Representing Cycling Accident Injury Victims in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey
Most experienced cyclists are well-aware of the danger posed by traffic collisions with cars and trucks. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to protect yourself when a person drives without regard for others on the roads and endangers your safety. With the staggering statistics on bicycle accident injuries and deaths, the New Jersey Department of Transportation states that it has made bicycle safety a top priority. There are also strict laws in place to protect New Jersey cyclists and laws that provide cyclists with legal avenues through which to pursue compensation if they are injured by negligent drivers.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in New Jersey, it is vital to know your rights. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your injuries while cycling, you may be be entitled to pursue damages for financial losses and the emotional and physical toll the injuries have taken on your life. The applicability of personal injury law related to your bicycle accident can be complicated, so you should contact an experienced attorney about your case as soon as possible if you are injured in a biking accident. Remember that you have a limited amount of time after your accident to bring a legal claim in court, so it is important to act quickly. If you or someone you know would like to speak with one of our experienced New Jersey Bicycle Accident Attorneys, call our office at (732) 303-7857 or contact us online today. We are here to help with the information and assistance you need at this critical time. Consultations are free of charge and a member of our team is available immediately to answer your questions.
How Bicycling Accidents Happen in New Jersey
Bicycle accidents can result in severe injury including spine injuries, broken bones, head injuries. In some circumstances a bicycle accident can be fatal. These accidents occur for various reasons and depending on the circumstances, various parties may bear some responsibility for the incident and injuries that result. There are several common causes of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles and bicycles, and as many cyclists know, the bicyclist is often not the cause of these collisions. Motor vehicle operators who are distracted or impaired frequently collide with cyclists. Drivers who open the doors of parked cars without looking for cyclists can cause collisions. Motorists often fail to look before turning and/or fail to yield the right of way. All these causes can cause significant physical injury to a cyclist. Below explains just some of the ways cyclists can suffer injuries in accidents with others on New Jersey roads.
When a Cyclist gets Hit by a Motor Vehicle
If a bicycle accident results from a collision with a motor vehicle, the individual who was operating the motor vehicle may have some responsibility if the individual operating the motor vehicle acted in an unsafe or careless manner and or violated one of the traffic laws, and as a result of this action, caused the bicycle accident.
If a Commercial Vehicle Injures a Person Riding a Bike
Just as passenger motor vehicles, commercial vehicle drivers and owners owe a duty of care to individuals who ride their bicycles. If the driver or owner of the commercial vehicle does not property operate and or maintain his or her commercial vehicle, and as a result an accident with a bicycle occurs, the individual operating the commercial vehicle or the owner of the vehicle may bear some responsibility for the injuries suffered.
When a Bicycle Collides with Another Bike
Sometimes a bicycle accident results from a collision with another bicycle. Just as individuals owe a duty of safety and care when operating a vehicle, individuals who operate a bicycle, must operate their bicycles in a reasonably safe manner. If an individual fails to operate his or her bicycle in a safe manner and causes an accident with another bicycle, the person who caused the accident may bear some responsibility for the harm which resulted.
Bicycle Collision with a Pedestrian
Just as a commercial vehicle, a passenger motor vehicle, and a bicycle must obey the rules of the road, a pedestrian must also obey the rules of the road. If a pedestrian causes a bicycle accident, that pedestrian may, in some circumstances, be liable for the injuries which result.
Product Liability Lawsuit for Defective Bicycle
Finally, if a bicycle accident occurs as a result of a product defect, the manufacturer of the bicycle may be responsible for the harm which resulted in a product liability lawsuit. Manufacturers of bicycles must manufacture safe products. If a bicycle fails, and an accident results, the manufacture of the bicycle may be responsible for the harm caused.
Regardless of the specific circumstances which gave rise to a bicycle accident injuries, injured as a result of a bicycle accident, you should call our New Jersey Bicycle Accident Attorneys as soon as possible. Our attorneys will meet with you and discuss all possible options.
How Does New Jersey Law Protect Bicyclists?
New Jersey law states that drivers who operate motor vehicles have a duty to drive reasonably safely under the circumstances. If a motorist fails to drive with reasonable caution and care, causing injury to a bicyclist as a result, the driver can be held liable for negligence with a personal injury lawsuit.
If you are injured in a bicycle accident, and you have an auto insurance policy that provides personal injury protection (or “PIP” coverage), that coverage may be your first line of defense in paying medical bills. It may seem counterintuitive, but many PIP insurance policies cover medical bills related to any accident “involving” a motor vehicle, whether you were driving or not. If you do not have PIP insurance, your healthcare insurance may cover your medical bills. Beyond immediate medical costs, you may be able to obtain compensation from the other party for negligence.
If you are able to prove that the driver who hit you was negligent, the recoverable damages may include pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and time off work, and potentially even additional damages based on the specific facts of your case. It is therefore important that you document everything related to your bicycle accident, from taking photos at the scene (after you have called 911 and sought any required medical attention, of course) to saving medical and other receipts or documentation related to missed paychecks and time-off requests at work.
How Common are Bicycling Accidents?
The number of bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles has grown consistently in recent years. There were over 800 bicycle accident fatalities in the U.S. as recently as 2015, and that number is on the rise, both nationally and in New Jersey. According to the Centers for Disease Control, bicycle accidents resulted in over 490,000 emergency room visits in 2013. Other sources have reported a greater than 12% increase in cyclist deaths nationally since 2015, and New Jersey sources report that bicycle accident deaths in the state have risen each year from 2015 through 2017.
Contact NJ Bike Crash Lawyers for Immediate Assistance
If you have been injured on a bicycle, the experienced New Jersey Bicycle Accident Attorneys at our firm can help. We represent individuals who have been hurt in a bicycle accident throughout the state, including in Monmouth County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, and Mercer County. Our legal team will fight tirelessly to recover the highest amount we can to compensate for your loss of income, rehabilitative care, medical bills, and the emotional and physical trauma you suffered as a result of your bike accident. Call (732) 303-7857 for a free consultation.
