Long Island has great riding, from Ocean Parkway and the south shore beaches to North Shore routes, but much of it means sharing fast, wide roads with drivers who aren’t looking for cyclists. When a crash happens, a Long Island bicycle accident lawyer can help you recover your medical costs, lost income and more.
Where Long Island bike crashes happen
- Multi-lane roads like Hempstead Turnpike, Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway
- Busy commercial strips with parking lot entrances and exits
- Roads near LIRR stations during rush hour
- Beach routes in summer traffic
- Poorly lit residential streets at night
Drivers’ legal duties toward cyclists
Cyclists have the same rights to the road as drivers. Drivers must use due care, yield when required, pass at a safe distance and not open doors into traffic (VTL § 1214). A driver who breaks these rules and hits a cyclist is generally negligent.
No-fault pays your first medical bills
If a motor vehicle hits you on a bicycle, New York no-fault generally treats you as a pedestrian. That means medical bills and part of lost wages up to at least $50,000, regardless of fault. The application is generally due within 30 days. Our no-fault guide explains how to file.
Recovering the rest from the driver
You can claim pain and suffering and losses beyond no-fault against the driver if your injuries meet the “serious injury” threshold in Insurance Law § 5102(d). Even if the driver says you were partly at fault, New York’s comparative fault rule still lets you recover a reduced amount.
Crashes caused by road conditions
Potholes, broken shoulders, debris and poorly designed intersections cause many single-bike crashes. If a county, town or village road was to blame, a notice of claim is generally due within 90 days, and many municipalities require prior written notice of the defect. These cases need a lawyer quickly.
Hit by a driver who fled?
You may have coverage through your own or a household member’s auto policy, or through New York’s Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). Report the crash to police right away.
Talk to a Long Island bicycle accident lawyer
We represent injured cyclists throughout Nassau County and New York City. See our bicycle accident page and our bicycle claims guide. For riding safety tips, visit NHTSA’s bicycle safety page.
Visit Yakov Mushiyev & Associates
Our office is at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422, just off the Cross Island Parkway on the Queens–Nassau border. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you: at home, in the hospital or by video.
Talk to a Long Island bicycle accident lawyer today
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates has recovered over $80 million for injured New Yorkers across the five boroughs and Nassau County. Consultations are free, available in English, Russian and Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.
Call 718.775.3110 or contact us online for a free case review.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. Attorney Advertising.