What Are My Rights And Duties As A Cyclist In New York?

Cruising the streets of New York on two wheels, particularly in Long Island? Don’t forget to brush up on your rights and responsibilities as a cyclist! It's essential for cyclists to be aware of their local road rules before they ride - privileges vary from location to location. All riders must follow all laws that motorists abide by, with some exemptions exclusive to those hitting the pavement on bikes. Cyclists are prohibited from navigating interstates and expressways. Regardless of whether they choose to ride on the road, a bike lane, or a shared-use path, all traffic signals must be respected and turning indicators utilized for safety. In New York City, any violations of these rules can result in being issued with a ticket - parents too have responsibility for their children's transgressions against the law.

What’s The Average Settlement For A Bicycle Accident?

When a bicyclist has been injured in an accident, insurance companies and attorneys can be at odds when it comes to figuring out the appropriate compensation for the claimant. Insurers are trying their best to resolve cases with as little payout as possible, disregarding any losses that may have been incurred by the individual; on the other hand, lawyers will do what they can to make sure you receive every penny deserved from your damages. There is no definite method used in determining how much economic loss should be rewarded; however, non-economic factors must also play a role during this process. Economic loss includes medical bills, lost wages, lost benefits, lost retirement benefits, and other types of loss that are easily quantifiable. Non-economic loss includes the physical injury from your bicycle accident and the emotional suffering that you endure due to that injury. Experiencing physical pain can be a grueling ordeal in its own right, yet mental anguish is often more excruciating. Since attorneys and insurers cannot accurately measure psychological harm inflicted on an individual after a serious injury, they seek the help of medical practitioners or other professionals with expertise in this field to ensure their client receives appropriate compensation for their distress.

Long Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Injured In An Accident?

Call Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers

(516) 442-7310

Were you injured in a bicycle accident on Long Island?

Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has bicycle accident lawyers who pursue full recovery for injured riders and their families.

Bicycle accident claims often involve disputes over liability and fault. Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has represented injured New Yorkers since 2001 in bicycle accident cases. Our Long Island, NY bicycle accident lawyer will investigate the crash, gather the necessary evidence, establish liability, and pursue the full compensation you may be entitled to. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Long Island, NY Bicycle Accident Lawyer

A bicycle accident case is a personal injury claim filed when a cyclist is injured because of another party’s negligence. Like motorcyclists and pedestrians, cyclists have virtually no physical protection in a collision. The difference is that bicycles share the road with vehicles but rarely get the same respect from drivers.

According to NHTSA bicycle data, nearly 900 cyclists are killed in traffic crashes across the country every year. Three-quarters of those deaths happen in urban and suburban areas. On Long Island, cyclists ride along Merrick Road, through residential streets in Massapequa, and on paths that cross commercial corridors with heavy traffic. A Long Island bicycle accident attorney investigates the crash, identifies who is liable, and pursues the compensation you need to recover.

Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle on Long Island

Bicycle crashes follow patterns. Most involve a driver who was not paying attention. Some involve road conditions that the municipality should have fixed. These are the bicycle accident cases our firm handles across Long Island.

Dooring accidents. A parked driver opens a car door without checking the mirror. The cyclist slams into the door or swerves into traffic to avoid it. Either dooring accident outcome produces serious injuries, like broken collarbones, fractured wrists, head trauma.
Right-hook crashes. A driver overtakes a cyclist and immediately turns right, cutting across the bike’s path. The cyclist has no time to react and no room to escape.
Left-turn collisions. A driver turning left at an intersection cuts directly into the path of an oncoming cyclist. The driver was watching for cars and didn’t register the bike.
Car accidents. The broadest category. A driver rear-ends a cyclist, fails to yield, runs a stop sign, or drifts into the bike lane. Distracted driving is the most common factor.
Truck accidents. Commercial trucks have blind spots large enough to lose a cyclist entirely. Right turns and lane changes by trucks are especially dangerous, and the injuries when a truck strikes a bicycle are almost always catastrophic.
Hit-and-run accidents. The driver who caused the crash leaves the scene. Recovery is still possible through uninsured motorist coverage or other legal channels, even when the driver is never identified.
Drunk driving accidents. An impaired driver swerves into a bike lane, crosses the shoulder, or runs a signal. Punitive damages may apply on top of the standard claim.
Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft drivers pulling to the curb, stopping in bike lanes to pick up passengers, or opening doors into bike traffic create constant hazards for cyclists.
Road hazard crashes. Potholes, cracked pavement, storm grates with gaps wide enough to trap a wheel, loose gravel. When a municipality or contractor fails to maintain the road, they may be liable for the cyclist’s injuries.

