New York Bicycle accidents accounted for 4045 injuries and 10 deaths to cyclists in 2013. Two persons were struck and killed by bicyclists in Central Park in 2014. It is true that cyclists can also cause injuries to others as well as themselves. Cyclist numbers have grown in the past decade due to the rising cost of transportation, the undocumented population who cannot obtain a driver’s license, recreational and fitness interests and New York local delivery businesses. More bikes and more traffic can only lead to more accidents. Fortunately, head injuries are not as prevalent, due to the wearing of helmets but even a helmet is not total head injury protection.
Types of New York Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents happen in a number of ways because a cyclist is dealing with many potential dangers simultaneously, including inattentive drivers and pedestrians and poorly maintained roads. The cyclist is unrestrained and exposed, so even a minor incident can cause severe injuries.
- Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Accidents – When bikes and cars are sharing the same road the potential for a crash is very high. Drivers often do not see a bicycle or have the attitude that they have the right of way over the bicycle at all times. This is completely false. A bicycle is to obey the same rules and regulations as any other vehicle on the road. When a bicycle is proceeding straight through and intersection a car turning right or left should yield to the cyclist. This situation, along with the driver’s side door opening in front of the cyclist, is one of the two leading causes of motor vehicle-bicycle accidents. In both cases, the cyclist can be ejected from his bike and become airborne resulting in serious injury. In either situation, the driver was likely at fault. Fortunately, drivers of all New York vehicles are required to carry “no fault” insurance that will pay for economic loss such as medical bills, lost time at work and other reasonable expenses. However, they do not pay for pain and suffering or diminished quality of life or even loss of life. The cyclist does have the right to sue for personal injury. However, unlike a no-fault claim, the injured cyclist must prove that the other driver was at fault. Also, an accident involving cyclist who is making a delivery as part of his or her job becomes a worker’s compensation case. The system is filled with pitfalls and deadlines. That is why an experienced New York bicycle accident attorney is indispensable.
- Pedestrians and Other Bicycles – With the evolution of hiking and biking paths in New York and the increase of bicycles on city streets, the incidence of collisions has increased dramatically. A 200-pound combination of steel and flesh traveling at 20 MPH can be a lethal weapon as proven twice in Central Park this year. According to the NYPD, there were 309 pedestrian-bicycle accidents in New York City in 2013, which is an increase of 25% from the previous year. Injuries from these types of collisions can be critical to both parties and can be the fault of either. A skilled bicycle accident attorney should be retained immediately in the case of a bike and pedestrian crash or a bike on bike accident.
- Poorly Maintained Roadways and Paths – Due to the fact that bicycle riders travel in areas of the road where cars rarely do while looking out for cars and pedestrians at the same time, they are very susceptible to potholes and injurious items on the roadway. A bicycle with two thin tires, striking a rut or object in their path, can become out of control and go down or suddenly swerve into traffic. Very often there is liability involved due to the fact that the path or street was poorly maintained or an item was left on the road by an individual or business. A bicycle accident attorney, with years of experience in these types of mishaps, will do a thorough investigation to determine who is at fault and pursue damages on the cyclist’s behalf.
Retaining a New York Bicycle Attorney
If you are involved in a New York bicycle accident, regardless of the type or the severity, it is imperative that you get the police to fill out a report. Many bicycle crashes go unreported which makes pursuing a settlement in the future more difficult. Also, seek medical treatment without waiting. This will provide a time and date stamp for documenting your injuries. Be sure to take pictures of the scene and also of your injuries, torn clothing etc. Then call a New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Tanya Gendelman, P. C.
Law Offices of Tanya Gendelman, P. C. have successfully obtained large cash settlements for clients involved in New York bicycle accidents. We have a team of New York bicycle accident attorneys and investigators who will leave no stone unturned to get to the facts in your case. Call today for a free consultation and speak with a lawyer who sincerely has your best interest at heart.