Bicyclist Seriously Injured in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

A man was seriously injured in a bicycle accident after crashing in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, an area many residents have expressed concern about bicycle and pedestrian safety in recent months. According to Brooklyn Paper.com, the man was riding downhill on West Lake Drive when the incident occurred. Police said the man did not swerve his bicycle to avoid hitting any object or pedestrian, but that he simply fell. An ambulance took the cyclist to a local hospital. He suffered severe head trauma.
The cyclist told police he does not recall what led to the fall. One witness said the crash may have involved a pedestrian. This is the third serious accident at this park. Previous incidents include a 55-year-old woman who was hit by a cyclist, and a 37-year-old actress also hit by a cyclist. Both women suffered serious head injuries. The city placed orange barrels intended to slow cyclists down in the area where these accidents occur. Police said some cyclists can reach speeds of up to 25 mph.
According to a study conducted by Hunter College, there are about 1,000 people hit by bicyclists every year in the New York. In many of these cases, the pedestrians needed to seek medical help at a hospital for their injuries. Over a three-year period there were more than 4,000 accidents in New York, with the most number of incidents happening in 2008. The study also shows Brooklyn is the hot spot for these types of accidents, followed by Manhattan.
While cyclists are required to be aware of pedestrians and exercise caution, especially in areas where the road is being shared with walkers and runners, government agencies are also expected to provide safe areas for recreation. If it is determined that an injury collision was caused by a dangerous condition in a public park or other recreation area, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that area could be held responsible for any injuries caused. Hazards can include poor lighting, inadequate roads, blind corners, defective pathways that have cracks or potholes, and improper signage, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, 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. Our law firm was able to obtain a $305,000 settlement for an injured bicyclist from a $300,000 insurance policy. In addition, our client received $200,000 from workers compensation insurance. Please call our offices at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) to find out how we can assist with your claim. We can also help with personal injury cases in 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 phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
www.work4youlaw.com
Source: The Brooklyn Paper.com