New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyers
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.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle crash, it is critically important to seek legal representation from a NYC bicycle injury lawyer who 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.
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 deaths 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
How Can New York Bicyclists Reduce the Risk of Injury?
The New York State Department of Transportation recommends numerous precautions for bikers to prevent cycling injuries:
- Obey Traffic Signs and Signals - Bicycles must obey traffic rules and follow the rules of the road like other vehicles.
- Always Wear your Helmet - Bicyclists 14 years old and younger are required to wear bicycle helmets when operating a bicycle. Bicycle helmets must conform to the standards established by the American National Standard Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials or the Snell Memorial Foundation at all times. In addition to wearing bike helmets, it's also wise to use other types of bicycle safety equipment like lights and reflective gear which increase your visibility when you bike at night and can help prevent many bike crash scenarios.
- Never Ride Against Traffic - Motorists aren't looking out for people who ride bikes on the wrong side of the road. State law and common sense require that bicyclists obey traffic rules like other operating vehicles, and drive together with the flow of traffic in the proper traffic lanes.
- Don’t Pass on the Right - Don't pass cars on the right, as drivers may not look for or see a bicycle passing on the right.
- Keep Both Hands Ready to Brake - You may not stop in time if you brake one-handed. Allow extra distance for stopping in the rain, as brakes are less efficient when wet.
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.
Bike crashes occur for many different 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 unsuspecting bike riders are hit by car doors
- Intersection Collisions
- Cars tailgating bicycles
- Drivers illegally entering into bike lanes
- Defective Bicycles
- Crashes Between Bicycles
In recent years, 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 another use of cell phones was 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.
In many cases, bicycle accidents can lead to severe injury. Bike injury victims often require extensive medical care and long term physical therapy for their injuries. Some of the most common 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
To find out how you can get financial compensation for your bicycle accident injury, call our personal injury lawyers today for a confidential consultation.
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.
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.
If possible, take pictures of the crash scene, the car or cars involved, and the car's license plate. Note if there were poor road conditions at the accident scene, such as a defective roadway.
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.
Your legal remedies and personal injury claim as a bicycle accident victim are similar to those of someone injured in a car crash. 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
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Contact a Skilled New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Legal Remedies
Every bicycle accident has its own fact pattern and injuries, and many complex legal concepts and nuances could be overlooked if you try to negotiate on your own. You can trust the bicycle accident attorneys at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP to fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
To learn more about how our legal team can assist with your bicycle accident claim, please call 1-800-624-8888 or go online to set up a free case evaluation with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer with a track record of success. The initial consultation is FREE of charge. Our legal team works on a contingency fee basis; if we agree to handle your case, there are no legal fees unless we are successful in getting you money.
Bicycle accident lawsuits must be filed before an expiration date known as the Statute of Limitations. Call our law offices today to speak with a real person for real-time assistance with your personal injury lawsuit to ensure that you do not waive your right to maximum compensation.
The Rothenberg Law Firm services clients in the broader NYC area, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, Long Island, and Westchester.
Over ABillion Dollarsin verdicts & settlements for our clients
What Our Clients Say
“The Rothenberg Law Firm was very attentive when I made the initial contact with them regarding my personal injury claim. They were very clear in explaining to me the process including both the pros and cons of a case. Their lawyer’s mastery of this field of law is evident and they are backed by a firm that has many years of experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to anyone in need of help for personal injury issues and beyond.”
"The Rothenberg Law Firm explained all aspect of the case and laws in NY and NJ so I was able to understand exactly what was needed and what can happen. I had complete confidence in them. Their lawyers are very smart, quick, and sympathetic to my loss."
