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Midtown Taxi Accident Leaves 67-Year-Old Woman Dead

A SUV registered with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) failed to yield a pedestrian and struck her earlier this month, killing the pedestrian and leading to the driver’s arrest. The accident occurred at 38th Street and 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during busy rush hour traffic. A pedestrian death caused by a taxi is sadly an all too common event in NYC, and the 67-year-old pedestrian’s death is a reminder of the danger that pedestrians and riders face from taxis every day in the city.

Good Samaritans Could Not Save the Pedestrian

Yuenei Wu of Brooklyn worked in the area where the accident took place, and was a common sight walking around the neighborhood. She was crossing the street at around 4:30 PM on Monday, June 6 when the SUV turned left into the intersection and struck her and dragged her for several feet. Good Samaritans that were nearby the scene actually worked together to lift the SUV up off of Wu in order to free her, but the damage had been done. The pedestrian was taken to Bellevue Hospital but did not regain consciousness and perished from her injuries.

The 39-year-old driver of the SUV was arrested for failing to yield to a pedestrian, which is only a misdemeanor. This is the second time that a car has hit and killed a pedestrian in the same south midtown area of Manhattan, and in both cases the driver was driving a livery cab registered with the TLC.

Recovery is Available for Taxi Accidents Victims and their Families

The driver of the livery cab that hit the pedestrian clearly acted negligently as evidenced by the arrest for failing to follow NYC traffic laws. When a taxi driver acts negligently and causes an accident as a result, the injured victim (or the victim’s family where the victim has died from the injury) can bring a personal injury action in state court against the driver and the cab operator for injuries, the cost of medical treatment, pain and suffering, and other costs brought on by the loss. The TLC requires all cab operators to carry insurance covering injuries to others for at least $100,000 per accident victim, and a plaintiff can sue the operator for any further damages in excess of that figure.

What to Do if You’ve Been in a Taxi Accident

Obviously, if you’ve been injured by a taxi, either as a passenger, pedestrian, or other driver, the first thing you need to do is secure medical attention. But it is also important to contact a taxi accident attorney as soon as possible to make sure that you are properly compensated for all of your injuries. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more quickly the investigation into the accident can occur, and a case can be put together for your recovery. To speak with a taxi accident attorney today, contact The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel to set up a free consultation.

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