New York City Bicycle Broken Shoulder Accident Lawyer
Many New Yorkers bicycle to work, school, or just to get some healthy exercise. Unfortunately, bicyclists are at risk if they are involved in an accident due to their lack of protection from their surrounding elements. And one of the most common serious injuries sustained in bicycle crashes is a broken shoulder.
Even a separated shoulder can require emergency medical treatment and lead to a significant recovery period for the injured bicyclist. In more serious cases, the clavicle itself may be broken and possibly require surgery. Such treatment is often expensive and can leave the bicyclist unable to resume their normal activities for several weeks or even months. A New York bicycle broken shoulder accident lawyer can advise you on seeking compensation for such injuries from the responsible parties. Michael Gunzburg, P.C., is a dedicated New York personal injury law firm that represents bicycle accident victims throughout the city in such matters.
How Serious Is a Shoulder Injury?
Anytime a bicyclist falls–or is thrown off of–their bicycle, there is a significant risk of a shoulder injury. Some of the more common types of shoulder injuries that we see with our clients include:
- Clavicle Fractures: More commonly known as a broken collarbone, this is a break in one of the main bones that make up the shoulder. About 5 percent of all broken bone injuries in adults are clavicle fractures. While some clavicle fractures do heal on their own, in severe cases surgical intervention is often necessary to prevent permanent damage to the shoulder joint.
- Acromio-Clavicular Joint Injury: This is what most of us call a shoulder separation. Most separation injuries require the injured bicyclist to wear a sling and get additional rest. But as with clavicle fractures, a more serious separation injury may require surgical reconstruction of the joint.
- Rotator Cuff Tears: The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint. If the rotator cuff is damaged or torn in a bicycle accident, it can generate quite a bit of pain and make it more difficult to raise or move your arm. Minor rotator cuff tears are treated with exercise and physical therapy, although once again, surgery is a possibility with more severe tears.
Under New York law, when a motorist hits a bicycle, the motorist’s no-fault insurance coverage must pay for the injured bicyclist’s medical expenses and lost wages, up to a limit of $50,000. In cases where the cyclist’s economic damages exceeds that threshold, or they sustained what the law considers a “serious injury” such as a broken clavicle, the cyclist can sue for the full amount of their losses arising from the accident, including non-economic damages to compensate them for their pain and suffering.
Let Our New York City Bicycle Broken Shoulder Accident Lawyers Help You
A broken shoulder may not be life threatening, but it can upend your life for several months and lead to substantial medical bills. So you have every right to demand the person or legal entities responsible for your accident pay for your damages. If you need to talk with a skilled New York City bicycle broken accident lawyer, call Michael Gunzburg, P.C., at 212-725-8500 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
