The plaintiff was struck by the rear of defendants' truck while crossing the street at, or immediately adjacent to, a crosswalk. Since it was undisputed that plaintiff looked in the direction of oncoming traffic before stepping off the curb, and the truck struck her while backing up (i.e., moving in a direction from which no traffic would be expected), she was not guilty of contributory negligence. (Kupperberg v. American Druggists Syndicate, 212 App. Div. 311; Enstrom v. Neumoegen, 126 N.Y.S 660; cf., Vescio v. Silverman, 20 Misc.2d 876.)
The testimony of plaintiff and her experts supported the jury's determination that she suffered a "serious injury" within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102 (d). We do not find the verdict, based on a torn rotator cuff of the shoulder, excessive (see, May v. European Health Spas, 103 A.D.2d 1032; compare, Gonzalez v. Manhattan Bronx Surface Tr. Operating Auth., 160 A.D.2d 420).
Concur — Kupferman, J.P., Sullivan, Ross, Ellerin and Rubin, JJ.