More than a year has passed by since a man ran his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square injuring 28 people and killing one. Last year, several victims filed a Notice of Claim against the New York City seeking justice for a tragedy they say should have been prevented. In the year since the Notice of Claim was filed, the City has not reached out to the victims to resolve the claim, so today, they take the next step in the fight for change on the New York City streets.
Alyssa Elsman was visiting New York City from Michigan with her mother and then 13-year-old sister Ava. Both girls were struck by a vehicle as they stood on the sidewalks of Seventh Avenue taking in the sights at Times Square. The vehicle continued to strike pedestrians on the sidewalk from 42nd Street all the way up to 45th Street. Tragically Alyssa was killed, and Ava suffered serious injuries to her pelvis and lungs which required multiple surgeries.
Other claimants include Gayatri Jariwala who suffered two fractured hips requiring surgery, William McCollough whose wrist was fractured requiring surgery, Destiny Lightfoot who suffered a fractured left leg and right foot both requiring surgery and Caroline Johns whose ribs were fractured resulting in punctured lungs, she also suffered a fractured right arm which required surgery. Although the incident occurred a year ago, each victim is still feeling the consequences of the attack to this day.
The fight to make sure this type of type of tragedy never happens again is now the life mission of Thomas Elsman the father of the Alyssa Elsman who was killed that day back in May of 2017. The legal documentation alleges that the City should have been aware of the potential for attack and should have provided protection for pedestrians against injury and death. In a recent interview on the anniversary of his daughter Alyssa’s death, Thomas Elsman talked about his pain sharing, “It’s the same, every day is the same. It doesn’t change. It’s never ending, it really is.” He said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s 5 days, 5 months, 5 years, 20 years from now. I know it’s going to be the same.”
Greg Sobo, managing partner of Sobo & Sobo and the attorney filing the claim stated “The victims of the Times Square tragedy have lost so much. Some suffered injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Others lost their loved ones. Even the most basic of research demonstrates that New York City knew, or certainly should have known, that a tragedy involving a motorized vehicle striking pedestrians in Times Square was imminent.” Mr. Sobo continued, “The City has not acted in good faith to resolve this important claim, and thus the victims are compelled to take this next step in seeking justice. We look forward to proving our claims in Court. In the process, we will expose the City’s clear negligence for the purpose of making the City a safer place for all who traverse its sidewalks.”
About Sobo & Sobo, LLP
The Law Offices of Sobo & Sobo, one of the largest plaintiff’s personal injury firms in the country, is driven by a commitment to superior service and world-class representation. Sobo & Sobo has offices conveniently located in New York City as well as upstate New York in Middletown, Newburgh, Monticello, and Poughkeepsie.
