Monmouth County Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Many New Jersey residents ride bicycles as part of their daily commute or simply to enjoy some outdoor exercise. Bicycles are considered “vehicles” under state law. This means that a bicyclist has the same rights–and responsibilities–as any car or truck traveling on public roadways.
Unfortunately, some motorists often incorrectly view bicyclists as an inconvenient intrusion on “their” roads. Such attitudes often lead to aggressive and reckless driving, which in turn causes an accident. If you are a bicyclist who has been injured due to such a collision and need to speak with a qualified Monmouth County bicycle accident lawyer, the team at Poulos LoPiccolo PC is here to help.
Motorist Negligence Frequently Leads to Injured Cyclists
The rules of the road are meant to protect everyone. That includes bicyclists. So when a motorist’s negligence leads to an accident with a bicycle, they can and should be held legally liable for the resulting damages. Some of the more common scenarios that lead to bicycle accidents in New Jersey include:
- A motorist is driving well above the posted speed limit. This not only makes it more difficult for the motorist to avoid a possible collision with a bicycle; it also leaves the cyclist with little or no time to get out of the way.
- A motorist is swerving or makes an abrupt lane change and collides with a bicycle that is properly traveling in the right-most lane.
- A motorist fails to properly signal a turn and swerves without warning into the path of a bicyclist.
- A motorist fails to take their “blind spot” into account and does not keep a proper lookout for bicycles that may be in said blind spots.
- A motorist improperly drives too close to a nearby bicycle, leading to a tailgating accident.
While there is typically little risk to a car or truck that is hit by a bicycle, the opposite is true for the cyclist. An injured bicyclist often requires emergency medical care and extensive physical rehabilitation, not to mention mental health care for the trauma they have endured. If the bicyclist is unable to return to work for an extended period of time, they face the loss of income and a reduction in their long-term earning potential. This is why the law allows a bicyclist injured by a driver’s negligence to recover these and other out-of-pocket losses incurred as a result of the accident.
Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Ocean, Monmouth & Middlesex County
New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations in personal injury cases. This means that if you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you have two years from the date of that accident to identify and sue the responsible parties. This may sound like a lot of time on paper. But in practice it takes a substantial amount of time and effort to prepare a lawsuit, especially if you are dealing with significant long-term injuries.
That is why it is in your best legal and financial interest to speak with a qualified New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Poulos LoPiccolo PC today to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our staff.
