The streets of New York City are already dangerous, add in the little protection a bicycle offers, and you could have a recipe for disaster. If you were injured in a bicycle accident in New York, there are steps you can take.

A bicycle accident in New York could lead to life-altering catastrophic injuries or even death for the bicyclist. What’s worse, is that many of those injured on bicycles are young children.

If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident in New York and the accident was the fault of another party, there may be steps you can take to obtain compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more depending on the case.

While helmets can be life saving protective gear, it only protects the head and only in certain situations. Victims can still sustain brain injuries, head and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis, or even death.

What steps should a person injured in a bicyclist accident take?

1. Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries sustained.
2. Speak to witnesses and try to acquire written accounts from them.
3. Keep a journal of facts and details about the accident. It may seem vivid and remunerable immediately after the accident, but memories fade. Write down where the accident happened, what happened, how you felt, what the weather was like, and who was around to witness it.
4. Speak to a personal injury attorney for advice.
5. Do not speak to any other party’s insurance companies without speaking to your attorney first.

Common reasons for bicycle accidents that weren’t the bicyclist’s fault:

Cars, Trucks, Buses:

• Turning into the path of a bicyclist
• Not yielding right of way at an intersection
• Misjudging the amount of space required to pass a bicycle
• Intentionally hitting a bicyclist
• Opening a car door and hitting a bicyclist

The City:

• Not maintaining road conditions
• Poor road design
• No proper road signage
• Not clearing road debris

Pedestrians

• Jaywalking and causing a bicyclist to swerve
• Dog bites

For more information about bicycle accidents, send us a message.