A post on the Finger Lake Cycling Club (FLCC) listserv raised an interesting question:  Is it a violation of NY Vehicle and Traffic Law for one bicyclist to “draft” another cyclist?

The suggestion was that drafting violates NY Vehicle & Traffic Law §1129 regarding “Following Too Closely”.

Below I pasted the full background of the question and the full text of the law but let me take a stab at answering the question.

My answer is “Technically, yes, it is arguable that drafting DOES violate NY law if doing so results in a collision”.

Sounds like a lawyer answer, eh?  Well, I follow the logic of Andrejs Ozolins from FLCC, a non-lawyer, but very smart and thoughtful guy who I think logically answered the question when he said that he felt that drafting constituted the ticketable offense of Following Too Closely:

“Seems fair enough — applying the same criteria as for motor vehicles.  Cars can draft and ride in tight bunches in the special circumstances of racing, but not when being used as transportation vehicles on public roads. In general, I’m glad for any instance where people (especially the police) treat bicycles as equal, legitimate users of the roads.”

And that’s the rub (or not, depending on your perspective)—under NY law, with limited exceptions, bicycles are treated like any other vehicle which means that they enjoy the privilege of being able to use the road like any other vehicle BUT it also means bicycles must obey the NY Vehicle and Traffic laws.  It is the old adage of “with the privilege comes the responsibility”.

So, from my perspective, a few points emerge:

• The language of the law is important:  “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not  follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and  the  traffic  upon and the condition of the highway”.
• So, you can draft legally so long as you do so in a “reasonable and prudent” manner. That means good riding skills which means you are legally required to adjust your speed, spacing and position behind the bike you are following to take in to consideration the road conditions you are encountering.
• But you would be violating the law if you failed to ride in a “reasonable and prudent” manner by overlapping wheels, failing to allow enough distance between you and the rider you were following,  or when failing to reduce your speed when conditions required.

Thanks for reading and be sure to let me know your thoughts on this issue in the Comments below,

Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bike Accident Lawyer

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and

NYBikeAccidentBlog.com

ORIGINAL QUESTION WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION

As I was pursuing my other hobby this morning (volunteer EMS) I was called to a cycling accident where a rider had touched wheels with another rider (as a consequence of drafting) and subsequently crashed.

As I was helping out in the back of the ambulance, the deputy came over to talk to the injured rider to inform him that since (my paraphrasing, here)

1) NYS law requires bicycles to conform to NYS V&T law unless otherwise stated in the regs, and

2) Following too closely is a V&T infraction, then it follows that

3) drafting a bicycle constitutes following too closely and is a ticketable offense.

He did not actually write the guy a ticket but it was more issued as a verbal warning, since the deptuty felt that by drafting, the rider was doing something dangerous.

Aside from being in rather poor taste, as I thought it over, I could not find a flaw in the deputy’s logic.

Kind of disappointing to think that drafting (and by extension, all pack riding maybe?) is technically illegal.

Are there other implications for this?  Could it affect someone’s health insurance coverage  if they revealed that they were injured while they were violating V&T law on a bicycle?

Seems a bit extreme, surely there is another take on this.

Can I get yours?

VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW §1129—FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY

§ 1129. Following too closely. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall

not  follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent,

having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and  the  traffic  upon

and the condition of the highway.

(b)  The  driver  of  any motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another

vehicle when traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residence

district and which is following another motor  truck  or  motor  vehicle

drawing   another  vehicle  shall,  whenever  conditions  permit,  leave

sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such

space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a  motor  truck

or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle from overtaking and passing any

like vehicle or other vehicle.

(c) Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business

or  residence  district  in a caravan or motorcade whether or not towing

other vehicles shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between

each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable  any  other

vehicle  to  enter  and occupy such space without danger. This provision

shall not apply to funeral processions.

In late December, a fellow member of Big Horn Velo and the Corning Race Team, Twin Tiers cycling groups, was in a serious accident.

Brian Klotz was out on a training ride when he was rear-ended by a motorist. I’m representing Brian in his case against the driver who hit him, and I’ve been able to share some of his story here on the NY Bike Accident Blog. Since his ordeal, Brian has been very open about his accident in the hope that his experience will offer a lesson to other cyclists.

