19th NYC Cyclist Killed, Raising More Safety Concerns

A terrible year for New York City cyclists continues to get worse.

A 52-year-old man riding his bike in Brooklyn was struck by an SUV and pinned under the vehicle on Aug. 11. His death was the 19th cycling fatality in NYC this year — more than double the number of all cycling deaths in 2018.

Video of the crash showed a car run a red light and collide with an SUV at high speed. The SUV was then pushed into cyclist Jose Alzorriz. The driver of the SUV and a pedestrian were also hurt in the crash.

Mayor Bill De Blasio, who has been an outspoken advocate for cycling safety, called for criminal charges against the 18-year-old driver who ran the red light. In a statement to New York media, De Blasio said:

“Of course, there should be numerous charges right now,” he said. “If you kill someone through your negligence, maybe that’s not murder one — I’m not a lawyer — but I’d say it should be a serious, serious charge with many years in prison because it’s negligence. It’s not that something unavoidable happened and the driver was put in a horrible situation.”

The New York Cycling Community Responds

Rising cycling deaths have prompted action from the local cycling community. Roughly 1,000 bike messengers and recreational cyclists staged a mass “die in” at Washington Square Park this summer to protest dangerous riding conditions. Cyclists have also engaged in street protests, blocking traffic in Chelsea following a fatal cycling collision.

718 Cyclery, a Brooklyn bike shop, is now keeping a window display with a running toll of local cycling deaths. The shop’s owner says he hopes the sign keeps attention focused on the dangers that local cyclists are facing.

Vision Zero and Green Wave: Are They Sufficient Remedies?

Mayor De Blasio and city officials have promised action to help make local roads safer for cyclists. This action comes in the form of two initiatives: Vision Zero and Green Wave.

Vision Zero is a broad road and traffic safety program that has pledged to end all traffic-related deaths by 2024. However, the safety improvements associated with the plan have failed to gain significant traction. Some transportation experts say that Vision Zero’s benefits are being outweighed by the fact that more New Yorkers are choosing to drive rather than take mass transit.

Green Wave is a newer, cycling-specific safety initiative. De Blasio announced the program this summer to considerable fanfare, but the impact of the initiative remains to be seen.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a cycling accident, it’s imperative that you speak to an experienced attorney. Personal injury cases can be quite complex. Very often there will be very stark differences in the testimony of the various people involved in accidents. An experienced and skillful attorney will obtain a very detailed investigation of the underlying facts and circumstances of the case. Depositions will be taken which delve into the facts with precision and detail. The case will be aggressively litigated so that the rights of the victim of an accident will be properly vindicated. Bike accident lawyers must be aware of the specific laws affecting the operation of bicycles in New York. The Frankel Law Firm, will be there at your side.

The Frankel Law Firm has more than 40 years of experience helping victims of accidents in New York City and New York State. All accident case consultations are free. There is no lawyers fee unless there is a recovery.

Please feel free to contact us immediately for a free consultation at The Frankel Law Firm, www.frankellawfirm.com or call us at (212) 888-5100. We are conveniently located in Manhattan at 100 Church Street, New York, New York and have offices in Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau where we can meet with you to discuss your case.

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