Buffalo Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Motorists are required by law to exercise “due care” when sharing the road with others, including bicyclists and pedestrians. This means leaving a safe distance between vehicles and bicycles, allowing cyclists to use the full lane (where permitted), and keeping a lookout for bicyclists before turning, changing lanes, or merging. However, many motorists fail to exercise due care and, instead, drive carelessly, recklessly, or aggressively, leading to serious collisions with cyclists.

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving
• Driving while intoxicated
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Failing to keep a safe distance, e.g., following or passing too closely
• Passing unsafely or unlawfully
• Making dangerous or illegal turns
• Opening car doors into cyclists/oncoming cyclists’ paths
• Failing to check for bicyclists in vehicle blind spots
• Driving in or cutting across designated bicycle lanes
• Aggressive or reckless driving, including road rage

In addition to driver negligence, other factors can contribute to bicycle accidents. Poor visibility due to environmental conditions like fog or heavy rain can lead to incidents on the road. Nighttime cycling without adequate lighting or reflective gear increases the risk significantly. Improper signage and poorly marked bike lanes can also mislead cyclists into hazardous situations, while malfunctioning traffic signals may result in preventable collisions.

According to statistics gathered by New York City DOT, the vast majority of cycling injuries and fatalities occurred at intersections and involve another motor vehicle. Statistically, some of the most common causes of these accidents occurred when the cyclist was:

• Traveling adjacent to a motor vehicle (29%)
• Traveling at a right angle to a motor vehicle (27%)
• Hit by a turning motor vehicle (21%)

Bicycle accidents are prevalent in urban areas where bicycle and vehicular traffic density is high. Intersections are particularly risky due to the multiple points of conflict between vehicles and bicyclists. In rural areas, accidents may occur due to narrow roads without shoulders or bike lanes, heightening the danger for cyclists.

In New York, bicycle accidents are generally covered by no-fault insurance. This means that, if you have auto insurance, you can file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim with your insurance provider. You do not need to prove that anyone else was at fault to file a PIP claim; however, the type and amount of damages you can recover through no-fault insurance is limited.

In New York, no-fault insurance covers:

• Medical expenses related to all “reasonable and necessary” medical care
• Up to 80 percent of lost wages at a maximum of $2,000/month for up to three years
• Up to $25/day for miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation costs or household help

No-fault insurance also provides $2,000 to the estate when an individual dies in a motor vehicle collision, including bicycle-vehicle accidents. However, it does not pay anything for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or lost enjoyment of life. To recover compensation for these types of damages, as well as the full cost of your lost wages and other miscellaneous expenses, you will need to go outside the no-fault system and sue the liable party directly.

While it is possible to sue a negligent driver after a bicycle accident, there are certain eligibility requirements you must meet. You can only go outside the no-fault insurance system if you meet the state’s “serious injury threshold.”

To be considered a “serious injury” by the state of New York’s definition, your injury must result in one of the following:

• Significant disfigurement
• Permanent impairment of an organ or member’s use
• Significant impairment of a bodily function or system
• Substantial and total disability for at least 90 days

Bone fractures are automatically considered “serious injuries” in New York; all other injuries must meet one of the above requirements to meet the “serious injury threshold.”

Many bicycle accident victims sustain severe, catastrophic injuries after being hit by larger, heavier vehicles. As a result, many are able to go outside the state’s no-fault insurance system and seek compensation by filing claims against the at-fault drivers’ insurance providers and/or suing the liable parties directly.