Officials in New York City are stepping up enforcement when it comes to electric bikes because of the spike in deadly collisions involving these popular vehicles. According to a news report in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Police Department issued 2,603 summonses for moving violations involving electric bikes between Jan. 1 and Aug. 25 of this year. This accounts for a nearly 67% increase compared to the same period in 2018. Those found to be in violation of traffic safety laws such as not obeying road signs may face up to a $500 fine and even confiscation of their bikes.
Stringent Enforcement
So far this year, four fatalities in the city have been attributed to electric bike accidents. The most recent tragedy occurred on Aug. 28 when the operator of an electric bike died after crashing into an elderly person walking in Manhattan’s Central Park. In all of 2018, three deaths involving electric bikes were reported citywide.
City officials have assured riders that police are only targeting “dangerous driving behavior” here. New York City as well as state legislators have tried to legalize these popular vehicles that travel at speeds of between 15 and 20 mph. But that effort has stalled after officials including Governor Andrew Cuomo expressed concerns about the safety of electric bikes.
Scooter share companies, which are operating in major cities across the country are eager to make an entry into New York City, which they believe offers tremendous potential for business growth. However, city officials have said that the vehicles must first be made legal at the state level before they can be allowed on city streets. Advocates in favor of legalizing electric bikes say they are largely used by restaurant delivery workers. The rise of fatalities involving electric bikes coincides with a rise in fatalities among users of traditional bicycles. So far, in 2019 alone, 20 bicyclists have been killed in traffic collisions compared to 10 bicyclists killed in 2018.
Protecting Your Rights
While electric bikes can be a convenient and popular means of transportation especially in a city like New York, it can also result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. Some of the typical injuries that may be sustained in e-bike accidents include head injuries, spinal cord trauma, multiple broken bones, internal injuries, etc.
It is important for victims who have been injured in e-bike accidents in New York City to quickly take the necessary steps and protect their rights. First, file a police report and obtain a copy for your records. Your personal injury lawyer will also be able to help get a copy of this important document. Make sure you obtain prompt medical care and attention for your injuries. Preserve all documents and receipts pertaining to your accident.
Immediately contact an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer who will fight for your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for your losses. You may be able to receive compensation for damages including but not limited to medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a e-bike accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent or 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. 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.wsj.com/articles/police-crack-down-on-electric-bikes-in-new-york-city-11567724244