New York City Bicycle Lane Accident Lawyer
New York City has over 1,000 miles of designated bicycle lanes. Such roads promote safer bicycling and help to reduce the number of accidents involving bicyclists. Unfortunately, bike lanes are by no means a total or foolproof solution.
Indeed, designated bicycle lanes create their own additional safety problems and concerns. An experienced New York City bicycle lane accident lawyer can represent you if you are an injured cyclist. Michael Gunzburg, P.C., is a New York City personal injury firm that has 37 years of civil litigation experience throughout the five boroughs. Our firm can review your bicycle lane accident and advise you of your right to seek compensation from a negligent motorist or other responsible party.
Knowing the Benefits–and Risks–of Using New York City’s Bike Lanes
Not all bicycle lanes are created equally in New York City. The City actually classifies “bike facilities” into four distinct categories:
- Protected Bike Lanes: These are either on-street lanes separated from traffic by parked cars or physical barriers, or off-street paths such as those seen in the city’s parks and along the waterfront.
- Bike Lanes: These are dedicated lanes painted directly onto the road, typically next to a parking lane, and marked with a bicycle symbol.
- Shared Lanes: These lanes are shared by bicyclists and motorists and are marked by bike symbols with chevrons and signs.
- Signed Routes: These are unmarked streets that have a “BIKE ROUTE” sign, which are designed to help guide cyclists along a predetermined route through the city.
Aside from protected bike lanes, bicyclists must share the road with motor vehicles even when riding in bicycle lanes. This means that there is still a substantial risk of injury to the bicyclist in the event of a collision with a motorist. Some common scenarios where negligence leads to a bicycle lane accident include:
- A motorist turns left without looking out for an oncoming cyclist in the bike lane.
- A driver in a parked vehicle suddenly opens their door into a bike lane and strikes an approaching cyclist.
- Pedestrians, roller skaters, and skateboarders improperly travel in a marked bike lane and strike a cyclist.
- Other cyclists in a bike lane are operating too recklessly or aggressively.
- An improperly marked or maintained bike lane leads to a single-cycle crash.
Bicycle lane accident victims frequently suffer serious and potential life-threatening injuries, such as traumatic brain damage and severe bone fractures. It is therefore essential to always seek immediate medical attention following any bicycle accident. It is also a good idea to contact the NYPD and have an officer come to the scene and prepare an official accident report.
Contact Our New York City Bicycle Lane Accident Lawyers Today
Bicycle lane accident victims can seek a wide range of compensation for their injuries, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. If a motorist was at-fault for the accident, their no-fault insurer is typically required to compensate the victim up to the policy limits. Our New York City bike lane accident lawyers will be happy to sit down with you and review the facts of your specific case. Call us today at 212-725-8500 to schedule a free initial consultation.
