No matter how careful you are and how much protective gear you have on when you ride your bicycle, a negligent motorist can hit you at any time. If this has happened to you or someone you know, you need to seek the help of a skilled Syracuse personal injury lawyer who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the devastating impact that a bicycle accident can have on the victim and his or her family.
Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident that took place in Brooklyn and left a bicyclist dead recently. The 21-year-old victim was riding in a bike lane parallel to a truck as both approached the road. The truck allegedly made a right turn and hit the bicyclist, dragging the bicyclist for several feet before driving off. The victim was on an electronic bike and was wearing a helmet at the time of the wreck. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. Police are still looking for the truck and have mentioned that the truck driver may not have known that he hit the cyclist.
Liability for Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can leave individuals seriously injured, in some cases, even restricting their mobility permanently or causing death. If you have been in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to sue the at-fault party. Negligence is the failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. The behavior typically consists of actions but can also involve omissions, namely when a person fails to act when they have a duty to do so. To establish negligence, the party filing the lawsuit has the burden of proving the following: the defendant owed the bicyclist a duty of care; the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the bicyclist; and the defendant’s breach was the direct cause of the bicycle accident and the bicyclist’s resulting harm.
It is important to note that if your accident was caused by shoddy road conditions, you may be able to sue the municipality or landowner who owns the land.
Damages in Bicycle Accident Cases
Bicycle accidents can end with terrible results such as broken bones, head injuries, back injuries, neck injuries and more. A successful negligence claim may allow you to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income and other expenses associated with the accident.
Skilled Syracuse Bicycle Accident Attorneys
The sad reality is that drivers often neglect or ignore bicyclists on the road, causing serious, even deadly accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident that was not your fault, you need legal counsel on your side. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Syracuse personal injury attorneys will work with you every step of the way to make sure you get the compensation you deserve in your case. For more information about your case, call us today at 833-200-2000 or reach us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Bicyclist Seriously Hurt After Being Struck by Private Garbage Truck in Midtown, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, November 30, 2018
Van Hits Seven Pedestrians, Kills One in Manhattan, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, November 23, 2018
Errors in Medical Records Can Lead to Malpractice Claim, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, November 16, 2018