Find out where and why:
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, bicyclists were the victims of 31 bicycle personal injury crashes in 2023, near Kingston, NY and Ulster County.
Six of the crashes resulted in serious injuries, 13 resulted in moderate injuries, and 12 resulted in minor injuries. Serious injuries could include fractures, concussions, internal bleeding, amputation, dislocation, spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. Moderate injuries could include deep cuts, open wounds, or severe shock. Minor injuries could include bumps and bruises, abrasions, minor lacerations, strains or sprains, partial joint dislocation, or whiplash.
Of the bicyclists injured, eight of them ranged from ages 7 to 17, nine ranged from the ages of 18-29, four ranged between 30-39, two ranged between 40-49, three ranged from 50-59, and five ranged from 60 and over.
Helmet use was a significant factor in the severity of injuries; roughly half of the crashes involved a bicyclist who was not wearing a helmet, and 10 of the 16 non-helmet wearers suffered either serious or moderate injuries.
According to police reports, 16 of the crashes were the result of driver inattention and distraction, eight resulted from error or confusion on the part of the bicyclist, seven were from the driver failing to yield right of way, five were from a driver’s improper use of the passing lane or lane changing, and four were from the disregard of a traffic control device.
The City of Kingston was the site of 15 of Ulster County’s 31 personal injury bicycle crashes last year, and the Village of New Paltz was the site of one other crash. Otherwise, the towns of Ulster County had the remainder of the crashes: three in Saugerties, two in Ulster, Lloyd and Esopus, and one apiece in Hurley, Olive, Rosendale, Shawangunk, Wawarsing and Woodstock.
How can you be compensated after a bicycle accident in Kingston?
As you probably know, you aren’t required by law as a bicycle rider to carry insurance, but if you’re injured in a bicycle crash, other parties that may be responsible for the accident such as car drivers, municipalities, and businesses do. If you as a bicyclist have injuries that result in lost wages, medical expenses, or death, a consultation with Kingston personal injury attorneys could help you secure the maximum possible compensation.
If you live in Ulster County, you’re covered by New York’s “comparative fault” laws for bicycle crashes; meaning that even if the crash is partially the bicycle rider’s fault, you can receive compensation based on how comparatively at fault you were. For example, if the jury decides that a rider had $1,000,000 in damages from a bicycle crash, if the crash was 20% the bicyclist’s fault, they’re entitled to an $800,000 award.
Additionally, New York’s “no-fault” laws ensure that bicycle riders, even if they were 100% at fault, will receive up to $50,000 in medical expenses and lost wages after a crash, covered by the no-fault insurance on the car that hit you. This can cover your medical bills and lost wages, and separate and in addition to the damages that may be recovered for your injuries, pain and suffering and changes in quality of life.