On March 29, a mother and two children lost their lives when a car moving at excessive speed crashed into them at an intersection in Brooklyn, N.Y. This tragedy underscores the lethal consequences of speeding in urban settings, a persistent issue that each year results in numerous fatalities.
According to news accounts, Natasha Saada, 34, her 8-year-old and 5-year-old daughters and her 4-year-old son were out for a walk on a Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn’s Gravesend section. An Audi sedan driven by Miriam Yarimi, 32, going north on Ocean Parkway, rear-ended a Toyota Camry making a right turn from Quentin Road. Yarimi’s car then careened into the Ocean Parkway crosswalk and flipped over, hitting the family. Saada and her daughters were killed and her son was hospitalized in critical condition. The five occupants of the Camry were also treated for injuries.
Witnesses told news media that Yarimi’s car was traveling at least twice the posted speed limit of 30 mph. Yarimi has been charged with a host of traffic offenses, including speeding and driving with a suspended license, as well as with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
This harrowing event highlights the acute risks associated with speeding in densely populated areas like Brooklyn. According to the New York City Department of Transportation, speeding was a major factor in crashes that claimed the lives of more than 200 people in the city from 2021 to 2023. All told, speeding contributes to about a quarter of NYC traffic deaths annually, the DOT says.
Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to view and steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation. Pedestrians, being completely vulnerable, can suffer serious or fatal injuries in a crash. They and their families face emotional devastation and financial and practical repercussions.
In New York, certain relatives, such as spouses, children and other dependents, can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for the loss of a loved one, including funeral expenses, lost support and lost companionship. In addition, the victim’s estate representative can bring a lawsuit for damages the victim could have recovered had they survived the accident, including medical bills and lost wages.
In cases where the accident was caused by speeding, the driver can be considered negligent per se. This means that plaintiffs in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit do not need to prove negligence as an independent cause, but only that the victims suffered grave or fatal injuries.
An experienced auto accident attorney can be a valuable aide in bringing an effective claim for damages after a speeding accident, helping ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable and securing the maximum compensation possible.
The Brooklyn-based personal injury attorneys of Goldberg Sager & Associates represent people injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout New York City, as well as surviving family members of victims of fatal crashes. Contact us online or call us at 718-645-6677 to discuss your case.
