Riding a bike in Buffalo is a great way to get exercise or get around. However, whether there are designated bicycle lanes or not, bicycle riders are in danger of cycling injuries in a bicycle accident. Many bicycle accident victims wind up with serious injuries, and on top of that, are often blamed for failing to use hand signals or follow traffic control devices.
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, you need to protect your legal rights with the help of a bicycle accident attorney in Buffalo. At Mazzu Law, we provide legal assistance for Buffalo bicycle accidents that have left bicyclists injured.
After a bicycle accident in the Buffalo area, contact a Buffalo bike injury lawyer from our law firm today to get the compassionate representation you deserve. Our Buffalo bicycle accident lawyers will fight for your fair compensation.
How Common Is Getting Hit by a Motor Vehicle While on a Bicycle in New York?
Throughout New York State, particularly in Western New York, bicyclists are commonly seen riding along streets, roads, and trails. However, bike riders are in grave danger from motorists who are predominantly at fault for injuries and fatalities.
Statistics from the National Safety Council (NSC) on bicycle accidents reveal that the number of preventable bicycle accident fatalities has risen 47% throughout the last decade. Since 2022, they have increased 10%. Fatalities in bicycle accidents make up 2.6% of all motor vehicle-related deaths.
Most of the time, the entire blame resides with vehicle drivers who make critical errors leading to these accidents. However, that does not stop insurers or careless parties from turning the blame around onto you, making it vital to seek representation from a bicycle accident lawyer.
What Causes Buffalo Bicycle Accidents?
While bicyclists must abide by the rules of the road like motor vehicle drivers, they are usually not at fault when bicycle accidents occur. The majority of these bike accidents are caused by a negligent driver behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Here are the most common causes of Buffalo bicycle accidents:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is perhaps the most common cause of bicycle accidents in Buffalo. Distracted drivers may be occupied with a visual, manual, or cognitive distraction that takes their attention away from safe driving.
Many motorists text while driving, fiddle with the stereo, become engrossed in conversations with their passengers, grope for objects out of reach, apply makeup, shave, eat or drink, or zone out. When a driver is behaving in this way and causes a bike accident, they can be held liable for the serious injuries they cause a bicyclist.
Reckless Driving
Speeding, tailgating, running red lights, and weaving in and out of traffic are the hallmarks of a negligent driver. These aggressive actions can cause a bike accident when these reckless drivers only care about themselves.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Bicyclists may need to follow the rules of the road, but drivers have a duty to yield the right of way to cyclists, especially at stop signs or traffic signals.
Improper Lane Changes
Accidents involving cyclists are often the result of negligent drivers who not only fail to use their turn signals when changing lanes but also do not check their blind spots for bicyclists.
Following Cyclists Too Closely
Drivers are required to provide enough room for bicyclists on the sides as well as from behind. Following too closely could result in hitting the bicyclist and causing a bike accident.
It does not matter whether you were in a parking lot, at an intersection, or simply riding your bicycle along the road. A bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist allows you to seek financial compensation through a lawsuit.
Contact our Buffalo bike accident lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.
Common Types of Injuries in Western New York Bicycle Accidents
The driver of a vehicle does not need to be going very fast to cause suffering to a cyclist in a bike accident. Here is a look at the common injuries bicyclists sustain in New York State:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Helmets are only mandated in New York for any bicyclist under the age of 14. While helmets can certainly protect you, the impact of a crash could still cause brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe TBIs. In some cases, these injuries can leave a victim in a coma or result in their death.
Neck and Back Injuries
When bicyclists are flung from their bikes by drivers who are not paying attention, they may also suffer extensive neck and back injuries. Herniated discs, strains, and sprains may take a long time to heal.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can rob you of your enjoyment of life in just seconds. Depending on the point of impact and the severity of the injury, you may experience permanent disability through partial or full paralysis.
Road Rash
Getting hit by a car while on your bicycle may lead to road rash if the clothing you are wearing leaves parts of your skin exposed. Not caring for this injury promptly could result in other injuries or infections, which is why it is vital to seek immediate medical attention.
