In New York the most common type of bike accidents occurs when a bike collides with a car, taxi, truck, bus or pedestrian. Because New York does not require people over the age of 14 to wear helmets cyclists often do not wear them. This leaves the cyclist's body completely unprotected. As a consequence a bike accident can leave a cyclist with serious injuries that can include a spinal cord injury, head injury, broken bones, neck injury, or a traumatic brain injury. The use of bicycles has grown steadily in recent years as people seek to avoid heavy traffic, avoid paying the high costs of fuel, and find ways to stay fit. New York officials have made efforts to make cycling safer for cyclists as well as for motorists and pedestrians, and reduce the number of cycling-relate accidents. However, bike accidents remain a frequent fact of life in New York. In the same way that a victim of a car accident may seek damages from the negligent person through a personal injury claim, New York law allows victims of bike accidents and their family members to seek damages as well. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you were injured in a bike accident do not hesitate to contact an experienced Bronx Bike Accident Lawyer who is familiar with not only personal injury law, but the specific rules that apply to cyclists. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries the medical staff commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your bike accident injuries may be required to compensate you for that as well.
Common Causes of Bike AccidentsWhile there are many factors that lead to bike accidents common types of bike accidents include:
Whether you are riding a motorcycle or bicycle, many of the risks are the same. As a rider, you are exposed to a direct hit from a car or the pavement if your bike goes down. By design a motorcycle or bike is not as stable as a car because of its two wheel design. Cars and trucks are much heavier than a bike or motorcycle, if an impact occurs the bike will take the hit harder.
Road conditions can be a major factor in an accident. Being on a bike makes you more vulnerable to wet, slippery roads, bad weather, and road irregularities. A car would likely drive over a large pothole, but if someone on a bike went over the same pothole it could cause them to crash. If road conditions were a factor in your bike accident, our legal team will advise you that you may be able to file a claim against the town, county, city or state that owned and the road.
Common Bike Accident InjuriesThere are a variety injuries that those involved in a bike accident may suffer. Only injuries that are deemed serious are compensable. Common serious bike accident injuries include:
If you were injured in a bike accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the person whose negligence lead to your injuries. You may be entitled for compensation for the medical bills associated with your treatment. These expenses include the fees your doctors charge, ambulance fees, emergency room fees, hospital fees, surgical fees, costs of prescriptions, costs of medical equipment, as well as fees associated with rehabilitation. In addition, if you miss work, the negligent party is responsible for paying you the wages and other compensation that you lost.
What to do if You are in a Bike AccidentIf you have been involved in a bike accident, our team suggests the following:
While a bicycle accident may have some similarities to an accident involving only motorists, there are nuances to handling a bike accident that only an experienced bike accident attorney will understand. Contact Stephen Bilkis and Associates, PLLC to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims from people injured in bike accidents as well as motorcycle accidents and car accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.