Elderly Driver Kills Man After Accidentally Putting Car in Reverse

An 85-year-old man was killed this May on Manhattan’s Upper East Side when an elderly driver accidentally put his vehicle into reverse. The driver backed into the man as he was standing in front of a moving truck parked on the side of the road. The victim was pinned between the car and the truck for a short time. He was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, only a few blocks away, but died from his injuries. The driver told police that he had meant to shift into drive, but instead put his car into reverse, causing the vehicle to back into the victim.

As the population ages and people strive to keep their independence as long as possible, this type of accident becomes more common. Elderly drivers frequently hit the gas instead of the brake or put their vehicle into the wrong gear. Both of these scenarios result in low-speed but dangerous accidents.

In some cases, older drivers accidentally smash through storefronts, back over mailboxes or, as happened in this case, strike unsuspecting pedestrians.

The driver in this incident has not been charged with a crime, but victims of this type of accident and their families may still be entitled to compensation under the laws of New York.

If you have been involved in a vehicle accident, contact our experienced and knowledgeable auto accident attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia. We help victims pursue compensation for pedestrian injuries and wrongful death throughout New York City’s five boroughs.