Syracuse Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Pursuing Justice After a Bike Crash

Every year, thousands of people are injured in bicycle accidents that could have been prevented if not for others’ negligence. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, not enough was done to prevent these accidents. Accidents involving bicycles can result in very serious injuries for the bicyclists who are struck by moving vehicles.

As a bicyclist, you should be able to feel safe when you are on the roadways of Syracuse. That is why drivers and others have a responsibility to drive cautiously and safely with bicyclists in mind. If they fail to do so, and it results in an accident, the bicyclist could be owed compensation for their medical expenses and other losses.

The Syracuse bicycle accident attorneys at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC have successfully resolved many bicycle accident claims for our clients. We are determined to help you recover every dollar you are owed for the physical, financial, and emotional harm you have suffered. Our firm has decades’ worth of experience, and we are fully committed to fighting for justice and a fair recovery for you after the negligence of others causes you harm.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents and Why Do They Occur?

A considerable number of traffic accidents that involve bicycle riders may actually be unreported. It is estimated that only about 10% of these incidents are officially reported as vehicle accidents. Bicyclists may fail to report their injuries and the damage to their bicycle to their local authorities for a few reasons.

In some cases, they are not aware they are required to file a report. In other situations, a bicyclist may feel that law enforcement will not be interested in their version of the accident.

While motorists are paying more attention to sharing the road with bicyclists due to the consistent effort of major advocacy groups, bicycle accidents are still a major problem in Syracuse. A report from 2020 from the New York department health found that providers in Upstate New York conducted more than 1,300 hospital a year on bicyclists due to injuries caused by vehicle collisions. Nationwide, the number of bicyclist deaths has risen approximately 30 to 50% since 2010.

Cause of Syracuse Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents in the Syracuse area occur in many ways. When you or a loved one have been involved in a bicycle accident due to another person’s negligence, any experienced attorney should carefully look at every aspect and potential cause of the accident.

In general, some of the most common causes of collisions between bicyclists and vehicles in Syracuse and New York include:

• Failure to yield: Drivers often need to yield to bicycles in many New York roadways. This may be when a bicyclist is turning left just before an intersection, or stopped in a lane as the far-right side of the road to make a right turn.
• Right turn collisions: When a motor vehicle moves through an intersection before making a right turn, a bicyclist may be side-swiped or otherwise struck by the turning vehicle.
• Left turn collisions: During a left turn, a motorist may either strike a bicyclist legally crossing the road or end up pulling in front of the biker, causing a direct collision.
• Backing out incidents: A motorist who is exiting a parking space with a car in reverse will sometimes strike a bicyclist. They often don’t even notice until the bike is on the ground because the average vehicle has a large blind spot to the rear.
• Dooring accidents: A motorist can seriously injure or kill a bicycle rider when the driver door of a parked vehicle is suddenly opened directly into their path and the bike rider collides into it.
• Impaired/reckless drivers: When a motor vehicle driver is driving impaired or recklessly, a bicyclist may find themselves being struck by a vehicle that is moving too fast or not under the control of the driver.

Bicycle Accident Injuries

Injuries that result from the force and impact of a bicycle accident in Syracuse or anywhere in New York can be incredibly painful and life-altering. Some of the most commonly sustained injuries in a Syracuse bike accident include the following.

• Broken or dislocated bones: It is not uncommon for broken or dislocated bones to occur in the days and weeks following a bicycle accident. This is especially true when a bicyclist strikes a vehicle or is thrown from their bike in the accident, but does not receive immediate medical attention or diagnosis.
• Severe lacerations or amputations: When a bicycle and car collide, or if a bike is hit by a car, the bicyclist can be ejected or thrown from their bike. This can lead to major accidents that cause severe lacerations on their body or can cause parts of the body to be crushed or pinned, leading to lasting injuries or the need for surgical amputation.
• Internal organ damage/internal bleeding: A person who is hit by a car while on a bicycle is at incredibly high risk of suffering blunt force trauma injuries. This can include damage to the internal organs or the risk of severe internal or external bleeding.
• Spin cord injuries/paralysis: When a bicycle and a car collide, even at low speeds, the bicyclist can be thrown off the bike. If they land on their back, head, or neck and suffer a serious traumatic injury, there is a risk that they could sustain a spinal cord injury that can lead to varying degrees of permanent paralysis.
• Traumatic brai injuries: One of the most serious injuries that can occur as a result of a bicycle accident is a traumatic brain injury. When a bicyclist is struck by a car, they will nearly always suffer from some level of major impact to their head. When the head is dealt with a significant blow, this can lead to traumatic brain injury that can cause immediate and long-lasting harm.
• Road rash: Even if a bicyclist uses their limbs or body to shield a vehicle from their body, they are still at risk of suffering from significant road rash injuries. This type of scrape can cause a tremendous amount of pain and can lead to significant scarring on the skin.

