A bicycle accident caused by someone else’s carelessness can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and a long road to recovery. If you or a family member suffered harm in a crash on Long Island, you deserve honest answers and real legal support, not just a general overview of the law.
At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, our Long Island bicycle accident lawyer team is ready to stand by your side, protect your rights, and pursue every dollar of compensation you’re entitled to. Call us today for a free consultation at ((631) 250-4072.
What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident on Long Island?
You need to take certain steps in the days after a bicycle accident to put you in a much stronger position when it comes time to pursue a claim.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
First, seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Hospitals like Stony Brook University Hospital and South Shore University Hospital treat accident-related injuries and can document your condition from the start.
That documentation becomes important evidence in your case. Urgent care centers across Nassau and Suffolk Counties can also provide initial treatment if your injuries don’t require an emergency room.
Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
Second, report the accident to law enforcement and get a copy of the police report. Officers who respond to crashes in areas like Huntington or Hempstead will file an official record that often contains key details about what happened.
Gather as Much Information as Possible
Third, gather as much information as possible at the scene. Take photos of your injuries, the bicycle, the road conditions, and any vehicles involved. Get contact information from witnesses. These details can fade quickly, so collecting them early matters.
Avoid Giving Recorded Statements to Insurance Adjusters
Fourth, avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters before speaking with an attorney. Insurance companies have their own interests in mind, and anything you say can be used to reduce what they pay you.
Contact an Attorney
Finally, contact Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP. Our team will review the facts of your situation and help you understand your options.
How Does a Bicycle Accident Claim Work in New York?
A bicycle accident claim in New York typically moves through several stages:
- Investigation: Our attorneys gather evidence, including police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and medical records.
- Liability determination: We identify who was at fault, whether a driver, a municipality responsible for road conditions, or another party.
- Damages calculation: Our lawyers assess the full scope of your losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
- Negotiation: We present your claim to the at-fault party’s insurance company and push for a fair settlement.
- Litigation: If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we take your case to court.
The key is building a clear picture of what happened and showing that another party’s carelessness caused or contributed to your injuries.
New York’s Shared Fault Rule
New York follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. Even if you were partly responsible, you may still recover damages.
Time Limits for Filing a Lawsuit
New York’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If your claim involves a government entity, such as a poorly maintained road or traffic signal in a town like Babylon or Smithtown, you may have as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim.
Missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to recover compensation entirely, so reaching out to our team promptly protects your options.
Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident?
Handling a bicycle accident claim without legal representation puts you at a significant disadvantage. Insurance companies employ adjusters and attorneys whose job is to minimize what they pay out. Without a knowledgeable advocate on your side, you may accept a settlement far below what your injuries are actually worth.
A Skilled Attorney Levels the Playing Field
A skilled bicycle accident attorney brings real value from the start. We know how to investigate a crash thoroughly, identify all responsible parties, and place a fair value on your claim. This includes losses that aren’t always obvious, like long-term medical care, lost earning capacity, or the physical and emotional toll a serious injury takes on your daily life.
Local Knowledge That Works for You
At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, we’ve handled bicycle accident cases across Long Island, from crashes along the Bethpage Bike Path to incidents on busy roads in Nassau County. We understand the local courts, the insurance landscape, and the tactics adjusters use to undervalue legitimate claims.
No Fees Unless We Recover Damages
Our team is focused on getting you the best possible outcome, and we don’t get paid unless you do. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact us now by calling (631) 250-4072 to speak with our bicycle crash lawyers on Long Island at no cost and no obligation.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bicycle Accident?
The compensation available to you after a bicycle accident depends on the specific facts of your case, but New York law allows injured cyclists to pursue a range of damages. Our team works to identify every loss you’ve suffered, including ones that aren’t always obvious at first glance.
Medical Expenses
Medical costs are often the most immediate concern after a crash. You can seek compensation for:
- Emergency room visits and hospital stays
- Surgeries and follow-up procedures
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescription medications and medical equipment
- Future medical care if your injuries require ongoing treatment
Don’t underestimate long-term care costs. A serious injury can require months or years of treatment, and those projected expenses belong in your claim just as much as the bills you’ve already received.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
If your injuries kept you out of work, you can recover the income you lost during your recovery. If your injuries affect your ability to work at the same level going forward, whether temporarily or permanently, lost earning capacity is also part of what you’re owed.
We work with financial and medical professionals when needed to document these losses accurately.
Pain and Suffering
Not every loss shows up on a bill. Pain and suffering compensation addresses the non-financial impact of your injuries, including chronic pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and the loss of activities and experiences that mattered to you before the accident.
