Our NYC Citi Bike Share Accident Attorney Helps Win Compensation
In the spring of 2013, New York City introduced a new program called Citi Bike, which allows residents and tourists to rent bicycles to get around the city. Bike sharing allows users to pick up a bicycle at one self-serve bike station and return it to any other bike station located within the service area. However, there is a danger in introducing so many new bicyclists to the already highly populated roadways of New York City.
Many of these renters are inexperienced, and New York City can be a treacherous place to traverse even for experienced cyclists. So, while the Citi Bike program has done a lot of good by reducing gas emissions and wear and tear on roadways, it has also increased the opportunity for accidents such as bicycle/motorist collisions.
Bicycles are no match for larger, heavier vehicles, and, due to their small size and limited visibility, they are very vulnerable to accidents. They afford no physical protection, so bicyclists may wind up with serious injuries and even death in the event of an accident. Common injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, broken bones and road rash. Survivors may be left with large medical and rehabilitation expenses and unable to work, and their lives may never be the same.
If you or a loved one was injured or someone has died while riding a Citi bicycle due to someone else’s negligence or fault, you may be entitled to compensation. However, New York laws are complicated, insurance companies and their lawyers will try to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible, and making mistakes can be costly.
Fortunately, you do not have to fight for fair compensation on your own. The bike injury attorneys at Tucker Lawyers PC have the experience necessary to help anyone injured as a result of a bike accident. Each case is different, but our legal team knows how to identify what negligence is and how to investigate and prove your claim so you can receive the compensation you are entitled to. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the circumstances of your bike or motorcycle accident injury and determine the best way to help. Let us handle all legal hurdles involved so you can focus on your recovery.
There are no fees to you unless and until we win a settlement for you, so call us today to get started.
How Our Citi Bike Accident Attorney Helps You
Why Choose Us?
There are many attorneys in New York, and it’s important for you to find one you have confidence in and who has the experience necessary to deal with the complications that arise in Citi bike cases. Here are some reasons why we think our accomplished legal team at Tucker Lawyers PC firm is your best choice:
- We have more than 30 years of experience, and we get results, such as the $1.35 million we won in a car accident settlement.
- We have helped many satisfied clients. You can read our client testimonials to prove it.
- We help you find medical care for your injuries and make sure everything is documented.
- We handle all required legal paperwork and court appearances.
- We deal and negotiate with insurance companies, so you won’t have to.
- We are recognized in and give back to the community, and have won awards including the AVVO Rating for Excellence in Personal Injury and the Top 100 Settlements for personal injury from Topverdict.com.
- We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
- Our reputation and our entire practice is built on achieving exceptional results while providing the best service possible.
- You pay us nothing unless we win and you get your money.
How We Work for You
When you hire us to represent you after a slip and fall injury, we start working immediately to pursue justice for you. We will:
- Meet with you to hear how your bike accident happened, identify who the at-fault parties may be, and determine if you have a valid case and what it may be worth
- Investigate your accident and gather evidence such as from photos, traffic videos, and police and medical reports
- Interview witnesses and first responders
- Take care of all legal requirements in a timely manner, including filing all paperwork, making court appearances, and handling appeals
- Consult experts to reconstruct the accident and testify as to fault and experts to testify as to how your injuries negatively impact your life and ability to work into the future
- Negotiate with insurance companies and their lawyers for maximum compensation
- Build your case and take it to court if necessary.
Our lawyers have the experience necessary to identify all potentially liable parties and to hold them accountable.
Get Started Now (516) 399-2364
NYC Citi Bike Share Accidents Attorney Must Prove Negligence
Who is Liable in a Bike Share Accident?
To win your case, our Citi bike share accident attorneys must prove that another party, the defendant in the case, was negligent and at fault for causing the accident that injured you. This means showing the existence of the following four elements:
- Duty – The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
- Breach – The defendant breached this duty by a wrongful act or by inactions.
- Cause – These actions or failure to act caused the accident that harmed you.
- Damages –You suffered damages as a result.
Determining liability for a bike share accident can be complicated by the fact that there may be multiple parties responsible for the accident and multiple New York laws involved.
New York law requires bicyclists and motorists to use the same degree of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used under the same circumstances. Under Section 1146 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. Motorists who fail to use reasonable care may be held liable for accidents due to their negligence.
In addition to motorist negligence, bike accidents caused by inadequate maintenance are common on rental bikes. New York City bike rental companies are required to make sure that their bikes are in good condition and safe to use. When a poorly maintained bike or a defective part causes an accident, the rental company could be liable for your injuries, as could a bike or part manufacturer if the bike or its parts were defectively manufactured or designed. In some cases, you may also have a claim against a city government if any defects in the road or other hazards contributed to your accident. In this case, a Notice of Claim must be filed with the City of New York within 90 days of the accident.