The accident was in no way his fault, but Brian’s learned a great deal about insurance coverage and the extra precautions it’s smart for cyclists to take. You can read about his advice in the NY Bike Accident Blog post, “SUM Insurance: The Inexpensive and Important Coverage Every Bicyclist Needs to Know About.” He’s also been learning about the complicated legal issues involved in any car vs. bicycle collision, a topic I recently wrote about in the post “NY Bike Accident Lawyer Explains the Law in Car Vs. Bike Collisions”

I wanted to give readers an update on Brian’s condition and outlook in his own words. He suffered severe injuries, including a separated shoulder, which still requires additional more surgery. He recently shared an update about his improving condition and outlook in an e-mail he send out to other members of Big Horn Velo.

He wrote about the pain of his injuries, which included a concussion, deep gashes and the aforementioned shoulder injury. He says he’s reached a place that he didn’t think he could in the close aftermath of the accident – of believing himself lucky to be alive instead of unlucky to have been injured.

Brian is a fellow member of the Corning Race Team, and he thanks members  for their concern and help. I’m very happy that Brian singled out me, my paralegal Karen Wheadon and the Ziff Law Firm in general, to thank. Ziff Law is proud to be a sponsor of the Corning Race Team.

Brian says “Jim Reed and his paralegal Karen Wheadon were invaluable in helping me navigate the super complex and confusing arena of the legal side of the accident. I don’t know how Jen (his fiance) or I could have handled the situation through that traumatic time without their help.”

Thanks Brian, for your confidence in us and the kind words. I know we couldn’t be helping a more appreciative guy.

Brian ends with a description of his new training regimen, and how he’s been working hard to reach the level he was at before the accident. The accident has left both mental and physical traces – from more nervousness around cars on the road, to lingering pain.  Even with all his hard work, Brian is nowhere near being back to where he was before and he still faces another surgery this September.

“It’s been a tough road to recovery, but I am grateful for all of the support that I have had throughout, so to all in the riding community, I say Thank You,” Brian says.  “Getting back on my bike was my “carrot” throughout my recovery and without it, I just don’t know how inspired I would have been.”

I’m sure I speak for anyone who reads this when I say I marvel at Brian’s fortitude and upbeat attitude in the face of some very nasty injuries.

Thanks for reading, and ride safely.

-Jim

_______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

I wanted to share with readers a real-life example of the serious issues that arise in the aftermath of a bicycle accident.

I’ve written before about the cyclist I mention in this post. His name is Brian Klotz, and I talked about his accident in the post “SUM Insurance: The Inexpensive and Important Coverage Every Bicyclist Needs to Know About.” Brian was severely injured when he was rear-ended by a pick up truck last year and he’s made some difficult discoveries about insurance and his legal rights as a bicyclist who was struck by a car through no fault of his own.

I have his permission to share some details of his story. Brian and I both think his situation may be instructive for all cyclists who are required to share the road with motorists. In this post, I want to discuss what’s going on with the motorist who struck Brian.

The accident

Brian was out on an endurance ride on Dec. 28, 2009, when he was was rear-ended by, as he puts it an elderly man driving a pickup truck. The collision sent Brian into frozen hay field. He suffered a broken back, a concussion, severe bruising, deep gashes and a badly separated shoulder.

Now the question is what should happen to the driver who struck Brian? What punishment should he have and/or what kind of compensation does he owe to Brian. That’s what this post explores.

The two legal systems

There are two separate legal systems that may be at play in any bike vs. car collision: the criminal law system and the civil law system. Let’s discuss them one at a time.

CRIMINAL LAW SYSTEM

The criminal law system is involved when a person’s conduct violates a written law that prohibits a certain type of behavior: You cannot shoot your annoying neighbor, you cannot steal from the store, you cannot drive 100mph. Criminal laws include felonies (the worst crimes), misdemeanors (lower level crimes) and violations (the lowest level).

Included under the umbrella of criminal laws, are laws (usually violations) that control the behavior of drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles, etc. The criminal law system is the domain of the police, the prosecutors and the court. As a civil lawyer, I play no formal or official role in the criminal system (although behind the scenes, I do strongly urge aggressive prosecution of violators of the law).

In Brian’s case, the driver who rear-ended him with was charged with violating Section 1146 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of NY which provides: Drivers to exercise due care. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist…”

The driver in Brian’s case pled guilty to that charge and was fined $185.

I am sure I speak for all cyclists when I say that $185 seems a pittance for a person to pay for wrecking a cyclist, destroying his bike, breaking his back, etc. but quite frankly that very typical of the very small financial penalty imposed by the criminal court system in the typical bike vs car collision.

