
Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike crash, review your case with a Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyer from our team at Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers. We can determine whether you qualify for compensation and, if so, represent you.
We have over 200 years of combined legal experience and the resources to fight for you after a collision. You can rely on our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers to explain your next steps, guide you through the legal process, and work tirelessly on your behalf.
How Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Brooklyn Can Help
If you have been harmed in a bike accident, enlisting the help of a bike accident law firm can be important for many reasons. Some of the key ways we can assist include:
Answering Your Questions
We know you may have many questions about what to do after a crash and your rights under New York Law. We provide fast, straightforward answers to these questions so you can feel confident about the decisions you make after a crash.
Investigating Your Accident
We must accurately identify the negligent party after a bike crash in New York. We use a variety of investigative techniques to determine liability. Depending on your circumstances, we may need to focus on:
- Visiting the scene of the crash in New York City
- Taking statements from all eyewitnesses
- Getting a copy of the police report
- Looking for dashcam and surveillance footage
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
We’re here and ready to establish another party’s fault when you contact us for help.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
We handle all communications with insurance representatives on your behalf when you turn to us for help. We’ll take care of settlement negotiations and push back if the company tries to get you to take an unfair offer.
Handling the Litigation Process
The litigation process after a bike accident often involves many tasks, from filing paperwork to corresponding with insurers. A skilled professional can handle these tasks while you focus on recovery.
An attorney’s background also helps when negotiating with insurers. An insurance company may try to limit its financial liability by arguing that the amount of compensation you are seeking is more than what you deserve.
We can gather the evidence needed to prove that you are entitled to the amount of compensation you are seeking based on the extent of your injuries and losses. Presenting sufficient evidence is key to optimizing your chances of reaching a fair settlement.
Reasons to Choose Our Company After a Bicycle Accident
Our team believes in putting our clients first and providing steadfast legal representation throughout the legal process. We’ll listen to you and adjust our services to meet your needs so that you can get back your peace of mind.
We have a proven track record of securing results for our clients. For instance, we successfully recovered $625,000 for a 23-year-old Brooklyn client who was working as a delivery boy when he was struck by an out-of-state bus making a left turn.
In another case, we recovered $110,000 on behalf of a 26-year-old client who was hit by a truck, suffering an injury to their scapula. We’re committed to fighting for the compensation our clients deserve.
Why Bike Accidents Happen in Brooklyn
Bike vs motor vehicle accidents can occur for many reasons, often involving driver error and failure to follow traffic laws. The following are some of the most common causes:
- Distracted driving, a problem that is unfortunately on the rise in the age of smartphones
- Intoxicated driving
- Sleep-deprived driving
- Speeding or other forms of reckless driving
- Hazardous road conditions
Road hazards that lead to crashes can include potholes, poor signage, uneven lanes, or even dangerous conditions caused by the weather, like snow piled up in bike lanes during the winter months.
Crashes can happen even if bikers are in protected bike lanes, often resulting in catastrophic injuries. Bicycle accidents may also happen simply because bikes are smaller in size than other vehicles and can be unnoticed by cars and trucks.
Dooring accidents also happen regularly, where a motorist opens a door into the path of a biker because they aren’t paying attention.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicyclists are relatively vulnerable on the road due to the lack of protection. When involved in an accident, it is not uncommon for the cyclist’s injuries to be severe. It is possible that injuries sustained in a bike accident will require medical treatment or hospitalization. Some of the most common injuries associated with these accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Head and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Road rash
Injuries may also limit your mobility, thus preventing you from working until you recover completely. Combining the pressure of piled-up medical bills with the inability to receive a paycheck, you could face significant financial burdens in the aftermath of the accident.
Bicycle accidents can even have a permanent impact on your overall quality of life. Although wearing a helmet when riding a bike is crucial, helmets are not always 100% effective. If you sustain a major head injury, you could struggle with impaired memory and cognition for years to come.
