Riding a bicycle is a health-conscious and eco-friendly choice for transportation within a community as well as a fun way to spend time outdoors on a beautiful weekend. New Jersey offers cyclists hundreds of bicycle routes and scenic trail rides through natural landscapes. However, New Jersey has seen an increase in bicycle accidents that has surpassed the nationwide average increase of six percent in the last decade. In 2021, there were 23 cyclist deaths in New Jersey—the highest fatality rate since 1989.
Cyclists are unprotected and highly vulnerable to injuries in an accident, especially one involving a motor vehicle collision. If you or a close family member sustained injuries in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, call Grungo Law today to speak to the South Jersey personal injury attorneys with the experience and resources to win your case.
Why Choose Grungo Law for Your Bicycle Accident Case in South Jersey?
No one has a deeper understanding of New Jersey injury law than the attorneys in South Jersey at Grungo Law. With decades of experience navigating personal injury claims, including for clients injured in bicycle accidents in South Jersey, our track record of winning over $135 million in settlements and jury awards goes a long way when it comes to negotiating a large settlement for an injury victim. We give your case the winning edge by the following:
- The collaborative effort of a sharp team of legal minds strategizing creative solutions for your case
- The individual attention of an experienced lawyer dedicated to your claim
- A law firm with deep roots in South Jersey communities with an understanding of the profound impacts serious injuries have on individuals and their families
- A devoted team of advocates with a strong commitment to achieving justice for those injured due to the careless actions of another
- Cutting-edge technology in investigation combined with classic advocacy methods through legal counsel for the best possible outcome of your case
- Open communication and forthright counsel throughout each step in your compensation claim
- A track record of impressive results, including a recent $3.1 million settlement for a negligent New Jersey road design
- Free consultations and no fees until we win your case so you pay nothing up-front
Founding attorney, Richard Grungo, is a renowned Civil Trial Attorney certified by New Jersey’s Supreme Court—a distinction held by less than three percent of New Jersey attorneys. He is a leading New Jersey voice in advancing law through new technologies. He has 25 years of history in securing large settlements and winning notable jury awards and peer admiration in the New Jersey legal system.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving South Jersey, call (856) 528-4494
Understanding the Seriousness of Bicycle Accidents in New Jersey and Around the U.S.
A bicycle ride in the open air is an exhilarating outdoor experience that’s beneficial for both body and spirit. Unfortunately, that same open, two-wheeled design that lets a cyclist breathe in the fresh air while pedaling to work, school, or toward a scenic Garden State trail for a weekend ride also puts cyclists at extreme risk of injuries in a collision with an average 4,000-pound car. A bicycle completely lacks the occupant protection measures that are in place inside a vehicle, leaving cyclists to make direct bodily contact with the surface of the road, obstacles, or motor vehicles during an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shares the following alarming statistics:
- Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 883 bicyclists died annually in traffic-related accidents in the U.S.
- 41,615 bicyclists suffered serious injuries between 2017 and 2021
- More bicycle accidents occurred on open roadways than in intersections, an accident statistic unique to bicyclists
- More bicycle accident fatalities occur in urban areas than in rural locations
- The most bicycle fatalities result from collisions with SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, compared to standard passenger vehicles
- Over 56% of fatal bicycle accidents occur in poor lighting conditions during dawn, dusk, and evening rides
- About 86% of fatally injured bicycle accident victims are male
- New Jersey’s most dangerous bicycling routes are within South Jersey counties, including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties
No New Jersey resident’s day out on the road enjoying a bicycle ride should end in an emergency room or a morgue, but sadly, New Jersey drivers do not always practice the care and diligence required to share the roadways safely with bicyclists.
If there has been a death as a result of a bicycle accident, please reach out to the wrongful death attorneys in South Jersey today,
South Jersey Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (856) 528-4494
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in South Jersey
Bicyclists must follow traffic laws and practice safe cycling rules to minimize the risk of a serious accident; however, negligent motorists are the most common cause of bicycle accidents in New Jersey. Bicycle accidents often result from the following:
- Distracted drivers
- Speeding
- Drivers who fail to yield the right of way
- Unsafe passing practices
- Motorists making left turns in an intersection
- Tailgating drivers
- Aggressive driving
- Car-door opening into the path of a cyclist
- Cars emerging from hidden driveways
- Motorists making wide turns
- Drunk drivers
Less commonly, bicycle accidents result from faulty bicycle parts or road hazards such as debris in the road. In these cases, a liable manufacturer or negligent road maintenance agency may be held accountable for injury damages.
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What is New Jersey’s Safe-Passing Law for Cyclists?
In 2023, the New Jersey legislature implemented the safe-passing law for cyclists and other vulnerable road users. This law is also called “Oscar’s Law,” named in honor of a cyclist tragically killed in a collision with a commercial truck in New Jersey. The new law requires drivers to move over one lane when passing cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable individuals using the roadway. If the driver cannot move over a lane, they must allow at least four feet of space between their vehicle and the cyclist. If the driver doesn’t have room to move over, they must slow to no more than 25 miles per hour and wait until it’s safe to pass. Drivers may receive a traffic citation and a $100.00 fine if they fail to adhere to this law. If they injure a cyclist or pedestrian due to their failure to follow the law, they face a $500.00 fine and two points against their New Jersey driver’s license.
