One Survives Taxi Accident on Long Island Expressway
11- year old Gabriel Larson was the only person riding in a NYC cab that survived a rainy accident this past week. His grandmother, taking him on the vacation of a lifetime, and the cab driver were both killed when the cab was hit by a garbage truck.
According to the NY Daily News, 60-year old Suzanne Nicholson wrapped her body around her grandson seconds before impact, protecting him from the blow of the truck. Both were rushed to Elmhurst General Hospital where Nicholson was declared dead and Larson was treated for his injuries.
The catastrophic car accident allegedly happened when the taxi they were riding in “clipped” the rear end of a Porsche, sending the Porsche rolling over onto its driver’s side. The cab also flipped onto its side, right before it was hit by a garbage truck. It was this impact that killed Nicholson and the cab driver, 46-year old Mohammed Hussain. Both the driver of the Porsche and the garbage truck escaped without injuries.
The grandmother and grandson had just arrived in the city and were taking the cab to their hotel. They flew in from Utah and were spending days in NYC to celebrate Larson’s achievements in school. Meeting with another friend in the city, Nicholson was sending text messages as they traveled. Her friend said she knew something was wrong when Nicholson stopped texting after sending, “We’re in the taxi, I will see you in a little while.”
Young Larson suffered a fractured collarbone, a punctured lung, concussion, and broken ribs.
According to Hussain’s wife, working on a rainy night wasn’t something the cabbie with 20 years of experience didn’t often do. He would rather stay home than work on rainy nights, but he was making up for some time off the night of the accident. He left behind a wife and two young sons.
Car accidents like this one are truly tragic and can occur when no one expects it. Particularly when you get in a taxi, you assume the driver will deliver you to your destination without any problems. After a long flight, your cab ride can give you a chance to relax. But when tragedy strikes, that moment of calm can be short lived.
Whether you were involved in an accident as a passenger in a city cab, or if you were hit while driving, you could be entitled to compensation.
The accident attorneys with Omrani & Taub are dedicated to seeking justice for their clients. Contact our offices today for a free consultation on your case and to see how we might be able to help you. Call 212-599-5550 (that’s 212-LAWSUIT).
