Bicycle Accident Checklist For NYC Personal Injury Cases
When a bicycle gets hit by a car, it can have devastating consequences for the bicycle rider. It’s crucial that you try and maintain your focus following the crash if you were involved in a bicycle accident in New York City. The steps you take immediately following the accident will have a significant impact on your personal injury claim against the negligent driver and your potential compensation amount. After your visit to the emergency room for a medical check-up, your next step should be consult with an experienced New York City bicycle accident attorney.
Citi-Bike Share Accident Claims in New York City
Driving a car on the congested streets of New York is often a frustrating experience due to the heavy traffic and expensive parking. Add to this the rising gas prices and it is not surprising that many commuters now choose to commute by bikes that are cheaper and far more convenient to use. Unfortunately, bike accidents are all too common on the busy streets of NYC. Injuries in such accidents can be far more severe than a car accident because a bike does not offer you any type of protective features.
Risk of E-Bike Accidents And Injuries in New York City
In recent times, electric bikes are growing more popular because they are generally easier to ride than bicycles. E-bikes have specialized motors of around 750 watts capacity and this enables the rider to reach speeds of more than 25 mph. This makes it easier for people to ride, especially those who may not be physically fit enough to pedal a conventional bicycle. Besides, riding an e-bike can be fun, too. In recent times, many people have begun using e-bikes to ensure a faster, smoother ride to get across New York City. But it also increases the risk of accidents.
Scooter Accident Personal Injury Laws in New York
To determine the responsibility and liability for an accident involving an e-scooter or e-bike, the way in which the crash occurred needs to be established. If the accident occurred due to the reckless driving of a car or truck driver, then they will be liable for all injuries and damages sustained by riders on e-scooters and e-bikes in New York. On top of this, there are a growing number of incidents of electric-powered two-wheelers causing injuries to pedestrians. In these cases, the drivers of electric scooters and bicycles are held responsible for the injuries caused to pedestrians.
Bicycle Accidents in New York Can Cause Serious Injuries
Bicycles are the primary mode of transportation for most people. Many prefer riding bicycles for exercise and fun as well. There are several injuries that can happen to bicyclists while riding. A significant amount of these injuries is attributed to head injuries, but there are several other severe injuries as well. Few of these injuries may turn out to be life-threatening depending on specific circumstances.
Liability For Your Child’s Injuries in a Bicycle Accident
Bicycling is good exercise for kids, and can be an enjoyable experience, too, which is why many parents encourage their young children to ride. However, it is equally important to stay alert to the possibility of children being involved in bicycle accidents.
Bike Accidents on the Rise in Brooklyn
New York City has recently witnessed a worrying surge in the number of bike accidents. Despite measures taken by the cityto keep cyclists safe from traffic accidents, riding a bike in the Big Apple remains dangerous. In 2019, the city reported more than 25 fatal bike accidents, and about 64% of these happened in Brooklyn alone. In 2018, 15 severe bike accidents had happened in NYC.
The city has taken new measures to improve the safety of cyclists. Modified traffic patterns and pro-bicycle infrastructure have been introduced to assist cyclists and eliminate bicycle accidents entirely instead of just reducing the numbers.
While these measures may help reduce bike accidents, the circumstances for Brooklyn’s bike riders don’t seem to get better any time soon.
Biking Laws You Need to Know in New York
New York is a bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy state, with 1,133 miles of bicycle lanes in New York City alone. Over the last several years, biking has become even more popular in the state of New York, resulting in an increase of bicyclists on the roads. Unfortunately, this can also mean a greater number of accidents. In 2017, 4,397 bicyclists suffered injuries and 24 died throughout all five of New York City’s boroughs. Obeying biking laws can help you avoid collisions.
Bicycles as Vehicles
A bicycle in New York is a two- or three-wheeled human-powered device. Motor-powered bicycles fall under different laws than standard bikes. All bicyclists in the state of New York are subject to the provisions of state and city traffic rules. Laws that apply to motor vehicles and their operators also apply to bicyclists, except where not applicable. Bicycles have a right to the roadways when bicycle lanes are unavailable.
NY Cycling Deaths Increased in 2017
New York City bicycle accident attorneys provide help to victims of bike accidents and to family members of bike riders who are killed in collisions. Unfortunately, according to Chelsea Patch, more fatal bike accidents occurred in 2017 even as overall traffic fatalities dropped. Bike accidents can occur when drivers do not share the road in a safe and responsible way with bicyclists. It is important for those who are harmed in bike accidents to take appropriate legal action and pursue a claim for compensation from drivers responsible for causing collisions that harmed them.
NY Lawmakers Want Accident-Prone Bicycle Lane Removed
Bicycle riders face a significant risk of injury while riding on New York’s roads and should contact New York City bicycle accident lawyers if injuries occur. To try to reduce the risk of harm to riders and make the roads safer, there are many bicycle lanes throughout New York City. These bike lanes provide dedicated spaces for bicyclists and they should reduce the risk of collisions occurring. One new bicycle lane, however, has been having the opposite impact as intended. Instead of making motorists and bicyclists safer, the bike lane has increased crash risks so much so that lawmakers and community members are requesting the new bike lane be removed.
