Woman struck by dump truck while crossing street

No matter the size, speed or control of a vehicle, when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle the accident is often fatal. A truck accident involving a pedestrian can be especially dangerous due to the larger size of the vehicle. In most cases, trucks are not controlled as easily as other vehicles, and it often takes them longer to stop. This can be very problematic if a pedestrian is crossing the street in front of them.

At around 6 a.m. on March 13, a pedestrian accident occurred in Brooklyn. An older woman who walked with a cane was struck and killed by a dump truck that was traveling down the road she was crossing. The woman attempted to cross the busy street while in route to breakfast. Witnesses who saw and heard the incident stated that they first heard a thump proceeded by the dump truck locking their breaks and leaning on the horn. The preliminary investigation revealed that the woman opted to not use the crosswalk and it was purported that the light was green for the dump truck that struck her.

The investigation of the fatal pedestrian truck accident is ongoing. Authorities still need to determine whether the truck driver saw the woman and could have exercised due care. The speed, vision and location of the dump truck could help determine this. When a truck driver is negligent the loved ones of a person killed in an incident like this could potentially file a wrongful death claim. The awarded compensation from the suit would go towards funeral costs, lost wages, damages and other expenses.

Whether the pedestrian has the right-of-way or not they should always be on the lookout for vehicles. Drivers should reduce their speeds in areas where there are several crosswalks.

Source: nydailynews.com, “Woman dies after after being struck by dump truck in Brooklyn,” Erik Badia and Vera Chinese, March 13, 2013