Restitution (a court order directing a defendant to compensate a victim for their financial losses) can be ordered by the criminal court but in the vast majority of the cases, the court does not order restitution and even when it does order restitution, restitution does not include compensation for pain and suffering or disability.

Thankfully, the criminal law system is not the end of the road for either the driver or the injured cyclist, as there is also our civil law system.

CIVIL LAW SYSTEM

Under our civil law system, a person who carelessly or recklessly injures another may be required to compensate the injured party for the full extent of the damages suffered by that person.

I represent injured cyclists like Brian under this civil law system. My job is to investigate the collision and preserve as much evidence as possible so I will be able to prove at trial that the accident was caused by the carelessness of the driver. Having handled bike cases over the last 24 years I know that the lawyers for the motorists always claims that the cyclist was at fault so I need all the ammunition necessary to blow away this nonsense defense.

My job is also to identify all applicable policies of insurance (no-fault, liability, health, under-insured motorist’s coverage, etc) to ensure that if I am successful in getting a large judgment against the driver, that I will be able to successfully recover that judgment from an insurance carrier.

Finally, it is my job to make sure that my client’s medical bills and lost wages are being paid by the appropriate insurance carrier. I can’t begin to tell you how much time I spend fighting with insurance companies to force them to pay what they should be paying but they are dragging their feet or offering some nonsense reason why they do not think they have to pay…..

In Brian’s case, the elderly driver only had the bare minimum of insurance required by NY law– $25,000. As anyone who has paid for any hospital visit knows, $25,000 goes nowhere these days. Luckily, Brian had the foresight to purchase SUM insurance as part of his insurance on his car.

As I have urged before, I believe SUM is the most important coverage EVERY cyclist should have on their auto policy. You can read more about SUM in my NY Bike Accident Blog post, “SUM Insurance: The Inexpensive Coverage Every Bicyclist Must Get.” Basically it provides additional insurance coverage from your own insurance company when the other person’s insurance coverage is insufficient to compensate you for your damages. SUM coverage is cheap and to put it most bluntly, I think any cyclist who is already paying a lot of money for car insurance would be nuts to not have at least $250,000 of SUM coverage.

At this point in Brian’s case, we have fully investigated the collision and preserved all evidence. We have ensured that his medical bills and lost wages have been paid. At this point we are unable to wrap up Brian’s case because unfortunately he still needs an additional surgery on his shoulder to be performed this fall.

It is my practice to hold off on settling any claim until my client’s medical condition has stabilized because once you settle a claim, it is over forever and therefore you want to make sure things are as stable as possible before settling. Accordingly, we are just awaiting the outcome of Brian’s surgery before entering in to the final negotiations with the insurance carriers.

I hope all of this lets folks have a better understanding of how this all works. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com
Office: (607)733-8866
Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)
Web: www.zifflaw.com
Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and
NYBikeAccidentBlog.com

A friend of mine in the insurance business sent me a VERY disturbing email this morning:

Disturbing: I talked to an 80-plus-year-old guy who has a Caddy Escalade with big chrome brush bars.

I half jokingly said,  “So, plan on off-roading a lot with your $65,000 truck with those brush bars?” and he said, “Ha ha- we call those bicycle bars”

What?!?!? I can already can imagine the death and destruction when this guy has a heart attack behind the wheel of this death-dealer. There should be a law….

Sadly, this kind of “joke” is way too common these days. We all heard about the California road rage criminal trial where a doctor was convicted of intentionally mowing down two cyclists. There are countless other stories of motorists “buzzing” or “brushing back” cyclists.

Cars kill cyclists every day. I am very concerned about this emerging, popular attitude that it is somehow OK or “funny” to talk about maiming cyclists.

So, let’s be clear: There are laws—both criminal and civil—that protect cyclists and punish motorists who hurt or kill bicyclists.

And let’s be even more clear: AS AN AVID CYCLIST AND BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HESITATION TO SUE THE PANTS OFF ANY MOTORIST WHO INJURES ONE OF MY CLIENTS!

Let’s see how funny the motorist thinks he is when he mows down one of my clients and is now facing the mother of all lawsuits.

“He who laughs last…….”

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim
_______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know

Image from Discovery News

I am also old enough to remember the old Bell helmet ads from the 1970′s: “If your head isn’t worth $60, then you don’t need our helmet.”

