages. The surviving family members of this cyclist can file a wrongful death lawsuit in a civil court. Going up against a trucking company could be challenging, and the help of an experienced truck accident attorney in New York City can be helpful. A lawyer can assist with establishing negligence that will be required by the court and help with determining whom to name as defendants. Typically, the truck driver and the owner of the vehicle can be held liable.
Source: gothamist.com, “Cement Truck Driver Fatally Strikes Cyclist In Manhattan“, Nathan Tempey, Dec. 15, 2016