Bicycle Accident Lawyer

When cycling through the bustling streets of New York City, accidents can happen in an instant. Whether you're commuting to work in Manhattan, enjoying a leisurely ride through Central Park, or navigating the bike lanes of Brooklyn, bicycle accidents present serious risks that can result in life-changing injuries. Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers understand the unique challenges facing cyclists in New York City and are committed to helping those injured in bicycle accidents secure the compensation they deserve.

Can I Sue Someone For Causing My Bicycle Accident Injuries?

Yes, you can sue someone for causing your bicycle accident injuries in most circumstances. If another party's negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions caused your accident, you have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages. This includes situations where drivers fail to yield, engage in distracted driving, open car doors without checking for cyclists, or violate traffic laws that result in your injuries.

However, your ability to sue and the type of compensation available depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, applicable insurance coverage, and New York's no-fault insurance laws. In New York, you may first need to exhaust your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits before pursuing a lawsuit against the at-fault party, unless your injuries meet certain "serious injury" thresholds defined by state law. It's important to consult with a qualified attorney who can evaluate your specific case, determine the best legal strategy, and help you navigate the complex insurance and legal requirements to maximize your potential compensation.

Financial Compensation You Can Pursue in a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit

When you're injured in a bicycle accident in NYC, understanding the types of compensation available can help you make informed decisions about your case. An NYC bicycle accident lawyer can help you pursue various forms of financial recovery depending on your specific circumstances.

• Medical Expenses: All reasonable and necessary medical costs related to your bicycle accident injuries, including emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment with healthcare providers.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for income you've lost due to time away from work while recovering from your bicycle accident injuries, calculated based on your regular salary, hourly wages, or self-employment earnings.
• Future Lost Earning Capacity: Financial recovery for diminished ability to earn income in the future if your bicycle accident injuries result in permanent disability or limitation that affects your career prospects.
• Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages that compensate you for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life resulting from your bicycle accident injuries.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for repair or replacement of your bicycle, helmet, clothing, and other personal property damaged in the accident.
• Loss of Consortium: Compensation available to spouses for the loss of companionship, affection, and intimate relationship due to their partner's bicycle accident injuries.
• Rehabilitation Costs: Coverage for occupational therapy, vocational retraining, home modifications, and assistive devices needed to help you adapt to life after your bicycle accident injuries.
• Punitive Damages: Additional compensation awarded in rare cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct by the party who caused your bicycle accident.

The specific compensation available in your case will depend on the severity of your injuries, the circumstances of your accident, and applicable insurance coverage. Working with an experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer ensures you understand all potential sources of recovery and pursue maximum compensation for your damages.

How a NYC Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Maximize Your Compensation

Securing maximum compensation after a bicycle accident requires strategic legal action and thorough case preparation. An experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer understands how to build compelling cases that accurately reflect the full value of your damages.

• Thorough Accident Investigation: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers conduct comprehensive investigations to gather police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and physical evidence that establishes liability and strengthens your bicycle accident case.
• Medical Documentation Analysis: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers work with healthcare providers to ensure all bicycle accident injuries are properly documented, diagnosed, and connected to your accident through detailed medical records and professional opinions.
• Insurance Negotiation: Aggressively negotiating with insurance companies to counter lowball settlement offers and secure fair compensation that reflects the true cost of your bicycle accident injuries and losses.
• Expert Witness Coordination: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers collaborate with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and economic analysts who can provide compelling testimony about liability, injury severity, and financial impact.
• Damage Calculation: Our personal injury lawyers accurately calculate both current and future costs related to your bicycle accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering damages.
• Legal Deadline Management: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers ensure all paperwork is filed within New York's statute of limitations and other critical deadlines that could affect your right to pursue compensation for your bicycle accident injuries.
• Trial Preparation: Preparing your case for trial when insurance companies refuse reasonable settlement offers, demonstrating readiness to fight for maximum compensation in court.
• Multi-Party Liability Assessment: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers identify all potentially liable parties, including drivers, employers, government entities, and property owners who may share responsibility for your bicycle accident.
• No-Fault Insurance Navigation: Understanding New York's complex no-fault insurance system and determining when your bicycle accident injuries qualify for additional compensation beyond basic coverage limits.

