New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Costly Injuries from a Bicycle Accident Deserve Ample Compensation

Serious injuries have consequences that may affect you for years. In addition to the physical and psychological suffering after a serious bicycle accident, you may also face the financial fallout stemming from the accident. In a legal case, the harms you suffer from an accident are considered “damages.” In a personal injury claim, the amount of money you’ll seek relate to your damages. They can include…

• Medical expenses
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Lost income (past and future).

When you work with Kaplan Lawyers PC, we’ll help you determine how much money you should be seeking in your claim. Some of these costs will be more clear-cut than others, but all are serious and deserve compensation. Non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering and diminished quality of life, are in many ways more impactful on your life than the financial consequences of a crash.

We take all your damages seriously, and we’ll fight to make sure you are given the payment you deserve.

What Happens If You Are Struck by a Vehicle While Biking?

If you have been struck by a car while riding a bike, and the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, your medical bills, prescription costs, household services, transportation to medical providers, and lost wages will be paid by the insurance company which covers the vehicle that struck you — to the limits of the policy’s coverage.

Finding a Negligent Driver in a Bicycle Accident

It’s your responsibility to identify the negligent driver and their insurance company. And you must do this within 30 days from the date of the accident. This means you most certainly need a seasoned bicycle accident lawyer in New York to investigate the accident and find this defendant. If the accident was a hit and run, having a seasoned attorney help investigate your case is even more important. You may also be entitled to collect additional compensation for pain and suffering if your injuries qualify under the “serious injury” categories established by the New York State Legislature.

The NYC accident attorneys at Kaplan Lawyers P.C. have years of experience in these types of cases, and we assure you that we will fight to make certain you will receive all the benefits you are entitled to. The initial consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win compensation for you. Call us today at (516) 399-2364 so we can begin working on your case.

Common Types of Injuries in Bicycle Accidents

Wearing a helmet, practicing defensive riding, and expecting that drivers aren’t looking for you are all good practices to avoid a bicycle accident. However, crashes do happen — and when they do, even a helmet may not fully protect you. Among the types of injuries cyclists can get in an accident are:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI can include one or more of the following
  • Concussions: Concussions occur when the brain “collides” with the inside of the skull. Though helmets protect against head injuries, bicycle riders who wear them can still suffer a concussion, but it’s likely to be less serious than if they rode helmetless.
  • Contusions: This “bruising” of the brain can mimic symptoms of a concussion, depending on the region of the brain affected.
  • Hematomas: Blows to the skull can cause blood clots between the skull and brain or inside the brain itself. They block the supply of blood (and oxygen) to the brain, which can lead to a stroke.
• Spinal Cord Injury: This can result in temporary, partial, or total paralysis below the injury site. The effects of total paralysis to the spinal cord are often permanent. It can take years of rehabilitation to fully recover from non-permanent paralysis.
• Internal Injuries: Organ trauma can affect the chest (heart/lungs) and abdomen (liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, etc.).
• Bone Fractures: Vulnerable areas include arms, legs, wrists, elbows, and knees. Traumatic bone fractures usually involve compound fractures, where an arm or leg bone pierces skin.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Road rash is a common injury in bicycle accidents. Other soft tissue injuries can include damage to ligaments and cartilage.

FAQs About Bicycle Accidents

Our New York Bicycle Accident Lawyers Answer Common Questions

• How will I know if injuries from my bicycle accident will be considered serious?

  Many of the injuries sustained in a bicycle accident can become progressively worse with time, so it is difficult to determine shortly after the accident. Some serious brain injuries, for example, do not show symptoms of their severity until hours, if not days, after the injury. It is best to give our NYC bicycle accident lawyers a call to discuss your case, so you are positioned to take action. We will evaluate your situation and let you know how best to proceed.

• Do I need a bicycle accident attorney to handle my claim?

  If you were hit by a vehicle, it is likely their insurance should cover the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Insurance companies employ an army of attorneys, claims specialists, and experts to win their cases, so to get the compensation that you are entitled to, you will need to hire a bicycle accident lawyer that specializes in injury cases. Our legal team at Kaplan Lawyers has decades of experience and a proven track record of maximizing settlements, and we are in the best position to ensure that you get everything you are entitled to.

• Do I have to pay any legal fees if I lose my case?

  In short, no. Our NYC bicycle accident attorneys work on a contingency fee which states that if you don’t win your case, we don’t get paid.

• How much is my bicycle accident case worth?

  If any attorney tells you that they know how much your case is worth before reviewing all the documentation and gathering information about the accident from witnesses, a police report and medical provider information, then they are not competent. However, our team at Kaplan Lawyers has decades of experience and will maximize the value of your bicycle accident case. Once we have fully researched your situation, we can provide you an estimated settlement amount in your bicycle accident case. If we end up proceeding to trial, that amount may increase, but the payout will take much longer, and all jury trials carry a bit of risk.

• How will my medical bills get paid?

  Your medical bills will be paid by the insurance company for the car that struck you. That’s why it’s so important to retain counsel of our bicycle injury lawyer in New York. Our team will fight for the full compensation you deserve to cover all costs associated with your injuries.

• How can I get my bike fixed?

  You will have to file a third-party claim with the driver’s insurance company. However, a third-party claim can take significant time to resolve. The insurance company will try to twist your words and use them against you, so let our attorneys handle the communications for you. Reach out to us today to discuss your bicycle accident case.

• How long will it take to settle my New York bicycle accident case?

  Every case is different but our legal team utilizes the most advanced technology and aggressive legal strategy to expedite our client’s cases, generally resolving cases years faster than any other firm.

