Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, biking can be a great way to get out and exercise. However, it’s also a high-risk activity that can lead to serious injuries if you’re involved in an accident.
Bike crashes can cause a range of injuries, from road rash and cuts to broken bones. If you’ve suffered an injury in a bike crash, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation.
Intersection Crash
Intersection crashes are one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents. They happen when a driver doesn’t see you or fails to yield the right of way.
When a cyclist is traveling at a reasonable speed, they can usually avoid an intersection crash by riding on the opposite side of the road. However, they can’t do this when a car is coming from a different direction.
Another common cause of intersection accidents is drivers misjudging the traffic situation at an intersection. For example, they might mistakenly turn right into oncoming traffic or try to run a yellow light when it’s red.
Intersection crashes are a serious and life-changing experience for anyone involved. They require immediate medical attention and must be reported to the police. In addition, a professional accident report needs to be filed and photographs taken to document the wreck.
Door-to-Door Crash
In some cases, bike accidents involve a cyclist being hit by a vehicle’s door that was opened into their path. These crashes can result in serious injuries, including shattered teeth, lacerations and broken bones.
In these situations, a knowledgeable bicycle accident attorney will be able to help you obtain fair compensation for the financial damages. This will include lost wages, medical bills and other expenses.
Cyclists who are injured in a door-to-door crash should also make sure to record any and all evidence that they have on hand, such as photographs of the bike, the scene of the accident, their injuries and witness statements.
Bicyclists who are in a dooring accident should also contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney to help them file a claim for compensation. The lawyer will help them establish who was at fault for the collision and pursue a successful recovery. This will include any necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation costs.
Hit-and-Run Crash
A hit-and-run crash occurs when a motorist flees the scene of an accident after striking another driver, pedestrian or cyclist. This happens for many reasons, including panic, the desire to get away from the scene, a lack of insurance coverage or other issues.
It’s important to keep in mind that New York law makes it against the law for a driver to leave the scene of an injury-causing car crash without reporting the incident to the police. If you were injured in a hit-and-run, you can file a claim for compensation through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation.
To file a claim, you must report the incident to the police within 24 hours of the accident. You also need to fill out a Notice of Intention form and submit it to the MVAIC. If the other driver is identified, you can then make a claim against their insurance company. You may also be eligible for no-fault insurance to help cover medical expenses and property damage regardless of who was at fault.
Sidewalk Crash
In many cases, the sidewalk is actually safer for bicyclists than the street. It also provides extra space for a cyclist to maneuver and get out of the way of vehicles moving slower than they are.
But there are risks for both bikes and pedestrians when using the sidewalk. A bicycle accident on a sidewalk can cause serious injuries, even fatalities.
One of the most common accidents involving bicyclists on sidewalks is when a driver makes a right turn at a crosswalk and hits a bike rider who was crossing in front of the car.
In these cases, the driver is concentrating on traffic to their left and fails to see or anticipate the bicycle on the sidewalk. This can lead to a head-on collision.
