Nyack Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Nyack is the perfect place for cycling, with numerous scenic routes along the Hudson. Unfortunately, an encounter with a negligent driver can ruin an otherwise stress-free experience.

If you suffered injuries while cycling, a Nyack bicycle accident lawyer from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP is available to help secure compensation for your injuries. An aggressive personal injury attorney could explain how the negligent party is responsible for paying your costs and injury-related losses.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Collisions between cars and bicycles often cause significant injuries to the cyclist. The force that a car can exert on a bicycle is substantial, even at slow speeds, and the cyclist’s body absorbs all of it. Every accident is different, but emergency room physicians frequently see specific injuries in cyclists who get into collisions with cars, including:

• Road rash, abrasions, and lacerations to large swaths of skin which is common when cars drag cyclists along the pavement
• Strains and sprains to the elbow and wrist
• Soft tissue injuries to the neck, shoulders, and back
• Fractures of the lower leg and collarbone
• Facial injuries
• Concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

These injuries need medical intervention and could even require hospitalization, surgery, and extensive rehabilitation.

A Nyack attorney from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP could review the circumstances surrounding a cycling accident to identify whether any party’s negligence contributed to the accident. If so, the cyclist could hold those parties liable for damages.

Potentially Responsible Parties in Bicycle Accidents

When a car or truck collides with a bicycle, the driver almost always bears at least partial responsibility. Drivers must be aware of their surroundings and avoid causing harm. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1146 explicitly requires drivers to exercise due care to protect bicyclists.

Besides the driver, others might have responsibility for a bicycle accident. For example, a manufacturer might be liable if a component on the car or bicycle failed, causing the accident. Similarly, if the cyclist suffered injuries due to a defective bike helmet, the helmet manufacturer might have liability. When road signage or maintenance is an issue in a crash, the city itself could be liable. An attorney could investigate the crash and file claims against all other parties whose conduct contributed to the accident or the injury.

If a cyclist’s own conduct contributed to the accident, they could still collect damages from other negligent parties, but they will have their ultimate award reduced by the percentage of fault that falls on them.

Damages Claims in Cycling Accidents

Damages are the compensation an injured person receives from the negligent parties involved in the incident; they should cover all accident-related losses but anyone claiming damages must be able to prove their losses. At StolzenbergCortelli, LLP, a Nyack bicycle collision attorney could compile proof of damages such as receipts, invoices, EOBs, tax returns, employment records, expert testimony, and statements from the injured person and their associates.

Economic damages cover expenses related to the injury, such as medical costs, lost time at work, and property damage. They also cover incidental expenses incurred while seeking medical treatment, mental health support, pharmacy and medical equipment expenses, and the cost of hiring someone to perform household tasks that the injured person typically performed. Economic damages also include future losses such as ongoing medical treatment or diminished earning capacity.

Non-economic damages compensate for the cyclist’s diminished quality of life. A person could receive non-economic damages for their scarring, disability, physical pain, emotional suffering, and similar impacts. Unlike many other states, New York does not cap non-economic damages and a claimant could receive whatever amount a jury deems appropriate.

Call a Nyack Bicycle Accident Attorney to Handle Your Claim

Due to the lack of protection, bike injuries have the potential to leave catastrophic injuries. The negligent parties responsible for the crash have a legal responsibility to shoulder their share of your damages.

A Nyack bicycle accident lawyer from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP could use their legal knowledge and negotiating skills to ensure you receive an appropriate result. Reach out to speak with us today.