Bike shares have become a fun, convenient way to travel and get exercise in dozens of cities across the U.S. According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, over 35 million bike share trips were taken in 2017 alone.
When riding any bicycle, particularly on busy city streets, there is always the risk of a potential bicycle accident. The same is true for those using bike shares. Bike share riders can suffer severe injuries, especially when struck by a motorized vehicle.
Those who have been seriously injured in a bike share accident can turn to William Mattar. Our personal injury lawyers can help you file a claim and receive compensation for your injuries. We offer free initial case consultations for injury victims. To schedule your consultation, you can fill out our online form or call our legal team today at 844-noswap444-4444.
WHAT IS A BICYCLE SHARE PROGRAM?
Bicycle share programs—which have become more popular in recent years—are peer-to-peer services that allow people to rent a bike for a short period of time. They are mainly used in metropolitan areas where travel via bicycle is common. Much like a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, users can rent a nearby bicycle through a mobile app.
Many bike share programs offer electric bikes, also sometimes known as “e-bikes.” These e-bikes work using battery-powered technology that assists riders.
One well-known bike share system is Citi Bike in New York City. The Citi Bike program has hundreds of “dock” locations around the city, where users can unlock a bike for personal use. Riders can use the bike for as long as they prefer for varying costs.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A BIKE SHARE CRASH
If you’ve been involved in a bike share crash with another vehicle, you may be flustered and in pain. After police respond to the scene, they will file an official report about the accident. The report will include details about the parties involved, including a statement from any drivers and witnesses. You will be able to request a copy of this report later.
After your bike share crash where you are injured, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention as soon as you can. You may not be able to know the full extent of your injuries right away. Your doctor, or another medical professional, can perform a full physical examination to identity any health concerns and keep a record of your medical condition.
Soon after your bicycle accident, you should consider contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer, especially before talking with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you are injured or suspect you may be injured, an accident attorney can help you protect your right to seek compensation and avoid accepting any low settlement offers.
WHO IS LIABLE FOR MY BIKE SHARE ACCIDENT?
The liable party in your bike share accident case will likely be the person or entity whose negligent actions resulted in your injuries. This will of course depend on the specifics of your bike share crash. A bicycle accident lawyer can look at the facts closely to help establish liability.
If the driver of a car struck you while you were riding a bike share, they may share liability for the bicycle accident. A municipality, such as a city, can also be liable. For instance, if the bike lane of a street was poorly maintained, resulting in your accident, you could potentially have a claim against the municipality responsible for maintaining the bike lane.
One thing to keep in mind is that the bike share contract or agreement that you sign before a ride may waive the bike share company of any liability. For instance, if you suffered an injury or damages on an e-bike due to a defective product, it may be difficult to hold the company responsible if you’ve signed a contract. A bicycle accident attorney can clarify the laws surrounding bike share contracts.
HOW DOES INSURANCE WORK IN A BIKE SHARE ACCIDENT?
After a bike share accident, the source of any insurance coverage will depend on your particular situation.
If you were involved in a car-on-bike accident and the car driver was responsible, that driver’s insurance company may be required to pay you for your pain and suffering. In cases where the driver is uninsured, you may be able to turn to your own personal policy for uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Each case is different when it comes to getting covered for your injuries. Talk to a personal injury lawyer today to learn more about how you may be compensated.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TODAY
If you’ve been injured while riding using a bike share, contact William Mattar Law Offices today. Our bicycle accident attorneys know how the law inside out and have experience handling a wide variety of bike crash cases.
At William Mattar, we know that being able to afford a lawyer is a concern for many people. That’s why we offer our No Fee Until We WinSM, which says that you will not owe us lawyer’s fees until we settle or win your case. Call (844) 444 - 4444 today to speak to one of our attorneys.