New York law recognizes these losses as real and compensable, and our team fights to make sure they’re taken seriously in your claim.
Property Damage
You can also recover the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and any other personal property damaged in the crash.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a family member in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, our team can help you pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation in these cases can cover funeral and burial expenses, the financial support your family has lost, and the loss of the relationship itself, including guidance, companionship, and care.
Every bicycle accident case is different, and the value of your claim depends on factors unique to your situation. What matters is that you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Bicycle Accident?
Responsibility for a bicycle accident doesn’t always fall on one party. Identifying every liable party is one of the most important things we do for our clients. Our team looks carefully at all the circumstances surrounding your crash to make sure no one who contributed to your injuries avoids accountability.
Negligent Drivers
Drivers are responsible for a significant number of bicycle accidents on Long Island. Common forms of driver negligence include:
- Failing to yield to cyclists at intersections
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Opening car doors into a cyclist’s path, known as dooring
- Driving while distracted by a phone or other device
- Following too closely or making unsafe turns
Incidents near busy intersections in areas like Great Neck or Patchogue often involve this kind of careless driving. We use New York’s bicycle laws to protect your rights as a cyclist and establish negligence.
When a driver’s wrongful actions caused your crash, their insurance company is typically the first place we look for compensation.
Government Entities
Sometimes, the condition of the road itself contributes to a bicycle accident. Potholes, faded lane markings, missing signage, poorly designed bike lanes, and malfunctioning traffic signals can all create dangerous conditions for cyclists.
When a town, county, or other government entity failed to maintain safe roads or infrastructure, that entity may share responsibility for your injuries.
Claims against government entities come with strict procedural requirements. In many cases, you may have as little as 90 days to file a formal notice of claim. Reaching out to our team quickly helps protect your right to pursue this type of claim.
Bicycle or Product Manufacturers
If a defective bicycle or component contributed to your accident, the manufacturer may be liable. A brake failure, a structural defect in the frame, or a faulty helmet that failed to protect you during a crash could all point to a product liability claim. These cases require thorough investigation, and our team knows how to build them.
Other Cyclists or Pedestrians
In some situations, another cyclist or a pedestrian whose careless behavior caused a collision may bear responsibility for your injuries.
Determining who is liable, and to what degree, shapes the entire direction of your claim. Our Long Island bicycle accident attorney team investigates every angle so that all responsible parties are held accountable and your recovery reflects the full extent of what you’ve been through.
Bicycle Accident FAQs
Why do I need a bicycle accident lawyer?
A bicycle accident lawyer helps you get paid for the full cost of your injuries. Drivers and insurance adjusters often blame cyclists, and New York’s no-fault rules and serious injury threshold can be confusing. A lawyer gathers evidence such as video and crash data, handles your no-fault claim, proves fault, and values your future medical needs and lost income. Rosenberg & Gluck offers free consultations and works on contingency, so there is no risk to you.
Who pays if I’m injured in an e-bike accident?
If a car hits you while you ride an e-bike in New York, the car’s no-fault insurance, or your own auto policy if you have one, usually pays your medical bills and lost wages, because Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are not treated as motor vehicles for insurance. If you were on an e-bike capable of exceeding the 20mph threshold, no-fault coverage likely will not be available. If the driver was at fault and your injury is serious, you can also claim pain and suffering. Coverage can differ for Class 3 e-bikes and mopeds, so get advice early.
What should I do after a bike accident?
After a bike accident, get medical care first, even if you think your injuries are minor, and call the police so there is a police report. If save to do so, photograph the scene, your bike, the car, and your injuries, and get the driver’s insurance and the names of witnesses. Keep your damaged bike, helmet, and clothing as evidence. If a car was involved, file your no-fault application within 30 days with the striking vehicles insurance, and do not give a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer. Also, be mindful insurance companies try to make low ball offers soon after an accident in the hopes they will be accepted. It is almost never a good idea to do so, as injuries and extent of treatment are unknown.
What is the average settlement for a bicycle accident?
There is no reliable average settlement for a bicycle accident, because injuries range from road rash to traumatic brain injury and spinal damage to fatalities. Cyclists have little protection, so their injuries are often serious and their claims can be significant. The value depends on your injuries, medical costs, lost income, future care, pain and suffering, who was at fault, and the driver’s insurance limits.
I got hit by a car on my bike. Can I sue?
