New York City is famous for a lot of things, including its traffic. The streets of New York are filled with cars, pedestrians, and cyclists at almost all hours of the day. When people talk about lawsuits for accidents, they probably think about car accidents. However, cyclists can also cause serious injuries if they are not careful. If you were injured in an accident involving a cyclist, you might be able to sue them for your injuries.
You can definitely sue a cyclist who you believe is responsible for causing an accident or injuring you. Lawsuits involving bicycle accidents are somewhat different than car accident-related lawsuits. Cyclists are not required to carry insurance like drivers are, so there are no insurance companies to deal with in a lawsuit. Injuries can range from bumps and bruises to broken bones or other serious injuries. An accident with a cyclist could be relatively minor or very serious. You should consult with the Bronx fatal bicycle accident lawyer about your case as soon as possible.
If you were injured in an accident caused by a cyclist, you could sue the cyclist for damages. Our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers are here to help you get compensation for your injuries so you can move on with your life. Set up a free legal consultation with our experienced NYC fatal bicycle accident lawyer at The Carrion Law Firm. Call (718) 841-0083 to get help today.
When Can You Sue a Cyclist for Causing Injuries in New York City?
There are multiple circumstances in which you could sue a cyclist in New York City. The city streets are frequently busy, hectic places. Pedestrians crowd the sidewalks while cars and bicycles fill the streets. In many places, like intersections, all three must share the public road. Many people believe cars are responsible for most accidents, but cyclists are just as capable of causing harm.
Many cyclist-related injuries come from pedestrians being struck by cyclists on roads or sidewalks. Legally speaking, cyclists are usually required to stay in bike lanes, while pedestrians should only be entering the street at designated crosswalks. When one party invades the space of another, an accident could occur. If a cyclist is biking on the sidewalk when they should be in the street or a bike lane, any injured pedestrians could sue the cyclist.
Cyclists are capable of causing minor or very severe injuries. A pedestrian hit by a cyclist could tumble to the ground and be injured. For some, this kind of fall might hurt but not leave any serious injuries. For others, this kind of fall could spell disaster. You could sue the cyclist to cover your medical costs and other recovery-related expenses. Call our Staten Island personal injury attorneys today to discuss your case.
Accidents Caused by Cyclists in New York City
Cyclists can cause a variety of accidents and injuries. In some cases, the accident might involve a cyclist hitting a pedestrian or another cyclist. However, cyclists often share the streets with cars and other vehicles. If a cyclist does not follow the rules of the road, they could cause a serious car accident. Injuries related to any accident could be very serious, and any injured parties could sue the cyclist.
A cyclist must follow the same rules of the road as vehicles. This means cyclists must stop at red lights, obey traffic signs, and yield to pedestrians’ right of way. Unfortunately, many cyclists do not realize they must follow these rules, or they simply choose not to. Cyclists often blow through red lights and stop signs and weave through crowds of pedestrians. You could sue a cyclist for negligence because they owe a duty of care to operate bikes in a safe manner in accordance with highway safety laws. When cyclists break these laws, they breach their duty and cause accidents.
Not only can cyclists strike pedestrians, but they can also cause car accidents. The cyclist does not necessarily have to be injured or even involved in a car accident to be responsible for causing it. For example, cyclists must stay in bike lanes and signal to drivers when they will turn. If a cyclist fails to remain in the bike lane before turning without signaling, the car behind them might have to stop short to avoid hitting the cyclist. This could, in turn, cause another vehicle to rear-end the first car. Drivers could end up with injuries like whiplash and need urgent medical care.
If you were involved in any kind of accident with a cyclist, you could potentially file a lawsuit to claim compensation for your damages. Our Bronx personal injury lawyers will be there for you every step of the way.
Damages Related to Injuries Caused by a Cyclist in New York City
Damages from accidents with cyclists could be minor. They could also be extremely painful and severe. It can be difficult, if not downright impossible, to predict what kind of injuries you might suffer in an accident with a cyclist. However, it is important to understand how your injuries affect your total damages.
“Damages” is a legal term that refers to various kinds of injuries. These injuries could be physical, like an injury or medical condition. These injuries could also be financial, like costs to repair a vehicle. Still, not all injuries are tangible or economic. Non-economic injuries include things like pain and suffering, which cannot be seen, but the plaintiff can certainly feel them.
We can calculate your damages by adding up all the expenses you incurred from your accident. Medical bills and repair bills should all be included. You can also include lost wages if you were so injured you could not return to work.
Next, we need to think about any pain and suffering you experienced. This pain and suffering could be physical, mental, or both. New York places no limits on what you can claim or be awarded for pain and suffering, which means you could potentially receive a hefty compensation award. The more your pain and suffering impacted your daily life, the greater damages we could claim. Contact our New York City personal injury attorneys for help determining the extent of your damages.
Call Our New York City Personal Injury Attorneys
If you were involved in an accident with a cyclist and suffered any injuries, great or small, our team of lawyers can help you get compensation. Schedule a free legal consultation with our Long Island personal injury attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm. Call (718) 841-0083 to get assistance from our team.