Brooklyn Couple's Car Totaled by Street Sweeper; 7 On Your Side Expedites Claim

Brooklyn Couple's Car Damaged by City Vehicle

• 🚗 A Brooklyn couple discovered their car was completely totaled after being struck by a city street sweeper.
• 💥 The incident occurred while the couple was away, and the city employee admitted fault, leaving contact information.
• 🏙️ The damage was significant, with the car pushed onto the sidewalk and the front end ripped off.

Navigating City Hall for Reimbursement

• ⏳ Despite the city employee admitting fault and leaving information, the couple faced a lengthy and difficult process to get reimbursed.
• 📜 They were informed by the controller's office that property damage claims against the city can take up to a year and 90 days to resolve.
• 💔 The delay caused significant hardship, especially for the wife who has a heart condition and the husband who requires dialysis three times a week.

7 On Your Side Intervention

• 🆘 After more than half a year without their car, the couple contacted 7 On Your Side for assistance.
• 🤝 The news team began contacting the comptroller's office in January and advocated for the couple's claim.
• ✅ Within a week of intervention, the couple received a $9,500 payment to help cover the cost of their totaled vehicle.

City Claims Process and System Issues

• 📊 The city receives up to 30,000 damage claims annually, with over 5,800 specifically for motor vehicle incidents.
• 💻 The controller's office acknowledged that their claims system is over 20 years old and uses an ancient computer language, contributing to delays.
• 💡 The city is considering incentivizing agencies to reduce damages and is looking into updating their software to expedite claims.

Understanding City Vehicle Claims and Immunity

• ⚠️ It's crucial to act fast when filing a claim against the city, with only 90 days to report the incident and specific deadlines for submitting evidence and accepting settlements.
• 🚨 New York City has an immunity law that can limit the city's liability in certain situations, particularly when emergency vehicles are responding to incidents or during emergencies like snowstorms.
• ❓ This law provides flexibility for operators of emergency vehicles to disregard some traffic laws when responding to emergencies, potentially affecting compensation for damages.