A Citi Bike rider is in critical condition after being struck by an SUV in Lower Manhattan the morning of April 29. According to a PIX11 news report, the bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Franklin and Church streets. NYPD officials said the bicyclist, a 24-year-old woman who was heading north on Church, was struck by an SUV traveling east on Franklin.
Emergency medical personnel transported the woman to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver of the SUV, a 54-year-old man, remained at the scene. He and his 60-year-old passenger were not injured. No arrests have been made pending an official investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured bicyclist and we wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Street Intersection Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents at street intersections often result from negligent or careless behavior by drivers who fail to properly share the road. A common cause is failing to yield the right of way, especially when turning left or right across a bicyclist’s path. Drivers may also overlook bicyclists due to inattention, distractions such as using mobile phones, eating, talking with a passenger, etc. or assuming the intersection is clear without thoroughly checking. Running red lights or stop signs is another factor cited frequently in such incidents — putting bicyclists at serious risk.
Speeding reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of collisions. Also, improper lane changes or failure to check blind spots can lead to sideswipes or cut-offs. Poor signaling or not signaling at all, prevents bicyclists from anticipating driver movements. In many cases, drivers underestimate how fast a bicyclist is approaching, leading to collisions. Such negligent (careless) behavior by drivers contribute to dangerous intersection conditions where cyclists are especially vulnerable.
Common Injuries Suffered by Bicyclists
Bicyclists involved in intersection crashes often suffer a wide range of injuries, from minor to life-threatening because of their lack of physical protection. Head injuries are among the most serious, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries, even when helmets are worn. Fractures are also common, particularly in the arms, wrists, collarbones and legs, as cyclists instinctively try to break their fall.
Soft tissue injuries such as bruises, sprains and deep lacerations frequently occur upon impact with vehicles or the pavement. Spinal injuries, including herniated discs or, in severe cases, paralysis, may result from high-force collisions. Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, can be difficult to detect immediately but are potentially fatal. Road rash, caused by sliding across asphalt, can lead to painful skin abrasions and infections.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident or pedestrian 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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 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 $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, 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. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus, although there was only a 1 million dollar insurance policy and we got $500,000 above that insurance policy.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). 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. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
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, motor vehicle accident, slip-and-fall accident, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy 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://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/citi-bike-rider-critical-after-being-hit-in-lower-manhattan-nypd/