Bronx Truck Accident: 56-Year-Old Man Killed In Bronx Box Truck Accident By Bronx River Avenue and Westchester Avenue
BRONX, NEW YORK (November 17, 2019) – A 56-year-old man has tragically died in a box truck accident that took place by the intersection by Bronx River Avenue and Westchester Avenue.
Bronx police are saying that the accident first took place around 4:59 p.m. on Saturday. For reasons that remain under investigation the victim was hit by an Isuzu box truck that began turning onto the roadway.
The unidentified victim was run over by the rear wheels of the box truck. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the pedestrian who sustained major injuries to his torso.
The pedestrian was taken to the Lincoln Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The 70-year-old driver of the Isuzu box truck remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.
Liability In Bronx Box Truck Accidents
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “A total of 4,102 people died in large truck crashes in 2017. Seventeen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 14 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 30 percent higher in 2017 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975.” One of the problems with semi-trucks is that they tend to have very large blind spots.
Truck drivers must check these blinds spots in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Generally speaking, truck drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians before making left turns. According to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law (Sec. 1411), “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” There are a number of reasons that pedestrian accidents happen including:
- Prescription drug use
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Speeding
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
Truck drivers are often put under an enormous amount of pressure to complete their routes as quickly as possible. They get tired and make mistakes like everyone else. If a truck driver is negligent and hits a pedestrian the company that they work for may face civil liability. Generally speaking, truck companies are liable for the negligent conduct of their employees – insofar as those employees are working within the course and scope of their job duties. Victims of truck accidents are protected by a number of laws.
The family of any victim that died in a Bronx truck accident may have legal course through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. Beneficiaries in a civil claim will typically include the victim’s spouse, children, parents or siblings. It’s important that evidence is preserved after an accident. Most intersections are covered by surveillance cameras. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal rights are.
Getting Help After A Car Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim as they are going through such a difficult time. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all of those affected. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to the New York Police Department. It is our sincere hope that measures will be put in place to make this intersection safer.