Even with current costs for helmets well over $100, my feeling is that a good helmet is worth every penny.

It’s also important to remember that helmets don’t last forever. You should perform periodic inspection of your helmet to make sure it is still safe, and always discard a helmet after a crash.

The foam in a high-tech new helmet – instead of your head – is designed to absorb the impact  in a crash.

What many people don’t realize is that a helmet should be discarded after any strong impact – even if it doesn’t show visible signs of damage. Hairline cracks or a fracture in the foam render the helmet much less useful as head protection.

A German company came up with a great solution to let bicyclists know when it’s time to replace a helmet. As reported on the Chicago Bicycle Advocate Blog in the post “New Bicycle Helmet Smart/Stinky,” a German company has come up with a helmet that stinks like Limburger cheese after it’s cracked.

The foam contains microcapsules of stinky oil that are released if the helmet takes enough of a knock.

CrunchGear had a quote from a scientist with the project:

“Cyclists often replace their helmets unnecessarily after dropping them on the ground, because they cannot tell whether they are damaged or not,” Dr. Christof Koplin, a research scientist at theFraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, said. “The capsules eliminate this problem. If cracks form, smelly substances are released.”

What a smart idea. People hang on to all kinds of stuff, but not stinky stuff. Let alone something to wear on your head!

I’ll close with classic tips from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute:

When Should I Replace My Helmet?

Did you crash while wearing it?

Replace!

Did you drop it hard enough to crack the foam?

Replace.

Is it from the 1970′s?

Replace.

Is the outside just foam or cloth instead of plastic?

Replace.

Does it lack a CPSC, ASTM or Snell sticker?

Replace.

Can you not adjust it to fit correctly?

Replace!!

I hope this convinces you to check out your own bicycle helmet for its condition and quality.

Sure it costs money to replace a bicycle helmet or invest in one that is really going to protect you well. But you’ve only got one head, so THAT is priceless.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,
Jim
_______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
“NY Car Accidents” and “NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.”

There’s something ALL cyclists MUST do to protect themselves.

It’s got nothing to do with the typical road safety tips you hear. It’s not enough to practice safe cycling and have the proper equipment. You’ve got to protect yourself and your family financially.

Yes, there is a strong risk for cyclists who don’t realize that their own insurance may be the only coverage they have in the event of a hit-and-run accident. Bicyclists have to check their auto insurance policies to make sure they have enough insurance to protect them.

A recent hit-and-run case in Syracuse serves as a perfect example of why having your own insurance is so critical. The Syracuse Post-Standard covered the accident: “Syracuse police: Bicyclist critically injured in hit-and-run crash.” There is always the possibility that the motorist, after hitting you on your bike, will take off and possibly never be found.

That’s what happened in this case.

In that scenario, your own insurance company will be your only means of recovery. I’ve blogged about this issue before, in the NY Bicycle Accident Blog posts “NY Bicycle Accident Lawyer Explains How to Protect Yourself in a ‘Dooring’ Claim” and especially “SUM Insurance: The Inexpensive and Important Coverage Every Bicyclist Needs to Know About”.

Your auto insurance coverage will NOT be enough to cover your medical bills in the event of a serious injury from a hit and run driver. It’s just not enough – standard policies don’t begin to cover the costs of intensive medical care. In New York, the minimum required coverage is $25,000. In Pennsylvania, it is only $15,000.

That’s why I personally recommend that all my cycling friends purchase a minimum of $250,000 of Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage.

SUM covers you (and your family) whether you are injured in your car OR on your bike.

SUM actually doesn’t cost much at all for the amount of protection it provides.

Michael Bersani, an attorney who blogs at the Central New York Injury Lawyer Blog, wrote an great post about this accident and this insurance issue.

The following section is quoted from his post, “Bicyclist Injured By Hit-and-Run Motorist is Entitled to Insurance Coverage.”

“If you are a cyclist, is a good idea to purchase additional SUM coverage.

You can purchase SUM coverage up to a level that matches your liability coverage. So, for example, if you are covered up to $100,000 for injuries you cause to others (called” bodily injury” insurance), you can purchase that same amount in SUM coverage to protect yourself if you get hit by an uninsured (or underinsured) vehicle.

It is a bargain, too — purchasing the additional coverage will raise your premiums by only a few dollars a month, and will provide you will much needed additional protection if you suffer a serious injury through the fault of an uninsured or underinsured driver.”

