Details about Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions in New York
In many cases, people will read about accidents that involved a motor vehicle and a bicyclist, usually stemming from distracted driving or negligence on part of the motorist. However, in many cases, bicyclists can also be at-fault for crashes that take place in New York City. In some cases, distracted bicyclists will fail to provide the right of way to pedestrians and will suddenly crash into people who are taking a casual stroll down the NYC streets.
For today, let’s take a closer look at what steps you can take if you have collided with a bicyclist.
Rules of the Road for Bicyclists in New York
As dictated in New York State Law, bicycles fall under the same category as other vehicles, meaning that riders have to adhere to the same traffic rules when navigating the streets. Under New York Code Section 4-12, Subsection P, bicyclists must always:
- Provide the right of way for pedestrians
- Ride alongside the flow of their neighboring traffic lane
- Never ride on sidewalks
- Stop for red lights, stop signs, and other signals
- Never wear more than a single earphone while riding
- Ride with appropriate taillights
Given the fact that bicyclists and motorists must follow (for the most part) the same rules, you, as the victim, can call the police if you are struck by a bike in New York.
A Point about No-Fault Laws
Remember, New York is one of several U.S. states that has adopted a no-fault law, meaning that certain payments and compensations are not as restricted as with other states. Overall, you can typically file an injury claim and a no-fault claim on different accounts, especially if you want to distinguish between compensation for the accident and your bodily harm.
Seeking Proof of a Bicyclist’s Fault
Since insurance rarely covers bicycles in New York, your best option is to pursue a case regarding the rider’s negligence. As part of your case, you must:
- Prove the bicyclist had been obligated to provide a right of way to you, the pedestrian
- Showcase evidence of your injuries and the negligence on part of the bicyclist
- Your injuries warrant compensation
For more details, review the checklist for car accident cases on HG Law for a similar layout.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Syracuse, New York
Riding your bicycle can be immensely convenient and fun during the spring and summer, but safety should always be a top priority for bicyclists who are traveling along major thoroughfares for New York foot traffic. In many cases, distracted or negligent riders will completely disregard pedestrians, which can ultimately inflict painful and irritating injuries. In the event that you or a loved one has sustained injuries after a bicyclist crashed into you, you will no doubt feel concerned about what steps you should take next.
Although this might be difficult, though, you must remain calm. With the assistance of a lawyer who is experienced with personal injury cases, you can gather viable resources to create a strong case in court.
We at Gattuso & Ciotoli have more than 50 years of combined legal experience and deliver the some of the most high-quality legal services to victims of a wide variety of accidents in the vicinity of Syracuse, New York. We value your perspective on your case and your goals for the future and ready to help you receive the justice you deserve. For more information on our four practice areas or your legal matter, contact us at (315) 314-8000 today.