Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Premier Bicycle Accident Lawyers In Brooklyn, NY

Biking is a great way to get around Brooklyn, especially during rush hour when there can be a lot of traffic. Bikes are also more eco-friendly than cars and they offer a healthy alternative to sitting in traffic. Delivery people and messengers can also use bikes to get around faster than cars. And biking is also a great way for riders of all ages to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

However, riding a bicycle in a busy city can be dangerous when careless motorists share the road. If you were in a bicycle accident caused by careless or reckless driving from another person, you might have the opportunity to get compensated in New York civil court. The experienced Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyers at Rosenberg & Rodriguez are here to help and make sure that you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to discuss the circumstances of your bicycle accident, your injuries, and how it has impacted your life.

Steps To Take After A Bike Accident In Brooklyn

Being in a bicycle accident can be quite horrifying, but it’s essential to stay composed and follow the proper steps after an accident has occurred. The first step you should take is to go to medical professionals for help. This needs to be your number one priority. It might take some time before noticing any injuries or feeling pain if you’re in shock from the trauma. Nevertheless, going straight to medical attention not only starts the healing process physically but also provides documentation of your injuries which could come in handy later on down the road if needed. Some additional measures you can take after a bike accident in Brooklyn are:

Gather Evidence

If you can, try to collect all the evidence at the scene of the accident. This includes taking pictures of anything relevant such as the location, cars involved, weather conditions, road signs or lights, etc. You’ll also want to get the contact information for other drivers, any passengers, and any witnesses.

File A Police Report

If you get into a car accident, it’s crucial that you call the police. In New York, if the property damage is $1,000 or less and there are no physical injuries, then you don’t have to report the accident. But if either of those two things exists–higher property value damage or any physical injuries–you legally have to tell law enforcement about the crash.

Contact A Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you were in a bicycle accident, it’s highly recommended that you consult with a bicycle accident lawyer Brooklyn residents trust. Your attorney can guide you through the process of submitting a personal injury claim and help ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.

Keep Copies Of Your Bills And Records

Never lose track of your medical history or expenses again by keeping all receipts and bills in one place. Include the cost of treatments, therapies, drugs, medical equipment, and any other treatment-related charges to make paperwork easier for you down the line.

Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents In Brooklyn

When a driver is the cause of an accident involving a bicyclist, it is usually because the driver was not being careful. Drivers have a “duty of care” to others on the road which includes: fellow motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. When drivers do not carefully drive their cars and they cause an accident that results in injuries or damages, then the at-fault driver may be held liable for what happened. Here are some things that might have contributed to an accident caused by a negligent driver:

• Driver fails to yield to a bicyclist at an intersection
• Motor vehicle turns left or right directly in front of a bicyclist
• Distracted or reckless driving near a bicyclist
• Motorist tailgates a bicyclist
• Motorist fails to properly share the road with bicyclists
• Motorist opening a door into the path of an oncoming bicyclist
• Motorist driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Most Common Injuries From Bicycle Accidents

Many bike accidents in Brooklyn are preventable and often occur when motorists carelessly or recklessly don’t share the road safely with bicyclists. Sometimes poor road conditions also cause bicycle accidents. Since cyclists have no protection between their bodies and the road, they frequently suffer severe injuries when traffic accidents happen. Some common injuries resulting from bike crashes include:

• Deep cuts
• Road rash
• Broken bones
• Dislocated shoulders or hips
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries including fractured and bulged discs
• Crushed limbs that sometimes need amputation
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries

New York PIP Insurance & Brooklyn Bicycle Accidents

New York is just one of the many states in America that operates under a no-fault insurance system. If you own a car and wish to drive it in New York, you’re required by law to have at minimum $50,000 worth of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. So, if drivers or passengers are injured during a collision, they file a claim under the driver’s PIP policy—regardless of who caused the accident.

If you are involved in a bike accident in New York, don’t file under your own PIP policy as many people automatically assume. Instead, file under the at-fault driver’s policy like most Brooklyn cyclists do after being injured from a collision with a motor vehicle.

The driver’s PIP insurance pays for necessary medical treatment and up to $2,000 per month for lost wages. If the limit of the motorist’s policy is exhausted due to extensive medical bills or time off from work, then they are out of luck. In Brooklyn, where bike crashes often result in severe injuries, it is not uncommon for a driver’s policy limit to be quickly reached.

If you were in a bicycle accident in New York, you might be wondering how to get compensated for your injuries. The no-fault insurance system makes it complicated, but luckily our Brooklyn bicycle accident attorneys at Rosenberg & Rodriguez have decades of experience working with these laws and cases. We know how to get cyclists the compensation they need from a driver’s PIP insurance policy.

New York Bicycle Laws

The NYC DOT reminds Brooklyn cyclists that they must follow the same rules of the road as anyone else, as well as specific bicycle regulations. This includes obeying traffic control devices and taking care when sharing the road with others. Some key rules that cyclists must follow in Brooklyn are:

Do Not Ride On Sidewalks

Unless they are younger than 13 years old or have a bike with wheels smaller than 26 inches in diameter, cyclists in Brooklyn must ride on the street.

Do Not Ride Against Traffic

Cyclists in Brooklyn must ride with the flow of motor vehicle traffic to follow the rules of the road. Riding against traffic is not only against the law, but can be very dangerous to the bicyclist, motorists, and pedestrians.

Obey Traffic Control Devices

As a cyclist, you are required to stop at all lights and signs, and follow the directions on pavement markings. You also have a responsibility to avoid collisions with pedestrians, vehicles, other cyclists, etc.

Use Dedicated Bike Lanes And Paths When Available

Although cyclists must leave bike lanes when preparing to turn, they are allowed to ride in traffic if the conditions on the paths or bike lanes become dangerous. When roads lack enough width for a cyclist and a car to share space side-by-side, the cyclist has every right to operate their cycle in the center of that lane.

Equip Your Bike With The Right Equipment

As a bicyclist in New York City, by law you are required to have a white headlight, red taillight, and reflectors. You must also be able to honk or ring a bell so that pedestrians and other drivers are aware of your presence.

By educating yourself on these laws, you can help make sharing the road a safer experience for everyone. Of course, we cannot control how others act on the road, so if you are involved in a bike accident that leaves you injured, contact our Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyer to learn about your legal options and entitled compensation.

Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Statistics [Updated 2021]

Although New York City has installed 300 miles of bicycle lanes in recent years, fatalities caused by bicycle accidents are still unfortunately frequent. In addition, the city has seen a significant uptick in injuries from these accidents since the outbreak of coronavirus.

NYPD data from September 21 to 27, 2020, reveals that 119 bicyclists were injured in accidents throughout the city. In the second week of March 2020, bicycle accident injuries increased by 43% compared to the same time frame in 2019. 41 bicyclists were injured in Brooklyn alone this past February 2021–more than any other borough.

Dangerous Intersections for Brooklyn Bicyclists

Out of all the boroughs, Brooklyn has some of the most dangerous intersections for bicyclists. Some notable examples include:

• Atlantic Avenue and Bedford Avenue
• Jay and Tillary Streets
• Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue
• Graham Avenue and Grand Street
• Roebling Street and South Fourth Street
• Ashland Place and Myrtle Avenue
• Bushwick Avenue and Grand Street
• Dekalb Avenue and South Portland Avenue
• Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue
• Fifth Avenue and Bergen Street