New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Were You Injured in a New York Bicycle Accident?

As a cyclist in one of the busiest cities in the world, you face unique challenges and dangers on the road. These conditions can, unfortunately, lead to accidents that cause severe injuries, pain, and suffering. You have a right to claim compensation when you are the victim of such an accident due to someone else's negligence or recklessness. This compensation can cover costs related to medical expenses, loss of earnings, and even emotional trauma.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle crash, it is critically important to seek legal representation from a New York City bicycle injury lawyer. A legal professional can skillfully navigate your case and help you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Our bike accident lawyers have decades of experience and approach the attorney-client relationship with care and sensitivity. Call today for a free case review and consultation to learn more about your legal rights after a New York bicycle accident.

Table of Contents

• Bike Accidents and Injuries Have Increased in New York City?
• How Often Do Bike Accidents Occur in New York City?
• What are Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries?
• What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?
• Frequently Asked Questions About New York City Bicycle Accident Cases
• Contact a Skilled New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

Why Choose The Rothenberg Law Firm, LLP, as Your New York Bicycle Accident Lawyers

When you entrust your case to the dedicated bike accident attorneys at The Rothenberg Law Firm, LLP, you align yourself with a team that is unyielding in its commitment to the following principles:

Ensuring Optimum Compensation for You

Our legal strategy prioritizes retrieving the maximum awarded compensation via our legal system to offset the impact of the injuries and damages you and your family may have suffered due to someone else's negligence. Faced with vast corporate insurance defenders, we rise to the challenge and strive to level the playing field in favor of our client.

We Listen to Your Story

Recognizing a personal injury's profound impact on individuals and families, we seek to guide our clients beyond the mere litigation aspect. By initiating connections with medical specialists, counseling professionals, financial consultants, and others, we aim to mend the injuries inflicted on their lives as much as possible.

We Are Unafraid to Go to Trial

We are not a “plaintiff’s mill” that mass-settles cases for easy but less-than-optimal outcomes. Our personal injury law firm stands beside our clients every step of the way. We thoroughly prepare each case for trial and fight relentlessly in situations where the opposition fails to provide a fair settlement for the damages conferred upon our clients.

Cultivating Your Trust and Loyalty

Our role as your legal allies extends beyond a single case. We strive to build strong relationships with our clients, guiding you through your darkest times and helping you rebuild your life. Our ultimate goal is that at the end of every case, we have transformed clients into loyal patrons who remember our assistance and readily endorse our services to others.

The Rothenberg Law Firm, LLP, is here to support you after your bicycle accident. Together, we can navigate the complexities of the legal landscape and work towards favorable outcomes. You're not alone on this journey; let us be your steadfast partner.

Bike Accidents and Injuries Have Increased in New York City

In recent years, New Yorkers have increasingly turned to bike riding for exercise, sport, or simply a relaxing way to spend quality time in the outdoors together with good friends and family. New York City has embraced this trend, installing 21.4 miles of protected bicycle lanes in 2019, with an additional 22.8 lane miles of dedicated cycling space in neighborhoods with high numbers of cyclist fatalities and few cycling facilities.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of bicycle riders in New York City skyrocketed as thousands of commuters chose biking as their mode of transportation, abandoning subways and buses for bike-sharing options like Citi Bike. In July 2020, there was an estimated 80% increase in cycling trips in New York compared to the year earlier, due largely to an extraordinary 147% increase in riding by female bike riders.

The increase in bike ridership is a positive development for New York City residents, with the potential to improve the city's air quality, reduce its carbon footprint, and enhance public health. At the same time, however, the increase in ridership on New York City's busy streets has led to a 43% increase in bicycle injuries. As the number of bike crash victims and bicycle fatalities continues to rise, it is essential for bikers to know their legal rights.

How Often Do Bike Accidents Occur in New York City?

In 2019, there were 3,835 crashes between motor vehicles and bike riders on New York City streets in which the cyclist was injured or killed. In many of these collisions with motor vehicles, the bicycle accident victims suffered a catastrophic injury and required extensive medical treatment.

Sadly, bicyclist fatalities in New York City have been trending upwards. 27 cyclists were hit and killed in 2019, up from 10 the year before, the highest number of bicycle accident fatalities in twenty years. The great majority of deaths were due to motor vehicle accidents.

