TAP TO CALLFor all of the criticism that NYC faces for its handling of accidents and its reconfiguring of streets and traffic patterns, they’ve largely been able to say, “But, it makes the city safer.” Officials have been able to point at data for the past several years and show that car accidents have actually decreased. But, that’s all about to change.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), both cyclist and pedestrian fatalities have climbed in the past year, a marked difference from years of recent past. According to the Gothamist, 176 pedestrians and cyclists were killed between July 2011 and July 2012, up from 158 the previous year.
Just in the past several months, we’ve seen numerous articles, blog posts, and news reports of the state of pedestrian and cyclist safety, frequently a matter of drivers pointing fingers at cyclists or vice versa. But if the numbers hold true, both sides may have some legitimate gripes. The Gothamist writes:
Already, Councilman James Vacca, the chairman of the City Council’s transportation committee, is telling the Times, “Certainly if we get this result next year, I think we have to look at many of the reconfigurations to see if they’ve been positive. We’ve been led to believe that things in the last several years were getting much better.”
The Times reports that the DOT typically compiles figures for the calendar year, so [DOT Commissioner] Sadik-Khan says she wants “to reconcile what’s going on.” However, she did admit that “it does look like there’s a rise” in traffic fatalities. According to the Times, the report also finds that “speeding, driving while intoxicated, and running red lights or stop signs accounted for a combined 54 percent of motorist or passenger fatalities.”
The DOT has recently introduced public awareness campaigns to remind pedestrians to pay attention when stepping into the street, and cab passengers to check for cyclists before opening their doors. To be sure, such initiatives are important, but what’s glaringly obvious is that the NYPD isn’t doing enough to enforce traffic laws or investigate “accidents” after they happen. According to the Mayor’s report, the number of moving violation summonses fell by nearly 15 percent from July 2011 through June 2012.
The city council has already proposed changes to how the NYPD handles accidents, specifically pushing for more members on the city’s Accident Investigation Squad. This could help accidents after they happen. But time will tell if the rising number of crashes has any effect on the city’s effort to prevent accidents from happening in the first place.
About Davis, Saperstein, & Salomon, P.C.
If you’ve ever been involved in an accident, you know how stressful the aftermath can be. From dealing with the police to talking with insurance companies, it can add serious stress to an already painful situation. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, the New York City accident attorneys with Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., may be able to help.
Contact our attorneys today to discuss what happened and your legal options. We can be reached at 1-800-LAW-2000.
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