Citi Bike’s bike share program is an excellent way for New Yorkers go get up and active and get around the city faster without having to worry about lugging their own bike around or risking someone stealing it. However, with thousands of Citi Bikes across the city, some may sit in disrepair and become serious safety risks for riders. Moreover, many drivers ignore bike safety and injure thousands of bikers each year in bicycle accidents. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to hold Citi Bike liable for your injuries. If you or a loved one faced serious injuries after an accident on a Citi Bike, contact the New York City Citi Bike accident lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw today for a free consultation on your case.
Filing a Lawsuit Against Citi Bike for Bike Share Accidents
In most bike accidents, there are a few potential parties you might be able to sue. Even though Citi Bike is sponsored by Citi Bank and is part of a contract with the City, you probably don’t have a case against either of those parties. They simply aren’t involved in the bike business enough to be held responsible. In many cases, you may be hit by a car or hit by a truck, which can cause serious injuries. In those cases, you can likely file a bike accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, some circumstances may allow you to sue Citi Bike as well.
Citi Bike’s primary responsibilities with its bike share program are ensuring that its bikes are safe and well-maintained. Citi Bike owes its riders a duty to ensure that the bikes they rent will be usable and that they work in a reasonably safe manner. Bikes may be left to the elements or ridden hard by previous users, but Citi Bike has the duty to fix potential issues. If you get a bike that is damaged or malfunctioning in a way that you don’t notice, you might be entitled to sue Citi Bike if those maintenance issues injure you.
Bike accidents may not even involve another person. Many bike accidents can be caused by faulty brakes, jammed bike chains, worn-down or under-inflated tires, and other issues. In these cases, Citi Bike may be responsible for failing to keep its bikes in working order. If you were injured because of an equipment malfunction, you may be entitled to take Citi Bike to court to seek compensation for your injuries.
What Does Citi Bike Cover in an Accident?
According to the terms of the rental agreement that Citi Bike uses, you use Citi Bike’s services at “at your sole risk.” They also claim that the bikes are “provided ‘as-is’” and that they “make no promises that they will be in good repair or error-free.” This shows that Citi Bike makes no attempt to cover any injuries or accident types and that their official position is that you are on your own in the case of an accident.
This kind of treatment is unacceptable, especially if their malfunctioning or dangerous equipment is responsible for your injuries. If you were injured, our attorneys will fight for your rights, seek to overcome the language of these waivers and rental agreements, and fight for your day in court.
Damages for a Citi Bike Lawsuit
If you take your Citi Bike case to court, you could be entitled to a range of damages that Citi Bike may be made to compensate you for. First, you could be entitled to have your medical bills paid for. This includes the costs of medical imaging, emergency transportation, checkups, and things like wheelchairs or crutches. If you missed work because of your injuries, you could be entitled to claim damages for your lost wages. You could also be entitled to compensation to cover your pain and suffering.
Other At-Fault Parties for Citi Bike Lawsuits
Since Citi Bike’s rental agreement works so hard to shut down any potential claims against it, you may have better luck getting your injuries compensated by someone else. Since Citi Bike would only be responsible for injuries caused by malfunctioning parts, it is likely that you will also need to sue the at-fault driver or another party who caused your accident.
Other drivers on the road can be held liable for the injuries they cause to bike riders during a crash. This can include the same damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Drivers are required to carry auto insurance that can cover these kinds of issues if they cause an accident, but you may also be able to take those drivers to court to maximize your damages.
If you are unable to find an at-fault party to take care of the injuries you suffered, you may still be able to rely on your own insurance, such as your homeowners or renters insurance, your car insurance, or your medical insurance. Talk to a lawyer today to begin exploring your options.
Citi Bike Accident Lawyers Offering Free Consultations
If you or a loved one was injured while riding a Citi Bike, talk to an attorney today. The Queens personal injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw represent injury victims and their families and may be able to help with your case. For a free consultation, call our law offices today at (718) 843-0300.