Many people travel the streets of New York City by bicycle. Whether they’re looking for a more economical or greener method of transportation, or they ride a bicycle to navigate the crowded streets and tight alleys more effectively, bikers face a danger that automobile drivers cannot fathom. While anyone can find themselves in an accident, a bicycle accident is exponentially more devastating than an automobile accident. Even a minor collision or a simple bump can cause catastrophic injury to a biker, or worse, death.
A hit-and-run accident that happened in New York recently resulted in the death of a 40-year-old biker. The cyclist fell from his bike after sideswiping a Mercedes-Benz; he subsequently was run over by a van. According to police, the driver of the van got out, but quickly got back into his car and drove away, leaving the victim alone with severe head injuries. The victim was rushed to a hospital, but died later.
While the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, it’s hard to imagine that a helmet would provide adequate protection against being run over by a van. The fact of the matter is that when a bicyclist and an automobile meet, the automobile wins. Drivers must always be aware of bicyclists on the road for the safety of everyone involved. While bicyclists don’t have much protection against automobile collisions, they do have legal protection in the days following the accident.
Of course there is a hierarchy of the road, and bikes are not on the bottom. Much like automobiles can cause serious damage to bikers, bikers can cause serious damage to pedestrians if they are driving recklessly. Bike accidents can be very complicated, especially if bikers are operating in the “course and scope” of employment. In order to navigate the complex proceedings involved with a bicycle accident, you might want to seek out New York counsel well-versed in these sorts of accidents.
Source:
New York Post, “Cyclist killed in hit-and-run in Queens,” Dana Sauchelli, May 12, 2014