New York Bike Lane Laws and Liability

Protect your rights in a bicycle crash

NYC Bike Share operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The program
plans eventually on welcoming 10,000 bicycles and 600 bike-docking stations
city-wide and already reports that city bike riders travel one million
miles in less than a month. As New Yorkers gear up for more bicycles,
bike lane laws and liability issues also demand attention. Inevitably,
watch for an increasing number of bike accidents as more bikers take to
the roads. At Rubenstein & Rynecki, we have more than 35 years of
legal experience, which includes handling
bicycle accident cases.

What are New York’s bike lane laws?

Bicyclists must comply with Vehicle and Traffic Law statutes that prohibit
bikers from riding on highways, expressways, interstate routes, thruways
and drives unless signs authorize them to ride there. The city does not
allow bicycles on side walks. Bike lanes fulfill the need for places to
ride. The statute states that you should ride in
usable bike lanes but it also provides exceptions. Some lanes are rough, hazardous
and unsafe for bikers. You have the right to move out of bike lanes when
you prepare to turn or to avoid unsafe conditions, including the following:

• Fixed or moving objects
• Motor vehicles
• Bicycles
• Pedestrians
• Pushcarts
• Animals
• Dangerous surfaces

Liabilities bikers face

Bike riding can be confusing sometimes, especially for bikers approaching
intersections. Bikers making right turns must turn from the closest lane
to the curb. When making a left turn, bikers must merge to the center
of the road before turning. Violations can result in liability.

Bike lanes make riding safer. A Department of Transportation (DOT) study
shows that bike lanes reduce bike accidents causing serious injury and
death by 40 percent. However, crashes still occur. The liable party is
the one exhibiting the greater negligence. A motorist opening the door
of a parked vehicle can strike a biker. A vehicle blocking a bike lane
is in violation of NYC traffic statutes. Bikers can collide with illegally
parked vehicles.

Experienced legal help for bike accidents

You many wonder, “Can I sue for a bike accident?” When injured
in a bike accident, you can seek legal help from our attorneys at Rubenstein
& Rynecki. We investigate the accident scene, determine the cause
and identify liable parties for pursuing a lawsuit. Our firm has represented
clients in New York accident cases since 1972 and we have the level of
skills necessary to help you recover fair compensation. No recovery, no fee.
Contact us today for a free consultation.