Bicycle Accidents in New York City

Bicycling is a popular mode of transportation in New York City. According to Census data, 11 percent of New York City adults walk or bicycle to work or school as opposed to 3 percent in the rest of the nation. Despite a higher percentage of bicyclists, the NYC fatality rate is similar to that of the rest of the country, calculated at 2.8 per million according to a 2005 report by the New York City Police Department and Departments of Health, Transportation, and Parks and Recreation. The report also showed that an overwhelming majority of bicycling deaths (92 percent) occurred as a result of collisions with vehicles. Most of these accidents occurred at intersections and most were associated with poor driving or bicycling behavior, most especially driver inattention and disobeying traffic signals or signs.

Head injuries were involved in most bicycling accidents in which the individual died. 97 percent of all bicyclists who were killed in bicycle accidents in the city were not wearing helmets, which points up the vital necessity of this piece of safety gear. Bicycle safety programs for city dwellers are operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Department of Transportation. The City also enforces various laws in regards to bicycling as well as laws which pertain to other vehicles which may affect these riders.

Bicycle Accident Legal Representation in New York City

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident in the greater New York City area, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Negligence or other misconduct on the part of another can form the legal underpinnings of any such claim. Your first step should be to discuss your accident with a legal professional in the area. At the personal injury law firm of Greenberg & Stein, P.C., the legal team has more than 50 years of combined litigation experience in this field of law. They have recovered millions in terms of legal compensation for their injury clients and have a reputation for taking on and winning difficult cases. Their outstanding reputation is reflected in their AV Preeminent (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell, based on peer reviews.

To learn more about how the firm can help you following a bicycle accident or any other type of personal injury, contact their offices to speak to an attorney today.