Bicycle Accidents

Published on: July 25, 2012

Single Car Accident Litters a Highway and Median

by Stephen Bilkis

Pieces of a sedan involved in a recent car accident were strewn across the highway and into the median as crews attempted to clean up the scene. The single car accident resulted in the death of the woman driving the vehicle and the hospitalization of her husband, who was also in the vehicle at the time, reports a witness.

The woman briefly lost control of her SUV; it is unknown what caused her to swerve to the side of the road and hit the guardrail. After attempting to correct the course of the vehicle, the woman overcorrected and caused the vehicle to roll. Because SUVs are more top heavy than sedans, they are much more likely to the roll when they change direction suddenly.

The woman was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled because she was not wearing her seatbelt at the time. The woman’s husband was also not wearing his seatbelt but he remained with the vehicle as it rolled although his body did partial leave the SUV. This situation exemplifies the importance of wearing seatbelts, explains a policeman.

Published on: July 23, 2012

In an almost movie-like event Angela I. Jansen was injured

by Stephen Bilkis

In an almost movie-like event Angela I. Jansen was injured because her vehicle was hit by the car of a fleeing suspect. What happened was, in February 14, at around 10:45 in the evening, Trooper James E. Maring of the New York State Police received a radioed message that a Buick had been stolen. Trooper Maring proceeded to the street where it was reported as stolen and watched out for the automobile. He sighted it with a male driver and proceeded to pursue it. He radioed in order to confirm if it was the stolen vehicle, and it was. A witness said that from the information he got about the car chase the driver headed south while being trailed by the police. At some point, Trooper Richard C. Peck who was in the process of filling up his police car with gas noticed the Buick being followed by a police vehicle. He joined Trooper Maring in the pursuit. A third officer joined the chase before they reached the intersection where Mrs. Jansen’s car was hit. He was identified as Trooper McLaughlin.

The police officers had established a plan to box in the suspect. To do this one of them had to overtake the Buick. They were going more than 50 mph so that one of them can be in front of the pursued car. According to Mrs. Jensen, she stopped at the intersection because she had to turn left on Bailey road that intersects with Route 11 where the police was chasing the Buick. Before she had the chance to turn, a cop said, she already noticed the police lights. She just stayed where she was. The Buick hit their car in turning and the impact caused Mrs. Jensen to hit various parts of the car that had injured her. She had to undergo medical treatment for them.

A Lawyer found out that Mr. Gunter Jansen and Mrs. Jansen filed a case against the State of New York with the alleged negligence of the police officers with the pursuit. In the investigation, it was found that the police cars did not hit Mrs. Jansen’s car directly. The courts in New York City and Westchester though looked at the event as it progressed. The court determined that the police officers had the chance to shoot the tires of the Buick that would have slowed it down at least.

Published on: July 20, 2012

Joselita Rivera in his bicycle allegedly got some injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

Joselita Rivera in his bicycle allegedly got some injuries when a side mirror of a car of Fenix Car Service Corp. hit the side bar of the bicycle. He only found out that it was one of their cars because of the sticker on the vehicle because the driver did not stop when it happened. A source said that Mr. Rivera filed a case before the court. In his request for a trial, he cited Fenix Car Service Corp. as a party that is also responsible for his injury as the driver was working for them, and they handled the operations.

To answer the court case, Fenix Car Service Corp. submitted an affidavit saying that their drivers are not their employees. Jose Elias Rodriguez who also drove for Fenix Car Service Corp. submitted a corresponding affidavit that says that they are not employees. Fenix Car Service Corp. says that what they provide their contractors is a dispatch service. A Lawyer found out that the vehicles were owned and maintained by their owners who are almost always the drivers of the cars as well. The president of Fenix Car Service Corp. says that the contract they have with the driver’s to pay them a weekly fee for the calls radioed to them, so they will have jobs. The process for their contractors if there is any accident is to notify them, for them can call emergency services but there was no call to report such an accident. When they learned about what happened, they investigated as to who was driving at that time. They interviewed each driver but no one has said they were involved in that accident. They were moving for a summary judgment because they are saying Fenix Car Service Corp. should not be part of the case even if the car had their sticker for identification.