Please, take my advice and Michael’s advice and purchase SUM. We’ve seen what happens when seriously injured cyclists have to rely solely on their own insurance or on the meager funds of an underinsured motorist.

For bicyclists, only a few dollars a month can buy a big chunk of peace of mind.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim
_______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com
Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

I recently had a letter from a young cyclist seeking my advice after a “dooring” incident. Through no fault of her own, she was struck by a car door while on her bicycle. She decided not to press charges or seek medical attention and now the car owner’s insurance company wants her to pay for damage to the car door that struck her. Seems outrageous, doesn’t it!?! I wanted to share her letter here, along with my reply about this unfortunate situation:

Dear Jim,

On February 5, I was involved in a “dooring” accident on my bike. I filed a police report, but then I decided that I wouldn’t press charges because it wasn’t worth the hassle. Today (March 27), I received a letter in the mail from the insurance company of the car’s owner (who was not the driver who caused the accident) that I am expected to pay $500 to cover the deductible for damages to the vehicle.

This is a sum up of the accident:

I turned left at a green light onto a main arterial in Philly. A Mercedes was double parked over the bike lane, and someone was loading things into the trunk of the car, also standing in the bike lane. My boyfriend passed the car on the left on his bike first, and then as I passed the car on the left, a man in the driver’s side opened the door. I struck the outer edge of the door frame with my bike and fell into the street. My front wheel is damaged, and I had such extensive bruising and muscle pain in my right arm that I had to miss two days of work (I stock at a grocery store and model). We filed a police report, and I took pictures of my bruise in case I needed anything, but I don’t have health insurance, so I refused transport to a hospital.

Now I’m expected to pay $500 in damages for the door of the car that hit me? It says that it seems I was in the wrong, which makes no sense to me.

I need some help. Is there anything you can do or advice you can give me before I call the insurance company?

Thanks in advance – R.

And here is my response:

All I can say is “that stinks.”  Actually my words were much stronger than that but I didn’t want to offend you!  J

The bottom line is that I think it was a mistake to NOT press charges because those charges would have been the leverage you need to nip this nonsense in the bud.  I don’t tell you this to make you feel bad—I only mention it for future reference.  Pressing charges IS a hassle but at least doing so helps to demonstrate that it was the other party, not you, who was at fault.

So, let’s forget the past and talk about what you can do now…..   You should go talk to the insurance company and explain in detail exactly what you have told me.  Tell them that you have no intention of paying their insured’s deductible because the accident was their insured’s fault, NOT yours.

Tell them that in the event they pursue this any further, we will bring a counter-claim for your personal injuries and damages (in PA, you have a two-year time limit for pursuing an injury claim).

This should be enough to make them go away.  If they persist, just keep telling them that you will not voluntarily pay them a single penny and if they expect to get a penny they will just have to sue you.  Ninety-nine percent of the time they will not risk taking any further legal action against you…..

Sorry about your difficulties but I hope this basic advice helps.

I hope my advice to R. helps other readers out there as well. Thanks for reading, and ride safely.

- Jim

_______________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

As a NY bike accident lawyer, I try to stay informed about bike accident cases throughout New York state. Recently, however, a fatal bicycle accident case right in my own backyard drew a lot of press attention. This fatal accident occurred close by the Ziff Law Firm, in downtown Elmira. I’ve included a link to the WETM-TV video about the sentencing in this case:

Justin Appleby Sentenced to 1 to 3 Years in State Prison

The June 21, 2009, accident was a hit and run. Justin M. Appleby of Elmira was driving his Dodge Durango SUV after 1 a.m. on Grand Central Avenue when he hit 38-year-old bicyclist Michael T. Rautio.

Appleby left the scene of the accident – an act that coupled with the circumstances of the accident itself, has greatly embittered Rautio’s family and many community members against him.

Both Appleby and Rautio had been drinking that night. But only one of them was driving a motor vehicle. After the accident,  Appleby told his wife he had hit a guard rail. He also applied some deer hairs to his vehicle to make it look as though he struck a deer. It appears he was trying to avoid a DWI charge and the consequences of his choice to drive. He did not turn himself in to police until 13 hours later.

All of these details are recounted in a recent Star-Gazette article by Ray Finger, “Elmira man gets 1-3 years in hit-and-run death of bicyclist.” Appleby was sentenced on March 1, 2010, to serve one to three years in state prison for the hit-and-run accident.