• Can anyone sue to collect for pain and suffering if they were hit by a car?

  New York follows the rule of no-fault which states that you can only bring a successful claim if you have sustained a serious injury as defined by the New York State Legislature (NY ISC §5102 (3)(d)). This law significantly restricts an individual’s ability to collect money for pain and suffering. But if there is any chance of your obtaining this type of compensation, count on our bicycle accident attorney to pursue it aggressively.

Factors That Lead to Bicycle Accidents in New York City

Bicycle accidents are often caused by careless driving. Accidents can happen as a parked car pulls out, when a driver turns at an intersection without looking carefully, as a driver leaves a driveway, when a driver is distracted by looking at a device or eating, or any number of other reasons. It is often the case that a driver will be at-fault in a bike accident. Because bicyclists are so vulnerable to serious injury when they are involved in a collision with a larger vehicle, like an accident with a semi-truck for example, one misstep from a driver can carry devastating consequences for someone on a bicycle. When a driver fails to do their part to keep others safe, they are being negligent.

Types of Driver Negligence that Can Cause NYC Bicycle Accidents

DISTRACTION

FATIGUE

INTOXICATION

AGGRESSION

VEERING INTO BICYCLE LANES

FAILURE TO SIGNAL BEFORE TURNING

These are just a few examples of factors that contribute to reckless, negligent driving. As a bicyclist, you might not know exactly why a driver struck you, and it is not on you to find out. Kaplan Lawyers PC is here to help you. By working with an experienced bicycle accident attorney, you can leave that task to your legal representative.

How Drivers Can and Should Avoid Bicycle Accidents in New York

What Drivers Should Do to Avoid Causing a Bicycle Accident

Drivers have a responsibility to more vulnerable road users like bicyclists and pedestrians. They should follow the rules of the road and the conduct expected of all New York motorists. When they don’t, tragedy can happen. The size of a car can cause severe injuries, and even death, for a bike rider. If a driver hits you because they didn’t practice safe driving, you may have a strong case. Our accident attorneys will evaluate the circumstances of your accident and let you know what outcome you can expect. Among the ways drivers can avoid causing a bicycle accident are by…

• Being mindful of the presence of bicyclists
• Giving cyclists ample room when sharing the road
• Never veering into bicycle lanes, even if a cyclist’s presence isn’t detected
• Never opening a vehicle’s door into oncoming traffic
• Always being focused on the task of driving and aware of surroundings.

New York drivers have experience sharing the road with bicyclists. There’s no excuse for negligent driving that threatens the safety of other road users. When drivers fail to keep others safe, they should be held accountable for the harm they cause.

How Riders Can Bike Safely and Avoid Injury in a Bicycle Accident

While it is often the case that inattentive and sometimes reckless drivers cause bicycle accidents that result in serious injury, there are steps riders can take to avoid those accidents.

To reduce the risks you face while cycling in New York, you should:

• always wear a helmet
• ride with traffic rather than against it
• stay as far to the right side of the road as possible
• use hand signals to communicate with drivers
• obey all traffic controls
• wear brightly-colored clothing
• use reflectors and lights on your bike to increase your visibility
• never ride on sidewalks
• ear buds can be worn in one ear only, by NY state law (NY VAT §375 (24-a), but it’s best to wear none so you can hear well.

The Department of Transportation provides a full list of safety tips and regulations that are essential for bike riders to know before they get on New York roads.

New York City Bicycle Crash Statistics

Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers see an unfortunate increase in victims injured by tragic accidents. As a representation of how dangerous biking can be, the numbers in NYC point to a disturbing trend. The following information was taken from the NYC Department of Transportation Bicycle Crash Data Report. The year 2020 is the most recent one for which bicycle accident data for NYC has been provided.

In general, these numbers regarding bicycle accidents in NYC, unfortunately, are trending upward at a steep rate. Here is a look at the most recent data:

Our attorneys are dedicated to obtaining the full compensation due to victims of bicycle accidents. We know how serious injuries can turn lives upside down and the costs associated with those injuries simply add further burden to accident victims and their families. That’s why we’re here to help. If someone’s negligent actions led to your injury, get in touch with our New York bicycle accident lawyer today. Call us at (516) 399-2364.

Get Started on Your Bicycle Accident Case Today

Our Team of New York Bicycle Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help You

It may seem like some bicycle accident cases are simple. A driver hit you; you get their insurance information; you contact the insurance company; and you take steps to submit bills so you can get a claim paid.

However, if you don’t work with an attorney, it is highly likely that even in the simplest of bicycle accident cases, your compensation will be lower.

When a case is complex, you’ll want an experienced bicycle accident attorney in NYC to collect all necessary evidence to make your case as strong as possible. This is just one of the reasons to reach out to our New York bicycle accident lawyer.

You can rely on our knowledge of the law and our skill at negotiating with insurers. After we review the details of your case, we can tell you how much you can expect to get in a bicycle accident settlement. And, if your case needs to go to trial, you’ll have strong litigators at your side who know your case well and will guide you every step of the way.

Pay Nothing Unless We Win Your Bicycle Accident Case

You’ll get a free consultation to find out what we can do for you. You’ll lose nothing. You don’t pay us anything unless or until we win your case. We understand the intricacies of the law and will handle all legal details so you can focus on healing from your injuries. Our bicycle accident lawyers are here to help you and your family in your time of need.

Reach out to our skilled New York bicycle accident attorneys at Kaplan Lawyers by calling (516) 399-2364 or by filling out our contact form.

Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.

John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]