New York City
Bicycle Accident Lawyer

People riding bicycles through the five boroughs face a high risk of suffering life-altering harm when a collision occurs. The sheer physical vulnerability of a person on a bike compared to a multi-ton car or a commercial truck is a reality that often leads to devastating medical results. Even when a rider follows every safety protocol and wears a high-quality helmet, the impact of a motor vehicle can result in deep trauma to the brain, neck, or spinal column. These types of injuries frequently change a person’s life forever or may even lead to a fatal outcome.

The Silbowitz Firm provides dedicated and person-centered legal support for those who are going through the aftermath of a major bicycle wreck. We recognize the specific set of hurdles that riders encounter after a crash with a larger vehicle, and our team is committed to helping our clients seek the highest level of payment allowed by law. Mitchell Silbowitz has been fighting for those hurt by the negligence of others since 1989 and has helped people win more than 1,000 cases in New York City and across the state.

Call our New York City office today at (646) 419-5344 to arrange a time to talk about your situation for free. We are here to help you see what your legal choices are as we work toward the recovery you deserve.

Bicycle Laws in New York

Under the laws of New York State, people on bicycles have the same legal rights and the same set of duties as people driving cars. This means that a cyclist has to follow every traffic light, stop sign, and road marking just like a motorist does.

Additional regulations that riders should know include:

• Necessary Gear: Every bicycle has to have a bell or another device that makes a sound loud enough to be heard from 100 feet away. Also, the bike must have a braking system that can make the tires skid on a surface that is level, dry, and clean.
• Rules for the Road: People on bikes must ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic. If a street is one-way and measures at least 40 feet across, a rider is allowed to use either the left or the right side of the lane. Anyone age 13 or younger is required by law to wear a helmet. Adults should use hand signals for turning, only keep a headphone in one ear, stay off the sidewalks, and use a white headlight and red taillight when riding after dark.
• Motorized Bicycles: The use of e-bikes is governed by specific rules based on their speed and power. Class one and two e-bikes that top out at 20 mph are allowed on the streets. Class three bikes that can hit 25 mph are only allowed on roads where the speed limit is 30 mph or lower. Unless a local law says otherwise, e-bikes are not allowed on the sidewalk.
• Riding on Sidewalks: In general, it is against the law to ride a bike on the sidewalk unless there is a sign that specifically says it is permitted. Breaking this rule can result in a fine of up to $100.
• Duty of Care for Drivers: People operating motor vehicles are required to use reasonable care to avoid hitting a person on a bike, a person walking, or a domestic animal. This includes using the horn to give a warning if it looks like a collision might happen.

Most Common Reasons for Bicycle Crashes

A bicycle crash can happen for many different reasons, and often it is a mix of the environment, a person making a mistake, or a problem with the bike itself. Some of the most common reasons we see for these incidents include:

• Driver distraction or carelessness: A large number of wrecks happen because a person behind the wheel simply does not notice a cyclist or fails to give them the right of way. This often involves a driver looking at a phone, failing to check their mirrors before making a turn, or passing a rider without leaving enough room between the vehicle and the bike.
• Inexperience or risky behavior by the rider: People who are new to cycling or those who choose to ignore the rules of the road by skipping red lights or weaving through heavy traffic might find themselves in a dangerous situation more often.
• Dangerous road surfaces: Things like deep potholes, loose gravel, or patches of ice can cause a rider to lose their balance and fall. Surfaces that are uneven or have hidden obstacles are also major hazards for anyone on two wheels.
• Difficulty being seen: When the lighting is poor, such as at dusk or during a storm, it becomes much harder for a driver to spot a person on a bike. This risk goes up significantly if the rider is not using lights or wearing clothing that reflects light.
• Vehicle blind spots: It is very easy for a cyclist to disappear into the blind spot of a car, and this is even more dangerous when riding near a bus or a large truck. A driver might hit a cyclist while changing lanes or turning because they did not see them there.
• Going without safety equipment: While a helmet cannot stop an accident from happening, not wearing one makes the chance of a brain injury much higher if a crash does occur. Helmets are a key tool for lowering the severity of head trauma.
• Impairment from drugs or alcohol: Just like when driving a car, using substances can slow down a rider’s reflexes and make it harder for them to make good choices. This often leads to errors in judgment that result in a wreck.
• High speeds: When a driver or a cyclist is going too fast, they have much less time to react if something unexpected happens in front of them. Higher speeds also mean the force of the impact will be much greater.
• Ignoring traffic signals: Both the person in the car and the person on the bike have to follow the law to keep the roads safe. Going the wrong way on a street or blowing through a stop sign is a recipe for a collision.
• Broken parts on the bike: If a chain snaps, a tire blows out, or the brakes fail suddenly, a rider can easily lose control of the bicycle and hit the ground or another vehicle.

Most Common Injuries From Biking Accidents

Because a person on a bike has almost no protection around them, they are very likely to experience severe physical trauma when they are involved in a wreck with a motor vehicle.

Some of the most frequent types of harm that bicycle crash victims go through include:

• Trauma to the head: Some of the most devastating outcomes of a crash are concussions or traumatic brain injuries. Even if a rider has a helmet on, the head can still take a massive hit that leads to permanent changes in how a person thinks, moves, or speaks.
• Damage to the spinal cord: The sheer force involved when a car hits a bike can cause the back or neck to break or twist violently. This can damage the spinal cord and might leave a person with partial or total paralysis.
• Fractured bones: It is very common for a cyclist to break an arm, leg, wrist, or ankle when they are thrown from a bike or crushed by a vehicle.
• Internal organ damage: A crash can cause injuries that are not visible on the outside, such as a torn organ or internal bleeding. These situations are life-threatening and require a person to get to a hospital immediately.
• Skin abrasions: When a person is thrown onto the road, their skin can scrape against the pavement at high speed. This results in what is often called road rash, which can be quite painful and might lead to permanent scarring or the need for skin grafts.

Contact Our New York City Bike Accident Attorneys

Contact The Silbowitz Firm for a free meeting if you or someone in your family has been hurt while riding a bicycle. Our New York City bicycle accident legal team can help you as you are going through the process of filing a claim and explain what your legal rights are under New York law. We assist clients throughout New York City, Long Island, and the surrounding counties.

Call (646) 419-5344 or use our online contact form to get started with a free evaluation of your case with a legal professional who has experience with bicycle wreck claims.

Our attorneys handle cases across all five boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Whether your accident involved a car, truck, bus, taxi, e-bike, or scooter, we are prepared to pursue justice and recovery for your injuries.