New York, New York – When Vision Zero was created in 2014, the stated goal was for New York City to “end all traffic fatalities and severe injuries” within a ten year period. The ten year mark will be next year, 2024, and unfortunately, zero traffic-related deaths and injuries for NYC pedestrians and motorists looks out of reach. New York City unfortunately remains a place where there is a high incidence of motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bike fatalities and injuries.
Read below for a data-based analysis of 2023 trends for NYC pedestrian accidents, car accidents, bike accidents, truck accidents, and bus accidents.
2023 NYC Traffic Injuries and Accidents
In the first nine months of 2023,183 people have been killed in traffic-related accidents, and over 34,249 people have been injured. The below graphic from the non-profit group Transportation Alternatives illustrates that despite NYC city officials spending approximately $200 million dollars a year on Vision Zero – related initiatives and pledging $3 billion more until 2031, traffic-related injuries and deaths are not declining as much as one would hope. In fact, as detailed below, in some cases, traffic related deaths are actually increasing in some categories, like bike accidents.
NYC Bike Accident Data, 2023 YTD
Thus far, 2023 is shaping up to be one of the deadliest years for cyclists with over 25 deaths in the first nine months of this year. The majority of those deaths — 97% of them — occurred in unprotected bike lanes. Over 97% of NYC’s streets are still lacking protected bike lanes despite the fact that it has been almost ten years since the inception of the Vision Zero initiative. NYC cyclist advocacy groups are understandably frustrated with the lack of protected bike lanes despite the hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer funding that Vision Zero receives each year. According to a NYC Department of Transportation study, the presence of protected bike lanes can reduce the risk of injury or death by up to 60% in the most high-risk areas. No cyclist in New York should have to face the risk of injury or death due to the lack of safe bike lanes.
NYC Pedestrian Accident Injury Data, 2023 YTD
In the first nine months of 2023, 59 New Yorkers have been fatally killed because of motor vehicle and traffic-related accidents and 5,269 people have been injured. Nationwide, pedestrian fatalities hit a 41-year high in 2022. The below graphic from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) illustrates this disturbing upward trend from 2010-2021.
In New York City, the presence of restaurant sheds has also contributed to the increase in pedestrian injuries and accidents as the sheds can obscure the view drivers have of pedestrians attempting to cross the street. Additionally, there have been several instances where drivers have hit the dining sheds while people were dining inside the sheds, seriously injuring or killing the people inside.
NYC Car Accident Injury Data, 2023 YTD
In the first nine months of 2023, 71 NYC motorists have been killed in auto accidents and 34, 249 people have been injured. A number of these fatalities and injuries occurred in areas that are known high-risk areas like Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn and Queens Blvd in Queens, a street that bears the grim nickname of “the corridor of death.” New York City activists are understandably frustrated that motor vehicle fatalities continue to pile-up in areas that have been long-known “death traps.” The below graphic from Vision Zero displays the areas within the five boroughs that have the highest incidence of injuries and deaths.
NYC Bus Accident Injury Data, 2023 YTD
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates over 4,500 buses across NYC. Unfortunately, NYC Bus crashes can be deadly, as was the case earlier this year when an MTA bus collided with a large tour bus, resulting in dozens of injuries. The 183 deaths that have occurred in the first nine months this year in NYC have included fatalities caused by the negligence of MTA bus drivers.
NYC Truck Accident Injury Data, 2023 YTD
On October 26, 2023, a 7-year-old boy was fatally struck by a NYPD tow truck while he was riding a scooter and crossing the street with his mother in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, the sheer size of trucks on New York City streets means that accidents involving trucks can result in serious injury or death. Of the 183 deaths that have occurred in the first nine months of 2023, truck accidents were the unfortunate cause of many of them.
Next-Steps & Liability for Preventable NYC Accidents and Fatalities
The unfortunate reality is that the majority of the 183 accidents and thousands of injuries that have happened in the first nine months of 2023 were preventable. New York City employs over 36,000 police officers and commands a budget of over $10.9 billion dollars and yet, distracted driving ranks among the top causes of accidents and deaths. Vision Zero initiatives have cost NYC taxpayers over $1 billion dollars and yet, fatalities and injuries continue to occur across the five boroughs of New York City. New York City officials should take action to reduce these deaths, including:
- More protected bike lanes should be installed
- More crosswalks should be installed on long avenues
- Protective measures should be installed in areas with restaurant dining sheds (or these sheds should be limited or removed) and other physical barriers that obstruct cyclist and driver view of pedestrians
- City officials should listen to the concerns of community members and activists
All drivers, pursuant to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1146(a), must take appropriate measures to avoid hitting pedestrians, cyclists, and domestic animals in NYC streets. Drivers must maintain at least three feet of separation between cyclists and pedestrians at all times. If a collision has occurred, it is advisable to:
- Ensure that eye-witness contact information is gathered so that they can be interviewed
- Call the NYPD so that a police report can be generated
- Note the presence of video cameras close to the scene so that video surveillance can be utilized if needed
- Contact an experienced NYC personal injury attorney
NYC accidents involving pedestrians, motor vehicles, and cyclists can be very complex and could potentially involve more than one liable party. In certain instances, a municipal entity like the City of New York could be liable if the accident was caused by a dangerous condition on public property due to the negligence of If you or someone that you know has been involved in an accident in NYC, some measure of justice may be within your reach via a civil claim.
Investigating New York City Motor Vehicle Accidents
Finding a qualified personal injury attorney in New York City is an important step to take if you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an accident. Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers is an award-winning personal injury law firm in New York City that has recovered millions for our personal injury clients. We extend our deepest condolences to you if you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a traffic-related accident in NYC and we are here to help you in your time of need. Our group of award-winning and dedicated attorneys is available to you via text or phone call in your time of need and we never charge you for an initial consultation. Call or text Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers today at (646) 217-0749.