People who walk in the city tend to understand that they are encountering danger when they do so.  However, few if any people would foresee danger when they are standing in front of a police precinct and see an auxiliary police van approaching.  Tragically, one man found out that even that scenario involves danger, as he was hit and killed by a police van while standing in front of a precinct this morning in a Manhattan pedestrian accident.  Police are just beginning to investigate the situation.

According to reports, this fatal Manhattan pedestrian accident occurred at just after 11 a.m. this morning when a 55-year-old man was in front of the 5th Precinct building located at 19 Elizabeth Street.  For reasons yet to be identified, the man was hit and killed by a police van after he became trapped under the front axle of the vehicle.  The man's name was not released nor were any specific details of what led to the crash. 

New York Pedestrian Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we'd like to offer our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man who was killed, as losing a life in such a random and violent manner is always a tragedy.  In addition, this Manhattan pedestrian accident will now become part of the overall statistics regarding New York pedestrian accidents.  Every year, nearly 15,000 of these crashes occur, leading to nearly as many injuries and to more than 300 fatalities.

New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

Clearly, much more information would be necessary in order to determine fault in this Manhattan pedestrian accident, but if it turns out that the driver of the van caused this fatality, it could lead to the filing of a New York wrongful death lawsuit by the man's family against the city.  However, there would need to be additional steps taken before a full-fledged lawsuit could be filed.  It's possible that the city would simply settle the claim depending on specific facts regarding the case.

If you have lost someone you love in a crash, you need to seek the help of New York wrongful death lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of grieving families for many years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.