Yes, you can usually sue the driver if they caused the crash and your injury meets New York’s serious injury threshold. Common causes include drivers who fail to yield, open a door into the bike lane, turn across a cyclist’s path, or pass too closely. Your medical bills are first paid by no-fault insurance typically on the vehicle that struck you. You generally have three years from the crash to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. Beware, some circumstances, such as when pursuing a municipal claim, require you to act in as little as 90 days.
What should I do after a hit-and-run bicycle accident?
After a hit-and-run bicycle accident, get medical care and call the police right away. Ask nearby homes and businesses about cameras quickly, because footage is often erased within days. If a car hit you, you can still get no-fault benefits. You may also have a claim under your own or a household member’s uninsured motorist coverage, or through MVAIC. Strict notice deadlines apply. Given all the moving parts after a hit and run accident, it is critical you speak with an attorney quickly. They can handle the post-accident investigation and assist in making sure all of your deadlines are met.
Who is at fault in a car vs. bike accident?
Fault depends on who broke a traffic rule or failed to use reasonable care. Drivers are often at fault for failing to yield, turning across a cyclist, opening a car door into traffic, or passing too closely. Cyclists must also follow traffic laws. New York uses pure comparative negligence, so a cyclist who shares some blame can still recover a reduced amount.
How long does a bicycle accident claim take?
Most bicycle accident claims take several months to two years to resolve. A claim with clear fault and a full recovery can settle faster, while cases with serious injuries, disputed fault, or a lawsuit can take longer. It is usually best to wait until your doctors understand your long-term needs, so your settlement covers future treatment.
What is ‘dooring’ and who is liable?
Dooring happens when someone opens a car door into the path of a cyclist. In New York, Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1214 says no one may open a vehicle door on the traffic side unless it is safe to do so. The person who opened the door, whether the driver or a passenger, is usually at fault. Their auto insurance policy usually covers the claim.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a bicycle accident?
Contact a lawyer as soon as you can after getting medical care, ideally within the first few days. Key evidence, such as video footage and witness memories, disappears quickly. Some deadlines are also short, including the 30-day no-fault application and the 90-day notice of claim if a town, county or other municipal entity is involved. An early call does not cost anything as the consultation is always free.
How much compensation will I get for a bike accident?
The compensation you get for a bike accident depends on your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, future care, and the pain and limits your injuries cause. In New York, no-fault insurance usually pays up to the first $50,000 of medical bills and lost wages if a car was involved. Pain and suffering is available if your injury meets the serious injury threshold. Fault and the driver’s insurance limits also affect the final amount.
How do I claim insurance after a bike accident?
If a car was involved, start your insurance claim by filing a no-fault application within 30 days with the right insurer, which is usually the insurer of the car that hit you. Report the crash to the police, keep all medical records and bills, and notify the at-fault driver’s insurer of your claim. If you have no other coverage, your health insurance can help. A lawyer can identify every policy that applies.
Does New York no-fault insurance cover cyclists hit by a car?
Yes. In New York, a cyclist hit by a car is generally treated like a pedestrian for no-fault purposes, so no-fault insurance covers medical bills and lost wages even if you do not own a car. Benefits usually come from the insurer of the car that hit you. If that car was uninsured, your own or a household member’s policy, or MVAIC, may apply. No-fault does not apply if no motor vehicle was involved. Additionally, if operating an e-bike, no-fault coverage is not available if the bike is capable of exceeding 20mph.
Can I still sue if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes, you can still sue if you were not wearing a helmet. New York requires helmets only for cyclists under 14, child passengers, and Class 3 e-bike riders, and the law says not wearing a helmet in those cases cannot reduce your damages. Adults on regular bikes are not required to wear one, and not wearing a helmet does not change the driver’s fault for causing the crash.
Can I sue the town if a pothole caused my bike accident?
Possibly. If a pothole caused your bike accident, you can bring a claim against the town, village, or county, but special rules apply. Many Long Island municipalities require prior written notice of the defect before they can be held liable. You usually must serve a notice of claim within 90 days and file suit within one year and 90 days. Photograph the pothole right away and contact a lawyer quickly.
Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP: Here for Long Island Bicycle Accident Victims
Suffering a serious injury in a bicycle accident, or losing a family member, turns life in an unexpected direction. Medical bills pile up. Recovery takes longer than expected. And figuring out how to hold the responsible party accountable can feel like a weight you don’t know how to carry.
Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP is here to carry that weight with you. Our bicycle accident lawyers in Long Island have a strong record of advocating for injured clients across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We bring focused, hands-on attention to every case we handle.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries or lost a family member in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, don’t wait to get legal guidance. Call Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP today at (631) 250-4072 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We’re ready to listen, answer your questions, and help you move forward.
