According to the New York City Department of Transportation, more than 5,000 people are injured in bicycle accidents in NYC each year. About 850 of them sustain injuries during bike accidents in Queens alone. If you were hurt in one of these accidents recently, a bicycle accident lawyer in Queens, NY, can lend a hand when it comes to protecting your rights.
You can also take steps to protect your own legal rights in the aftermath of a bicycle accident in Queens. Learn about them below to ensure you are doing the right thing after being involved in an NYC bike accident.
Call 911 Immediately Following a Bicycle Accident in New York
Right after a bicycle accident in New York occurs, the first thing you should do is call 911. If you’re too injured to do this, ask someone else to call 911 to report your bike accident.
New York City Police Department officers can come to the scene of your bicycle accident to launch an investigation into what happened. This investigation will help law enforcement produce a police report that you can use when filing insurance claims or working with a bicycle accident lawyer in New York who handles cases involving bike accident injuries and deaths.
If necessary, the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services can also send paramedics to the scene of your bicycle accident to deliver medical treatment to you and any others injured in your crash. You can protect your rights after your bike accident by tending to any injuries you sustained and having them documented by medical professionals.
Document the Scene of an NYC Bicycle Accident
NYPD officers will do more than just investigate your New York City bicycle accident when they arrive on the scene. They’ll also work to clean up the scene as soon as they finish speaking with you and others involved in your crash.
Before they do this, you must document the scene of your accident as quickly as you can. This should be as simple as pulling out your smartphone to snap photographs and take videos.
If you choose to take legal action against the driver who hit you while you were on your bicycle, a New York bicycle accident lawyer will appreciate you gathering all of this evidence from the scene. This will give a personal injury attorney everything they need to create a compelling case.
Ask Eyewitnesses to a Bike Accident in NYC for Their Contact Information
Look around following a bicycle accident in NYC to see whether anyone may have seen your crash take place. If you spot any eyewitnesses, ask them for their contact information since it could come in handy later should you decide to file a lawsuit through a bicycle accident lawyer in New York.
If nothing else, a bike accident lawyer might want to talk to eyewitnesses who can provide a clearer picture of what happened before, during, and after your crash. They might also want to call on them to testify if you seek injury compensation by taking a personal injury claim to trial.
Visit a Hospital After a New York Bike Accident for a Medical Evaluation
Whether you receive medical care from paramedics on the scene of an NYC bicycle accident or not, rush right over to one of the more than 150 hospitals in the Big Apple following a bike crash. Medical professionals can perform a more comprehensive evaluation at a hospital and provide a list of each injury you sustained during a bike accident.
During legal proceedings, a bicycle accident lawyer will need to prove that your injuries stem from your crash and not some other incident you were involved in. Documenting these injuries at a hospital is the only reliable way to highlight this fact.
Schedule a Consultation With a Trusted New York Bicycle Accident Lawyer
In the days after your bicycle accident, you may start to hear from insurance companies for others who were involved in your crash. They’ll seek to determine accident liability in your case. They might even begin to send you settlement offers before long as they look to close your case without spending a fortune.
Don’t agree to any settlement offers with insurance companies until you have spoken to a trustworthy New York bicycle accident lawyer. They will know all about protecting rights and can prevent you from agreeing to anything when you’re still wrapping your head around what happened during your accident.
Contact Us To Begin Working With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in New York
A New York City bike accident can cause extensive injuries and limit your ability to make it from point A to point B. A bicycle accident lawyer from Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC, can assist you in building a legal case against the person responsible for your crash. Call (718) 205-1010 to arrange a free consultation today.
FAQs
Read through the answers to these frequently asked questions about bicycle accidents in New York City.
Are Negligent Drivers Always Liable for Bicycle Accidents in New York?
Negligent drivers are often liable for bicycle accidents in New York, but this isn’t always the case. An NYC bicycle accident lawyer can help determine fault in a bike accident based on the evidence that exists.
What Are the Common Injuries Associated With New York Bicycle Accidents?
Common injuries associated with New York bicycle accidents include fractured bones, facial trauma, internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Road rash is also a common concern among those involved in bike crashes in NYC.
How Much Could My NYC Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Be Worth?
Your NYC bicycle accident lawsuit could be worth anywhere from several thousand dollars to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. A bicycle accident lawyer can provide additional insight into the potential injury compensation you could collect after a New York City bike accident.