Jersey City Bicycle Accident Lawyers
We are a team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys. If you have a bodily injury legal issue in or around Jersey City, New Jersey, we can help. Call us today for a free consultation.
Riding a bicycle can be a great way of getting some exercise and avoiding sitting in traffic as you commute, but it can also be dangerous in Jersey City. Most people assume that drivers will be more careful when they notice a cyclist in the street, but that’s not actually the case.
Some drivers can grow frustrated at sharing the road with bicycles, and others may not even notice them. All of this can lead to serious accidents that result in injuries and even fatalities. On average, there are 26 bicycle fatalities in New Jersey each year. Unfortunately, this number seems to be on the uptick.
If you or a loved one has been in a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, your next step should be to reach out to Jersey City bicycle accident lawyers. At Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, we are here to offer the guidance you need when filing a personal injury claim.
Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Jersey City
Bicycle accidents can be the result of all manner of issues that arise when motorized vehicle drivers and cyclists meet.
Distracted driving is one of the most worrisome habits people engage in. It’s an issue throughout the country, and New Jersey is no exception. There are three main types of distractions:
- Visual
- Manual
- Cognitive
Visual distractions include anything that makes someone take their eyes off the road, like texting, fiddling with the radio or GPS, or anything that might divert attention from the road ahead. Manual distractions cause the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel, with texting again being an issue, along with eating or drinking.
Cognitive distractions are those that lead someone to take their mind off driving. These include talking with passengers and more.
Just a few seconds of distraction can lead to a catastrophic accident, especially if a car meets a cyclist.
Aggressive driving includes a number of moving traffic offenses that endanger other people. It is behavior that doesn’t take into consideration the safety of those sharing the road, especially those who are more vulnerable.
Aggressive driving can include speeding, passing on the right, running stop signs and lights, tailgating, and more.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be devastating for others on the road, including cyclists. Although the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% throughout the country, even one drink can make someone a danger behind the wheel.
Drinking and using drugs affects concentration, reaction times, and coordination, all of which are crucial on the road.
Another common cause of bicycle accidents is drivers who fail to yield to cyclists. This can stem from a lack of knowledge on the driver’s part of what the laws are for cyclists, or it can be a willful choice they make.
It can be very dangerous for the cyclist, however. These kinds of accidents typically occur at intersections.
Speeding vehicles make a bicycle accident more likely to happen. This doesn’t just mean going above the posted speed limit. In some instances, a car may be driving at the legal speed, but that might be too fast for road conditions.
If there are visibility issues, for example, that could make seeing a cyclist more difficult.
It’s not just drivers who pose a danger to cyclists; the roads themselves can be a threat as well. Issues like potholes and uneven pavement are not a significant issue for cars, but they are for bicycles. They can cause the cyclist to lose control of the bicycle, putting them at risk of veering into other lanes or falling.
If the bicycle is defective, it could cause the cyclist to lose control of it. These defects can arise as flaws in the design or as faults in the manufacturing process. Some types of defects that could lead to accidents include:
- Brake failure
- Fork failure
- Incorrect materials
- Incorrect assembly
- Defective tires
- Defective carbon fiber frame
A failure on the part of the designer or manufacturer to meet safety standards can also lead to accidents.
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Common Injuries of Jersey City Bike Accidents
Unfortunately, bicycle accidents often lead to injuries, including severe ones like head trauma and paralysis.
Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries are common, especially when a car hits a bicycle at a high speed. Head injuries are involved in 60% of all cyclist deaths throughout the country.
A bicycle accident can also cause an intracranial hematoma, which is a blood clot in or near the brain, as well as penetrating injuries that involve something cracking through the skull and entering the brain.
Facial injuries are also common issues cyclists have to deal with if they’re involved in an accident. A cyclist can hit their face on the headtube of the bicycle, the pavement, or even the car that collided with them.
Broken noses can be very painful and could even leave cyclists with lasting changes to their features. Eye injuries can be significant as well, impacting daily life and potentially putting cyclists at risk of long-term vision issues.
In the impact, cyclists can also lose teeth, requiring dental procedures that tend to be painful and expensive.
A bicycle accident can also result in broken bones, especially if the bicyclist extends their arms to stop themselves from falling onto the pavement. The impact could shatter collarbones, which is the bone most likely to be broken in a bicycle accident.
Femurs are another type of bone that is commonly broken during a bicycle accident. To fix a broken femur, most people need to undergo surgery.
Another common cause of bicycle accidents is drivers who fail to yield to cyclists. This can stem from a lack of knowledge on the driver’s part of what the laws are for cyclists, or it can be a willful choice they make.
It can be very dangerous for the cyclist, however. These kinds of accidents typically occur at intersections.
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating consequences of a bicycle accident. A cyclist who sustains an impact on their spine could experience fractures in the bone or damage to nerves or discs.
