Should Cities Be Held Responsible for Preventing Vehicular Violence?

TEXAS. In the wake of the Toronto van attack that left 10 people dead and another 15 people seriously injured, people across the country are asking how future attacks can be prevented. While the Toronto government has not yet called the attack an act of terrorism, early reports from Vox suggests that the attacker may have had terrorist leanings.

Before the attacker drove on the sidewalk in Toronto, he posted on Facebook, pledging his allegiance to the “Incel Rebellion.” What are “incels?” According to Vox, “incels” are men who promote the idea of male supremacy. These men tend to meet in online groups where they promote the misogynistic ideal that women are shallow and that feminism and women’s choice has led to their oppression. The Southern Poverty Law Center has noted a dangerous trend that indicates that some men have radicalized online, with some promoting violence.

Unfortunately, as extremism proliferates and as culture gets more fractured and divided, the risk of these kinds of terrorist and violent attacks in cities will only likely grow. As more people live in dense urban centers, pedestrians may become targets for vehicular violence. It can be difficult to properly monitor the internet to determine which posts are real threats of violence and which posts are ironic or jokes.

Yet, some cities are taking steps to prevent these attacks from taking place. Some believe that cities have a responsibility to erect barriers in places where there is high pedestrian traffic. According to the Atlantic, in France, steel cables were constructed to protect pedestrians on the seafront. In Germany, concrete barriers have been installed. Despite these efforts, experts believe it will still be very difficult for cities to protect pedestrians from these attacks altogether. Experts claim that it will be very difficult to protect pedestrians from these kinds of attacks without completely redesigning cities—a costly prospect.

So, should cities be held responsible for preventing vehicle violence? It isn’t likely to happen any time soon. That said, there are certain areas of cities where pedestrians are more vulnerable. High-traffic areas might be better reserved for pedestrians. In New York, for example, Times Square was completely redesigned to eliminate vehicle traffic altogether. Similar designs in other cities where pedestrians congregate might lower the risk of vehicle accidents.

At the end of the day, if a terrorist chooses to use a vehicle as a weapon, there is very little that can be done. Victims may be entitled to seek damages from the perpetrator for their personal injuries or losses. Families may be able to seek damages for a loved one’s wrongful death, and families may be able to access money from crime victim’s funds to seek compensation for losses and medical care.

If you’ve been hurt due to reckless driving or due to the violent actions of another person or party, you may have important rights under the law. The Cooper Law Firm are personal injury attorneys in Texas, who may be able to help you. Visit us at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more about your options and rights.

 

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