Car accident seriously injures woman in New York

A woman may not regain the use of her leg following a crash in Times Square described as “grisly” by onlookers. New York police responded to the car accident that saw the woman “sandwiched” between two cabs in the early morning of Mar. 2. The 42-year-old victim required surgery following the crash, and in the interim, law enforcement is continuing to look into the specifics of the accident. So far they have not filed charges.

According to the accident report, the woman was loading her baggage into a cab on Seventh Avenue when the accident occurred. The driver of a second cab said he tried to stop but slid into the back of the first taxi, trapping the woman in between. The force of the impact caused several compound fractures in the woman’s leg. Witnesses said they saw her bleeding heavily, with bone visible through her jeans. 

The driver of the first cab blamed the accident squarely on the second driver, saying he must have been distracted, possibly by texting. The second driver denies this, saying he could not see the woman in the early morning dark and that the first driver picked up his fare in the middle of Seventh Avenue. In either case, an investigation is ongoing and will be pursued until a satisfactory answer has been reached. 

Given the severity of the woman’s injuries, it seems likely the second driver was traveling quickly at the time of the car accident. Whether this will point to negligence or recklessness on his part will ultimately depend upon the gathered evidence. However, the injured woman may be entitled to pursue a New York personal injury lawsuit against one or both drivers (as well the respective taxi companies) should enough evidence be brought to light to document fault in this case. 

Source: New York Post, “Woman "sandwiched" by two cabs in grisly accident“, Ben Feuerherd and Dana Sauchelli, March 2, 2015