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Waterbury Bicycle Accident Lawyer - Dan Petroskey · BSPE Legal Marketing Podcast

• 0:00
  Waterbury Bicycle Accident Lawyer When a car collides with a bicycle on a Waterbury street, the cyclist absorbs nearly all of the impact while the insurance company stalls on a fair payout.
• 0:10
  More residents than ever are riding through Waterbury for commuting, exercise, and recreation, from the downtown grid to the Naugatuck River Greenway, and the rise of e-bikes has introduced higher speeds and heavier impacts into everyday traffic.
• 0:23
  When a negligent driver causes a crash, that driver's insurance company rarely offers fair value without significant legal pressure from someone who understands what a serious injury is truly worth.
• 0:33
  Attorney Dan Petroskey represents cyclists injured in collisions caused by negligent drivers, helping clients gather evidence, determine how the crash occurred, and identify every source of insurance coverage available for their losses.
• 0:46
  Connecticut law under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-232 requires a driver overtaking a bicyclist to leave at least three feet of clearance and stay clear before returning to the right lane, a rule that directly shapes liability in right-hook and dooring collisions.
• 1:01
  Cyclists are also held to legal duties, including riding near the right side of the road, obeying traffic signals, and wearing protective headgear if they are 17 or younger or riding an electric bicycle.
• 1:12
  Waterbury's municipal code further prohibits riding on sidewalks and footpaths in most circumstances, and violations of any of these rules by either party can shift the percentage of fault assigned after a crash.
• 1:23
  Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence standard under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h, meaning a cyclist can still recover compensation even when partly at fault, though the award is reduced by their share of responsibility.
• 1:38
  If a cyclist carries 20 percent of the fault on a $200,000 claim, the recovery is reduced to $160,000, but if that fault exceeds 50 percent, recovery is completely barred.
• 1:50
  Liability can extend beyond the driver to include an employer if the driver was on the job, a municipality if a road defect contributed to the crash, or a manufacturer if a defective bicycle component failed at a critical moment.
• 2:02
  Claims against the city of Waterbury for road defects require written notice to the city clerk within 90 days under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149, making the timeline after a crash critically important.
• 2:16
  Bicycle accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, severe road rash, and internal organ injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation, and months away from work.
• 2:28
  After a crash, seek medical attention immediately, call the police to document the scene, gather the driver's insurance information and witness contacts, and photograph the bicycle, roadway, and all visible injuries.
• 2:40
  Preserve your damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing, and lights exactly as they are, because this physical evidence can be decisive when an insurer or opposing lawyer disputes how the collision unfolded.
• 2:51
  The law firm DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C. has the experience to take on insurance companies that undervalue serious cycling injuries and fight for the full compensation each client deserves.
• 3:02
  If you or someone you love has been hurt in a bicycle accident, contact our lawyer today by calling DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C. at 203, 756, 7408, located at 255 Bank St # 2b, Waterbury, CT 06702, United States, to schedule your free consultation.