These types of injuries can result in permanent changes to the cyclist’s mobility, strength, and sensation. In the most severe cases, it could result in paralysis.
What Rights Do Bicyclists Have In Jersey City?
A bicyclist riding in New Jersey has the same rights as any motorist. Every cyclist has to ride in the direction of vehicular traffic and must obey all state and local driving laws.
Cyclists must not travel more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded. If traffic suffers because of this, the bicycles must ride in a single file. Cyclists can also pass slower-moving vehicles.
A cyclist must ride as close to the right-hand side as possible when passing a standing vehicle or one going in the same direction.
A bicycle has to have a bell or another audible device. It cannot be a siren or a whistle, however. During the night, bicycles also must have front and back headlights.
New Jersey’s Safe Passing Law requires drivers to use due caution when encountering vulnerable people on the road, including cyclists. This law states that if they encounter a vulnerable person, they must move to the next lane if possible or provide a minimum of four feet before safely passing the vulnerable person.
If four feet isn’t possible, the driver has to slow down to 25 mph and be ready to stop until they can pass without endangering the vulnerable person.
What Type of Compensation Is Available for Bike Accidents?
If you’ve been in a bicycle accident and suffered injuries, it’s possible to get compensation if the accident was someone else’s fault.
Dealing with injuries is stressful as well as financially draining. You could have hospital bills, medication bills, and even rehabilitation costs to worry about. When you file a personal injury claim, you can get compensation that can cover these medical expenses.
If you have suffered property damage, like a broken bike, you can also ask for these kinds of damages. It’s common for a bicycle to be destroyed, especially in high-speed collisions. You shouldn’t have to pay for repairs or replacements out of your pocket if the accident was the result of someone else’s negligence.
Being in an accident can also prevent you from going to work. You may have to stay at the hospital or get other treatments that stop you from following your normal routine. If you use your bike to get to work and it’s no longer in riding condition, that, too, can make getting to work more difficult.
When you file a claim, you can ask for compensation for these lost wages. People who sustain serious injuries that leave them with disabilities can also get compensated for future wages.
Pain and suffering is a non-economic damage you can claim. When you suffer an injury, you have to deal with pain and even emotional trauma. It’s tough to put value on what you’ve suffered, but your lawyer will work with you to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Non-economic damages also include permanent disability compensation. This includes if you were disfigured. The amount of compensation you receive will be in proportion to the severity of the injury as well as to how it impacts your life.
If you’re the family of a loved one who died in the accident, you can file a wrongful death claim as well as loss of consortium. Loss of consortium seeks to offer some compensation for the loss of companionship, love, and support.
Why Hire GGL?
A bicycle accident can be a harrowing experience that leaves you with physical and psychological scars. There are laws in place that offer compensation for people dealing with medical bills and other expenses as a result of an accident that they didn’t cause.
At Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, we have decades of experience helping clients throughout New Jersey get the compensation they deserve. We are one of the only Spanish and English-speaking law firms in the state, which means we’re ready to aid our community more effectively.
When you turn to GGL, you get help from people who are ferociously dedicated to getting fair deals for our clients. We’ll never undersettle just to speed up the process. We’re here to benefit you, not to suit our schedules.
GGL treats every client like family, keeping you alerted on any updates and ensuring that you always understand every step we take in your defense. We work as a team with you, so you never feel overwhelmed or pushed to make a decision.
We are a no-nonsense firm that always cuts to the chase. Because all our lawyers focus on personal injury law, you don’t have to worry about us being spread too thin among various legal branches.
If you are struggling after being in a bicycle accident and you’re not sure how you’ll pay for medical expenses or repair bills, don’t wait. Contact Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq online today or call 1-800-923-3456.
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OFFICIAL PARTNER OF RUTGERS ATHLETICS
Jersey City Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Address: 3000 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Suite 311 Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 695-1000
Open 24/7 365
Office:
8:30-6:00 Monday
8:30-6:00 Tuesday
8:30-6:00 Wednesday
8:30-6:00 Thursday
8:30-6:00 Friday
Recent GGL Wins
Medical Malpractice
A 30-year-old pregnant woman went into labor. The doctor failed to take proper steps in the baby’s delivery, making the mother wait in the hallway for ten hours while the baby’s heart rate began to drop. The baby was delivered via C-Section; he was blue from lack of oxygen resulting in Cerebral Palsy.
$14 Million
Verdict
Construction Accident
Mediation award resulting from an industrial explosion causing disfiguring burns and severe orthopedic injuries.
$7,8 Million
Verdict
Auto Accident
31-year-old man who was cut off by another car causing his car to flip over. He sustained head injuries, facial injuries, and half of his pinky finger was amputated.
$3 Million
Verdict
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GGL Wins
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