Why Choose Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers as My Long Island, NY Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

A Firm That Has Fought for Injured Cyclists Since 2001

Bicycle accident cases carry the same anti-rider bias that motorcycle claims do. The insurance company will argue the cyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet, was riding too far from the curb, or was in the wrong lane. Beating those arguments takes attorneys who have handled these cases before and know what the defense will try.

Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers brings 100 combined years of legal practice to every case.

Laura Rosenberg has been licensed in New York and New Jersey for 25 years. She has seen how cycling culture and infrastructure on Long Island have changed during that time, and she understands how those changes affect the legal arguments in bicycle cases today. Laura has been named a Super Lawyer each year from 2019 through 2026. She is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the New York State Bar Association.

Ivan Rodriguez joined the firm in 2003 after working as an investigator for a New York City government agency. In bicycle cases, his investigative training is applied to documenting skid marks, impact angles, vehicle damage patterns, and the exact position of the cyclist at the time of the crash. Ivan graduated from Hofstra University School of Law and is a member of the American Association for Justice. He has tried injury cases to verdict and argued before the Appellate Division.

The firm serves as a personal injury lawyer in Long Island, NY across a wide range of accident and negligence claims. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. Every bicycle accident case is handled on contingency. No fee unless we win.

What Is Important to Understand About a Bicycle Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases

Bicycle injuries are disproportionately severe compared to the speed at which most crashes occur. Even a collision at 20 miles per hour can shatter a wrist, crack a pelvis, or cause a traumatic brain injury. The damages in these cases often reflect that severity.

Economic damages include emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medication, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Cyclists who suffer head injuries or orthopedic trauma frequently require extended rehabilitation. Those long-term costs must be built into the claim from the start.

Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the toll on relationships. A cyclist who can no longer ride, exercise, or commute the way they used to has a non-economic claim that extends well beyond the hospital bills. In fatal bicycle crashes, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.

Liability requires proof that the driver owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused the cyclist’s injuries. New York applies a pure comparative negligence rule. If the insurance company argues the cyclist was partly at fault, the award is reduced by that percentage. But the claim survives. Riding without a helmet, for example, does not bar recovery in New York.

What Are Important Aspects of a Bicycle Accident Case?

Bicycle cases are won on evidence gathered in the first hours and days after the crash. Once the scene is cleaned up and the car is repaired, critical proof can be gone for good.

Photographs of the crash scene, the vehicle, your bicycle, road conditions, and your injuries taken as close to the accident as possible
The police report, which documents the driver’s identity, any citations, and the officer’s account
Medical records starting on the day of the crash, since gaps give the insurer an argument that the injuries came from something else
Contact information for any witness who saw what happened
Dashcam, traffic camera, or doorbell camera footage from nearby properties

Insurance companies defending bicycle claims lean hard on the idea that the cyclist did something wrong. They’ll argue you ran a stop sign, were riding outside the bike lane, or weren’t visible enough. Documenting your injuries and the scene early strips those defenses of credibility.

What Is the Bicycle Accident Case Timeline?

Bicycle accident cases on Long Island generally follow this process.

Medical treatment: the immediate priority, lasting weeks to months depending on injury severity
Investigation: begins right away, focused on scene photos, witness statements, and preserving camera footage
Filing the claim: starts once treatment stabilizes and the full scope of injuries is known
Negotiation with the driver’s insurer: three to twelve months
Litigation: if the insurer won’t offer a fair number, a lawsuit adds six to eighteen months
Trial or resolution: total timelines from crash to outcome can exceed two years

Many bicycle claims settle before trial. The firm prepares every case as though it will be tried, because that is what produces the best results at every stage of the process.

What Should You Bring to Your Bicycle Accident Consultation?

Our attorney uses evidence to assess the validity of your claim.

The police accident report
Medical records, bills, and imaging
Photos of the crash scene, your bicycle, and your injuries
Names and contact information for witnesses
Any communication from the driver’s insurance company

The sooner an attorney reviews the facts, the sooner evidence preservation can begin.

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Bicycle Accident Cases?

New York law governs the filing deadlines and liability rules for bicycle accident claims. These resources are a useful starting point.

The statute of limitations for personal injury is three years from the accident under CPLR Section 214.
If a road defect or government-maintained infrastructure contributed to the crash, a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days under General Municipal Law.
New York applies pure comparative negligence under CPLR Article 14-A, allowing injured cyclists to recover even when partially at fault.
Nassau and Suffolk County court information is available at nycourts.gov.
Federal bicycle crash data and safety resources are maintained by NHTSA.

Reach Out to Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

Evidence in bicycle cases has a short lifespan. Camera footage gets recorded over. Skid marks wash away. Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers takes bicycle accident cases on contingency. No fee unless we recover. Contact us to schedule a free case review.