As the weather gets warmer, New Yorkers tend to spend more time outdoors. But just as winter weather comes with certain risks, there are some common springtime accidents that may also lead to injury. Whether you enjoy walking, biking, jogging, or any other outside activities, it’s crucial to be cautious. However, no matter how careful you are, accidents caused by another’s negligence may be unavoidable.
Here are five types of accidents that can regularly occur in the spring — and who might be liable for any injuries that arise as a result.
1. Bicycle Accidents
After a long winter, many people look forward to getting their bicycles out of storage. Critically, bike riding has many safety risks involved — even though New York City has thousands of miles of designated bike lanes. As bicycles ride alongside cars, SUVs, taxis, and trucks, the risk of bicycle accidents can increase significantly.
All it can take is just one inattentive, distracted, or careless driver for devastating results to occur. If a driver’s negligence caused your bicycle accident injuries, they may be held liable for your unreimbursed medical expenses, time lost from work, and pain and suffering in a personal injury lawsuit.
2. Pedestrian Knockdown Accidents
Pedestrian knockdown accidents can happen when a person is crossing in a crosswalk, waiting for the right of way, or even while jogging on the sidewalk. Although pedestrian knockdowns can occur any time of day, walking or jogging at night without reflective gear can be particularly dangerous. Pedestrian knockdown injuries can be serious and include traumatic brain injury, paralysis, permanent disability, disfigurement, or even fatality.
No-fault insurance will cover up to a certain amount of your medical costs for a pedestrian knockdown accident. However, a negligent driver may be held accountable in a personal injury action for the economic and non-economic damages they caused you to suffer in connection with your injuries.
3. Trip and Falls
Trip and falls can happen any time of year. But, there are more opportunities to trip on depressions, defects, and cracks in the sidewalk as people spend additional time outside. Trip and falls can result in severe injuries, and it’s essential to get the medical care you need immediately. Not only can they cause fractures, soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, and paralysis, but falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
In New York, a property owner or other responsible party can be held liable for hazardous conditions on the sidewalk abutting their property that they knew about, or should have known about — and failed to remedy within a reasonable amount of time. While New York City is not liable for most sidewalk accidents, under the “Sidewalk Law,” liability may still attach in certain situations.
4. Dog Bites
Not only are people outside more often in the spring, but dogs are too. Although dog bites are not uncommon, owners who know that their dogs have vicious propensities have a duty to warn others. In some cases, dog bite injuries can be severe and require extensive medical treatment.
New York State law combines strict liability with “the one bite rule.” Owners of dogs that have been declared dangerous are strictly liable for your medical costs. They might also be held accountable for your pain and suffering if you can prove they were negligent in handling the dog.
5. Playground Injuries
Playground injuries can happen for many reasons — sometimes they are simply an accident, but other times they are caused by negligence. If your child is injured due to broken, hazardous, or poorly maintained playground equipment, the entity that owns the playground or is responsible for maintaining it may be held liable. In some cases, the manufacturer of the playground equipment might also be held accountable, if the injury was due to a defect in the equipment itself.
Importantly, the city, municipality, school district, or party that owns the playground must exercise reasonable care to ensure it is kept in a safe condition. If they fail to do so, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for the injuries your child sustained.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered injuries in an accident that occurred due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. It’s best to contact a personal injury attorney who can advise you concerning your legal rights and remedies. Handling a wide array of personal injury matters, The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. is committed to ensuring those who have been injured due to the carelessness or recklessness of another recover the maximum compensation they deserve.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a free consultation.