Four-year-old girl killed by hit-and-run driver in parking lot
Commercial parking lots are not generally considered to be the likely scene of a serious motor vehicle, but in the crowded commercial areas of Bushwick in Brooklyn, vehicles and pedestrians move in close proximity to one another. Occasionally, they come into contact with each other, and death or serious injuries are the result.
A recent pedestrian-vehicle accident in a laundromat parking lot resulted in the death of a young girl and serious injuries to her mother. According to police and eye-witnesses, the woman and her child were walking on a public sidewalk that was used by vehicles for access to the parking lot. A second women walked out of the laundromat, climbed into an SUV and struck the child and mother as she left the parking lot. The driver of the SUV did not stop but was arrested later. The four-year-old was taken by ambulance to Wyckoff Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Her mother was also hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Several witnesses who are frequent users of the laundromat say such an accident was inevitable. The layout of the parking lot requires vehicles to traverse the public sidewalk when entering or leaving the parking lot. The sidewalk is used by pedestrians at all times of the day.
Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident may wish to consider seeking damages from the person or parties at fault. In this case, the driver of the SUV is an obvious defendant, but the owner of the land and the operator of the laundromat may also be liable if they had knowledge of the hazardous layout and failed to take proper remedial measures. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist in identifying potential defendants, analyzing the law and evidence that will govern the case and providing an estimate of potential damages.
Study finds big jump in SUV-pedestrian fatalities in last 8 years
SUV's are extremely popular. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of passenger vehicles registered, excluding SUVs, decreased by a little less than 1 percent. Over the same period, the number of SUVs registered grew by 37 percent. SUVs and light trucks now account for 67 percent of the American auto market.
Unfortunately, SUVs are responsible for a growing number of pedestrian fatalities. The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found a huge spike in fatal SUV-pedestrian collisions between 2009 and 2016.
During those eight years, fatal pedestrian crashes involving SUVs grew by 81 percent. That's 3.1-percent higher than the increase in such crashes involving all other vehicle types combined. This confirms a previously recognized trend.
"Although larger, heavier vehicles provide more protection to their occupants and thus have lower driver death rates per registered vehicle than smaller cars," according to the Institute, "previous research has found that SUVs and other light trucks and vans were associated with increased risks of severely injuring or killing pedestrians in an impact when compared with cars."
SUVs can be especially deadly to pedestrians
The basic shape of an SUV makes it more dangerous to pedestrians. Since they are taller and their front-ends are squarer, SUVs are more likely than other vehicles to strike pedestrians in the head or chest, as opposed to the legs.
One approach to reducing the risk is to "soften up" the front end of the vehicle. This could be done by adding a "pedestrian airbag" that would inflate when the vehicle hits a pedestrian, potentially preventing the pedestrian from striking the vehicle's roof pillars, which can be especially dangerous. Adding rearview cameras and brighter headlights could also help.
Other factors contributing to fatal pedestrian accidents
The study's authors don't know exactly what has caused the jump in SUV-pedestrian fatalities, but it's worth noting that fatal pedestrian crashes have themselves risen in recent years. In 2016, pedestrian deaths were at their highest rate since 1990. Per capita, the greatest increase in fatalities was among pedestrians between 20 and 69.
That could be the result of more walking among people in that age group. Between 2005 and 2015, the estimated number of Americans reporting walking as their primary mode of transportation rose from 3.3 million to 4.2 million.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New York City had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 2016.
In order to prevent these tragedies, every driver needs to be vigilant about watching for pedestrians. If you or a loved one has been hit by a car, truck or SUV, contacting a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you receive full, fair compensation for your injuries and losses.