Generally, it's assumed that when traffic accidents occur, they involve more than one driver and one party who is negligent.  However, even one-vehicle accidents can involve liability for a defendant as a recent New York bicycle accident illustrates.  Local governments and municipalities are responsible for dealing with dangerous road conditions, and one man recently paid a heavy price for a poorly-maintained stretch of concrete that led to injuries.

On May 22, Rafael Aviles was riding his bicycle across the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge when he came across a two-inch crack in the asphalt.  The front wheel of his bicycle got caught in this crack, forcing his bicycle to suddenly stop.  Aviles was moving at a high rate of speed and was thrown over his handlebars and onto the concrete below.  As a result of this New York bicycle accident, he had to be moved to the hospital and was treated for 12 hours.  He received 40 stitches on his face and also suffered a broken hand and nerve damage in his neck. 

New York Bicycle Accident Statistics

While we certainly feel for Mr. Aviles and the pain he suffered - not to mention the fact that he lost his bicycle in the accident - we are relieved that the situation wasn't worse.  There is no bike lane on this bridge and it can be filled with traffic at any time.  Fortunately, he landed in an area where no vehicles were about to converge.  That said, there are thousands of New York bicycle accidents that occur every year, and in 2008 alone 42 bicyclists were killed as a result of them.

New York Personal Injury Lawyers

Despite how it seems clear that the city is responsible for this injury accident - and the city was already planning to resurface the bridge - special steps must be taken in order to legally hold a municipality liable for injuries caused and damages suffered.  Rather than attempting to handle these complicated situations by yourself, seek the help of New York personal injury lawyers who have years of experience in holding every sort of defendant accountable for their negligence.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today at 800-323-9900 to schedule a free initial consultation.