Long Island Bicycle Accident Attorney

Helping Injured Cyclists Across Nassau & Suffolk County

Unfortunately, bicycle wrecks throughout Long Island are an all too common occurrence. It is rare to go more than a few blocks in the city without encountering someone on a bicycle. In recent years, due to the popularity of this mode of transportation, bicycle accidents have been on the rise, particularly with cyclists and drivers not paying full attention.

When a bicycle accident causes injury, it can change your life in an instant. Whether it's a collision with a vehicle, a dangerous road condition, or another form of negligence, getting the legal help you need is crucial for protecting your rights and securing the compensation you deserve. At Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP, we are committed to providing expert legal counsel and aggressive advocacy for bike accident victims in Long Island.

If you have been seriously hurt or have lost a loved one due to a bicycle accident in Long Island, you may be entitled to seek financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress. Discuss your rights with our knowledgeable Long Island bicycle accident lawyers.

Contact Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP at (888) 290-5994 to discuss your legal options during a confidential consultation with our Long Island bicycle accident attorney.

What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Long Island?

Cities like Long Island can be a mercurial place with countless distractions, aggressive drivers, and strategic maneuvering required to ride a bicycle safely. Not all bicycle accidents are caused by the negligence of others, but on a crowded road or intersection, the contributing factors to a bicycle wreck substantially increase. Here's a look at the most common causes of bicycle-car accidents, as well as those accidents that don't involve a vehicle crash:

• Negligent drivers. Car, truck, and even bus drivers don't always pay full attention to the road. That becomes even more evident when many drivers tend to exceed the speed limit, tailgate cyclists, and making illegal turns where bicyclists have the right of way. In fact, the majority of all bicycle-car accidents involve negligence on the part of the driver. Drivers who fail to yield to bicycles or share the road can be held liable in an injury claim initiated by the cyclist.
• Defective equipment. It's important cyclists maintain their bikes with chaining, brake repairs, tire pressure adjustments, and regular inspections. Yet, even the most experienced and maintenance-conscious may experience a failing part. In such cases, the bicycle manufacturer may be held responsible under product liability laws.
• Pedestrian / bicycle accidents. In many parts of the city and even within Long Island, bicycles are often operated in heavily congested areas with pedestrians. When bicycles are operated in congested areas, it is very common for bicycles to collide with pedestrians, which results in injuries to the bicyclist and pedestrian.

Bicycle Helmet Safety in New York

Even though the number of fatal bicycle accidents has gone down, bicycle helmets have been shown to mitigate the risks associated with these types of accidents and substantially reduce the rate of life-changing injuries . This is especially true for children, who are more likely to sustain a serious head injury if they are not wearing the appropriate bicycle helmet.

All bicyclists or passengers who are 14 years of age or younger are required by law to wear bicycle helmets in New York State. The Coordinated Safety Program, under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Transportation, has identified bicycle helmet safety as a priority in its effort to reduce the number of bicycle-related deaths and serious injuries in the state. In addition, bicycle helmets must comply with the standards established by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) and fit properly on the head. Failure to wear an appropriate bicycle helmet may result in a ticket being issued.

How Long do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Long Island?

In New York State, the statute of limitations for a bicycle accident involving a motor vehicle is no different from the statute of limitations for other motor vehicle collision cases. A bicyclist typically has three years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit against the party liable for the crash.

Be alert for time-barred claims, as any legal matter resolved in civil court, including a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim, has a statute of limitations that, if exceeded, will likely eliminate the right to proceed with the claim. There are a few different scenarios in which the standard statute of limitations may not apply to your case:

• If you sustained a personal injury as a minor, then you will have three years from the date of your 18^th birthday to file a personal injury lawsuit.
• A wrongful death lawsuit in New York State involving a bicycle, the surviving family of the victim generally has two years from the date of their loved one's passing to file a lawsuit against the negligent party for compensation.
• If a government agency is involved. If a city worker driving a garbage truck hits you while you are riding you're your bike in Long Island, you typically have less time—often around 90 days—to notify the at-fault party about the accident.
• If the bicycle accident occurred more than 90 days after the date of your last interaction was a missed payment on your No-Fault car insurance policy, you will not be allowed to sue for damages, even if you are how to file a bicycle accident lawsuit injured. No-fault exceptions are relatively rare, but when they do occur, appellants who have never encountered a No-Fault attorney and who don't understand the process are often turned away from court.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries & Damages

Bicycle accidents can lead to uncontrolled falls at high speeds and, in some cases, may result in a bicyclist being struck by a passing vehicle or directly at the point of impact with that vehicle. The injuries commonly reported by injury claimants transported by ambulance or emergency medical service to the hospital include the following:

• Bruises and open wounds
• Broken/fractured bones
• Dislocated joints
• Scarring/disfigurement
• Concussion/mild traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries, which can cause temporary paralysis (although high-level injuries, such as those to the lower cervical spine, which result in quadriplegia, can initially induce soft tissue injuries)
• Dental injuries
• Fatal injuries

As the acute injuries and recovery following a serious bicycle accident requires advanced diagnostic studies, surgery and follow-up care throughout the healing process, it is often useful for the injured claimant to make an appointment with a doctor of their choosing when meeting with specialists. Doctors who pose as No-Fault care when the bill comes need to be questioned to be tricked into getting one patient to another. Reputable medical providers are looking forward to meeting new people to optimize their healing process and be granted the opportunity to change their lives. To this end, one should not be left to pain and suffering after several months of treatment when any pain agency or a claimant failed to suffer gross injuries due to a bicycle wreck.

When an injury claimant can demonstrate that they have suffered from one injury, the No-Fault apparatus, which generally does not support the value and duration of suffering 90 days to continue statutory treatment by a qualified medical provider, will provide the right to extensive non-economic benefits. claims filed in New York against at-fault drivers and pedestrians in the event of a bicycle collision.

How Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers Can Help

At Flanzig & Flanzig, we have helped many bikers obtain fair settlements for their injuries. We can offer you experienced legal advice and help you collect the monetary help you will need for your recovery. Both drivers and bicyclists must know and obey the proper laws when riding through New York.

Failure to adhere to these laws and bicycle safely can lead to serious injury-causing or even fatal accidents. That is why, if either a motorist or cyclist violated any of these road laws and a bike crash occurred as a result, we want to hear from you.

At Flanzig & Flanzig, we have represented many injured bikers and are proud to share with potential clients what our past clients have had to say about our trusted legal guidance.

Call Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP

Our Long Island bicycle accident lawyers understand New York's No-Fault system and how to vigorously pursue recoveries for injured parties to ensure the expenses of medical bills and work loss are fully covered. We have represented injured cyclists in many types of bicycle accident cases. Whether due to the reckless actions of a car driver or due to a dangerous roadway condition, we are here for you.

Contact Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP at (888) 290-5994 to discuss your legal options during a confidential consultation with our Long Island bicycle accident attorney.