Recovery Advice When Injured In A Bicycle Accident In New York City

Both long-time residents and visiting tourists enjoy bicycling throughout New York City’s five boroughs. If you keep a careful lookout for all the cars and trucks traveling nearby, you can easily pedal your way to stylish sidewalk cafes, unique specialty stores, museums, and parks offering scenic bike paths. Some cyclists just prefer to take in the panoramic views of the city’s skyline and majestic bridges – while riding around the Upper East Side or in the rather hectic Financial District.

Yet regardless of where you ride, safety guidelines must be followed to avoid getting into a dangerous collision. Over the years, our New York City bicycle accident law firm has successfully defended many clients who have worked hard to recover from their injuries. And recently, major medical breakthroughs are now helping some cyclists regain the physical capabilities they thought their accidents had stolen from them. Others still gratefully find new and acceptable ways to exercise, despite living with compromised mobility skills.

<p style=”text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border: 3px; border-style: solid; border-color: #FF0000; padding: 1em;”>Contact our team today at<a href=”tel:2122221111″>(212) 222-1111</a> to discuss your case with our skilled and experienced bicycle accident attorneys in New York City.</p>

Before addressing such topics as bicycle accident recovery steps, common cycling injuries, and great bike riding areas near the city’s Financial District, this article will briefly note the inspiring story of 27-year-old  NYC cyclist Cory Moses. His battle to heal from severe bicycle riding injuries suffered back in 2020 serves as a reminder to all survivors to never give up hope.

Young NYC bicycle accident survivor walks again after overcoming initial paralysis.

While riding his bicycle en route to meet up with a close friend back in October of 2020, Cory Moses suddenly found himself knocked to the ground. A person sitting in a parked car had flung open a car door, pushing Moses into the street. He was then hit by a passing car. Rushed to an area hospital, he soon learned that he had a fractured spine, two broken arms, and six fractured ribs. He would remain in an ICU room in that same hospital for two weeks while undergoing three surgeries. Before the first operation, Moses was told he might never walk again. He was soon moved to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he would diligently pursue all the new treatments suggested by his doctors.

Less than one full year after his serious accident, Moses says he took his first walking steps in his apartment in between regular visits to rehabilitative therapy appointments. He benefited from many types of physical therapy, including learning to walk while wearing an exoskeleton, a mechanical body suit that supports people trying to master their balance again while walking.

Those who treated Carl Moses and oversaw his strengthening and stretching exercises have stated that his strong determination to heal played a key role in his recovery from paralysis. Before his accident, Moses had worked in the construction industry. Today, he lives alone, caring for himself and working at a local school. He remains extremely interested in taking part in fencing activities in upcoming Paralympic Game competitions. Although he still sometimes uses a wheelchair and other devices to support himself, he can now take long walks in the city by himself.

What should you do after a Bicycle accident?

Immediately after your New York City bicycle accident, if you are not immediately transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital emergency room, try and handle each of the following tasks. You can then call 9-1-1 and request a ride to an ER.

• Take a photo of the accident scene. If possible, try to leave your bicycle exactly as it was (lying on the ground) just before you got up to try and get help. If the vehicle is still on the scene that hit you, take pictures with your phone camera of any dents in the car or truck body, indicating where it struck you.
• Take pictures of your injuries. If you’re unable to do this, ask someone at the scene to help you with this task. Also, ask for this person’s name and contact information. You can always benefit from speaking to anyone who saw what happened and is eager to later testify for you.
• Call the police and report the accident. Tell the operator that you were just hit and ask that an officer be sent out to investigate and create an accident report. If the officer cannot assist you with getting your bike taken and locked up for you, ask if s/he can secure it with your lock to a nearby sidewalk pole. Hopefully, a friend can pick it up later for you while you are being treated.
• Undergo whatever medical tests and exams your hospital doctors recommend. These will help speed up your recovery and make it easier to document your sincere efforts to heal as quickly as possible.
• Be prepared to undergo one or more surgeries. While these can be painful to endure, hopefully, a close friend or family member will regularly come to check on you.
• If you were riding your bicycle while working as an employee for someone when you were hit, be sure to report the accident to your employer. A worker’s compensation report may need to be filed.
• Call and hire an experienced New York City bicycle accident law firm near you at your earliest convenience. Once we accept your case, we can immediately begin our investigation, searching for important evidence still at the accident scene. Try to handle this contact promptly, so you and your loved ones can concentrate on your recovery – while we work to protect all your legal rights.
• While in the hospital, be sure to hold on to the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the accident. These items can help us document the nature and extent of all the injuries you sustained.

Most common bicycle accident injuries reported by clients and their relatives

• Multiple, severe bone fractures. Too many cyclists wind up with crushed ankles, fractured ribs, and broken bones. Bicyclists should always wear strong helmets, proper gloves, and sturdy biking or tennis shoes. Never ride while wearing any type of sandals since they can increase your chances of having an accident.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Like motorcyclists, those who ride bicycles must wear the most protective helmets they can afford, never riding anywhere without one.
• Serious skin cuts, lacerations, scrapes, and bruises. All too often, bicyclists wind up skidding across the pavement after being hit — causing painful road rash.
• Various spinal cord injuries – including acute damage to riders’ necks. Long-term rehabilitative therapies are often required to heal from these types of harm.
• Neurological damage. Unfortunately, when cyclists are hit head on and thrown to the pavement – or onto the hoods of motor vehicles, they may later develop seizure conditions and various cognitive difficulties.
• Wrongful death. When large trucks and other heavy motor vehicles strike unprotected people riding bicycles, sudden impacts often prove fatal.

Safely riding a bicycle in congested traffic areas like New York City’s Financial District.

After riding past the “Fearless Girl” statue at its current home on Broad Street, facing the New York Stock Exchange, you can keep heading down that same street to eat at either The Capital Grille or Trinity Place. Be prepared to look for CityRack or other city-sponsored bicycle parking since you can obviously never leave any bike unattended. Bike parking spots are often in the greatest supply near subway exit areas.

Should you want to ride in this area on the weekend when less traffic is around, you might want to head over and visit The National Museum of the American Indian on Bowling Green. You can also ride your bike through various parts of Battery Park. (Always ride in groups for added safety). If you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel’s play Alexander Hamilton, you might want to ride over to Trinity Church Wall Street where that well-known historical figure is buried.

Safe bicycle riding tips for downtown NYC

• Always try to ride with a friend. You can both keep a look out for changing signal lights and be prepared to help each other should an unwanted accident occur.
• Ride in designated bike lanes. Cars are more likely to see you there, and you can move along a bit faster. Also, although it’s legal in some parts of NYC to ride on the sidewalk, you should avoid doing that since it always increases your chances of having an accident.
• If bad weather is forecasted for the day, choose mass transit.
• Wear the best protective cycling clothes and bike shoes you can afford (and take along a sturdy bike lock).
• Never pedal while distracted by listening to the music of any kind. If you ignore this safety tip, you are unlikely to hear the vehicle sounds that could tell you that someone is busy trying to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting you.
• Always carry a fully charged cell phone and a well-stocked first aid kit. Too many cyclists suffer bad cuts and bruises after accidents.

If you have suffered serious injuries after a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to contact your New York City bicycle accident lawyer. We will carefully investigate all the facts of your case, review all your medical records, and then fight hard to win the maximum compensation available to you. We want every client to be properly compensated for all lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other losses.

<p style=”text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border: 3px; border-style: solid; border-color: #FF0000; padding: 1em;”>Contact our team today at<a href=”tel:2122221111″>(212) 222-1111</a> to discuss your case with our skilled and experienced bicycle accident attorneys in the financial district.</p>