Crossing a street in the city at any time can involve danger, but this can be particularly true when a street is crossed at 4 a.m.  Motorists are more prone to mistakes at this point, and when no one is around, the temptation for some to attempt to flee the scene of a crash is intense.  Tragically, that appears to be what occurred with a brutal Harlem hit-and-run accident that occurred late last week that took the life of a pedestrian attempting to cross a road.

According to authorities, this fatal Harlem hit-and-run accident occurred on Friday just after 4 a.m. when 58-year-old Ilia Lopez was attempting to cross the street at East 121st Street at Second Avenue.  As she was doing so in order to pick up a milk crate to sit on while waiting for a methadone clinic to open, she was run down by a motorist.  In a brutal twist, the driver of a dark sedan kept moving even while her body was slumped on the hood, and she did not fall off of the vehicle until the motorist reached East 120th Street and First Avenue. 

New York Pedestrian Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we'd like to offer our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the woman who was brutally killed in this Harlem hit-and-run accident.  In addition, we hope that the driver in this crash is ultimately identified and apprehended.  This Harlem pedestrian accident will also now become part of the overall statistics regarding New York pedestrian accidents.  Every year in the state, more than 15,000 such accidents occur, leading to nearly as many injuries and to more than 300 fatalities.

New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

If or when the driver in this accident is identified and apprehended, he or she will likely face serious criminal charges.  In addition, this driver could be on the receiving end of a New York wrongful death lawsuit.  if such a lawsuit is filed and is successful, it could lead to an award of damages that compensates the family for their medical, funeral and burial costs as well as their lost income and their loss of companionship.

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