NYPD Slow to Respond in Bicycle Death
Canadian bicyclist and artist Mathieu Lefevre was killed by a crane truck about three months ago, and his family is highly critical of the NYPD, who took all three months to hand over the police records of the accident.
Only after filing a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act did the Lefevre family receive the file which included 115 pages and four videos, including the initial bicycle accident report.
Lefevre was riding his bicycle in Brooklyn when he was killed. The large crane truck was on his left at a corner, and the driver admittedly failed to signal a right turn. When Lefevre went to pass the truck on its right, he was hit, causing the fatal bicycle accident.
The truck driver maintains that he didn’t even realize the bicycle accident happened, and continued to drag Lefevre 40 feet and his bike 130 feet. He was cited for failure to signal and failure to exercise due care. To Lefevre’s family, these citations weren’t enough.
According to the NYT City Room, Lefevre’s mother released a statement about the bicycle accident which said, “Given the multiple impacts, the lengthy dragging, and the role of the truck’s bumper and wheel immediately below the driver’s seat in dealing the critical blows, the driver’s claim that he was unaware of any collision shows at the very least a reckless disregard of facts that should have been plainly apparent to any driver.”
The police have not responded to Ms. Lefevre’s statement and it seems unlikely that the truck driver will face further charges.
But, a lawsuit is likely. Anytime you are involved in an auto accident, bicycle accident, or even pedestrian accident, the person at fault for the accident can be held financially responsible, even when they are not held criminally responsible.
The Lefevre family has no doubt undergone a significant amount of trauma due to the death of their loved one. In addition to the pain and anguish associated with the unexpected bicycle accident death, they are faced with the costs of burying their loved one, all things that they could be entitled to compensation for in a successful claim.
Whether you’ve lost someone you love in a tragic bicycle accident like this one, or if you were hit by a car while riding, you too could be entitled to compensation for things like medical bills, physical therapy, and pain and suffering.
The attorneys at Omrani & Taub have extensive experience in bicycle, auto, and pedestrian accidents, and are eager to hear from you. If it is determined that you have a case, Omrani & Taub, P.C. will represent you with a “no fee guarantee,” meaning you pay no legal fee until your case is won. Call us today at 212-529-7848 (that’s 212-LAW-SUIT).