At Kelner & Kelner, our NYC bicycle accident lawyer team combines decades of experience with aggressive advocacy to maximize compensation for our clients. We handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovery while we fight for the financial resources you need to rebuild your life.

Bicycle Accident Cases We Take

At Kelner & Kelner, our NYC bicycle accident lawyer team handles a wide range of cycling injury cases throughout New York City's five boroughs. We represent victims of all types of bicycle accidents, from minor collisions to catastrophic crashes that result in life-changing injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions: Cases involving cars, trucks, buses, or motorcycles that strike cyclists due to negligent driving, failure to yield, or traffic violations in NYC streets and intersections.
• Dooring Accidents: Incidents where vehicle occupants open car doors without checking for approaching cyclists, causing riders to collide with doors or swerve into traffic to avoid impact.
• Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accidents: Cases where drivers flee the scene after striking cyclists, requiring investigation to identify responsible parties and pursue compensation through various insurance sources.
• Commercial Vehicle Accidents: Bicycle accidents involving delivery trucks, taxi cabs, Uber/Lyft vehicles, city buses, and other commercial vehicles operating throughout New York City.
• Construction Zone Accidents: Cases where inadequate signage, poor traffic control, or hazardous road conditions in construction areas contribute to bicycle accidents and injuries.
• Defective Road Conditions: Accidents caused by potholes, inadequate lighting, poorly maintained bike lanes, debris, or other dangerous roadway conditions that cause cyclists to crash.
• Intersection Accidents: Complex cases involving bicycle accidents at busy NYC intersections where multiple factors may contribute to collisions, including traffic signal malfunctions and poor visibility.
• Bicycle Lane Violations: Cases where motor vehicles illegally occupy bike lanes, block cycling paths, or fail to respect designated cycling infrastructure, resulting in accidents.
• Pedestrian-Cyclist Collisions: Accidents between bicycles and pedestrians in crosswalks, sidewalks, or shared spaces that result in injuries to either party.
• Defective Bicycle Product Cases: Incidents involving mechanical failures, defective parts, or manufacturing defects in bicycles, helmets, or safety equipment that contribute to accidents and injuries.

No matter how your bicycle accident occurred in New York City, our NYC bicycle accident lawyer team at Kelner & Kelner has the experience and resources to investigate your case thoroughly and pursue maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your specific bicycle accident situation.

Injuries Associated with Bicycle Accidents in NYC

Bicycle accidents in New York City can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor scrapes to life-threatening trauma that requires extensive medical treatment. Understanding these common injuries helps victims recognize the importance of seeking immediate medical attention and working with an NYC bicycle accident lawyer to secure proper compensation.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Serious head trauma including concussions, skull fractures, and brain bleeding that can occur even when cyclists wear helmets, often resulting in cognitive impairment and long-term disability.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine that can cause partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, and permanent mobility limitations requiring lifelong medical care and rehabilitation.
• Bone Fractures: Broken bones commonly affecting the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, and collarbone due to the impact force of bicycle accidents, often requiring surgical repair and extended recovery periods.
• Road Rash and Lacerations: Severe skin abrasions and deep cuts caused by sliding across pavement during bicycle accidents, which may require skin grafts and can result in permanent scarring.
• Internal Organ Damage: Injuries to the chest, abdomen, and internal organs including punctured lungs, liver damage, and internal bleeding that may not be immediately apparent after bicycle accidents.
• Facial and Dental Injuries: Trauma to the face, jaw, teeth, and eyes that can require reconstructive surgery, dental work, and may result in permanent disfigurement or vision problems.
• Shoulder and Arm Injuries: Dislocated shoulders, torn rotator cuffs, and broken arms that commonly occur when cyclists instinctively extend their arms to break falls during accidents.
• Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, and other soft tissue injuries that can cause chronic pain and limit mobility long after the initial bicycle accident occurs.
• Psychological Trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and fear of cycling that can significantly impact quality of life following serious bicycle accidents in NYC.
• Wrongful Death: Fatal injuries resulting from severe bicycle accidents that leave families dealing with the devastating loss of loved ones and significant financial hardships.

