New York Bicycle Accident Attorney
I am amazed when I see people on bikes without helmets. Most frustrating are the adults I see with children. Sometimes the children are wearing helmets, but the adults are unprotected. Having seen (and represented) people with permanent brain injuries and head trauma, my staff and I understand how devastating these can be.
Our skulls are incredible feats of engineering, protecting our brains and other organs. However, they are not well designed for impacts with the pavement or metal road rails. Most current ANSI approved helmets are able to provide first impact protection, and absorb much of the force of a sudden, blunt impact. A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88%, can be prevented by a helmet.
Have you or a family member been seriously injured by a negligent driver? Contact Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick for a free case evaluation. Don't delay, there are strict time limits for bringing claims.
NOTE TO PARENTS: Children do as we do, not as we say. Adults need to teach by example. Please wear your helmet. The kids who see adults without helmets infer that helmets are NOT necessary, important or cool. When parents are not around, these kids drop the helmet. Make it a requirement EVERY time:
- No Helmet, No biking. Simple. Safe. Sensible.
I hear many excuses when friends mention not wearing their helmet:
- "We weren't riding fast."
- "We were only on the trail."
- "We didn't ride far."
In my opinion, these excuses and unsafe habits are invitations to disaster.
According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: There are 73-85 million bicycle riders in the United States.
- 770 bicyclists died on US roads in 2006. Over 90 percent died in crashes with motor vehicles.
- The "typical" bicyclist killed on our roads is a sober male over 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer evening when hit by a car.
Please, get out there and ride, but do so with the proper precautions. Obey traffic and safety laws and by all means wear a helmet.
Our New York bicycle accident lawyers are here to help when disaster strikes, but please ride safely and make sure your loved ones do so as well.
NEW YORK STATE HELMET LAWS
- All PASSENGERS under the age of 5 must wear a helmet, effective 1989;
- ALL RIDERS under the age of 14 years must wear a helmet, effective 1994;
LOCAL NY HELMET LAWS
- In the Town of EASTCHESTER all riders under the age of 19 must wear a helmet, effective 2004;
- In ERIE COUNTY PARKS ALL RIDERS REGARDLESS OF AGE must wear a helmet, effective 1993;
- In the Town of GREENBURGH ALL RIDERS REGARDLESS OF AGE must wear a helmet, effective 1994;
- In ROCKLAND COUNTY ALL RIDERS REGARDLESS OF AGE must wear a helmet, effective 1992;
- In the Town of GUILDERLAND ALL RIDERS UNDER THE AGE OF 14 must wear a helmet, effective, 1992;
- In ONONDAGA COUNTY - CITY OF SYRACUSE ALL RIDERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 must wear a helmet, effective 2001.
Visit our NY motor vehicle accident overview page, for more information on New York auto accidents.
Call us toll-free at 877.298.3201 or email one of our New York bicycle accident lawyers to schedule your free consultation with an experienced NYC injury attorney.
Some of our articles that may relate to your accident:
Harlem, Lower East Side Children More Likely To Die In Crosswalks
An Alarming Look Back At Fatal New York Traffic Accidents In 2012
