Even minor bicycle accidents can result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. If you are one of the many victims of bicycle accidents in Long Island, New York, you may be concerned about how you will pay all of your medical expenses. You may be unable to return to work because you need time to heal from your injuries.
As the victim of a bicycle accident, you do not have to try to navigate the challenging process of pursuing a personal injury claim on your own. The personal injury attorneys at Dell & Dean, PLLC are prepared to help you understand your legal options. Speaking to an attorney after your accident can help you level the playing field and increase the likelihood of recovering the full compensation you deserve.
Most Bicycle Accidents Are Caused By Negligence
As with other traffic accidents, most bicycle accidents are caused by negligence. Drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others sharing the road must use reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent injuries to others. Negligence occurs when a driver or bicyclist fails to use reasonable care.
Many bicycle accidents are caused by drivers not paying enough attention to the road. Bicycles are smaller than passenger vehicles and more challenging to identify. When drivers aren’t paying attention, they’re more likely to miss seeing a bicyclist and collide with him or her. Other common causes of bicycle accidents in New York include the following:
- Failure to yield the right of way to a bicyclist
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol
- Driving too closely to a bicyclist
- Distracted bicyclists, pedestrians, or drivers
- Lack of dedicated bicycle infrastructure
- Inexperienced riders
- Riding without a helmet or other protective gear
- A lack of street lights at night
- Congested traffic conditions
- Drivers making unsafe or legal turns
- Bicyclists riding against the flow of traffic
Bicycle Accidents Can Cause Severe Injuries
When a motor vehicle collides with a bicyclist, the injuries to the bicyclist tend to be severe. The severity of the resulting injuries is determined by multiple factors, such as how fast the bicyclist was traveling, how suddenly the bicyclist stopped, and how much the bicyclist weighs. Anytime a person collides with a hard object, such as the pavement or motor vehicle, his or her injuries will be more severe. Additionally, when a person comes to a very fast stop after being in a collision, he or she is more likely to be seriously injured. Sudden stops can cause a person’s brain to collide with the hard skull, resulting in brain swelling, bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Although helmets provide some cushioning to help absorb the physical force of the collision, bicyclists can still suffer head injuries when wearing helmets. Bicycle accidents usually involve friction. The bicyclists may slide along the asphalt or concrete, resulting in extreme friction and road rash injuries that can become infected.
Even when a bicyclist stops in anticipation of an accident, the rider will still be moving which can cause him or her to fly forward off of the handlebars or off the side of the bicycle. This type of collision can cause serious bone fractures, neck injuries, sprains, and strains. Skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, broken jaws, and fractured cheekbones are common types of serious bicycle accident injuries.
Who Is At Fault for My Bicycle Accident?
According to New York State law, any person whose negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions cause an accident is responsible for the resulting injuries. Whether you are pursuing compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove that the at-fault party caused the bicycle accident that resulted in your injuries. Depending on the facts in your case and the circumstances that led up to the accident, there may be multiple parties who are responsible for your damages, including the following:
- Pedestrians
- Drivers of motor vehicles
- Other bicyclists
- Employers of negligent parties
- Transit companies
- Government agencies, or
- Companies that sold or manufactured defective bicycles, safety equipment, or vehicles
Dell & Dean, PLLC will work tirelessly to investigate your case and determine who is at fault. We understand that the costs associated with bicycle accidents can be overwhelming for victims. You have the right to demand compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, hospitalization, total or permanent disability, pain, and suffering.
The Benefits of Hiring a Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident, hiring an attorney increases the likelihood of successfully obtaining compensation for your injuries. After receiving medical treatment, you should consider contacting an attorney who can begin protecting your rights and pursuing compensation for you. Insurance companies typically fight to avoid paying victims the full amount of compensation they need. They will begin investigating the accident and trying to find evidence to justify denying or devaluing your injury claim.
The party or parties who caused the accident may try to blame you for the accident and your resulting injuries. If multiple people were involved in the accident, more than one person may be financially responsible for your injuries.
Dell & Dean, PLLC can help you by handling all communication between you and the insurance company. We can also carefully determine who was liable for your injuries and begin developing a strategy to recover compensation. Our law firm regularly works with medical and financial experts to carefully value clients’ claims so we can understand the full extent of their damages and pursue the most compensation possible.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Injury Attorney in New York & Long Island
If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident in New York, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Speaking to an attorney can help you protect yourself and your interests. When you work with Dell & Dean, PLLC, we will carefully investigate your case, determine who is at fault, and begin skilled negotiation with the insurance company. You only have a limited time to pursue compensation for your injuries. Don’t hesitate to contact Dell & Dean, PLLC to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation.
Dell & Dean, PLLC handles claims throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island as well as the boroughs of New York City, and the surrounding areas.
