Woman Killed in Brooklyn Bicycle Accident
A Clifton woman was killed in a Brooklyn bicycle accident when a motorist opened her car door into the path of the bicyclist. The bicycle rider was thrown off of her bike and into the path of a city bus. This fatal crash took place on Atlantic Avenue near Washington Avenue the evening of September 11, 2010. According to a report on SILive.com, the 24-year-old motorist has been charged with driving on a suspended license and violating New York law that regulates the opening and closing of car doors.
New York State traffic laws state that, "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers." Drivers who fail to look for bicyclists may be held liable for the damage they cause.
The family of a victim killed in a bicycle accident may file what is known as a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. New York wrongful death claims seek compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship and other related damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in an bicycle accident, please contact the experienced New York wrongful death lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 for a no-cost consultation.
