Bicycle and E-Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Edison, NJ

Bicycle riders have the absolute right to expect and demand that others obey motor vehicle laws and respect their rights to share New Jersey’s roadways.  Now more than ever, residents of communities such as  Edison, New Jersey, commute on bicycles and ride for fun and exercise. Cyclists must obey traffic laws and have the same rights to use the road as automobile drivers. However, bicyclists have little protection in the event of a collision. If a careless motorist causes an accident, bicycle riders are vulnerable to serious injuries.

After a collision with a car or truck, the bike rider often struggles to manage their injury treatment, medical bills, and lost income. While the driver could be responsible for these and other losses, their insurance carrier likely will not be willing to pay you the total amount you deserve. Experienced personal injury attorneys know that most of the time, insurance companies and the police are biased against bike riders.

Instead of taking them on yourself, get help to level the playing field. Call an experienced Edison bicycle accident lawyer from Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. We stand up for cyclists injured by careless and negligent motorists. We will seek full compensation, often in one lump sum, from the at-fault driver’s insurance company to help you recover from the physical injuries and lost income caused by your cycling accident.

For over 40 years, our firm has fought for the rights and interests of accident victims throughout New Jersey and New York. Our legal team of 30-plus injury attorneys has the knowledge and experience to handle the most complex catastrophic injury cases. We have a proven record of success, with over $1 billion recovered for clients in settlements and verdicts. Insurance companies know our reputation for aggressively pursuing maximum compensation for our clients—and getting it.

If you’re looking for help after an Edison, NJ, bicycle accident, you’ve come to the right place.

What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?

You need to take certain steps after a bicycle accident to begin healing from your injuries and to preserve your right to compensation from the at-fault party. First, if not already done, you need to report the accident to the police. Remember to request a copy of any resulting police accident report.

At this point, it’s best to consult a qualified personal injury attorney to determine your rights and who is responsible for your medical bills. If you did not seek medical care on the day of the accident, you should seek as soon as possible medical attention for your injuries. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions. If you put off treating or rehabbing your injuries, you may jeopardize your health and your rights to recover compensation for your medical expenses.

If you or a member of your household has NJ car insurance, then you must report the accident to the auto insurance provider. You can file for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits to pay your medical expenses and lost wages. If you do not have auto insurance and do not live in a household with a blood relative who does, you could be covered by the PIP insurance policy of the driver who hit you. Be sure to get their name and insurance info. At that time, it is necessary to apply for benefits as a pedestrian under PLIGA, which is a New Jersey program that covers uninsured claims under certain circumstances.  Such application must be made within 180 days of the accident date. 

Keep copies of all bills, invoices, and receipts of expenses you incur due to the accident. If you need to take time off work or suffer a reduction in your earnings due to your injuries, keep copies of your pay stubs or income statements. These records can help you calculate your financial losses.

Finally, contact an Edison bicycle accident lawyer from Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. The sooner you do, the sooner we can get started on your case. The lawyers in our bicycle accident practice group are experts in bicycle accidents.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Many bike accidents happen because of negligence on the part of motorists. Some of the most frequent causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Failing to observe a bicyclist sharing the roadway
• Failing to yield the right of way to a bicyclist
• Speeding near parks or school zones
• Cars, trucks, or buses speeding or driving too fast for road/weather/visibility conditions
• Tailgating/following too close to a bike rider
• Reckless driving, including excessive speeding or cars swerving through traffic
• Aggressive driving/road rage
• Passing too closely to a bicycle
• Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors
• Running red lights/stop signs
• Failing to yield the right of way to a bike rider
• Distracted driving, such as cell phone use
• Drowsy/fatigued driving
• Drunk driving 
• Driving under the influence of marijuana or other drugs
• Opening doors on street-parked vehicles without observing a bicyclist 
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Driver inexperience
• Poor road conditions, including loose manhole covers, broken pavement, potholes, and roadway debris
• Inadequate lighting or poor visibility
• Taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers making sudden moves to pick up passengers

These acts of negligence can cause severe injuries to bicyclists.

Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries

Cyclists have little protection from a collision or crash other than a helmet and possibly knee/elbow pads. As such, they are at risk of serious, potentially life-altering injuries in a collision, such as the following:

• Broken bones, such as fractures of the hands, arms, shoulders and legs
• Lacerations
• Abrasions (road rash)
• Degloving injuries
• Dislocated joints
• Ligament sprains or tears
• Muscle/tendon strains or tears
• Nerve damage
• Whiplash
• Herniated spinal discs
• Burns
• Crush injuries
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Head and facial injuries, including scarring
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic amputation, limb loss, or dismemberment
• Emotional issues such as PTSD and depression

With the help of our bicycle accident expert lawyers, you can sue for and likely win a lump sum settlement as compensation for the pain, suffering, and disfigurement costs related to these injuries. 

Money Damages Awarded in New Jersey Bicycle Accident Claims

A bicycle accident can cause severe injuries that require expensive medical treatment and leave you unable to work or go to school. However, if someone else caused the accident, they may have to compensate you for its consequences, such as:

• Physical pain, suffering, and disfigurement
• Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, pain management, and physical/occupational therapy
• Home health care and housekeeping expenses if your injuries leave you in need of daily living assistance
• Loss of wages/income or tuition you incur if you need to take time off from work or temporarily transfer into a lower-paying position
• Loss of future earning potential and job benefits if you become permanently disabled from working
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to physical disabilities or permanent scarring/disfigurement
• Costs of property damage and costs of repair to your bicycle

To recover your bicycle accident compensation, you must act fast before the deadline. There is no cap or limit on the amount an injured person can sue for, but injuries usually fall within a defendant’s insurance policy coverage.

Bicycle Accident Laws in New Jersey

New Jersey traffic laws include statutes to help keep bicyclists safe when sharing public roads with motor vehicles. Bicyclists have the same rights and duties on public roads as drivers of cars, trucks, and buses. Although most of these requirements are recommended, failure to have any of them does not disqualify you from suing:

• When riding at night, bicycles should have a front lamp emitting a white light visible at least 600 feet in front of the bicycle, a rear lamp emitting a red light visible at least 600 to the rear of the bicycle, and an additional rear red reflector.
• Bicycles should have a bell or sound-making device (other than a siren or whistle) that makes a sound audible from at least 100 feet away.
• Bicycles must have brakes that can make wheels skid when stopping on dry, level, clean pavement.
• Bicyclists should always keep their hands on the handlebars and feet on the pedals. Bikes should only carry passengers when designed with extra seats.
• Bicyclists should not attach themselves to another vehicle.
• Bicyclists should ride as close to the right-hand side of the road as possible and use caution when passing a vehicle or stationary object. Bicyclists may ride two abreast in a traffic lane without impeding traffic; otherwise, cyclists should ride single file.
• Any rider or passenger on a bicycle under 17 years of age must wear a helmet that meets federal standards issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
• Drivers wishing to pass a bicyclist must either make a lane change or leave at least four feet between their vehicle and the bicycle when passing. If a driver cannot change lanes or leave at least four feet between their car and a bicyclist, they must slow down to 25 mph or the lower posted speed limit.

Unfortunately, accidents can happen even when bicyclists follow all the rules. Drivers who fail to pay attention can cause devastating car-bicycle collisions.

Statute of Limitations on NJ Bicycle Accident Claims

Under New Jersey’s statute of limitations for injury claims, you likely have only two years to file a lawsuit after getting hurt in a bicycle accident in Edison. However, the time to file a complaint may be as little as 90 days from the date of loss if you were injured because of a road defect or negligence caused by a municipal or government worker.

Although two years may seem like a long time to file your bicycle accident claim, remember that even an expert injury lawyer also needs to spend time investigating the accident to recover evidence to prove your legal case. Filing a lawsuit after the limitations period expires on your bicycle accident claim will result in the court dismissing your case as untimely filed. If that happens, you will lose the opportunity to recover compensation in court. Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, contact a bicycle accident lawsuit attorney as soon as possible after a crash on your bike to ensure you can file your case on time.

Talk to an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Edison, NJ Today

Ready to benefit from our considerable resources and experience? Then contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., for a free initial case evaluation to discuss your options to sue for monetary damages with a knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer. We have office locations throughout New Jersey and NYC, and we can meet with you wherever you prefer, including in video meetings on FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom. Our attorneys and staff are fluent in over 11 languages, including Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, and more, and can arrange translators for many other languages.

If you were hurt in a bicycle accident in Edison, NJ, you could be entitled to financial compensation from the person who hit you. However, getting this money can be challenging without experienced legal representation. 

Let the Edison bicycle accident attorneys with Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., provide you with this help at no upfront cost to you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how our bicycle accident attorney can guide you through the claims process and advocate on your behalf.