2 injured in New York car accident

Two people have been sent to the hospital after a vehicle reportedly jumped a curb on the Upper West Side. New York police responded to the pedestrian-related car accident during the morning of Nov. 17. The driver has not yet been charged with a crime, but the investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

The police report confirms that, around 11:30 a.m., a vehicle driven by an as-yet-unidentified person was traveling on West 96th Street when the accident occurred. For reasons unknown, the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, causing it to mount the curb and enter the sidewalk. Two pedestrians, a 59-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman, were struck by the vehicle. 

Both parties were rushed to local hospitals. The man is in stable condition, but the woman’s condition has been described by medical authorities as critical. The driver reportedly stayed at the scene of the accident. While police have not yet filed charges, they have also not ruled out recklessness, negligence and/or intoxication as possible contributing factors to the accident. 

Depending on the outcome of the New York police investigation, the driver could yet face criminal charges if it is determined that he or she violated the law with regard to the car accident. Even if no formal charges are filed, however, state law allows both injured parties to file personal injury lawsuits against the driver in civil court. These claims may make use of the police report describing the events of Nov. 17 in order to seek compensation for damages incurred as a result of the crash. 

Source: pix11.com, “Car jumps curb on Upper West Side injuring 2 pedestrians“, Alyssa Zauderer, Nov. 17, 2016