A Staten Island family is preparing to seek $25 million from New York City after a young motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a New York City Department of Transportation vehicle.
According to reports, the fatal collision happened in early June when a NYC DOT pickup truck made a left turn directly into the path of an 22-year-old Jordan Yulfo. The rider had no opportunity to avoid the impact and suffered fatal injuries. Yulfo was on his way to work when it happened.
Left-turn crashes remain one of the deadliest scenarios for motorcyclists. Time and time again, riders are put in impossible situations when drivers either misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or simply fail to see them before turning across their lane.
The family has now filed a notice of claim, the first legal step toward suing New York City, alleging the city’s employee was responsible for causing the fatal crash. The claim seeks $25 million in damages.
While the legal process is just beginning, the case shines another spotlight on one of the most common causes of fatal motorcycle crashes: drivers making left turns without yielding the right of way.
For riders, it’s another painful reminder that even when you’re doing everything right, you can’t always avoid a driver who turns directly in front of you.