Citi Bike Accident Attorney
Cyclists face a number of dangers in New York City, and the use of Citi Bikes can compound them. When someone chooses the popular bike-sharing alternative transportation option, they risk getting injured by faulty equipment — on top of the existing risks of dangerous drivers, large buses, and poor road maintenance.
There are no broad statistics available for the number of Citi Bike-related injuries in New York, but there have been a number of notable fatalities in the recent past. One fatal incident in September of 2018 saw a Coach USA bus bumping into and then running over a Citi Bike user on a narrow Chelsea road. Another fatal incident occurred in April 2019 when a UPS driver struck a real estate agent biking in Chelsea, who later died from his injuries.
Injuries and deaths related to Citi Bike use can also happen as a result of dangerous bicycle designs. Citi’s new electric, pedal-assisted e-bikes were pulled shortly after launch because of a rash of accidents caused by excessive braking force on the front wheel. Riders flipped over their handlebars, leading to facial injuries, broken bones, and other harmful incidents.
If you were injured while riding on a Citi Bike or were hurt by a Citi Bike rider, you may have options for paying your medical bills through a personal injury claim. A Long Island Citi Bike accident lawyer can assist you with filing your claim, allowing you to identify all potentially liable parties so that you won’t have to bear the costs of your injury alone.
You can learn more about your options for obtaining the maximum compensation available when you speak with a Citi Bike accident attorney during a free consultation. Schedule your free, confidential, no-obligation case review now when you call 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online.
Causes of Citi Bike Accidents in New York
Citi Bike is the name for New York City’s official (but privately owned) bike-sharing program. It allows locals and visitors to rent a bicycle from a station for a small fee. Members can pay an annual fee in exchange for unlimited rides.
In total, Citi Bike operates 800 stations renting out approximately 13,000 bikes total. Stations can be found in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City. The company’s recent monthly report to the city claims that riders took over 1.9 million trips in May 2019 for a combined distance of more than 3.5 million miles. The majority of trips were made by the company’s 143,000+ annual members.
During any one of these trips, a number of incidents capable of causing injury can occur. Some of the incidents may be attributable to rider error or unavoidable circumstances, but many can be caused by the negligence of others.
Collisions with Cars, Trucks, and Buses
Cars and heavy vehicles pose an ever-present threat to bike riders throughout NYC. The city has been criticized for inaction against the problem of cyclist fatalities, and one of the most persistent complaints is that the NYPD and other entities don’t hold reckless drivers responsible.
Just a simple tap or sideswipe may be all it takes for a vehicle to pull a bicyclist under its tires. Larger trucks and buses, whose drivers are expected to exercise a greater level of caution, may also fail to follow laws regarding yielding, keeping a safe distance, or avoiding the path of cyclists.
Defective Citi Bike Product Design
Defective products are responsible for thousands of personal injury claims every year, and bicycles are no different. The manufacturers that supply Citi Bike with its fleet are responsible for providing safe vehicles. Unfortunately, these vehicles may have design defects or manufacturing defects that risk the safety of riders. In New York, manufacturers are strictly liable for any injuries caused by the proper use of their products in most instances.
Citi Bike Negligence
The Citi Bike company itself is capable of performing negligent acts that can increase the risk of harm to riders. Failing to maintain bikes or inspect them for critical safety issues, for instance, can directly lead to a serious accident. Those injured during their ride have a right to investigate Citi Bike’s role in the incident and whether the company exercised “reasonable care” to prevent such incidents from happening.
NYC Infrastructure Neglect
The infrastructure of NYC is managed by a tangled web of state, municipal, county, and federal entities. Any number of these agencies and departments could be held responsible for unacceptably unsafe road conditions in the event that they cause a serious accident.
Citi Bike Pedestrian Accidents
Citi Bike riders can be the cause of accidents through their own negligence. When a pedestrian or other vulnerable person is struck by a careless rider, that injured pedestrian could have rights to pursue compensation from the rider, the Citi Bike company, the bike manufacturer, or any other potentially liable parties.
Filing an Injury Claim After Your Citi Bike Accident
After your accident, you should seek prompt medical attention for all of your injuries. If your accident involved a vehicle, pedestrian, or a serious injury, then you should report the incident to the police. Citi Bike requests that any incidents are also reported to them within 30 days, and this step is necessary if the injury victim wishes to pursue a claim against the company.
Most bicycle accidents with another vehicle are covered by the vehicle’s No-Fault insurance policy. The cyclist can file for the cost of their medical bills and lost wages within 30 days of their incident.
In the event that no insurance remedy is available, such as when you are hit by a driver with no insurance or a driver who hits-and-runs, then injury victims can use their uninsured or underinsured motorist protection (SUM) coverage.
A third-party liability claim may be available in the event of a serious injury or a qualifying circumstance. These policies typically offer a higher amount of coverage for a broader variety of damages, such as pain and suffering caused by the incident.
Recovering All of Your Damages with Help from a Long Island Citi Bike Accident Lawyer
Working with an experienced Citi Bike accident lawyer in Long Island can allow you to uncover all legal strategies available for you to effectively seek the maximum amount of compensation available under the law.
Your attorney can identify whether certain parties — such as the Citi Bike corporation or the city of New York — could be held responsible for your injuries by way of a negligence claim. If your claim is denied, your attorney can pursue the matter through a lawsuit that proceeds all the way up to a jury trial, if need be.
To support your claim, your Citi Bike accident lawyer will interview witnesses, investigate the accident scene, review relevant state, federal, and case laws, and anticipate common defenses companies and people use to avoid liability.
TonaLaw provides legal representation on a contingency basis, meaning that you don’t owe anything for your legal services unless you win your claim.
You deserve to get as much compensation as you can to repay the costs of your injury and increase the odds of a full recovery. Your Citi Bike accident lawyer will fight hard for you using their knowledge of the law and their willingness to document your losses in extensive detail.
Don’t hesitate to exercise your legal rights to a personal injury claim. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation now to learn the next best steps you can take to pursue the compensation you need. Call 1-833-TONALAWor contact us online to book your free appointment today.