The charges against the driver– WHY ONLY LEAVING THE SCENE?

Appleby was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Why not Vehicular Manslaughter or another charge that reflects the severity of the accident that took Michael Rautio’s life? Why not charge him with DWI?

The answer to that question can be a complex one.  It is the District Attorney’s office, in this case the Chemung County District Attorney’s office, that makes the decision about exactly what crimes will be charged.  They make these decisions after conferring with the police investigators and analyzing all the evidence in the case.  The DA’s office must determine what facts they believe they can PROVE.  As I often say to my client’s:  There can be a HUGE difference between what I think happened, and what I can prove happened. Likewise, the DA’s office must separate all the rumors and speculation from the provable facts.  Once they have done that, they must then decide how those provable facts fit within the definitions of the different possible crimes that they might be able to charge in a particular case.  Every crime requires the proof of certain facts– these are known as the “elements” of the crime.   So after analyzing the facts and the elements, a decision is made about the charges that will be pressed in a particular case.

Let’s use the crime of DWI as an example in this case.  Why was the driver not charged with DWI?  Heck, we know that he was at a bar before the accident so why not charge him with DWI?  DWI requires PROOF that the driver was driving while intoxicated.  Sorry but proving someone was in a bar does NOT prove that he was intoxicated.  It does NOT prove he was intoxicated at the time he was driving.  That sort of proof often comes from a breathalyzer test or blood test administered to the driver shortly after the accident.  Here, the driver did not turn himself in to the police until 13 hours later which is way too late to be able to prove intoxication.

Please don’t get me wrong.  I do not condone what this driver did.  Frankly, I think he’s a piece of garbage to know that he hit someone and left them to die on the side of the road without rendering any sort of aid or assistance. Do I think he was drunk when he ran down this poor bicycle rider?  Yes.  But could I prove it?  No, not based on what I currently know about this case.  Do I think this drunk driver probably avoided a DWI conviction by hiding like a cowardly dog?  Yes.

But with all that said, I do understand why the DA’s office might have made the decision to charge the crime they could PROVE rather than other crimes where they simply didn’t have the kind of information that would have been required to win a conviction.  Unfortunately, lawyers have to make tough decisions about proof all the time…..

The Judge’s sentence

Chemung County Judge Peter Buckley sentenced Appleby to the maximum for the charge against him – one to three years in state prison. Judge Buckley said that “Justice calls out for only one result, which is state prison.” Although it is likely that Rautio died instantly from his severe injuries, the judge also pointed out that to sentence Appleby to less than the maximum would send a message that you can get off lightly for leaving an injured person at an accident. How much worse for Rautio – or any bicycle accident victim – if they are left to suffer without assistance.

Community reaction

In the courtroom, the community, and in online  bicycling forums, many are expressing their feelings that the sentence was too light. In the courtroom before sentencing, Rautio’s mother and sister addressed Appleby, saying how much they hated him for depriving them of a son and brother.

The practical realities of PROVING the crime

It is tragic to the families of accident victims such as Michael Rautio, but the truth is that there a big difference between thinking you know what happened versus being able to PROVE what happened. That burden of proof is an exacting standard for attorneys seeking justice for clients and for the judges upholding the law.

In this case, the accused received the full sentence for the charges law enforcement officials were able to prove against him. To the accident victims family and an angered community, it’s not nearly enough.

Thanks for reading,

RIDE SAFELY!

Jim
_______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com
Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:

NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

True stories, especially cautionary tales, are always more compelling than any fiction. I wanted to share the story of a friend of mine and bike accident victim, Brian Klotz.

In the aftermath of a terrible collision that left him with serious injuries, Brian learned something about auto insurance that EVERY BICYCLIST NEEDS TO KNOW. This is based on the actual experience of someone who is still recovering the ability to walk more than a half mile, who is steadily making gains back to getting through daily life independently.

Brian gave his OK for me to share some information about his case and to follow-up on his comments about SUM coverage and the fact that he unfortunately did not have the maximum amount of recommended coverage. I apologize for the length of this post but as you will read below, this is VERY important information for all cyclists.

As you will recall, a few months ago I posted about the importance of SUM coverage for all bicyclists who also own cars.

SUM stands for Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage.