Some New York Cyclists numbers:

New York Bike Riding Statistics:

• There are nearly 900,000 avid cyclists in New York who regularly ride a bicycle  (at least several times a month)
• 33% of adult New Yorkers, approximately 2 million people, ride a bike at least once a year
• 1,301 lane miles of bike lanes were installed in New York City as of 2019
• 501 lane miles of protected bike lanes were installed in New York City as of 2019
• On a typical day, there are over 510,000 cycling trips made in New York City

What Are the Common Causes of New York Bicycle Accidents?

Bike crashes occur for many reasons, though a common denominator of most bike accidents and bicyclist injuries is driver error, violations of traffic laws, and general carelessness. Bike crashes are often caused by:

• Bad roads with defects, potholes, and other obstructions
• Negligent and distracted vehicle drivers, including drunk drivers
• Dooring, when car doors hit unsuspecting bike riders
• Intersection Collisions
• Cars tailgating bicycles
• Drivers illegally entering into bike lanes
• Defective Bicycles
• Crashes Between Bicycles

Recently, widespread cell phone use by distracted drivers has been directly responsible for thousands of motor vehicle and cyclist crashes, claiming 2,841 lives in 2018 alone. Texting, talking on the phone, taking pictures, capturing video, and other uses of cell phones were directly responsible for 77 fatal bicycle crashes in 2018.

Fortunately, the law provides injured cyclists with remedies, including the right to seek compensation from the responsible party. Injured bicyclists can turn to the experienced lawyers at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, who can assist at every stage of the complicated legal process, from filing an insurance claim to settlement negotiations and litigation. Please contact our office today to set up a free consultation with one of our bicycle accident attorneys to determine your rights and begin the road to maximum recovery.

What are Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries?

Often, bicycle accidents can lead to severe injury. Bike injury victims frequently require extensive medical care and long-term physical therapy for their injuries. Some of the most common serious injuries suffered by bike accident victims include:

• Head injury, trauma, and concussions
• TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
• Facial injuries
• Neck injuries
• Debilitating spinal cord injuries
• Loss of teeth and damage to the jaw
• Bodily injuries, including broken bones, sprains, and tears of both tendons and ligaments

Call our personal injury lawyers today for a confidential consultation to find out how you can get financial compensation for your bicycle accident case.

Who is Liable for My Injuries After a Bicycle Accident?

According to New York law, any person whose actions or negligence lead to a bicycle accident may have legal liability for the bodily damages and property damage resulting from the accident.

Liable parties may include motor vehicle drivers, other bicyclists, pedestrians, government agencies, and companies that manufactured or sold defective bicycles or other products that contributed to the accident.

A bike accident attorney can help you determine who the negligent parties are and will fight to ensure you recover the monetary compensation you deserve for your injuries. Your personal injury lawyer at The Rothenberg Law Firm will understand how the relevant bicycle laws impact your specific case.

What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?

Before anything else, call the police or 911 and make sure that anyone injured in the bicycle accident receives the medical attention they need.

Make sure to remain at the scene until a police officer arrives and files a police report, which will identify the at-fault driver of the vehicle involved in the crash, the car's owner, and the owner's insurance company. An accurate accident report is important to ensure there is proper documentation and that relevant evidence is recorded.

Take pictures of the crash scene, the car or cars involved, and the car's license plate if possible. Note if there were poor road conditions, such as a defective roadway at the accident scene.

Finally, seek the help of a bicycle accident attorney before you talk to an insurance adjuster or a private investigator hired by an insurance company. The process of filing a bicycle accident claim can be complex and so it is critical to obtain legal assistance from a bike crash lawyer who will fight for your rights.

What Are My Rights as the Victim of a New York Bicycle Accident?

Your legal remedies and personal injury claim as a bicycle accident victim are similar to those of someone injured in a car crash. If a driver injures you, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance can cover your medical expenses up to the policy limit. Victims of bicycle accidents often incur significant medical expenses and are entitled to fair compensation.

Our bike accident attorney team at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP will advocate on your behalf throughout the legal process. We’re aggressive in negotiating with an insurance company, and we’re equally prepared to take your case to court. Our goal is to recover monetary damages for losses including, but not limited to:

• Past medical bills and future medical expenses
• Lost income and future loss of earning power
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Non-economic damages, including diminished quality of life

We offer a free case evaluation. You don't pay unless we win you money.

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*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Serious injury cases are not just business for us – they're personal. When we take on a new client, we adopt them as part of our family, and we fight for them in every way possible. That has been our motivating force in capturing hundreds of millions of dollars for clients we have represented during the past 50-plus years. It is also the reason we aspire to be the best personal injury firm in the country.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New York City Bicycle Accident Cases