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Pedestrian and bicycle accidents share in common the fact that both types of accident victims have virtually no protection against oncoming cars. Unlike car accidents where the structure of a vehicle absorbs some of the impact and to some degree can protect the driver and passengers, it is typical for pedestrian and bicycle accident victims to suffer severe injuries or even die.
Ignoring designated bike paths, exceeding speed limits, texting while driving, and not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks are forms of driver negligence. No fault auto insurance covers bicyclists and pedestrians in car accidents, up to a certain limit. If injuries are deemed "serious" under New York law, an attorney can help you hold negligent drivers liable for damages.
If you suffer serious injury in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, you are advised to seek legal help as soon as possible. All too often, drivers and insurance companies attempt to blame the injured party by saying the bike or pedestrian came out of nowhere or was not visible. An experienced accident lawyer can gather evidence, develop effective legal strategies to counter such arguments and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
New York City implemented a program called Vision Zero that has the goal of reducing traffic fatalities and injuries to zero. As a result, there was a 32 percent decline in pedestrian fatalities in 2017, the lowest since 1910. In contrast, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated pedestrian accidents across the nation were on the rise.
Although statistics for pedestrian accidents improved, NYC saw 101 pedestrian fatalities in 2017. Actions the City took to make the streets safer for pedestrians included reducing speed limits to 25 miles per hour, making moving violations subject to stricter enforcement, revamping numerous street corners to slow cars down and reconfiguring crossing signals, giving pedestrians more time to cross a street.
Unfortunately, Vision Zero did not produce the same results for bicycle accidents. Bicycle accidents increased while overall traffic accidents declined.
City statistics indicated that bicycle accident fatalities stayed in the same range it had been in since 2000, which ranged between 12 and 24 fatalities. In 2017 there were 23 deaths, an increase from 18 fatalities in 2016. In general, bicyclists are demanding more crosstown bike lanes in Manhattan and better designs for mixing zone intersections where bike lanes merge with left-hand turn lanes.
We offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your accident. If you have suffered serious injury due to driver negligence, legal representation is vital. Having an experienced attorney on your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
Call us toll free at 888.519.6400, or contact us in Garden City at 516.248.2234, or in Flushing-Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx at 718.539.3100. You can also fill in our contact form, and we will get in touch with you.
With offices throughout New York City and the Long Island area the personal injury attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP, assist accident victims throughout New York, including the cities of Manhattan (NYC), Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Flushing, Bayside, College Point, Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, Long Island City, Elmont, Forest Hills, Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale, Laurelton, Hollis, Ridgewood, Nassau, Hempstead, Elmont, Mineola, Freeport, Garden City, Uniondale, Westbury, Roosevelt, East Meadow, Levittown, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park, Williston Park, Valley Stream, as well as the communities in and around Nassau and Suffolk County.