New York City Cyclist Fatalities Poised To Reach All Time High

New York City On Track To Have One of The Deadliest Years for Cyclists In Four Decades

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – So far this year 22 cyclists and e-bike riders have died in car accidents making 2023 one of the deadliest years for cyclists on record.

On May 3 of this year, a 39-year-old cycling activist tragically died after being hit by a vehicle in an unprotected bicycle lane. This death and many others comes after years of efforts by NYC officials to reduce pedestrian and traffic fatalities.

According to NYC.gov, “New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a historic investment of more than $900 million to tackle the city’s traffic violence crisis and deliver a safer, healthier, and greener city for all New Yorkers.”

Part of the efforts to reduce deaths include plans to install more than 300 miles of  protected bicycle lanes over four years. Safety advocates have blamed opposition groups for the delays in installing new protected bicycle lanes promised back in march.

Liability for New York Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle fatalities and injuries are both up this year. According to Streetsblog USA, “Cyclist injuries are above the citywide increase in The Bronx (where injuries are up 28 percent this year), upper Manhattan (up 22 percent), all of Queens (up 40 percent) and Staten Island, where cycling injuries are up from three over the first part of 2022 to 10 in the same period this year, an increase of 233 percent.” More and more people have taken to using their bicycles for exercise and transportation as pandemic era measures have eased. There are many steps city officials should take in order to reduce bicycle fatalities.

• City officials should install many more protected bicycle lanes.
• City officials should study which roads and intersections have accidents.
• City officials should listen to the concerns of community members and activists.
• City officials should consider making more areas of the city free of vehicles.

All drivers have a legal obligation to use caution to avoid hitting bicyclists and pedestrians. Pursuant to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1146(a), drivers must take action to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and domestic animals in the roadway. Drivers must also maintain at least three feet of separation from bicyclists at all times. If a driver fails to slow down and strikes a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of bicycle accidents should perform a number of actions to preserve their rights after any collision.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• The police report for the collision should be examined.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• An experienced bicycle accident attorney should be contacted.

Bicycle accidents can be very complex events that involve more than one liable party. In certain situations, a municipal entity like New York City could be liable for a bicycle accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property. Any person that is injured in a bicycle accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A New York City bicycle accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating New York City Bicycle Accidents

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to all of the families that have lost loved ones in bicycle accidents this year. It is essential that city leaders step up and take action to prevent these needless deaths. People should not have to fear for their lives every time they explore the city on a bicycle. 

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a New York City bicycle accident? Our team of bicycle accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the justice and support that they deserve. In fact, we’ve recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.