3-year-old Elle Vandenberghe was crossing a Manhattan, New York street when a driver looking for a parking spot backed up a one-way street, through an intersection, and struck her while she was in the crosswalk. Elle suffered permanent brain damage and has limited use of the right side of her body. Under the New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law (“NYVTL”) in effect then, the driver was cited for a traffic infraction, paid a minimal fine, and was free to get back behind the wheel because alcohol or drugs were not involved.
Elle’s Law, amended NYVTL by enacting tougher penalties on drivers who seriously injure pedestrians as a result of dangerous and unlawful driving. Elle’s Law closed a gap in NYVTL that allowed reckless drivers, who blatantly disregard the “rules of the road,” unless drugs or alcohol are found to be involved, from evading more serious charges when a pedestrian is injured. Under Elle’s Law, NYVTL 510(2), a first-time violation results in license suspension for 6 months. A second violation within five years of the first, will result in a one-year suspension of driving privileges. Any driver that is speeding, refusing to obey traffic signals or committing other moving violations must face the facts that their actions pose a serious risk to pedestrians.
If you are a victim of a car, truck, bus or motorcycle accident, contact Car Accident Attorney Robert Friedman seven days a week for a free case evaluation at (716) 543-3764 and to learn the ADVANTAGES of HIRING A NEW YORK car accident attorney who is an experienced prosecutor. New York accident Attorney Robert Friedman has the unique experience of having successfully prosecuted over 33,000 dangerous and distracted drivers for 36 years as a Vehicle & Traffic Prosecutor. As a prosecutor, he saw many personal injury car accident cases and distracted driver cases. Using his extensive knowledge of the NY Vehicle & Traffic Law and NY Transportation Law , he prosecuted dangerous truck drivers, dangerous bus drivers, dangerous motorcycle drivers and dangerous automobile drivers. These dangerous drivers endangered the lives of their passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers.