The courts in Queens and Staten Island denied the motion because of various reasons. A Lawyer said that for a summary motion to be granted, at face value or with the initial look of the court there it does not show that there are any issues connecting the defendant to the case. If there were only allegations and no evidence showing connections, then it would have been granted by the court.

Published on: July 18, 2012

Young Man Hits Three Cars, One Police Vehicle

by Stephen Bilkis

A young man involved in a multiple car accidents in Brooklyn and The Bronx last weekend is being held in the county jail awaiting his arraignment. The man was arrested after being involved in three separate collisions and leaving the each accident scene, reports a source. One of the other vehicles involved in the accidents was driven by a police officer. The officer was hurt and had to receive care at a local hospital.

The man, who did not have a valid license, was driving a stolen vehicle at the time of the accident. Though the young man had received permission to drive the vehicle to the owner’s house, he refused to relinquish the vehicle as planned. The owner of the vehicle had reported the theft before the man was involved in the accidents.

All of the accidents occurred after the man had spent the evening drinking at a party. It is assumed that the man was still under the influence of alcohol while he was driving and the appropriate charges have been filed. The result of the man’s breathalyzer test was not available at the time of this article.

Published on: July 15, 2012

Seymour Gutin while driving north on the East River drive with his wife had their windows open

by Stephen Bilkis

Seymour Gutin while driving north on the East River drive in Manhattan with his wife had their windows open. It was a dry day that is why they had it down. After passing the 95th street, he notices pieces of concrete came in through his open window and one of them hit his eye. Near the 96th street intersection was the time he realized that he was bleeding. He hurriedly drove to the 116th street, which was the nearest exit and asked a policeman for help. It was found out by a reporter, that the police officer drove Mr. and Mrs. Gutin to the hospital where they removed his eye because of the extent of the damage.

The car was examined by the police, and they found four pieces of broken concrete. A suit was filed against Frank Mascali & Sons, Inc. They are the company that was incharge of the construction of an overpass between East 92nd Street and East 99th Street along the East River Drive. Checking on the contract, a Lawyer said that they were paid to make sure of the safety in the highways with respect to the construction and maintaining the traffic. There was a power house that was in that location which was part of their contract to demolish and use any product that can be used as filling for the road. Some of the by-products needed to be broken to smaller pieces before they can use it.

A Queens policeman assigned to the corner where the crane was used to break the concrete to smaller pieces testified that they utilized the ball to pound on the concrete to break it. A witness mentioned that the officer could cite a similar incident two weeks before what happened to Mr. Gutin because he had it recorded. He said he had warned the operating of the crane and some supervisors about the method. In the examination Frank Mascali & Sons, Inc.’s construction engineer confirmed the use of the ball to get the product they needed. He was not presented in the trial. In the trial, the concrete pieces found in Mr. Gutin’s car were also entered into evidence. The defense presented a receipt to counter the allegations. The receipt said that the delivery was delayed because the crane was not working. There were three signatories in the receipt but not one of them was the one who wrote that the delay was due to the malfunction of the crane. The crane operator signed a statement that he was operating the crane on the day of Mr. Gutin’s accident and noticed a blue car, the color of Mr. Gutin’s car near the intersection. The operator though says he can barely recall it. He testified though that he wouldn’t sign the document unless he was sure.

Published on: July 12, 2012

Girl Returns Home after Several Month in Hospital

by Stephen Bilkis

Two months ago, a teenager was involved in a car accident when a drunk driver plowed into her family’s car while they were on their way home from church. The girl’s father and sister, who were also in the car at the time of the accident, sustained relatively minor injuries, reports a witness. The girl head went through the roof of the car which caused major head trauma and damage to both of her eyes.

Initially the girl from NYC was in critical condition as the accident lead to fluid building up around her brain. She also had to have surgeries on both of her eyes. After the swelling went down, the girl went through many months of intense physical therapy.

The family has been grateful for all the support of the community. Several local restaurants held fundraisers for the family. These fundraisers have been extremely helpful since both parents have been out of work since the accident, and the family does not have health insurance.

