A recent personal injury accident story made national headlines when it was learned TV’s Dr. Oz responded to the scene as it happened below the offices at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.
The accident happened on Tuesday around 11 a.m. when a taxi driver lost control of his car, which jumped up on the curb. Two pedestrians and a bicyclist ended up hurt, with one of the pedestrians losing her foot in the process.
Before Dr. Oz arrived on the scene, two good Samaritans had immediately sprung into action, with one taking off his belt to act as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. In addition to losing her left foot, the 23-year-old woman also suffered from injuries to her right leg.
Now, thanks to their quick actions — and the actions of a nurse — all of those who jumped to help are being described as heroes. Without their help, there is a good chance the woman would have died.
However, one of the good Samaritans was quick to downplay his role. Rather than being considered a hero, he points out he was just doing what needed to be done.
“There’s no hero. Just Dave the plumber,” he said about himself.
For what happened for the cab driver to jump the curb, the bicyclist who was also hit contends that the driver was trying to turn onto 49th Street from Sixth Avenue and it just was not going to happen. When the bicyclist told him to stop, the cab driver supposedly got angry, sped up and hit the bicyclist.
At this point though, the taxi driver has only been issued a summons for being an unauthorized driver.
In general though, when it is believed an accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, there may be grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. This lawsuit could end up providing compensation for needed medical care, as well as pain and suffering.
Source: CBS News, “Taxi Cab Jumps Curb Near Radio City Music Hall, Strikes Pedestrians,” Aug. 20, 2013