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Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident
Bicycle accidents cause serious injuries, sometimes ending in catastrophe. When a devastating bicycle accident occurs due to a driver’s negligence, the accident attorneys in South Jersey at Grungo Law are ready to advocate for the victim’s right to compensation by thoroughly investigating the accident, documenting evidence of driver liability, and presenting the evidence of negligence and liability to the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Proving liability for a bicycle accident requires gathering evidence of the following:
- That the at-fault driver owed a duty of care to the bicyclists and other vulnerable road users to take all reasonable measures to avoid causing injury
- They breached this duty by acting negligently
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered significant economic and non-economic damages from the injury
In a bicycle accident liability claim, the burden of evidence is on the injury victim who becomes the plaintiff in the case. The plaintiff must prove the at-fault driver’s liability through a preponderance of the evidence, showing that it’s more likely than not that the driver caused the injury to the bicyclist. An attorney from Grungo Law is ready to use the latest investigative technology and access to renowned expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to prove driver liability and calculate your current and future damages.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in South Jersey
Bicycle helmets significantly increase the chances of survival in a car vs. cyclist traffic accident. However, even a helmet cannot prevent all head injuries—particularly brain injuries resulting from the brain bumping against the inside of the skull due to the force of a crash or collision. Common injuries in South Jersey bicycle accident claims include:
- Brain injuries
- Fractures, including of the limbs, hips, ribs, and pelvis
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Soft tissue injuries such as sprains and torn ligaments
- Internal organ injury
- Road rash (abrasions)
- Lacerations and bruises
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
At Grungo Law, we represent bicycle accident victims in large claims for catastrophic damages such as permanent disability or impairment. We also dedicate equal time and attention to clients with smaller claims, with the understanding that even a single broken bone or bad sprain can result in a large emergency room bill and days or weeks of lost wages. We are assertive advocates of every injury victim’s right to compensation when someone else’s actions caused their injury.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in South Jersey
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a bicycle accident, you may be unconscious or unable to do anything but wait for help. However, if you can move safely enough to use your phone from your location or ask a companion to use it for you, you can take important steps to protect your physical health and financial future. Use your phone as a tool to preserve important evidence at the scene by doing the following:
- First, call 911 to request help and move to a safe location away from traffic whenever possible
- Take photos of the damaged bicycle and vehicle
- Photograph the accident scene, capturing anything relevant to the accident like an intersection, curve, or stretch of highway
- Photograph any visible injuries
- Add the contact information of the driver
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses available—eyewitnesses are critical in accidents that occur with no nearby traffic cameras or surveillance footage
Always go directly to the hospital after an accident, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious. Have a doctor give you a thorough medical evaluation as well as treatment for your obvious injuries. Ask for a detailed report with your injuries, prognosis, and treatment recommendations. Then, obtain a copy of the police report, gather your evidence, and call Grungo Law in South Jersey before communicating with the insurance company. Never accept an early, low-balled settlement offer. Instead, direct all communication with insurance adjusters to your lawyer from Grungo Law.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a New Jersey Bicycle Accident?
Bicycle accident injuries quickly become expensive, especially if they prevent a prompt return to work or make it impossible to return to work in the previous capacity. A successful bicycle accident claim in South Jersey results in compensation for common bicycle accident damages such as the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Lowered future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished life quality
- Disfigurement compensation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- PTSD, anxiety, depression
- Wrongful death compensation
Your Grungo Law attorney will carefully calculate your damages to ensure that you miss no avenue for compensation and then argue aggressively for the best possible outcome through a settlement or court award.
Do I Have to Go to Court For a Bicycle Accident Claim in New Jersey?
Skilled attorneys resolve around 95% of bicycle accident claims outside of a courtroom by negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurer fails to offer an acceptable settlement, or your damages far exceed the limits of the insurance policy, a lawsuit in court can help a victim recover compensation through a positive jury verdict and court award for damages. If the case requires litigation in court, the lawsuit must be filed within the state’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
What Is the Statute of Limitations For New Jersey Bicycle Accident Cases?
Like all states, New Jersey places a time limit on personal injury claims including those arising from bicycle accident cases. Injury victims have up to two years to file a lawsuit after an injury. This limit ensures that evidence is still available and eyewitness testimony remains reliable if the case goes to court. It also protects defendants from the lingering threat of lawsuits.
Call The South Jersey Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Grungo Law
New Jersey’s no-fault insurance system and comparison negligence laws for catastrophic injury claims make navigating a bicycle accident case challenging. If your future depends on the outcome of your injury case, you need bicycle accident attorneys who make every client’s case their own. At Grungo Law, we understand South Jersey families and seek to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions and help injury victims recover both physically and financially.
Contact Grungo Law in South Jersey today to talk about your accident so we can strategize the best way forward for your case.
Call or text (856) 528-4494 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form