Published on: July 10, 2012

Local Teacher Killed in Car Accident

by Stephen Bilkis

A local woman from Manhattan was killed last weekend after her car went off the side of the road and struck a light pole. After the woman’s car hit the pole, the vehicle then flipped over. The driver was then throw part way through the window of the vehicle, explains a witness. The police report did not state whether or not the woman was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the car accident. The woman was dead by the time that rescue crews arrived on the scene.

At this point it was unknown what caused the woman’s vehicles to leave the road while traveling at such high speeds. Police did not immediately suspect alcohol as a factor in the incident. There are many other possible distractions that might have caused the erratic driving, says a reporter.

The woman, who was in her mid-twenties, was a much loved local school teacher. Her students spent the last few days sharing their memories of her and writing remembrances. The school had some grief counselors available for students to talk so that they could sort out their feelings.

Published on: July 8, 2012

Patricia Bono, driving her vehicle was hit by Philip Rose

by Stephen Bilkis

Patricia Bono, driving her vehicle was hit by Philip Rose, who was driving his truck. This happened at the intersection of Boyle Road and Hawkins Road in the Town of Brookhaven. Mr. Rose’s truck hit the passenger side of the Ms. Bono’s vehicle. Around a week before July 16, 2007, Mr. Rose took his vehicle to Halben’s Tire City, Inc. because he was experiencing problems with his breaks. He left his vehicle there with the assurance that someone will call him to let him know what the problem was. At the time that he went back to get his truck, which was July 13, 2007, he was told that the vehicle needed more work done, and he would need to go back to have them do it. Mr. Rose said that when he took his vehicle, he was told that the breaks would be fine in the 2-3 days before he takes it back to them. He said that when he drove off it was okay. The second day after it a bit more difficult to break and on the third day of having the truck, which was the day of the car accident, he said that the break was failing. A reporter got hold of his testimony at his deposition that stated that he noticed he had problems stopping, but he eventually did prior to hitting Ms. Bono’s car.

A case was filed against Halben’s Tire City, Inc. also doing business as Theo’s Car Care Center. In the petition of Ms. Bono, she stated that Halben’s Tire City, Inc. was liable for her injuries because of their negligence. According to a witness, she alleged that their negligence showed in sending a dangerous vehicle on the rods without warning to the owner. They are saying that they violated their agreement with Mr. Rose as they did not fully repair the breaks of the vehicle.

There was no case filed against Mr. Rose because Ms. Bono has already settled her claim with Mr. Rose. The papers presented say that Mr. Rose gave $100,000, the full coverage of his insurance policy. This payment was the condition that released Mr. Rose from any other claims that may arise from the Brooklyn accident.

Published on: July 5, 2012

Events Surrounding Two-Car Accident Being Examined

by Stephen Bilkis

An SUV and a sedan collided on Tuesday when the driver of the SUV ran a stop sign, witnesses report. The driver of the sedan had to be removed from her vehicle by the firefighter who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Police are still investigating the witness’s accounts of the events to determine if the SUV really did run through the stop sign, reports a source.

The woman, after being removed from the vehicle, was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for her injuries; as she was loaded into the ambulance, the woman complained of injuries throughout the majority of her body. Police have not released any further updates on the woman’s condition and it is unknown whether or not she is still hospitalized.

The driver of the SUV was injured in the accident, but received only minor injuries which did not require hospitalization. The woman driving the sedan was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the incident while the driver of the SUV was not. A Lawyer explains that the relative sizes of the vehicle probably provided greater protection to the SUV driver. The woman’s injuries would have been more severe if she had not been wearing her seatbelt, and, without the seatbelt, she might have been thrown from the car.

Published on: July 2, 2012

Alleged Third Strike against Motorist

by Stephen Bilkis

A man in his early 20’s was charged earlier this week with reckless driving and driving while under the influence. The man was driving without a license earlier this week when he hit other vehicle. At the time of the collision he was traveling over 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, states a source.

The young man was driving along in his pickup truck, alleged drunk, when he hit a sedan and which swerved and went off the side of the road. The sedan then rolled several times and ended up upside down in a field. The driver of the pickup truck continued driving and will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, which is a felony charge.

There were multiple witnesses to the incident in Queens which corroborated the sedan passengers’ stories. Police felt that they enough information to pursue the suspect for questioning.