If you've suffered any of these injuries in a bicycle accident, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention and contact an experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer. NYC bicycle accident lawyers understand the serious nature of bicycle accident injuries and work tirelessly to secure compensation that covers all your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Who May Be Liable For Your Bicycle Accident Injuries

Determining liability in bicycle accident cases often involves identifying multiple parties who may share responsibility for your injuries. An experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer can investigate all potential sources of liability to ensure you pursue compensation from every responsible party.

• Motor Vehicle Drivers: Drivers who cause bicycle accidents through negligent behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, running red lights, or violating traffic laws in NYC streets.
• Commercial Vehicle Operators: Taxi drivers, delivery truck operators, bus drivers, and rideshare drivers whose negligent operation of commercial vehicles results in bicycle accidents and injuries.
• Vehicle Owners: Property owners who allow others to drive their vehicles may be held liable for bicycle accidents caused by permitted drivers under certain circumstances in New York.
• Employers: Companies whose employees cause bicycle accidents while driving for work purposes may face liability under respondeat superior laws that hold employers responsible for employee actions.
• Government Entities: New York City, state agencies, or other government bodies responsible for maintaining roads, traffic signals, and infrastructure that contribute to bicycle accidents through poor design or inadequate maintenance.
• Construction Companies: Contractors and construction firms whose work zones, equipment, or inadequate safety measures create hazardous conditions that lead to bicycle accidents in NYC.
• Property Owners: Building owners, business operators, or property managers whose premises create dangerous conditions that contribute to bicycle accidents, such as inadequate lighting or obstructed visibility.
• Bicycle Manufacturers: Companies that produce defective bicycles, helmets, or safety equipment that fail during use and contribute to the severity of bicycle accident injuries.
• Pedestrians: Individuals who negligently enter bicycle lanes, suddenly step into traffic, or otherwise create dangerous situations that cause bicycle accidents and resulting injuries.
• Other Cyclists: Fellow bicycle riders whose reckless or negligent cycling behavior causes accidents with other cyclists, pedestrians, or forces cyclists into dangerous situations with motor vehicles.

Identifying all liable parties requires thorough investigation and legal analysis that an experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer can provide. NYC bicycle accident lawyers examine every aspect of your case to ensure no potentially responsible party escapes accountability for your bicycle accident injuries and damages.

High-Risk Roads in NYC For Bicycle Accidents

Certain streets and areas throughout New York City have earned reputations as particularly dangerous for cyclists due to heavy traffic, poor infrastructure, or hazardous conditions. Understanding these high-risk locations can help cyclists exercise extra caution, though accidents can still occur despite careful riding.

• Broadway: This major thoroughfare running through Manhattan presents numerous intersection hazards, tourist pedestrian traffic, and complex traffic patterns that frequently result in bicycle accidents.
• Queens Boulevard: Known as the "Boulevard of Death," this wide roadway in Queens has historically seen numerous bicycle and pedestrian fatalities due to high-speed traffic and poor visibility.
• Atlantic Avenue: Running through Brooklyn, this busy commercial corridor features heavy truck traffic, double-parking, and frequent door-opening incidents that create dangerous conditions for cyclists.
• Flatbush Avenue: This major Brooklyn artery experiences high volumes of both vehicle and bicycle traffic, with numerous intersections and commercial driveways creating collision opportunities.
• Houston Street: The wide crosstown route in Manhattan presents challenges with fast-moving traffic, complex intersections, and frequent lane changes that endanger cyclists.
• Northern Boulevard: This Queens thoroughfare features heavy commercial traffic, multiple lanes, and inadequate bicycle infrastructure that contributes to frequent cycling accidents.
• Grand Street: Running through multiple boroughs, this street presents hazards from delivery trucks, double-parking, and narrow bicycle lanes that force cyclists into traffic.
• Ocean Parkway: While featuring bicycle paths, this Brooklyn roadway sees accidents due to high-speed vehicle traffic and intersections where drivers fail to yield to cyclists.
• First and Second Avenues: These Manhattan avenues with protected bike lanes still experience accidents due to turning vehicles, taxi traffic, and construction activities.
• Belt Parkway Service Roads: These Brooklyn and Queens roadways present dangers from high-speed merging traffic and inadequate bicycle accommodation on busy commercial strips.

