Bicycle Accidents Lawyer
Bicycle accidents are common throughout New York City because we are a City with an avid bike riding population both for sport and work. New Yorkers love to ride bikes because it is a convenient way to travel or exercise. Twenty-four percent (24%) of New Yorkers, about 1.6 million people, ride a bike every year. Approximately eight hundred thousand (800,000) adults in New York ride a bicycle regularly. There are over twelve hundred (1,200) miles of bike lanes in New York City as of 2018. On a typical day, there are almost five hundred thousand (500,000) cycling trips occurring in New York City.
In fact, cycling to work in New York has increased almost two times faster than any other city in the U.S. from 2012-2017. Approximately twenty thousand (20,000) New Yorkers in Manhattan use a bicycle to commute to work. Brooklyn beats Manhattan in cyclists commuting to work with over twenty-one thousand workers biking to work. Queens has about fifty-five hundred (5,500) per day and the Bronx has about twenty-five hundred (2,500) cyclists coming and going to/from work.
Cycling activity each day, compounded by a crowded city full of pedestrians, cars, trucks, commercial vehicles and other motor vehicles, combine for a dangerous environment for cyclists. New York City bicycle accidents can lead to serious injury or death. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident anywhere in New York City, contact our accident lawyers at Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, P.C.
Common Types of Bicycle Accidents in New York
Bicycles can be involved in almost any accident. Below are common New York City bicycle accident types:
Bicycle Accidents with Other Motor Vehicles—Sharing the road with cars in crowded and busy New York streets can be a dangerous activity for cyclists.
Bicycle Crashes with Taxis—Taxis are ubiquitous in New York and are often driven wildly. Collisions with bikes are all too common. Our taxi accident lawyers have won millions in settlements.
Accidents with Uber/Lyft Drivers—Rideshare drivers are often unprofessional and unsafe drivers causing accidents with cyclists.
Pedestrian Bicycle Accidents—Walking or running in New York can be just as dangerous as riding a bike or driving a motor vehicle. A pedestrian can cause a bicycle accident or be hurt by a cyclist and both are very common accidents in New York City.
Bicycle Crashes with Trucks or Large Motor Vehicles— Bicyclists are in danger from motor vehicles of all kinds. Whether it is garbage trucks, City buses, FedEx or UPS trucks or other delivery vehicles, they all pose potentially dangerous situations for cyclists.
Accidents with Parked Vehicles—This type of accident is quite common in New York. Often called “dooring,” there are laws that make it illegal to open a door in a manner unsafe for cyclists.
Accidents with E-Scooters, Vespas, Mopeds—Another common type of bicycle accident throughout the City involves bicycles with scooter or mopeds.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident?
- Always ride with identification and a cell phone.
- Call 911 or ask someone to help if you are unable to call.
- Wait for police to arrive and file an official report.
- Note the reporting officers name and write in down or put it in your phone.
- Leave your bike in the same place it was after the accident, if possible and safe.
- Identify potential witnesses.
- Always seek medical help if needed and go the emergency room and note all injuries.
- Take photos of your injuries, accident scene and the bike.
- Always get identification information from the driver of the other motor vehicle, passengers, or anyone else involved in the accident.
- Make no statements to anyone accepting fault, including the police officers at the scene. Never accept an offer from an insurance agent until you speak with an attorney.
Call our New York Bicycle Accident Lawyers for Free Consultation Today
Bike accidents can cause serious financial, emotional, and physical injury. Injuries resulting from a negligent driver, pedestrian, or some defect in the roadway, when not your fault deserve compensation. Please contact us for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers represent clients in bicycle accident lawsuits throughout New York City and Long Island. We may be reached at (212) 847-5007 in New York or (718) 954-9986 on Long Island.