Bicycle Accident Lawyer Serving Clients in Queens, New York

Bicycles are common modes of transportation for Queens residents, including for those who live and work in Queens and for those who regularly commute to other boroughs. Yet bicycle accident and injury risks in Queens and throughout New York City need to be taken seriously, particularly given the high rate of bicycle accidents in recent years. In most bicycle accident cases involving collisions with motor vehicles, the collision results from a negligent motorist’s careless behavior. Much too frequently, drivers are distracted behind the wheel, they drive aggressively when cyclists are attempting to share the road, or they drive after consuming drugs or alcohol. Despite the Vision Zero safety program, bicycle accident injuries and deaths have risen in recent years.

If you or someone you love sustained serious or deadly injuries in a bicycle collision in New York, you should seek advice from a Queens bicycle accident attorney who can help you to file a claim for compensation.

Getting the Facts About Bicycle Accidents in Queens

Just how dangerous is bicycling in Queens and throughout New York City? How often do bicycle accidents happen in New York? The following facts and figures come from Bicycling.com and the New York City Department of Transportation:

  • About 25 percent of all adults in New York City report that they ride a bicycle in the city at least once per year, and nearly half say they ride a bicycle several times per month;
  • In 2020, there were a total of 1.067 bicycle accident injuries in Queens and one fatality;
  • Bicycle accidents in Queens alone accounted for more than 8 percent of all reported traffic injuries in the borough;
  • In Queens, bicycle accident rates were lower than in Brooklyn (the borough with the highest rate of serious and deadly bicycle accidents), but the bicycle accident rates in Queens were significantly higher than those in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island;
  • More than 20 percent of all bicycle accident injuries in New York City occurred in Queens;
  • Drivers alone are responsible for the highest rate of bicycle accidents and injuries, while a significantly lower rate of bicycle collisions with motor vehicles involved the fault of both the automobile driver and the bicyclist;
  • Driver error is the leading cause of bicycle accident fatalities in New York City; and
  • Distracted driving and failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists are cited by Bicycling.com as the two more common causes of bicycle accident injuries, accounting for more than 60 percent of all reported bicycle collisions with motor vehicles.

Common Injuries in Queens Bicycle Accidents

When bicycle accidents in Queens occur, cyclists can suffer serious and life-threatening injuries. Common injuries include but are not limited to:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
  • Spinal cord injuries (SCIs);
  • Bone fractures;
  • Traumatic amputations;
  • Disfigurement; and
  • Internal bleeding and organ damage.

Causes of Queens Bicycle Accidents

What are the most common causes of Queens bicycle accidents and cycling collisions throughout the borough? According to Bicycling.com, the following are the top 10 causes of bicycle crashes involving motor vehicle drivers:

  • Driver inattention and distracted driving;
  • Failure to yield right-of-way to a bicyclist;
  • Confusion between bicyclist and pedestrian;
  • A driver disregards traffic control by running a red light or a stop sign, for example;
  • Improper passing of a bicyclist;
  • Improper usage of a lane;
  • Motorist following too closely behind a bicyclist;
  • Driver turning improperly;
  • Driver passing a bicyclist too closely;
  • Distraction due to a vehicle passenger; and
  • Unsafe changing of lanes.

Statute of Limitations for a Queens Bicycle Accident

Most bicycle accidents in Queens have a three-year statute of limitations, and the clock begins ticking on the date of the accident according to New York law. For a wrongful death lawsuit after a bicycle collision, the statute of limitations is two years and the clock starts ticking on the date of death.

Contact Our Queens Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle accidents in Queens can be devastating, especially when you realize that the accident could have been prevented if a motor vehicle driver had simply been more careful behind the wheel. If you were injured in a bicycle accident involving a motor vehicle, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver who struck you. In cases where a negligent motorist strikes and kills a bicyclist, it may be possible to pursue a wrongful death claim in order to hold that driver accountable for the devastating harm they have caused. One of our experienced and aggressive Queens bicycle accident attorneys can begin working with you today on your case. Contact the Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C. to find out more about the services we provide to clients in Queens.