Compensation Available After a Bike Crash
A bicycle accident attorney in Brooklyn can focus on pursuing maximum compensation for all the losses you sustain after a crash. Depending on your circumstances, you may receive funds to pay for your:
Medical Expenses
Bicycle crashes can result in catastrophic injuries. Our personal injury team believes the liable party should have to cover all of your medical costs, including the costs for your emergency treatment, surgeries, physical therapy appointments, and medications.
Lost Income
You may qualify for funds to cover your lost wages after a bike crash in New York. The severity of your injuries may cause you to miss a significant amount of time at work. In some cases, you could even face a disability caused by your accident.
We’re here to help you get fair compensation for these losses in Kings County.
Pain and Suffering
Our dedicated team can help you seek funds to cover the non-economic damages associated with your crash. These losses can include your emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical pain.
We know how to review your situation to determine a fair value for all of your economic losses.
Property Damage
In some cases, you may qualify for funds to pay to repair or replace any personal property damaged in a crash. We can discuss this option when you reach out to us for a risk-free initial consultation.
You can speak with representatives from our personal injury law firm in Brooklyn to learn more about pursuing fair compensation for all of your losses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accidents
Our Brooklyn bicycle accident attorneys can answer any questions you have after a crash. Reach out to us for answers to questions like:
How Does No-Fault Insurance Work in a Bicycle Accident?
If a motorist hits you while you’re riding your bike in New York City, their no-fault insurance should automatically kick in to cover your medical bills. You do not have to establish fault to get coverage through personal injury protection (PIP) policies in New York.
However, the limits of a PIP policy may prevent you from getting full payment for your losses through an insurance claim. In some cases, the severity of your injuries or other factors could allow you to seek compensation outside of the no-fault insurance system.
Our Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyers can review your situation and see if you qualify to file a personal injury claim under New York Law. We’re ready to start investigating your situation right now.
What’s the Value of My Bike Crash Claim?
Many factors can affect the total value of your claim. They may include, but are not necessarily limited to, medical bills, lost wages, and future financial losses if your injuries require ongoing treatment or prevent you from working for the foreseeable future.
If you do not know how to properly account for all your losses, you may end up accepting less compensation than you are most likely entitled to. You minimize those chances when you hire a bike accident lawyer.
An attorney will thoroughly review all applicable factors to determine a fair settlement offer or verdict and will offer legal advice along the way.
Where Do Bike Crashes Happen in Brooklyn?
Bike crashes can happen anywhere in Kings County. However, we see larger numbers of accidents in some areas. For example, hot spots for crashes can include Atlantic Avenue, Williamsburg Bridge, and Flatbush Avenue.
Areas without bike lane protection and with heavily congested traffic are more likely to see collisions in many cases. We’re here to help with your crash claim regardless of where it happened in Brooklyn.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident?
After a bike crash, make sure you take the following steps:
- Notify the Police: You need to tell law enforcement right away after a crash. Notifying the police about your bicycle accident means you’re creating an official record of what happened. Our team can use this record when building your personal injury claim.
- Get Medical Care: Do not wait to get treatment for any injuries you sustain in a bike crash. Seeking immediate treatment from a medical provider will generate a link between your crash and your injuries, helping you get funds to pay for your medical bills.
- Gather Evidence: If possible, make sure that you collect evidence from the scene of your crash. Evidence could include contact information from eyewitnesses and pictures of your injuries. We also recommend that you write down everything you remember about the crash.
- Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm for Help: You can reach out to us for immediate legal assistance after a crash. We’ll walk you through each step you should take after your collision and ensure that you feel confident as we address all of your legal needs.
You can reach out now to learn more about what to do after your collision from a Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyer.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bike Crash?
Typically, New York gives injury victims three years to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. However, this deadline can vary based on your circumstances. We’re here and ready to assess your situation to explain precisely how long you have to move forward with your claim.
Talk to Our Brooklyn, NY, Bicycle Accident Attorneys
You can get professional help with all of your legal needs by hiring a skilled Brooklyn bicycle accident attorney from our team at Shulman & Hill. We understand what you’re going through and have the experience necessary to diligently represent your best interests.
Find out more about how we can help with a risk-free initial consultation.