Bicycle Accidents In Buffalo, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Team of Lawyers and Paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Fight to Obtain the Best Results for People Injured in Bicycle Accidents in Western New York

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 840 bicyclists died in motor vehicle accidents in 2016. The number of bicycle fatalities increased from 2015.

If you, or your loved one, were injured in a bicycle accident, you will want the best serious personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York on your side. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York bicycle accident lawyers have obtained over $175,000,000.00 on behalf of their clients. They will battle to obtain the best possible result for YOU!

Winning Results For Bicyclists Injured On The Roads Of Buffalo, New York

Recently, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. obtained a $435,000.00 settlement for a 22-year-old man who suffered injuries in a bicycle accident after a car failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with him. Upon impact, the man was thrown approximately 25 feet from the bicycle and suffered skull and left leg fractures and left arm and pulmonary contusions. He also suffered significant scarring to his left thigh, knee and ankle and required left leg surgery as a result of the accident.

In addition, Jed Dietrich, Esq. represented several other injured bicyclists throughout New York State. Jed Dietrich, Esq. battled to recover:

1. A $116,000.00 settlement for a 22-year-old woman who suffered left hip, left knee, left calf and left ankle injuries and required left hip surgery after she was struck by a vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way while she was crossing an intersection in Buffalo, New York; and
2. A $87,500.00 settlement for a 68-year-old woman who suffered skull, right clavicle, right rib, left finger and left arm fractures, subarachnoid hemorrhaging and a concussion after she was struck by a motor vehicle while crossing Maple Road in Williamsville, New York.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of experienced and aggressive trial lawyers fight hard to obtain the best results for people who were injured in bicycle accidents in Buffalo, New York. If you were injured in a bicycle accident caused by someone else's negligence, call the Buffalo, New York bicycle accident lawyers of the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. right now for your FREE consultation. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 716-839-3939. We will come to you and there is never a fee until we WIN for you.

What Causes Bicycle Accidents?

Although Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1146 requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid collisions with bicyclists, accidents do, unfortunately, still happen.

Often, bicycle accidents result from the negligent actions of a motor vehicle operator. That is, the driver failed to operate the motor vehicle as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances. A reasonable driver adequately observes their blind spots for bicyclists and other vehicles. Although a motor vehicle driver may quickly check his or her rear and sideview mirrors for other vehicles, bicycles have a much smaller profile and can be easily overlooked if the driver is not careful.

Examples of negligent conduct that often contributes to bicycle accidents include:

1. Failure to yield the right-of-way;
2. Failure to keep a proper lookout for bicyclists, particularly when switching lanes, passing or turning;
3. Failure to obey traffic control devices, including red lights and stop signs;
4. Driving in lanes designated for use by bicyclists;
5. Driving while distracted, including texting while driving;
6. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
7. Opening a vehicle door in the path of a bicyclist; and
8. Speeding.

In addition, there are often environmental conditions under which cyclist accidents are more likely to occur. Cyclist accidents are more likely to occur:

1. In urban areas;
2. During daylight hours, with the largest percentage of cyclist accidents occurring between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:59 p.m.; and

If you, or a loved one, suffered an injury after a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of top rated bicycle accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation.

No-Fault Insurance Coverage

No-Fault Law, Article 51 of the New York State Insurance Law, helps to compensate individuals, including cyclists, who are injured in an accident “arising out of the use and operation of a motor vehicle.”

Accidents involving a car, truck or SUV and a bicycle can cause particularly serious injuries due to the lack of protection that a bicycle offers its operator. Common injuries that individuals suffer after a bicycle accident include:

1. Head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries and concussions;
2. Neck and back injuries, including herniated and bulging intervertebral discs;
3. Fractures; and
4. Road rash.

New York State is a No-Fault state. Therefore, if you were injured by a car, truck or SUV while riding a bicycle in New York, your medical bills and lost wages will be paid by the No-Fault insurance company of the vehicle that hit you, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

Generally, to obtain No-Fault coverage, the following are required:

1. An injured bicyclist must submit a No-Fault application with the insurance company of the vehicle that hit him or her within 30 days of the accident;
2. The injured bicyclist’s medical treatment providers must bill the No-Fault insurance company within 45 days of treatment; and
3. The injured bicyclist must attend medical examinations with physicians selected by the No-Fault insurance company, also known as Independent Medical Examinations.

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, getting a No-Fault claim set up and ensuring that your medical bills and lost wages are paid, can be overwhelming. The staff of the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. knows how to navigate the No-Fault insurance system and will help you through the process.

Contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of aggressive, tenacious and hardworking Buffalo, New York bicycle accident lawyers at 716-839-3939 immediately for a free consultation. We are available to help you.

New York Bicycle Helmet Requirements

In New York State there are different helmet requirements for passengers and operators of different ages. New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1238 states:

1. Children under the age of one are not allowed to ride as a passenger, even if they are held in a carrier attached to the operator’s body;
2. Children between the ages of one and five may ride as a passenger if they are wearing an approved helmet and placed in a separate seat attached to the bicycle; and
3. Children between the ages of five and fourteen must wear an approved helmet.

Although bicyclists are not required to wear an approved helmet after age fourteen, helmets are effective at preventing head injuries and therefore riders of every age should wear one.

Generally, a proper fitting bicycle helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead with the side straps forming a “V” slightly in front of your ears and the chin strap fitting snugly. Your helmet should be comfortable, positioned correctly and should not rock back and forth or side to side on your head. More information on how to properly fit a bicycle helmet can be found here.

If you, or a loved one, were injured in a bicycle accident that resulted from someone else’s negligence on the road, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. NOW at 716-839-3939 so that we can help you. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of bicycle accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York are always fighting to obtain the best result for you.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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