A lot of the traffic accidents that occur on highways involve people riding bicycles. Because a bicycle offers no protection to the rider, accidents are generally very serious or even fatal. If an individual is on a bicycle and has an accident, they could file a personal injury lawsuit, especially when they were clearly not at fault. A bicycle accident attorney in Queens County, NY represents clients who have been involved in a bicycle accident and injury. These are things bicycle riders need to know about the laws in New York.
Those who are injured in a bicycle accident or suffers from any other personal injuries must realize that in New York the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit in a New York civil court is three years from the date of the accident. If the lawsuit is not filed within that time frame, the opportunity to have the case heard will be most likely gone. Any opportunity to collect damages will also be gone, so it is important to pay attention to that date.
New York also employs the pure comparative negligence rule. If the insurance company involved or the other party can prove the bike rider was partially at fault for the accident, any damages awarded will be reduced by the percentage the bicycle rider is found at fault. This is where it gets tricky. Automobiles, trucks and other motorized vehicles often do not respect bicyclists on the road, and may automatically try to find them at fault. It is, therefore, pertinent that bicyclists follow all rules of the road for bicycles.
The Law Office of Steven R. Smith has been providing legal solutions for clients in the Queens County, New York area for over 17 years. In addition to helping clients involved in bicycle accidents, the attorney also represents clients in medical malpractice cases, brain injuries, dog bites, wrongful deaths, and other personal injuries. If a person is looking for a bicycle accident attorney in Queens County, NY, this law office can be contacted. Visit the website.
