BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER IN NEW YORK CITY

Responsibility depends on how the accident happened and who contributed to the crash.

Potentially liable parties may include a negligent driver, rideshare or delivery driver, commercial vehicle operator, employer, government entity responsible for unsafe road conditions, bicycle or parts manufacturer, or another party whose actions contributed to the collision.

For example, a driver may be responsible for failing to yield, speeding, driving distracted, opening a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path, or otherwise violating traffic laws. In other cases, a dangerous roadway, defective bicycle component, or poorly maintained property may have contributed to the accident.

An investigation can help determine who may be responsible and which insurance policies or legal claims may apply.

Your health and safety should come first. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries do not initially seem severe. Some injuries may become more noticeable in the hours or days after a crash.

If you can safely do so, take photographs or videos of the accident scene, your bicycle, any vehicles involved, road conditions, traffic signs or signals, skid marks, debris, and your injuries. Gather contact information from witnesses and report the crash to the appropriate authorities.

Keep copies of medical records, bills, repair estimates, receipts, and documentation showing any time you missed from work. You may also want to speak with an attorney before giving a detailed statement to an insurance company or accepting a settlement.

The evidence needed will depend on how the crash occurred and whether fault is disputed. Helpful evidence may include:

• Police or crash reports
• Photographs and videos from the scene
• Traffic camera, dashcam, or surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Medical records and bills
• Vehicle and bicycle damage
• Cell phone or electronic records
• Accident reconstruction evidence
• Roadway or traffic-control information
• Documentation of lost income and other expenses

Because some evidence, such as surveillance footage or electronic records, may not be preserved indefinitely, acting quickly can be important.

A driver’s version of events does not automatically determine who was at fault.

Evidence such as crash reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, vehicle damage, road markings, traffic signals, and electronic records may help establish how the accident occurred.

It is also possible for more than one party to share responsibility for a crash. How partial fault affects your ability to recover compensation depends on the laws of the state and the circumstances of your accident.

An attorney can review the available evidence and help determine whether another party may still be legally responsible for your injuries.

The compensation available depends on the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, how the accident affects your daily life, and the laws of the state.

• Potential damages may include:
• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disability or disfigurement
• Bicycle and other property damage
• Other accident-related losses

Serious bicycle crashes can lead to long-term medical care and significant time away from work, so it is important to consider both current and future losses when evaluating a claim.

The deadline to file a claim, known as the statute of limitations, depends on the laws of the state where the accident occurred and the specific circumstances of your case.

Different deadlines may apply depending on who caused the crash, whether a government entity was involved, the age of the injured person, when an injury was discovered, and other factors.

Claims involving a city, county, state agency, or other government entity may also involve separate notice requirements.

Because missing an applicable deadline could prevent you from pursuing compensation, consider speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after a bicycle accident.

Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries, substantial medical expenses, lost income, and disputes over who caused the crash. Cyclists can also face difficult insurance issues when a driver denies fault or when multiple parties may share responsibility.

As America’s Largest Injury Law Firm™, with more than 1,100 lawyers nationwide, $35 billion recovered, and 35 years of experience, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to investigate serious bicycle accidents, gather medical and accident evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and pursue the compensation our clients may be entitled to.

We believe everyone deserves access to excellent legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we offer free case evaluations. Qualifying bicycle accident cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney’s fees and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

That’s our promise: The Fee is Free® unless we win.

If you were injured in a bicycle accident in New York City because of someone else’s negligence, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.