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Toronto Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Were you hurt, or did you lose a loved one in a bicycle accident? The Toronto bike accident lawyers of Mazin & Associates, PC represent cyclists who’ve been hurt by the negligent actions of other drivers, municipal entities, parts manufacturers, and other parties who fail to protect them from harm. We know that cyclists in our community are passionate about their bikes, and we also know that cyclists, unfortunately, do not get the respect that they deserve from motorists when sharing the road.

When someone’s carelessness or inattention causes you harm, we’ll be ready to stand up and make things right. You could be owed significant compensation, but getting it can be challenging. Our team has the skills and comprehensive understanding of the law that you’ll need in the fight for justice. Let us help you hold the negligent driver accountable and secure the compensation that you need to pay your bills, repair or replace your damaged bike, and move on with your life.

The lawyers at Mazin & Associates, PC have extensive experience representing victims of bicycle accidents in Toronto. Call us at (416) 625-2122 to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

Possible Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

Because bicyclists have relatively little protection in the event of a crash, the injuries resulting from these accidents tend to be severe. Some of the most common injuries that result from bicycle accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations
  • Contusions
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Loss of limbs
  • Death

The severe injuries that happen as a result of bicycle accidents can have lasting effects on a person’s life. Victims of bicycle accidents often have extended hospital stays and a heavy financial burden that can affect their whole family. For the best chances of receiving the full and fair compensation you’re owed, it is essential to have a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with bicycle accident cases.

What should I do if I am involved in a bicycle accident?

Following any bicycle accident, be sure to take the following steps to protect your health and any injury claim that you might need to file:

  • Seek Medical Attention — Make sure to get a thorough checkup to identify any injuries you might have suffered in the crash. Some symptoms of severe injuries might not be immediately apparent, but a doctor can diagnose and treat them right away. Your visit to the doctor will also create a medical record, which can be vital if you need to show an insurance company that you indeed had to seek and pay for treatment.
  • Get Driver Information — At a minimum, make sure that you get the driver’s name, address, phone number, and insurance information.
  • File a Police Report — Your accident needs to be reported to the police within 24 hours of the crash. You are also required to inform your insurance company of the accident within seven days.
  • Take Pictures or Video at the Scene— While you are at the scene, use your smartphone (if possible) to take as many photos and videos of the scene, your bike, your injuries, and anything else that will document what happened and the aftermath. This will be crucial evidence if you need to prove what happened to an insurer, or potentially a jury.
  • Identify Witnesses — Be sure to also get the contact information and statements from witnesses at the scene. If anyone else saw the accident happen, their third-party account could go a long way in proving what happened, especially when the involved parties point the blame at one another.

Finally, you will want to hire an experienced injury lawyer to help you understand your rights and legal options.

What kinds of compensation can I be entitled to for a bicycle accident?

Injured bicyclists may have two options for recovering benefits that will depend on the facts of the crash and the nature of the injuries. Ontario uses a no-fault system for automobile insurance benefits so that you can obtain these benefits regardless of your degree of fault. These benefits could be obtained from the negligent driver’s insurance company or your own insurer. The other avenue for recovery is a tort claim, which is a lawsuit filed against the negligent driver. A tort claim will require you to prove the fault of the negligent driver.

Can I still obtain compensation if I was partially at fault for my bicycle accident?

While accident benefits are awarded regardless of fault, tort claims are subject to possible award reductions because of fault. A tort claim will work such that a bicyclist who is awarded $100,000 for a bicycle accident but is found to have been 40 percent at fault would have their award reduced by $40,000 and ultimately receive $60,000.

Very few accidents are ever 100 percent the fault of one party, and automobile insurance companies typically assign people anywhere from 0 percent to 100 percent of the fault for an accident. A driver who is more than 0 percent at fault has an at-fault accident on their record.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

The Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal shows that four bicyclists were killed in 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2013. There were three bicyclist fatalities in 2012 and 2014, two deaths in 2008, 2010, and 2011, and only one fatality in 2009 and 2016.

