What To Do When You Were in a Bicycle Accident With No Crash Report

In many cases, those in bicycle accidents suffer only relatively minor injuries, a broken hand here, a few scrapes there. However, there are occasions where a bicycle accident is significantly more serious. Accidents that result in loss of consciousness or have the need for an EMT response can be dangerous not only to the cyclist that was injured but for seeking coverage for the crash as well.

There is a cautionary tale going around the cycling community about a cyclist in New Orleans that was whisked away by EMTs after a crash for medical attention, and the driver that hit her told the responding officers that they would settle things amicably. The officer let that driver drive right off without making a crash report or even getting their name. This left the cyclist stuck with a ruined bicycle, huge medical bills, and no way to seek compensation for them.

If this happens to you, what do you do? Your options seem pretty non-existent, right? In truth, without a name or contact information that would be gathered by a crash report, they are. However, while you can’t go after the driver, you can go after the police who failed to do their duty.

Regardless of if parties decide to handle things amicably, police officers are required by law to file a crash report if the damage exceeds $500, this includes if you were spirited away by what will be a very expensive ambulance ride.

If you have been in a cycling accident with no crash report to be found, your case against the police will be much more difficult, but it can at least result in the coverage of your medical bills and damages that the driver owed you. If you need legal representation for this or any other bicycle accident cases, contact us today.

Is Bicycling More Dangerous Than Other Modes of Travel?

Although they don’t always make the news, bicycle crashes are a frequent danger in a world dominated by motor vehicles who don’t understand how to share the road. However, as bicycling accidents are so frequent, there are some who knock the lifestyle stating that it is more dangerous than other modes of travel, but is it really?

The NHTSA published their crash facts in 2015 and found that over 800 deaths per year associated with bicycling. However, these fatalities represent less than two percent of all traffic fatalities. For some reason, bicycling seems to be over-represented in crash data, despite the fact that there is no way to measure exactly how long most cyclists are exposed to motor traffic each day, and thus, at risk.

Despite many crash statistic making bicycling out to be significantly more dangerous than it probably is, millions of people around the world engage in this healthy and typically inherently safe activity every day. Furthermore, if drivers were taught how to appropriately share the road with cyclists and major cities took more steps to make their roads friendly for cyclists, millions more people wouldn’t be swayed by the statistics to take up this mode of travel.

Unfortunately, when some look at cycling around town, all they see are the risks. The risks that change drastically depending on the time of day, location, and experience level of the rider. Just like driving a car, accidents can happen while cycling. Some cyclists have been in several throughout their cycling life, but is cycling more dangerous than driving? Probably not, and it is getting safer each day.

If you have taken to cycling and found yourself in an accident, contact us today. Gary Brustin is dedicated to representing the rights of cyclists.

A Look at the Guardian Children’s Bike as Seen on Shark Tank

You don’t always see a lot of innovation when it comes to bicycle design. Typically, any changes are minor and you probably never see them take off. However, when it comes to a children’s bike, it seems there is a lot more that can be done, something that was demonstrated by an Irvine, California-based company on Shark Tank season eight.

The company, Guardian Bikes, states that their children’s bike isn’t designed for kids. Instead, they are miniature adult bicycles that are designed with cheap cost in mind instead of quality and safety. You can’t really argue with that, all things considered. The CEO Brian Riley goes on to cite a US Consumer Product Safety Commission report that shows over 1,000 children visit the emergency room each day for bicycle-related injuries. This is where their bicycle design comes in.

The Guardian Bike was created for kids ages six to nine who are just graduating from training wheels up to hand brakes. The most innovative part is the Sure Stop brake system that goes to great lengths to prevent common head-over-handlebar accidents. They also feature a frame of high quality, aircraft-grade aluminum that is not only stronger but more lightweight than your typical children’s bike.

Currently, this bike is the only brand on the market that is created with kids in mind rather than just a smaller version of an adult bike. If it takes off, it could mean and even safer ride for children and could foster a life-long love of safe bicycling.

Unfortunately, not everyone has taken to safe bicycling, not even adults. Furthermore, even with safety-oriented bikes, accidents still happen. If you have been in a bicycling accident, contact the Law Office of Gary Brustin today to see if your injuries can be covered.

How the Coming Bicycle War in New York City Could Effect Bike Laws

When companies like Uber and Lyft shook up the car service market, people outside the industry really didn’t notice. However, a much more noticeable upheaval is about to come to biking in New York City. There are a number of companies getting ready to launch that would allow a bicycle sharing service throughout the city.

This bicycle sharing service would be a lot like the already existing Citi Bikes, but unlike that service, it wouldn’t require a docking station. The app would be able to lock and unlock bikes through the app, effectively making it so you could leave them anywhere.

With no city law that prevents these companies using public space, it seems like a good deal for would-be cyclists to travel cleaner. However, even before these companies launch, there is legislation in motion to try to shut them down. This includes new laws that would not only limit where these bikes could be housed, but hurt cyclists throughout the city. Another potential suggestion in New York Legislature was to give companies like Citi Bike a near $12 million dollar handout so they can expand further into New York City.

However, what these new potential laws and this handout would do is continue to let Citi Bike have a monopoly on the bike-share sector in New York City. This can effectively let them price whatever they want without worry of competition.

If you are a cyclist that believes your rights have been trampled on, contact us today. The Law Office of Gary Brustin is dedicated to fighting for the rights of cyclists.

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them

While biking, it’s imperative that you not only pay attention to what you are doing, but that you pay especially close attention to what others are doing. When riding your bike on or near a roadway, it’s often easier to see other travelers than it is for them to see you, especially with the amount of distractions for motorists in this era of technology. With the prevalence of cell phones, radios, and navigation devices, you must be responsible for your own safety. The following are common types of accidents involving cyclists:

The Right Cross.

This occurs when vehicles are pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or a driveway on the right of the cyclist. You can be struck by the oncoming vehicle, or you could potentially crash into the side of the vehicle. In order to prevent this type of collision, make sure to use a front headlight if traveling at night. Try to make eye contact with the driver. If this doesn’t work, wave! Slowing down ensures that you have a better chance of coming to a complete stop if you have to. Ride further to the left of the lane when approaching an intersection. This increases the chance that an oncoming driver will be able to see you and gives you more maneuvering options in the event they don’t.

The Door Prize.

You are riding along beside parked vehicles when one of the drivers open his door, and you smack right into it! This is one of the most common types of collisions involving cyclists. Simply riding farther to the left will give you more room to avoid the unexpected car door opening.

The Rear End.

You simply swerve to the left a bit to go around a parked vehicle or some other obstruction in the roadway and get nailed by a car from behind. To avoid this scenario, ALWAYS look behind you before moving over. Secondly, don’t swerve in and out of a parking lane if it contains parked vehicles. Ride as steady as possible, even if there are empty spots. Use a mirror to help you monitor traffic behind you without constantly having to look over your shoulder, which can cause an involuntarily merge to the side you’re looking from. Finally, signal. Never move left without signaling. Holding your left arm straight out indicates that you will be turning in that direction. Just make sure to look behind you first, so that a passing car doesn’t take off your arm!

In the event of an accident, legal representation may be needed. Contact California bicycle accident lawyer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer all of your legal questions!