What it means is that if you get hit by a dirtbag (that is a precise legal term) with no insurance or a woodchuck (another legal term) with only minimal insurance (in New York state, the minimum is only $25,000. In Pennsylvania it is only $15,000), you have the right to recover from your own insurance company up to the full amount of your own SUM coverage. In other words, even if the other guy does nothing to protect you, you can protect yourself with SUM coverage.

2 great things about SUM:

SUM covers you (and your family) whether you are injured in your car OR on your bike.

Unlike most insurance coverage, SUM costs very little for all the protection it provides.

I personally recommend that all my cycling friends purchase a minimum of $250,000 of SUM coverage.

Brian has given me permission to share the details of his coverage with all of you because it illustrates in a very dramatic way the harm that befalls you if you don’t have proper SUM coverage.

In Brian’s accident, the 83-year-old driver who rear-ended him only had $25,000 of coverage. Brian did have $100,000 of SUM coverage at least. But he had intended to boost his limits to my recommended amount of $250,000.

Before the accident, when Brian contacted his insurance company (the dreaded gecko — Geico) to boost his limits, they said they would not add the additional coverage.

When an insurance company doesn’t want to sell more insurance, you have to assume that there is a very good reason why …

They didn’t want to increase his limits because they get paid a very small premium for what is potentially a large amount of risk. Well, what is bad for them, is good for you!

But here is the big lesson: Brian decided to wait until March when it was time to renew his policy and then he was going to search for a carrier that would give him $250,000 in SUM coverage (there are LOTS of companies who routinely sell higher SUM coverage). The decision to wait a few months may have cost him $150,000 in insurance coverage which otherwise would have been available! Ouch!

All of my cycling friends, please learn from this hard lesson:

REVIEW YOUR POLICY TODAY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST $250,000 OF SUM COVERAGE

(If you are not sure how to read your coverage, just fax me at (607) 398-7947 or e-mail me the couple pages from your policy that list your coverages/premiums, and I will be happy to review them for you at no charge).

IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN $250,000 OF SUM, GET MORE COVERAGE NOW EVEN IF IT MEANS CHANGING INSURANCE CARRIERS.

After more than 23 years of representing injured people, not once have I ever heard anyone regret that they have too much coverage, but I have witnessed first-hand the financial devastation that occurs when people do not have enough coverage.

Better safe than sorry……

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim
_______________________________
James B. Reed

NY & PA Injury & Malpractice Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com
Office: (607)733-8866
Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)
Web: www.zifflaw.com
Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and
NYBikeAccidentBlog.com

The Ithaca Journal recently ran a story, “Friends step in to help injured Ithaca cyclist” about Greg Lourey, a client of mine who was involved in a VERY serious bicycle accident in August.

Greg’s injuries were extensive. As the newspaper reports, he had a fractured pelvis, kneecap, thumb and vertebrae, a concussion, wrist ligaments tears and lacerations. He had to be airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre – a $12,000 trip his health insurance is balking at covering.

Greg, who is a great, caring person with a large community of friends, has been through a horrible experience. He was a maintenance mechanic at the Ithaca City School district. The accident happened when he was on his regular morning bike commute to work.

The Journal ran a follow-up story because Greg’s friends recently hosted a benefit for him, to help complete home renovations he has been unable to finish since his accident. (Although the benefit was Jan. 9, the website Gregsbenefit.com is still up. It has information about making donations to Greg and his wife Mary Ellen through their church, the Oasis Christian Fellowship in Ithaca.)

Greg is my client, as I mentioned, and the Journal called me for comment. I told them: “People aren’t really looking for bikes, and the biggest thing that I would like to come out of Greg’s story is that motorists need to be aware that there are more cyclists, and they need to be aware of objects smaller than cars.”

I continued with: “In Ithaca there are a lot of commuter cyclists, and the community is somewhat nervous about the day-to-day safety of riding a bike to work.”

Despite his awful experience, Greg is a brave guy who says he will commute to work on a bike once again some day.

“I’m coming along good and I’m ready to come back,” Greg told the Ithaca Journal. “I just hope people will pay more attention to us bicyclists.”

That’s why I write the NY Bike Accident Blog and advocate for clients such as Greg. I’m an avid bicyclist myself. I believe we need to keep discussing the dangers bicyclists face. And I hope we can find more ways to make bike commuting MUCH safer.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim

P.S.: See my related post about Greg’s accident on my NY Injury Law Blog: Ithaca Car-Bike Collision Puts Bicyclist in Hospital.

_______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.