Bicycle Accidents

• How We Can Help
• Experience
• A Sampling of Cases We Have Handled
• Investigation
• Medical Bills
• Helpful Links

Our firm represents clients who have suffered personal injuries from bicycle accidents, or who may be a survivor of a cyclist killed in a road accident. Approximately 44,000 people die in car accidents in the U.S. every year. About 1 in 54 is a bicyclist. 622 bicyclists were killed in accidents in 2003 and 46,000 were injured. Of the bicyclists that died, 23% were under the age of 16. This information was reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

How We can Help

Injuries suffered as a result of a bicycle accident can be severe and life altering. You may have suffered nerve damage or spinal cord paralysis, broken or dislocated a bone or limb, or you may have lost the use of a limb. You should know that insurance companies are in business to make money. The way that they make money is by limiting the amount of money that they pay out on claims. Insurance adjusters will attempt to take recorded statements, send out investigators or attempt to secure written statements. DO NOT give any statements to any insurance company representative before you call us. It is also important to contact us right away because there may be forms that need to be submitted, we may need to retain the services of an accident reconstruction expert, skid marks fade quickly, and we may need to speak with witnesses while the incident is still fresh in their minds.

Experience

Our attorneys worked for major insurance companies as well as the City of New York before becoming plaintiff’s lawyers. They know how insurance carriers and municipalities investigate, work up, negotiate and defend lawsuits. After approximately a decade of defense representation the attorneys began representing people who suffered serious injuries. They have been representing injured parties for more than 10 years.

A Sampling of Cases We Have Handled

A 6 year old girl was riding her brand new bicycle in a suburban neighborhood. There were no sidewalks. Her mother went inside the house to get her camera. The young girl drove to the neighbor’s house, came down the driveway and entered the street. A bus driver was distracted by children who were misbehaving on the bus. The bus hit the little girl. There was an issue regarding the brakes on the bus because only one rear tire left a skid mark. The reasonableness of the child’s operation of the bicycle was measured against how other 6 years would act. Luckily she was wearing her helmet, it saved her life.

A bicyclist in Manhattan fell when his tire hit a hose that went across a sidewalk. The hose was not adequately visible and there were no warning signs.

A young boy was coming out of a driveway in a residential neighborhood. A vehicle was double parked. A car traveling on the street could not see the driveway because of the double parked car. The young boy was hit by the car.

A young woman was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of a road. A camper/trailer was being pulled by an SUV. The driver of the SUV made a right turn and the camper/trailer hit the bicyclist.

Investigation

It is really important that we begin our investigation as soon as possible. We need to contact witnesses, if possible take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles involved. The case goes much smoother when we are called soon after the accident. The insurance companies will do their own investigation. The insurance companies are in business to make money. They make money by limiting the amount that they pay out on claims. It is our job to maximize the amount that our clients recover. Through different means of investigation, we are able to build a case that maximizes the recovery and minimizes the delays.

Medical Bills

Our firm understands that your immediate goals after going through such a traumatic experience are to get the best medical care possible, make sure that your medical bills are covered, and make sure that you do not suffer financially through any lost wages. Our experienced attorneys will discuss your situation and go over the options available to you, as well as work with insurance companies and other parties involved in your case to make sure all your needs are handled quickly and appropriately. Time is short, some claim forms must be submitted within 30 days. Do not delay, contact us or call us.

Helpful Links

• A Guide to bike helmets
• Illinois State Police bike safety
• Toddler bike safety
• Bicycle accident avoidance tips
• Transportation alternative
• Consumer Product Safety Commission

We represent clients located in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, New York State and many other states (New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and California, and we will handle a case in any state provided we can do so in full compliance with court rules regarding multijurisdictional practice, association of local counsel and/or admission pro hac vice) who have suffered personal injuries as the result of bicycle accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, CONTACT US ONLINE OR CALL US AT (516) 742-8897= (516) PIATTYS in Long Island, (212) 267-9377= (212) ANSWERS In Manhattan TO SET UP A FREE CONSULTATION. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you in the hospital or we will visit you in our mobile office.