Hempstead Turnpike, also known as New York State Route 24, is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Nassau County, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Over the years, a variety of safety fixes have been implemented, from fences to speed limit reductions, but the number of deaths occurring on the turnpike remains alarming. If you or a loved one has been injured on Hempstead Turnpike, you may well have a case. I’ll tell you more about the trend of accidents and why they happen, as well as when a New York pedestrian accident attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help. If you need legal assistance after a car accident, we also encourage you to get in touch for a free consultation at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
What Makes Hempstead Turnpike so Dangerous?
Across the United States, pedestrian deaths are on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nassau and Suffolk counties are two of New York’s deadliest counties when it comes to traffic fatalities. In fact, in 2020, Long Island claimed over 18 percent of all road deaths in the state. The Nassau County and Hempstead Village police departments report that between 2011 and 2021, 300 cyclists and pedestrians were struck on Hempstead Turnpike; as a result, 13 people died.
The cause of these accidents is obvious to many Nassau County residents, who say speeding is out of control on the roadway. Although the speed limit on most of Hempstead Turnpike is 35 to 40 miles per hour, drivers recklessly speed, averaging 55 miles per hour, and often reaching 65 mph. In the evenings, drag racing, which carries a sentence of up to 30 days in jail and hundreds of dollars in fines for first-time offenders, is a common occurrence.
There are also very few medians on the turnpike, resulting in frequent collisions between trucks and people walking, skateboarding, or biking. The existing medians are close to the ground or areas painted yellow, and unfortunately jaywalking is a common occurrence.
With several schools located near the turnpike, parents live in fear that their children will be struck by a vehicle. Levittown resident Diana Alati’s 13-year-old son was one such victim of a hit-and-run while riding home from school on his bike. Even though crossing guards monitor the areas near schools, they cannot prevent the dangerous speeding that occurs. Long Island Families for Safe Streets, an organization Alati is a member of, is fighting to have rumble strips installed on the roadways.
Residents accuse local officials of being well aware of the problems, but doing little to address them.
Long Island Safety Measures are Ineffective
For decades, safety enhancements have been implemented along Hempstead Turnpike, yet accidents continue to happen. Speed reductions have been implemented in several spots in Nassau County, reducing speed limits to 30-35 miles per hour.
As far back as 2013, a physical barrier was installed in Nassau county to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road except at crosswalks. The four-foot high fence was placed on the median in a particularly busy stretch of road. It was part of a safety plan that originated in 2012, which included widening crosswalks, repainting them, and improving the timing of traffic signals to allow pedestrians more time to cross. The plan was instituted after police accident reports showed that from 2005-2010, people on foot were killed, on average, five times per year, along with hundreds of pedestrian injuries.
Unfortunately, accidents hit a high in Long Island between 2019-2022, and continue to result in injuries and deaths.
Hurt on the Hempstead Turnpike?
Whether you were injured as a pedestrian on the Hempstead turnpike, a loved one suffered a wrongful death while walking or cycling, or another kind of accident has left you with serious injuries, a New York pedestrian accident attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help. Drivers must be held responsible for serious injuries they cause, and you may be able to recover damages for medical bills, current and ongoing treatment, physical therapy costs, lost time from work, and more.
Get in touch with our experienced team today at 1-800-NOW-HURT.