Long Island Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a Nassau car accident or Suffolk car accident, give our accident lawyers a call at 800-893-9645 to set up your confidential consultation.

Car Accident? Bicycle Accident?
Give us a call at 800-893-9645

Long Island Hit and Run Accident Caused Bicycle Accident Fatality

Last week, the driver of a truck that was involved in a hit-and-run bicycle accident that caused the death of a bicyclist has been sent to court concerning the incident.

It was revealed that 28 year old Albert Dibernardo from Melville, was driving a truck that ran into Ricardo Fernandez of Amityville. The accident took place on a service road on the westbound Long Island Expressway. The police discovered a bicycle frame that was badly mangled when they arrived at the scene of the accident. By this time, Fernandez was already deceased. Dibernardo was charged with departing from an accident scene and failing to report a fatality.

From the description of the incident and the serious damage to the bicycle it appears that the truck driver may not have seen the cyclist before the accident happened. If an accident takes place, whether there is a fatality or not, then the victim may be entitled to file a compensation claim to cover the cost of financial hardship that has resulted from an accident that was not the victim’s fault. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident and it was not your fault, you should seek help from our New York bicycle accident attorney who will determine your eligibility to file a compensation claim.

Bicycle accidents are becoming more common in New York as many people have found that cycling suits them as a healthy and more cost effective way of traveling around the city.

Bicycle injuries can be horrific, as the rider has no protection when struck by a motorized vehicle. Statistics indicate that the use of a helmet does give cyclists some added protection. They also reveal that bike accidents result in far more traumatic brain injuries than football accidents, which are often cited as the leading sport for head injuries. So far, there is no state law in force that ensures cyclists wear a helmet.

There are many causes of bicycle accidents, but 50% of fatalities are caused by being struck by a motor vehicle.  When a bicycle is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, the driver often claims he or she failed to see the rider. A large number of these accidents take place when a driver is making a turn while at an intersection. Often, the driver fails to see the cyclist due to a blind spot.

Anther common cause for bicycle accidents is the presence of debris or potholes in a road. This may not the fault of the cyclist, as the road is supposed to be maintained in such a way that hazards are either eliminated or a notice is posted near the hazard warning road users of its presence. If a road or cycle way is full of dangerous hazards that could be easily overlooked even by the most observant cyclist then it is possible to find someone to blame if an accident takes place.

Some common bicycle injuries involve death as well as spinal cord injuries, broken bones, deep cuts, internal injuries and traumatic brain injury. These are life changing injuries in themselves and may require a long recovery period. This may also mean substantial medical costs and a loss of earning potential while recovering.

If you, or a loved one, has been injured in a bicycle accident, and it was not your fault, then you should not wait too long to find out if you are eligible to file a claim for compensation. If a fatality is involved, close family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim, especially if fault for the bicycle accident can be easily determined and  the vehicle driver was obviously negligent. If you wish to obtain more information about compensation claims, arrange a free consultation with a New York bicycle attorney, who will give you advice on your eligibility to make a claim.