A few months ago, a New York City cyclist was killed when the driver side front tire of a crane truck hit his bicycle. The crane driver has not yet had criminal charges brought against him, but as a result of extensive inquiries by the victim's family, they have now alleged that the New York Police Department created numerous unnecessary problems when conducting the truck accident investigation.
NYPD Lawsuit
According to a lawsuit filed by the victim's family, the NYPD failed to pursue valid lines of inquiry and properly document and record evidence. In addition, despite evidence that allegedly existed that showed otherwise, the truck driver was not charged with certain crimes, such as fleeing the scene of an accident.
The particular nature of bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles and trucks creates the need for accurate collection of evidence and an astute review of that evidence. In doing so, the police can formulate an accurate picture of what happened before and during an accident - which can help determine which party might be at fault.
Failure to obtain or record evidence correctly means that the truth may never be found and guilty parties may not be held accountable. The public relies on the police to enforce laws and regulations that were broken during an accident, and in most cases the public can certainly expect that law enforcement will properly handle all law enforcement matters, big and small - but unfortunately, mistakes can and do happen. When these unfortunate mistakes do occur and someone who commits a crime goes unpunished, justice may never be given to the injured party. Moreover, the injured party or their family may also find it increasingly difficult to hold the responsible party accountable for monetary damages when evidence is improperly collected.
While police generally do a commendable job in collecting evidence during car accidents, even they can make mistakes. This accident only further illustrates the need to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if you or a loved one has been injured at no fault of their own in a car accident. Victims need to vigilantly collect evidence of fault as soon as possible - if they don't, evidence may be lost and liability may never be established.
![[picture of] Daniel A. Kalish](/design/images/attorneyPic.jpg)
