Over the past few years the City has made massive expansions of so-called “Class 1 bike lanes.” These are the separated lanes which usually run between parked cars and the sidewalk.
In general they have been successful – providing safety to riders and allowing the main flow of car traffic to move easier in their lanes.
But of course, this is New York – so rules are viewed as optional by some (most?) of the vehicle operators on our streets.
Starting in 2020 my office began receiving more and more calls from people struck by motorcycles traveling in bike lanes. Other people were getting hit by mopeds being operated on the sidewalk.
And then we started seeing it for ourselves. Motorcycle riders who didn’t feel like sitting in traffic would hijack the bike lane to go around stopped cars. This obviously puts other bike riders and pedestrians in grave danger.
Amazingly, about half of the time these motorcycles were also traveling the wrong way in the designated bike lane. I would call this ultrahazardous behavior. This is the kind of action that can and does literally kill New Yorkers. New York families who are simply trying to safely cross the street.
So what can you do if you are struck by one of these guys? If you hire our law firm we can conduct a full investigation. Here are some important questions that need to be answered:
• Was the motorcycle operator working at the time?
• Was he delivering food?
• Was he a messenger?
These are critical questions. Generally speaking, business owners may be responsible for their employees’ reckless acts. And businesses carry insurance for this exact kind of accident. If you retain our firm we can make this determination for you while you focus on getting better.
Call our firm today to discuss this matter if you or a loved one has been struck by a motorcycle rider who felt the need to hijack the bicycle lane. We will do everything we can to help.
Contact the Law Offices of Eric Richman for a free consultation, or call us at (800) 801-9655 to discuss your case with an expert NYC accident lawyer. We’re here to represent you during this challenging time.
