Traffic in New York is always challenging, and anyone who is on or near the roads in the city is always encountering some degree of risk.  However, most would assume that they'd be safe standing in a bus stop station, even in New York.  Tragically, that proved not to be the case last week when a chain-reaction New York car accident involving a van and a livery cab left one man dead and six other people in the area at the time injured.

According to authorities, this New York car accident occurred on Tuesday when a livery cab being driven by 57-year-old Pedro Marte clipped a van that made a sudden and illegal U-turn in the eastbound lanes of Kingsbridge Road near University Avenue.  Mr. Marte tried to avoid the van that suddenly changed direction, but was unable to and hit the rear right side of it.  The collision sent the livery cab careening into the nearby bus stop.  Marcelino Adraneda, 76 was at the bus stop and was killed when he was pinned up against a wall behind the stop.  Two other people had their legs severed as a result of the collision.  Neither Mr. Marte nor Randolph Belle, the driver of the van, had alcohol in their system.

New York Car Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we'd like to send our condolences to the family of Mr. Adraneda.  To lose a life in such a sudden and random manner is truly tragic, and we also hope that those who suffered gruesome injuries are able to overcome the challenges that await them.  In addition, this incident will only add to the overall statistics regarding New York car accidents.  Every year, more than 1,200 people are killed and approximately 187,000 people are injured in these occurrences. 

New York Personal Injury Lawyers

While neither driver was charged with a crime, it's possible that the driver of the van could face significant civil liability depending on the specifics of the evidence available.  If such claims filed by the family of the man who was killed or by those who were injured, damages could be awarded for medical costs incurred, lost income, pain and suffering and other forms of legal compensation.  However, the decision on how to proceed in a situation like this one should only be made with the help of New York car accident lawyers who have been successfully standing up for the rights of those harmed in these incidents for almost 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.