According to Government of Canada statistics, there were 36 bicyclists, or 2.0 percent, killed in accidents in 2017. This was the lowest total of the five years, following 69 fatalities in 2016, 42 deaths in 2015, 49 deaths in 2014, and 46 fatalities in 2013.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) reported in “Pedestrian and Cycling Safety in Toronto” in June 2015 that there were 51 cyclist injuries and fatalities per 1 million trips in 2003 but 33 per 1 million trips in 2012. This occurred despite the number of people riding a bike to work increasing by 30 percent between 2001 and 2006.

According to TPH, more than 5,000 cyclists were injured or died as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle in Toronto over the five years from 2008 to 2012. About 99 percent of bicyclist injuries occurred on roadways while only 1 percent occurred off-road in parks, private property, or public lanes.

Between 2008 and 2012, there was an annual average of 1,097 cyclists injured or killed as the result of a collision with a motor vehicle. An average of 14 cyclists were injured offroad in parks, private property, or public lanes. TPH reported that 4 percent of bicyclists involved in collisions were hospitalized, and 1 percent were killed.

Young adults between 20 years of age and 24 years of age accounted for the highest proportion of injuries and fatalities among bicyclists. This age group was followed by bicyclists between 11 years of age and 14 years of age, then between 15 years of age and 19 years of age, between 25 years of age and 34 years of age, and 75 years of age or older.

According to TPH, about 69 percent of pedestrians and bicyclists were struck at intersections, but 22 percent were involved in collisions at midblock locations. The odds of suffering a major or fatal injury were 1.42 times higher at midblock locations than intersections.

TPH reported that 13 minimal or minor bicyclist injuries, or 0.3 percent, or fatalities occurred on expressways. Another 3,401 minimal or minor bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 67 percent, and 146 major bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 64 percent, occurred at major arterial roads.

There were also 1,052 minimal or minor bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 21 percent, and 47 major bicyclist injuries or deaths, also 21 percent, occurred at small arterial roads. Another 308 minimal or minor bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 6 percent, and 19 major bicyclist injuries or deaths, or 8 percent, occurred at collectors.

Finally, there were 311 minimal or minor bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 6 percent, and 16 major bicyclist injuries or fatalities, or 7 percent, that occurred on local roads.

Contact a Toronto Bicycle Accident Law Firm Today

If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, it is essential to contact a Toronto bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. If the accident left you injured, unable to work, or with a pile of expensive medical bills, you will need an experienced lawyer to fight for the compensation you deserve. The lawyers at Mazin & Associates, PC are ready to represent cyclists in Toronto or anywhere in the surrounding areas.

Our lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of victims of bicycle accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you. If you are the victim of a bicycle accident, do not hesitate to contact our Toronto offices at (416) 625-2122. Our team can answer any questions you have and will work hard to provide you with the legal representation you deserve.

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  • "I‌ wanted‌ to‌ thank‌ Gary‌ Mazin‌ for‌ everything‌ he‌ did‌ for‌ me. ‌ Retaining‌ him‌ was‌ the‌ best‌ decision‌ I‌ had‌ ever‌ made. Gary is the best personal injury lawyer. His‌ expertise,‌ professionalism‌ and‌ kindness‌ were‌ always‌ present. ‌ He‌ was‌ able‌ to‌ get‌ me‌ the‌ fair‌ settlement‌ that‌ I‌ deserved‌ because‌ of‌ his‌ knowledge‌ and‌ support. He‌ is‌ a‌ truly‌ dedicated‌ personal‌ injury‌ lawyer‌ to‌ whom‌ I‌ am‌ forever‌ grateful."
  • R.‌ Chertok,‌ Richmond‌ Hill
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Mazin & Associates PC dedicates itself to achieving maximum settlements in serious personal injury and accident cases. Our areas of practice include car accidents, motorcycle injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, slip and falls, wrongful death, product liability, long-term disability and medical malpractice.

  • Toronto
  • Tel: (416) 625-2122
  • Toll Free: 1-800-432-HURT (4878)
  • Fax: (416) 250-1238
  • 5 Park Home Ave #501
  • Toronto, ON M2N 6L4