Long Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle Accident Attorneys Defend Injured Cyclists In Suffolk County, and Throughout Long Island

On clear days, riding a bicycle is a great way to avoid traffic and get exercise, but even with safety gear, you have little protection against the speed and mass of motor vehicles. In a bicycle v. vehicle accident, the bicyclist almost always sustains injuries. And unlike car drivers, bicyclists don’t carry personal injury insurance. But that doesn’t mean that you’re on the hook for your own medical expenses. If you were injured while riding a bicycle, contact an experienced New York bicycle accident lawyer at The Harrison Law Group in Long Island as soon as possible. Our dedicated team of attorneys can help you get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call our office to speak to a lawyer today.

Bicycle Accidents in NY

Bicycle accidents are on the rise. Despite the pandemic, 2020 still saw 12,450 bike accidents in NYC. Of these, 12,422 involved injuries, and 18 were fatalities according to official statistics. Motorists are usually the cause of the accident due to distractions, illegal driving on bicycle lanes, failure to signal, or just plain aggression. In most cases, the rider experiences the most damage either from serious physical injuries or damage to the bicycle. Even worse, many cyclists don’t have insurance. 

If you or a loved one has been in a bicycle accident, consult a New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer of Long Island at Harrison Law Group, P.C. to fight for your rights. We will fight tooth and nail to get you the compensation owed to you by the party at fault and their insurance agents. 

Call or contact us online today for a free consultation about your bicycle accident claim in NY.

Understanding New York Bicycle Laws

New York City has many different municipal laws regarding bicycling. For example, the New York City Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1214 states that passengers cannot open their doors into moving traffic unless they know it is safe. They cannot leave a door open any longer than necessary for passengers to get in or out. 

This law prevents bicyclists from becoming seriously injured by colliding with an open door. If you were injured in a “dooring” bicycle accident, you might have a valid claim to compensation against the negligent driver or passenger. It is possible that you can file a claim through their auto insurance policy.

New York City traffic laws are complex. Consulting with an experienced lawyer will help you understand whether the person or company who caused your injuries violated New York City’s traffic laws. If they did violate the law, it would help your case because you may be able to prove that they were negligent per se. In other words, the fact they violated New York City’s traffic laws shows that they were acting negligently when the accident happened.

Common Causes of Long Island Bike Accidents

Bicycling in New York City has become more common, and the city planners have redesigned some of the streets to accommodate the increase in bicycles. These are positive changes, but they do not mean that the risk of bicycle accidents has been eliminated. Distracted drivers can still cause dangerous bicycle accidents. In a matter of seconds, your life can change in a bicycle accident. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving due to text messaging, daydreaming, eating while driving, or using other technology while driving
• Dangerous road defects that cause bicycle accidents
• Debris in the road
• Dangerous weather conditions, such as snow or ice
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Driver fatigue
• Traffic violations

These accidents continue to occur mostly due to human error or negligence. There are motorists who deliberately drive too close to cyclists, fail to yield right of way, speed, or drive distracted and fail to see cyclists. 

Sometimes, riders are also partly responsible due to unsafe riding such as going against the flow of traffic, riding without safety gear, failure to indicate, among others. 

Types of Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Accidents

Nearly any type of injury can occur during a bicycle accident, even if the bicyclist is wearing a helmet and other recommended safety gear. Unfortunately, some bicycle injuries are severe. Bicyclists do not have as much protection as those in passenger vehicles or commercial vehicles. Bicycle accident injuries include:

• Catastrophic injuries
• Brain Injury
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord damage
• Other neck and head injuries, such as whiplash
• Amputations
• Paralysis
• Burn injuries
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage
• Soft tissue damage
• Broken bones 
• Cuts and lacerations
• Eye injuries
• Wrongful death 

When such injuries occur as a result of a cycling accident, contact a qualified New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Harrison Law Group, P.C. to fight for your rights. Our legal team has served the areas of Suffolk County, Nassau County, Queens County, and Throughout NY, gaining the experience you need to enhance your chances of victory.

Who is Liable for Bike Accidents in NY?

The State of New York has what is called comparative law. That means anyone who contributes to an accident is liable for it in the eyes of the law. 

For cyclists, this is an especially good thing because you can claim compensation from multiple parties if you get hurt in a cycling accident. That can include:

• Other cyclists
• Transport companies
• Motorists
• Employers of negligent parties
• Government agencies
• Companies that made defective products

Even if you are also partly to blame, it is worth looking into how an accident lawyer in New York can help you get financial compensation for damages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, lost income, disability, scarring, and everything else you suffer.

