A woman was injured when her vehicle plunged about 40 feet down into a construction site. According to a CBS New York news report, the car crash took place near the victim’s home in Yonkers.
Officials say her gray Toyota accelerated suddenly, forcing her vehicle through the chain link fence and over the cliff. The vehicle landed on its nose and flipped over onto its roof. The driver suffered a deep cut and lost some blood, but survived the crash. It’s unclear what caused the accident.
This was not the first time a vehicle has crashed at this construction site. A few weeks ago, a pole was the only thing that stopped a car from plunging into the pit. To prevent future incidents, a concrete barrier was put in. But, that barrier didn’t extend to the garage exit where the latest accident happened.
When a vehicle accelerates out of control, it must be determined if the driver was responsible or if the vehicle behaved in a surprising manner. It’s particularly important to investigate single-vehicle crashes involving Toyotas and acceleration issues. Between the years 2009 and 2011, Toyota issued several recalls because of unintended acceleration issues.
The first recall involved misplaced floor mats that affected the foot pedal. The second recall was issued to fix sticky accelerator pedals. Then, they issued a recall because of possible wiring issues and defective anti-lock brake software. According to ABC News, these issues may have accounted for 2,000 Toyota sudden acceleration cases involving 243 injuries and 16 deaths.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a solo car accident, it’s important that the vehicle is preserved for a thorough inspection. Take photos of the damaged car, the crash site, and your injuries. Get contact information from the witnesses of the crash and seek out medical attention. Then, you’ll need to speak with an experienced attorney.
Depending on the cause of the crash, it may be possible to get financial compensation for your significant losses. Victims of New York car crashes may be able to receive financial support for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP to discuss your situation. You can reach us at (212) 986-7353.
Sources: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/10/26/car-falls-into-yonkers-construction-site/