New York Bicycle Accidents: What You Should Know

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Author: Victoria M. Brown

Article source: http://www.articledeshboard.com/. Used with author's permission.

Bicycle accidents occur more often than you may think. Each year in the United States approximately one million children are injured because of a bicycle related accident and every six hours, a fatal bicycle accident occurs. Although not all bicycle accidents involve a motor vehicle, a majority of the accidents do. Often drivers make a turn or pull out of driveway and hit a bicyclist because they simply don't look for them. Accidents also occur when drivers open their car doors and hit a bicyclist, often sending them into oncoming traffic. Any driver that is not cautious of a bicyclist can easily put the bicyclist in danger.

Bicycle accidents are often serious because of the lack of protection that a bicycle provides. In fact, the only protection that a bicycle provides is reflectors to help cars spot the bicyclist and the helmet that the bicyclist is wearing. Compare this to a 4,000 pound car, where drivers are protected behind steel, glass, metal, and rubber. In addition, cars today are built with extra protection features including air bags, seat belts, anti-lock brakes, etc. Bicyclists do not have any extra protection. It is the responsibility of the driver to be aware of people riding bicycles. When a driver causes a bicycle accident, they need to be held responsible for the accident.

The severity of bicycle accidents is very frightening for bicyclists to think about. In 2004, over 5,000 bicycle accidents were reported in New York State alone. 42 of them were fatal. There are many different types of injuries that a bicyclist can suffer from after an accident. Such injuries include:

• Any head injuries, including concussions
• Fractured bones
• Any injury to the neck or spine, including paralysis
• Impairment of the function of any bodily organ
• Any form of disfigurement
• An impairment of health

If you were involved in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of another and received a serious injury, you may be entitled to receive monetary compensation for your injuries. Be sure to file a bicycle accident report. This report asks for details regarding the scene of the accident and any injuries obtained. The report should be filed within 10 days of the accident unless injuries prevent you from doing so. In that case, the report should be filed as soon as you are able to do so.

All bicycle accidents are serious and should be taken seriously. If you or someone you know is involved in a bicycle accident, be sure to take the appropriate steps to make sure you receive the treatment you deserve. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney to learn your rights.

Goidel and Siegel : NY Personal Injury Lawyers (www.goidelandsiegel.com)   Goidel and Siegel handle personal injury cases exclusively, and their knowledge of this area of the law is extensive. They have represented victims of serious accidents and assaults for more than 17 years. Goidel and Siegel are committed to obtaining the highest financial compensation for their clients who have been seriously injured. Submitted by Victoria at NewSunGraphics (www.NewSunGraphics.com)