Woman Receives Record-Breaking $22M In NY Pedestrian Car Accident Lawsuit
A thirty-seven year old Humane Society veterinarian from Brooklyn who was run down in a Manhattan crosswalk by a Duane Reade delivery truck on her birthday has received the largest personal injury award in state history, as reported in the NY Daily News.
Shirley Miller received a $22 million settlement in a NY pedestrian car accident lawsuit after years of insistence by Duane Reade that she had fallen under the wheels of the truck after the vehicle had safely cleared the crosswalk at 49th Street and Eighth Avenue.
Ms. Miller, who was thirty-two at the time she was injured, suffered massive brain damage, partial blindness, and is now barely able to speak as a result of the horrific accident.
Plaintiff prevails against Duane Reade after 2 trials
Ms. Miller’s attorney said, “Duane Reade made up a story when the accident happened that she had fallen under the rear wheel of the truck after it made a turn, and we were able to prove that that was impossible”.
Testimony of witnesses and medical experts proved conclusively that she was hit in the crosswalk by the front of the truck and did not slip on ice like the defendants claimed.
The victim’s father, Yehuda Miller, noted that the driver of the truck left Ms. Miller lying in the street while he first called his bosses and his union representative at Duane Reade before calling 911 for assistance. He “ran her down in a crosswalk and left her to die alone in the street,” Mr. Miller said, according to the Daily News.
The lawsuit was fiercely litigated by Duane Reade’s attorneys for years in two different trials, but aided by witnesses and the evidence, the victim’s attorneys ultimately prevailed against the pharmaceutical giant.
Huge spike in pedestrian deaths in NY in 2014 expected
According to an analysis of NYPD reports conducted by the Daily News, if things keep pace with the first 12 days of 2014, there could be more than 200 such deaths by the end of the year. Police data shows there were 156 fatalities in 2013, an increase from 152 in 2012 and 142 in 2011.
If you’re a pedestrian struck by a car or truck in New Yorkor a loved one has suffered injury or death, you may be eligible to file a NY pedestrian car accident lawsuit and secure monetary damages for your ordeal. The Sanders Firm’s New York pedestrian accident lawyers can advise you as to your legal rights, help you compile the necessary medical records and police reports, and represent you in settlement negotiations or at trial in a court of law.
The Sanders Firm’s dedicated NYC & Long Island car accident lawyers have decades of experience in successfully handling pedestrian injury cases on behalf of victims. Along with our team of investigators and medical experts, we work tirelessly to build your case against the negligent parties who caused your injuries.
How does no-fault insurance work for a pedestrian?
Pedestrians who have been struck by a motor vehicle in New York may be eligible for No-Fault insurance coverage which provides up to $50,000 in benefits for medical coverage, lost income and other immediate costs, no matter who is at fault.
If a victim wishes to seek compensation beyond the $50,000 limit, The Sanders Firm’s No-Fault insurance experts will guide you through New York’s eight requirements of serious injury to make sure you receive the full compensation to which you are entitled.
NY pedestrian accident lawyers at The Sanders Firm can help
The Sanders Firm offers more than four decades of trial experience in New York. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident in any of New York’s boroughs, we offer free case evaluations to help you determine the best course for legal action. Call our offices any time, night or day at 1.800 FAIR PLAY (800.324.7752). Resources
- NY DAILY NEWS, Pedestrian Deaths From Vehicle Strikes are Quickly Rising IN NYC, https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/pedestrian-deaths-auto-strikes-rise-nyc-article-1.1577396#ixzz2xnm1RTxp
- NY DAILY NEWS, Brooklyn Woman Who Was Hit by Duane Reade Truck Receives $22M Settlement, https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn-woman-hit-duane-reade-truck-22m-article-1.1705010#ixzz2xmw3c8Fl
