A recent column in The New York Times by Jane E. Brody asks how safe bicyclists in New York City are even when in bike lanes and whether other drivers actually respect bike lanes. Brody says she has been injured in two bicycle accidents in the city when inattentive drivers made right turns and cut her off. She says she has been fortunate, escaping with bloody scrapes and a bent bike wheel. However, she wonders if other bicyclists will be as lucky and how long her own good fortunes might last on these dangerous roadways, commenting about the increasing lack of regard for protected bike lanes by drivers.
Drivers Not Paying Attention to Bike Lanes
According to data compiled by The New York Times, which was published earlier this month, in New 
York City alone in 2019, 124 pedestrians and 28 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents. More than 10,000 pedestrians and 4,000 bicyclists were injured in spite of attempts by the current city administration to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Brody says with a growing number of bicyclists taking to the streets since the coronavirus outbreak, the number of accidents had risen by 31 percent as of March 22.
As part of the safety initiatives, the city has significantly increased bike lanes to protect bicyclists from traffic. Brody says in one of her bicycle accidents, the driver said he “forgot about the bike lane.” This incident in particular, Brody says, also makes her question the design behind some of the city’s bike lanes.
The one in which she was traveling in Brooklyn runs between a curb on the right and parked cars on the left. Cars traveling to the left of the parked vehicles may not have a clear view of the bike lane and the bicyclists in that lane have limited view of the driver who turns right and fails to slow down enough to avoid a collision. Add to this the rise in distracted driving, and you have an accident waiting to happen.
Negligent Drivers and Liability
A number of bicycle accidents in New York City occur because of drivers who are distracted or are not paying attention to traffic conditions including the presence of bike lanes. Drivers have a duty of care to everyone on the roadway including bicyclists and bicyclists have the same rights on the roadway as drivers of other vehicles. Bicycle accidents have the potential to result in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities and may cause lifelong disabilities that prevent victims from earning a livelihood.
Victims who have been injured in bicycle accidents may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased bicycle accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to guide you through what can quickly become a complex process and help you maximize the compensation you receive.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/well/live/are-bike-lanes-really-safe.html