If you've been injured in a bicycle accident on any of these dangerous NYC roads or elsewhere in the city, don't assume that riding in a known hazardous area affects your right to compensation. An experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer at Kelner & Kelner can evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve, regardless of where your accident occurred.

What To Do If Injured in a NYC Bicycle Accident

Taking the right steps immediately after a bicycle accident in New York City can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation for your injuries. Following these important actions helps protect your health, preserve evidence, and strengthen any potential legal claim with an NYC bicycle accident lawyer.

• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Call emergency services or get to a hospital right away, even if injuries seem minor, as some bicycle accident injuries like concussions or internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent.
• Call the Police: Request that police respond to the accident scene to create an official report, which serves as crucial documentation for insurance claims and legal proceedings related to your bicycle accident.
• Document the Scene: Take photographs of your bicycle, vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries using your phone if you're physically able to do so safely.
• Gather Information: Collect contact information, insurance details, and driver's license numbers from all involved parties, as well as contact information from any witnesses to your bicycle accident.
• Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not apologize or make statements about who caused the accident, as these comments can be used against you later during insurance negotiations or legal proceedings.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep your damaged bicycle, helmet, and clothing in the same condition as after the accident, as these items may serve as important evidence in your case.
• Report to Insurance: Notify your own insurance company about the bicycle accident, but avoid giving detailed recorded statements until you've consulted with an NYC bicycle accident lawyer.
• Keep Detailed Records: Maintain files of all medical bills, treatment records, missed work days, and expenses related to your bicycle accident injuries for compensation calculations.
• Follow Medical Treatment: Attend all medical appointments and follow your doctor's treatment recommendations, as gaps in medical care can be used to minimize your injury claims.
• Contact an NYC Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Reach out to experienced legal representation as soon as possible to protect your rights and begin building a strong case for compensation.

Remember that insurance companies may contact you quickly after your bicycle accident with settlement offers that seem appealing but are often far below what your case is worth. Before accepting any offers or signing documents, consult with an experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer at Kelner & Kelner who can evaluate your case and ensure you receive fair compensation for all your damages.

Why Choose Kelner & Kelner?

When you need an NYC bicycle accident lawyer, choosing the right legal representation can make all the difference in your case outcome and recovery. Kelner & Kelner has built a strong reputation representing bicycle accident victims throughout New York City with dedication and proven results.

• Decades of Experience: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyer team has successfully represented countless cycling injury victims across all five boroughs, understanding the unique challenges and legal complexities of bicycle accident cases in New York City.
• Comprehensive Case Investigation: NYC bicycle accident lawyers conduct thorough investigations of every bicycle accident, working with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and other experts to build the strongest possible case for our clients.
• Aggressive Insurance Negotiation: Our attorneys fight tirelessly against insurance companies that attempt to minimize bicycle accident settlements, using our extensive knowledge of New York law to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
• No Win, No Fee Guarantee: Our NYC bicycle accident lawyers handle all bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your injuries and damages.

At Kelner & Kelner, we understand that bicycle accidents can devastate victims physically, emotionally, and financially. Our NYC bicycle accident lawyer team is committed to fighting for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing and recovery from your injuries.

Get the Legal Help You Deserve

Don't let insurance companies minimize your bicycle accident claim or pressure you into accepting inadequate compensation. Contact Kelner & Kelner today for a free consultation with an experienced NYC bicycle accident lawyer who will fight for your rights and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. Time is limited under New York law, so reach out now to protect your legal options and get the justice you deserve.