Both motorists and bicyclists have an obligation to try to avoid accidents. Those operating motor vehicles should remain vigilant and adhere to all rules of the road. Cyclists should be thorough in their use of hand signals, and try their best to avoid undue contact with all vehicles. Weaving in and out through traffic is a dangerous and reckless practice.
Our Tucker Citi Bike accident lawyer is thoroughly familiar with all bicycle laws and the circumstances where certain parties can be held responsible. We would look to name all negligent parties as defendants since they all may have assets and insurance that can go toward a settlement in a bicycle accident lawsuit.
Compensation in Citi Bike Share Accident Claims
In a successful Citi bike accident case, our Tucker attorneys may win a monetary award called damages, which should cover both your economic and noneconomic losses and expenses.
Economic damages – are for the financial costs and losses you have incurred that can be quantified monetarily, such as:
- Medical and rehabilitation bills, current and future
- Lost income from being unable to work
- Property damage.
Noneconomic damages – are for damages that do not have a specific dollar value but negatively impact your life, such as:
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium and quality and enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or permanent loss of limb.
Punitive damages – In some rare cases, where a defendant acted extremely egregiously and recklessly, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These are intended to punish the defendant and to deter such actions in the future.
Amounts of Damage Awards
Damage award amounts can vary widely in a bike accident personal injury case, from the thousands to the millions, depending on the factors involved in your individual situation. Factors taken into consideration may include:
- your actual costs and monetary losses
- the type, extent, and effects on your life of your injuries and whether they will be permanent and require continuing care
- your age, family situation and earning situation
- whether a wrongful death was involved
- the degree of negligence of the defendants.
New York does not have a damage cap for personal injury cases, and the more permanent and severe the injury and the greater the impact on your life, the higher the recovery may be. The skill of your attorneys also plays a major role. Our Citi bike accident attorneys will consider all factors to evaluate what your case may be worth and fight for maximum compensation.
FAQs About Citi Bike Share Accident Claims in NYC
When you’re hurt in a bike sharing accident, you probably have many questions and concerns. Our Tucker Citi bike accident lawyers can best answer all questions at your free consultation, but to get you started, here are a few we regularly hear from our clients:
Should I speak to an insurance adjuster?
No, the less you say to an insurance adjuster, the better. Insurance adjusters are concerned with their bottom line, so will always try to get you to accept the lowest amount possible. Insurance companies may use tactics such as offering you a quick settlement in return for signing a release. Be aware that once you accept their offer, you will not be able to make additional claims in the future, even if your injuries get worse. They may also attempt to trick you into saying something that can be used against you, such as admitting that you were partially at fault for the accident.
Tell the insurance adjuster to speak to your attorney, and let Tucker Lawyers PC handle all dealings and negotiations to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
How does NY no-fault insurance law work with bicycle accidents?
The state of New York is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that compensation should be recovered regardless of fault. This No-Fault coverage is separate and apart from any lawsuit. According to NY law, (ISC section 5102) you may go beyond no-fault and sue for personal injury losses if you have sustained a serious injury. This means an injury which results in death, significant disfigurement, a fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss or limitation of use of a body organ, member, function or system, or a medically determined injury or impairment that prevents performing customary daily activities for not less than ninety days during the one hundred eighty days immediately following the injury or impairment.
What if I did something to contribute to the accident?
You may still collect compensation if you did something to contribute to the accident, but under NY law (CVP section 1411), your settlement amount will be reduced by the proportion of fault you are found to have. For example, if the settlement was for $100,000 and you are 20 percent at fault, you would still be able to collect $80,000.
How much does a Citi bike accident attorney in New York City cost?
The good news is that there are no upfront costs at all at Tucker Lawyers PC. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay us only if we win your case, and the fees come out of the settlement award.
Rest assured that Tucker Lawyers PC will be there for you throughout the entire legal process, answering all questions as they arise.
Call Our Citi Bike Accident Attorney for Help
If you’ve been injured on either end of an accident involving a Citi Bike and a motor vehicle, you may be eligible to sue for compensation. The New York Citi bike accident lawyers at Tucker Lawyers PC have decades of experience and a proven track record of helping people who have been hurt in accidents to receive the money that they are entitled to. We know how anxious and fearful people are after a serious accident and will do everything possible to take the burden off you and do the work necessary to get you a settlement. We take a client-first approach, so our priority is getting you the help you need.
Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you. We charge no fee unless we recover compensation, so call us today while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found.
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 ]