Mayor Bloomberg has promoted cycling in New York City by adding hundreds
of miles of cycling lanes. This has lead to a vast increase in people
doing "green" commuting. However, vehicle drivers continue to
flaunt driving regulations, causing tragic accidents with bicycles, including
fatalities. A federal jury in the Southern District of New York (Manhattan,
known as New York County) rendered a verdict totaling $1,251,853 against
several drivers. Notably, an elevator maintenance company van was improperly
parked in a bus lane when a passenger threw open the van's door into
an oncoming cyclist who had no way to avoid the door. This was argued
to be in violation of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1214. The bicyclist
suffered degloving and broken bone injuries which required multiple surgeries
and resulted in functional loss and scarring. She had twenty days of hospitalization
plus extensive outpatient physical therapy
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