Keep in mind that there are various symptoms that could indicate a delayed bicycle accident injury in Syracuse. From a bicycle crash, you could suffer from broken or dislocated bones in the hands, feet, wrists, or ankles, while severe concussions could occur without instantly showing symptoms. Monitor your health and receive medical treatment for any unexpected pain you suffer after a bike accident, even if it doesn’t appear serious.

Let us help you during this challenging time and handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on getting better. Call us now at (315) 544-3332.

What Does a Successful Bicycle Accident Case Look Like?

The Syracuse bicycle accident lawyers at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC are dedicated to demanding justice for you while pursuing the maximum amount of compensation possible for your losses. Richard Cherundolo will handle every aspect of your bicycle accident case with the utmost dedication.

Some of the things that we will use all of our resources to look for during our pursuit of your case include the following:

• Proof that a driver or other party was responsible for the accident
• Whether a driver was impaired at the time of the accident
• Photos that exist of the scene of the accident
• A copy of any video surveillance cameras that captured the incident
• Statements from anyone else who witnessed the accident
• Assistance in obtaining police reports
• Your medical records and bills

Comparative Fault for Bicycle Crashes in New York

When it comes to recovering compensation in a bicycle accident claim, it is important to note that New York operates under a rule of pure comparative negligence. What this means is that injury victims can still recover compensation for injuries and losses caused by someone else’s negligent actions even if they are partially at fault. This is, however, only if the bicyclist is less than 51% responsible for the crash. That’s because once a bicyclist’s responsibility for the incident reaches 51%, they are barred from recovering any compensation for their losses.

For example, imagine that a Syracuse bicyclist is injured after they are struck by a vehicle while crossing an intersection. The total amount of compensation awarded in this case is $100,000. If the Syracuse jurors find that the bicyclist bears 10% of the responsibility for causing the crash, then they could still receive $90,000 in compensation.

What Compensation Is Available in a Bicycle Accident Case?

The total amount of compensation available for a bicycle accident claim will vary depending on a variety of factors related to the case. At Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC, we regularly help clients recover compensation when they have experienced the following:

• Bone fractures In many cases, bone fractures from a Syracuse bike crash will not be immediately identified. It is not uncommon for issues to rise in the days or even weeks after a crash to be clearly tied to this trauma. If you or somebody you love is involved in a bicycle crash, make sure you seek medical care as soon as possible following the incident.
• Dislocated joints
• Lacerations Severe lacerations or amputations can occur if a bicycle and motor vehicle collide in Syracuse. A bicycle rider can be ejected or thrown from their bicycle in a crash and could suffer from severe lacerations that will require medical attention.
• Crush injuries When a bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle, they often suffer from traumatic force and impact. If the impact is severe, the bicycle and the body of the rider can be crushed between the car and another object.
• Head injuries
• Severe road rash/burns Even if a bicyclist tries to brace their slide after a crash, they are still at risk of suffering from severe road rash injury. Road rash injuries are caused when the skin is scraped away from part of the body as it skids across a surface.
• Soft tissue injuries Torn ligaments in the knees, elbows, shoulders, and wrists can cause severe pain. These soft tissue injuries can prevent bicycle operators from using their limbs job and can completely alter their way of life.

Multiple parties could be liable for a bicycle accident. This could include an impaired driver, a commercial vehicle company, or an employer that allows distracted driving. Recovering complete compensation in a bike accident case can be challenging.

The dedicated team at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC has extensive experience investigating these claims, and we understand what it takes to secure maximum compensation for you. This can include coverage of medical expenses, lost wages, out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering damages, and more. With this in mind, you can contact our team to schedule a consultation so we can help you through this problem.

Contact a Syracuse Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

It is important for you to speak with a bicycle accident attorney in Syracuse if you are injured by a motorist to just review your legal options. At Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC, we are here to help you understand your rights and obligations. If we believe that you have a valid claim, we will work aggressively to hold the party responsible for your accident accountable out of the full measure of your damages. When you work with us, you canbe confident in a legal team that fights tirelessly on your behalf.

If your injuries prevent you from visiting our office, we can come to your home or hospital room. It is important to us to make sure that a victim of a Syracuse bike accident has the representation they need to obtain what they deserve from the party that caused their harm.

Let us help you during this challenging time and handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on getting better. Call us now at (315) 544-3332.