Paramus Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Skilled representation for cyclists harmed by negligent drivers

Throughout New Jersey, more people than ever are using bicycles for recreation, fitness, and to commute. Yet, the thoroughfares of the Garden State are often inhospitable to cyclists. Streets often lack dedicated bike lanes, and impatient motorists don’t want to share the road. Inattentive drivers don’t see cyclists coming or don’t read their signals. These factors and others make cycling treacherous, so that too many excursions end in accidents that inflict severe injury. If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident, the personal injury attorneys at Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus are ready to help. We are skilled trial attorneys, who are determined to recover the full compensation your injuries deserve.

Cyclist deaths are on the rise across the country

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 966 cyclist fatalities in 2021, accounting for 2.2 percent of all traffic deaths. That represents a 1.9 percent increase from the 948 cyclists killed in 2020. As for injuries, NHTSA estimates that 41,615 cyclists were hurt in traffic, a seven percent increase from 38,886 injured in 2020. Male cyclists are killed at a rate of seven times that of females and are injured four times as often. Eighty-five percent of fatal cyclist crashes in 2021 occurred in urban areas.

As for the Garden State, NJ State Police report that a total of 18 cyclists were killed in New Jersey traffic in 2020. That toll rose to 26 in 2021.

Common causes of bicycle accidents in NJ

Bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles, as well as a few additional safety requirements, such as traveling single file in bike lanes. Too many accidents occur because the cyclists themselves did not observe traffic laws or safety guidelines. Dangerous practices include:

• Failing to stop at red signals and stop signs
• Traveling outside the bike lane
• Failing to use hand signals
• Failing to yield right of way
• Not wearing reflective clothing or lighting the bike at night
• Weaving in traffic
• Traveling at a speed that exceeds the rider’s skill

When a motorist is at fault, the reason might be:

• Aggressive driving and speeding
• Distracted or inattentive driving
• Drunk driving
• Passing too closely
• Opening the driver’s side door without looking

In addition, cyclists can fall victim to poor road conditions, such as potholes or sudden changes in the pavement level.

NJ responds to cyclist injuries with Safe Passing Law

The NJ Safe Passing Law provides clear rules for motorists sharing the road with people on foot, on bicycles, on scooters, in wheelchairs, or using other legally permitted ways to travel other than a motor vehicle. Drivers must use “due caution” whenever they encounter vulnerable people on the road.

Drivers must:

• Follow no-passing laws, obey the speed limit, and move over a lane if possible.
• Allow at least a four-foot safety zone when they pass on a single-lane road

If a four-foot berth is not possible, drivers must slow to 25 mph and prepare to stop, if necessary, until they can pass safely according to the protocols of the law.

Responding to severe injuries bicyclists suffer

Our attorneys have witnessed up close the terrible injuries cyclists can sustain in a traffic accident. These include:

• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal trauma, including paralysis
• Bone fractures
• Crush injuries from being trapped beneath a vehicle

Often, the initial impact with a vehicle causes less harm than the secondary impact on the hard surface of the street or a curb, which can be catastrophic.

We understand that a cycling accident can leave you with painful injuries that require a long recovery and may never entirely heal. We are determined to secure a settlement or jury verdict that delivers the full compensation your suffering deserves.

Contact Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus for a free bicycle accident consultation

Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus provides highly professional and personalized legal services for victims of bicycle accidents in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation at our office, in your home, or at the hospital, call us today at 201-534-5011 or contact our firm online.