30% of New Yorkers use a bike as their primary mode of transportation. Each year, the city sees over 18,000 bicycle accidents. These figures include fatal incidents.
When it’s time to compensate you for a bicycle accident, who pays for your injuries, which may be both extensive and expensive? Here’s what you need to know.
The Driver’s Insurance Policy
The motorist’s insurance policy can pay for your bicycle accident. If you have an automobile and a bike, then your auto policy might pay under your no-fault insurance benefits.
Before speaking to any insurance adjuster, it is imperative to speak first to an experienced personal injury lawyer.
The City of New York
If a pothole, uneven manhole cover, or other city maintenance issue caused your bicycle accident, you might be able to claim against the City of New York.
To do this, you will have to move quickly. New York requires you to file a Notice of Claim within 30 days of the accident.
The city will do everything in its power to dodge responsibility. The bureaucratic process is one weapon in their arsenal. Do what you can to protect yourself by reaching out to a personal injury lawyer who can help.
CitiBike
Many riders rent bikes from CitiBike.
Usually, CitiBike doesn’t bear any responsibility if someone gets into an accident while riding one of their bikes.
The exception is those times when a defect in the bike causes an accident. For example, if the breaks on your CitiBike suddenly fail, making a claim against the company might be possible.
MVAIC
Suppose nobody involved in the accident owns a car or has any insurance. In that case, you can make a claim against the New York Motor Vehicle Accident and Indemnity Corporation. MVAIC also pays when you are involved in a hit-and-run accident with a driver.
MVAIC also has a wealth of bureaucratic rules designed to make it easier for them to avoid payment. Again, you’ll need an injury lawyer to get the help you need.
Get Help Today
Identifying liable parties and filing the appropriate claims are two of the many services your experienced personal injury attorney will perform on your behalf.
If you’re injured in a bicycle accident, don’t try to handle your case alone. Reach out to RLF to schedule a free consultation today.
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Meet Mr. Richman
SCOTT B. RICHMAN, ESQ.
Mr. Richman is the Managing Member and Founder of Richman Law Firm PLLC. In his role as Managing Member, Mr. Richman oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm and handles the litigation of the most complex legal matters across a vast array of practice areas and disciplines.