What To Do After a Bicycle Accident

Bicycle accidents are one of the most confusing affairs you can experience. In many cases, cyclists try to negotiate with the motorists on their own, but this doesn’t always work well. The motorist can renege on any agreement you made later when the shock of the moment is worn away.

Based on over 30 years of experience, we recommend that you do the following immediately after the accident.

• Visit the emergency room; the first concern is always your health and safety, as well as the health of anyone else involved in the accident. 

• Collect evidence at the scene; if you have not been seriously injured, take photos and videos of the scene while recording witness statements as well as their contact information. It is very important to remain calm during this stage and think rationally. 

Don’t attack the other party even if they were deliberately wrong, don’t say anything that might incriminate you, and don’t attempt to move your bike or to clean up until the police tell you to do so.

• The second step is always to call the police; there is the temptation to make verbal agreements just after the incident, but it is hardly enforceable if the other party goes against their word.  Even if you are not injured, always get a police report written down and make sure that your version of events has been recorded.

If the officer will not take your report, write down everything you remember as soon as you can. Keep all medical reports, receipts, insurance documents, and anything else related to the accident directly or indirectly.

At the same time, do not repair or throw away any damaged equipment or goods. If the other party doesn’t settle immediately, contact an attorney and do not deal with the insurance company without expert help.

• Follow the instructions of the attorney; your attorney will advise you on what to say and how to behave after the accident. That includes how to handle the insurance company, posting on social media, what doctors and experts to visit, among others. All this will help to build you a stronger case, so follow it to the letter.

Why You Need a New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer 

If you were injured in a severe bicycle accident in New York, you could be facing months of difficult recovery time. Trying to recover compensation for your injuries, whether you are filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, can be just as challenging. Many bicycle accident cases are not clear-cut victories for either party involved. 

Even if it seems like your right to compensation is obvious, the insurance company will try to deny your claim or offer you less compensation than you deserve. In some cases, they could even try to claim that you caused the accident and should not receive any compensation because you are at fault. Consulting with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. 

What A Qualified New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer At Harrison Law Group Can Do For You

Even in a relatively minor bicycle accident in New York, having a lawyer fighting on your behalf is a big advantage. For one, we will help you fight the insurance companies to get you paid the compensation due.

Secondly, a cycling accident lawyer helps to protect you from countersuits, especially if you were partly at fault. In a case of partial fault, you are at least eligible for part of any settlement amount paid out.

Third, we handle all the communication, documentation, evidence collection, research, and other work required when building a strong claim. We have teams of attorneys who will handle interviews, expert statements, and court visits for you as you recover.

Having a New York bicycle accident lawyer is invaluable in giving you peace of mind and a chance to recover from a cycling accident. Throughout the legal process, we will:

Preserve Your Claim

Our personal injury lawyers will immediately begin preserving the evidence in your bicycle accident case. Preserving evidence is a crucial part of protecting your right to a fair amount of compensation. Our lawyers will do all of the following to help you preserve your claim:

• Visit the bicycle accident scene
• Take photos and locate any CCTV or other video footage of the accident
• Preserve GPS data
• Interview witnesses of the bicycle accident
• Work with bicycle accident reconstruction specialist 

Be by Your Side Through the Insurance Claims Process

Suppose a driver collided with your bicycle and the driver was at fault. You may have a right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. After your bicycle accident, an insurance claims adjuster will probably begin trying to contact you. The adjuster will ask you to provide a recorded statement of what happened. We recommend consulting with a bicycle accident lawyer before you give a statement to the insurance company. 

You may unintentionally admit fault and hurt your chances of recovering compensation. Our experienced lawyers can help you draft a statement that is accurate and protects your right to compensation. 

Handle All Aspects of Negotiations

We will handle negotiations for you, so you do not have to deal with the insurance company, and you can focus on your recovery. Having a lawyer on your side through the insurance claims process is important for all the following reasons:

• The insurance company will understand what your case is worth and typically will use any tactics available to pay you less than a fair amount for your claim
• Another person or company may try to blame you for the bicycle accident, reducing your compensation award according to New York’s contributory negligence rules
• You may be able to hold multiple parties accountable for your bicycle accident, such as the driver and his or her employer
• Negotiating with insurance companies is time-consuming and stressful. You should be focused on your medical recovery while your lawyers negotiate aggressively with the insurance company

Talk to a New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Long Island Today!

If you have been injured while riding your bike, you may be entitled to compensation. At Harrison Law Group, our experienced New York bicycle accident lawyers will handle your claim from start to finish so you can focus on your recovery.

Call us at 866-216-7911 and let us begin the process of handling your cycling accident case as soon as possible. The first consultation is completely free, and you only pay if you win your claim. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.