Babylon Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle accident injuries can be devastating.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 1,000 bicyclists are killed in the United States every year. There are also roughly 450,000 bicycle crashes of all types every year. According to some estimates, the social cost of these collisions exceeds $10 billion annually in medical treatment costs, lost income, productivity losses, insurance administration, property damage, and legal overheads. These costs are expected to rise as more and more people take to bike-riding as an eco-friendly alternative to other modes of transportation.

If you were involved in a bicycle collision we are here to help. Contact a bicycle accident lawyer in Babylon with Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. today for assistance with your bicycle injury case. Our law offices can be reached at (631) 994-1910. We can help you identify the at-fault party responsible for your crash and estimate the dollar value of your losses and personal injuries. We can also help you file a claim if your case warrants one. Statutes of limitations apply to take legal action, so do not hesitate to call us today.

Common Injuries Sustained in Bicycle Crashes

Pedestrians and bicyclists are some of the most at-risk people on the road. In crashes involving bicyclists and other vehicles, the bike rider is at a much higher risk of being injured in the crash. Also, the bicyclist’s injuries are likely to be much more serious than any injuries sustained by the driver or occupants of the vehicle that struck the bicyclist. This is because of the lack of insulation and protection that bike riders have even if they use standard helmets and other guards against physical injury.

Injuries that regularly send bicyclists to the emergency room include:

• Head, face, and spinal cord trauma
• Broken and/or fractured bones
• Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
• Scrapes and burns
• Damage to internal organs
• Eye, ear, and/or dental injuries
• Paralysis of varying degrees
• Death

In addition to physical injuries and the costs of medical treatment, bicyclists injured in a crash with a vehicle may be unable to return to work for an extended period of time and may also suffer bike damage and mental or emotional trauma. A bicycle accident lawyer in Babylon with Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. can help you determine which of your losses and damages may be compensable so that you can file a claim for the same. Contact a member of our legal team at (631) 994-1910 to learn more today.

Understanding the Minimum Insurance Requirements and Coverage in New York

New York requires no-fault insurance. According to the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), anyone who registers a motor vehicle is required to purchase a minimum of $50,000 in personal injury protection, which is known as PIP coverage. PIP is used to cover medical losses, financial outlays up to certain limits, and some portion of burial or funeral costs in case of a traffic fatality.

In terms of injuries, PIP covers virtually every type of personal injury you can suffer in a car crash, including:

• ER visits
• Hospitalization fees
• Doctor’s visits
• Surgical procedures
• Medical devices such as wheelchairs or crutches
• Diagnostic testing fees for the likes of X-rays and MRIs
• Ambulance fees
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

With PIP, you can cover 80% of lost monthly earnings up to $2,000 per month. You are entitled to these payments for up to three years after a collision occurs. You are also entitled to $25 per day for home services such as laundry services, housekeeping, grocery shopping, and anything else you are unable to do yourself as a result of the injuries you sustained in a collision. When a bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle in New York, the no-fault coverage for the vehicle will provide PIP benefits to the bicyclist.

In addition to PIP, drivers can purchase collision coverage and personal liability plans, not to mention higher limits on each of these plans than the required state minimums. Drivers can also purchase uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage can be used to pay for losses that arise from accidents involving uninsured motorists and cases involving unidentified motorists, as happens with many hit-and-run cases. The Insurance Information Institute (III) has found that many drivers operate a motor vehicle without insurance, with as many as one in four drivers in some states.

An understanding of these policies is important because they will determine what you can potentially seek in terms of coverage and compensation from an at-fault driver that strikes you, as we discuss next.

Pursuing Compensation for Your Biking Injuries

To file a claim for the personal injuries and/or other damages you suffered in a bicycle collision, you must be able to prove that someone struck you and was responsible for causing you harm in an accident that should not have occurred. This harm can be physical, mental, financial, or otherwise. Based on the extent of your injuries and any other relevant damages, you can seek compensation from the various insurance policies held by the at-fault driver. This includes their PIP coverage for medical bills and other expenses such as lost earnings.

You can also pursue compensation against the other driver via a lawsuit for recovery of pain and suffering and losses not compensated by PIP. Contact Rosenberg & Gluck LLP today to determine whether or not your injuries can be classified as serious and pursued against the at-fault driver.

Contact Our Office Today to Learn How Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Babylon Can Help You

It can be difficult to determine which of potentially multiple insurance policies applies to your bicycle accident case and what the limits are for each policy. Gathering evidence, filing a claim by the relevant statutes of limitations, handling insurance negotiations, and quantifying damages can also be difficult, especially for someone who is trying to recover from the injuries he or she sustained in a bicycle crash.

This is where a bicycle accident lawyer in Babylon with Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. can help. Please call us today at (631) 994-1910 for a free case evaluation. We will walk you through what you need to know regarding accident claims, insurance laws, and how to go about seeking whatever compensation you may be legally entitled to. Do not hesitate to call us today.