Broken Bones
Broken bones and fractures are common too, though these injuries may heal quickly, or they may cause a lifetime of agony. You may need several surgeries and that still might not be enough to heal the fracture.
Internal Bleeding
Of all the injuries that cyclists can experience when they are hit by a car, internal bleeding is among the most concerning. It usually has no symptoms for hours or days after the accident and can become life-threatening very quickly.
In short, if you or a loved one were hurt while riding a bike, contact a Buffalo bicycle accident lawyer from Mazzu Law today. Our Buffalo bicycle accident attorneys will stand up to the no-fault insurance companies to get you the fair compensation you deserve.
The Role of a Buffalo Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Just as you would hire a car accident lawyer for a car accident, a bicycle accident lawyer is instrumental in helping you protect your legal rights. No-fault insurance requires victims to obtain compensation through their own insurance policies.
However, when the injuries you have sustained are serious, you have the right to pursue economic and non-economic damages from the other driver in such cases. This can include your medical bills, lost wages, the ongoing care you need for your extensive injuries, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
Our Buffalo bike accident lawyers know all the tricks that the insurer will use to try to reduce paying you a settlement or denying your claim altogether. We prepare from the start of your case by investigating your New York bike accident and gathering the evidence needed to prove fault.
We calculate the full extent of your damages and negotiate to get you what is fair. Through it all, we provide unwavering support because we empathize with the pain you feel and the suffering it has caused. Essentially, our Buffalo bicycle accident attorneys take over every aspect of your case, allowing you to rest, heal, and recover to get your life back on track.
Understanding the Legal Process of Bicycle Accident Claims in New York
If you are injured by the driver of a car while riding your bicycle, there is a certain way to conduct these types of claims. Here is a look at what you can expect during this legal process:
File Your Claim
Your first step will be to file your claim with the insurance company. Many injured victims often try to handle this on their own, only to be rejected or offered a paltry sum of money to cover their medical expenses. If you have an attorney representing you from the start, you will find the process to go more smoothly.
Investigations
The insurance company will need to investigate what happened and review the evidence submitted in your case. This investigation may take a while, and the insurance company may find multiple parties share fault. With our Buffalo bike accident lawyers, we will hire experts to reconstruct the accident and prevent you from incurring unjust blame.
Negotiations
Quite often, bicycle accident cases are resolved through negotiations. We can show evidence of your lost wages, medical expenses, and other losses, including your pain and suffering, and arrive at a fair amount in compensation that aptly covers it all.
Filing Your Lawsuit
In some cases, negotiations will not produce the desired results. Our attorneys will then file a lawsuit on your behalf to seek full and fair compensation. Once the complaint is filed, the discovery process will begin, often taking several months to complete. At the end of it all, negotiations and mediation may lead to the resolution of your case with the outcome you desire. If not, the case will move to trial where a judge or jury will decide what is fair.
Why Choose the Buffalo Bike Accident Lawyers at Mazzu Law?
You have already been through enough of an ordeal in your bicycle accident. You should not have to face the aftermath alone. If you were hit by a car while riding your bike, you do not deserve to be stuck with the hefty financial burden created by needing surgeries, assistive medical devices, physical therapy, medications, or being unable to work.
At Mazzu Law, we encourage you to take the right steps after this traumatic event by first making sure you are safe and getting the medical attention you need immediately.
You do not need to feel like you have missed anything because Mazzu Law stands for courage, empathy, and justice. From the moment you engage our services, we will find surveillance or traffic camera footage, speak to witnesses, and investigate to pull all evidence. We will take over communications with the insurers and negotiate to get you what you deserve.
Our no-fee guarantee also provides additional peace of mind to ensure you are not worried about paying us when you need to be focused on your healing and recovery. You only pay if we win, and we will stop at nothing to uphold justice on your behalf. Contact Mazzu Law today to schedule a free consultation at no obligation to you, where you will learn more about your rights and options.