Fact-Checked
If a driver hit you while you were cycling in Brooklyn, you have the right to pursue full compensation for your injuries. The Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore, P.C., represent injured riders across the borough. A serious crash can mean months of medical treatment, lost income, and pressure from an insurance company to settle for less.
We handle the no-fault paperwork, deal with the insurance company, and build your case for maximum recovery while you focus on healing. You pay nothing unless we win. Call (917) 809-7014 today for a free case evaluation and speak directly with a firm that prepares every claim to win.
When you call our office, you reach a law firm, not a call center or an intake screener. That access matters when you are hurt and unsure what to do next. At MooreJustice, our team treats every bicycle crash as a case we may have to try, and we build the evidence from day one.
Our attorneys investigate the scene, obtain any traffic or surveillance footage, secure the police report, and document your injuries with your medical providers. Insurance companies move quickly to limit what they pay. We move faster to protect your claim.
The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore works on a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee unless we win. Our team is available 24 hours a day, and we serve Brooklyn's cyclists in multiple languages. The firm's recognition includes membership in the New York State Bar Association, selection for Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and an accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.
A bicycle crash claim in New York follows different rules than many riders expect. Cyclists have the same rights as drivers on the road, but how you recover money depends on whether a motor vehicle was involved and how serious your injuries are. Understanding a few points early, including no-fault benefits, the serious injury threshold, and your rights under state law, can protect the value of your claim.
New York is a no-fault insurance state. When a car, truck, or bus strikes a cyclist, the injured rider can usually claim no-fault benefits from that vehicle's insurer, no matter who caused the crash. These benefits cover up to $50,000 in basic economic loss, including reasonable medical expenses, 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000 per month for up to 3 years, and other necessary costs.
You must act quickly to protect these benefits. A no-fault application generally has to be filed within 30 days of the crash, or the insurer may deny it.
No-fault has real limits. It does not pay for pain and suffering, and it usually does not apply when no motor vehicle was involved, such as a fall caused by a road hazard alone or a collision between two cyclists. Our team files your no-fault claim, tracks the deadlines, and pursues the rest of your losses through a claim against the at-fault driver.
No-fault benefits do not compensate you for pain and suffering. To recover those damages, an injured cyclist must meet New York's serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).
The law lists specific categories that qualify as a serious injury. They include a bone fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of use of a body part or system, a permanent consequential limitation, and a significant limitation of use of a body function or system. As of a 2026 change to the law, the older 90/180-day category was removed, which makes objective medical proof of your injuries more important than ever.
Meeting the threshold is often where insurers fight hardest. Our attorneys work with your treating doctors and, when needed, medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries and meet the standard required by law.
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1231, a person riding a bicycle on the road has the same rights and duties as a vehicle driver. You are entitled to be on the road, and drivers must share it with you. State law also requires every driver to use due care to avoid hitting a cyclist.
Some rules matter directly to fault after a crash. A driver or passenger who opens a car door into a rider's path, a dangerous act known as dooring, can be held liable for the resulting crash. Helmets are required for riders under 14 and for younger e-bike operators, though adults are not legally required to wear one.
Because adults face no helmet mandate, an insurer generally cannot reduce an adult rider's recovery simply because no helmet was worn. When a driver breaks these rules and injures you, that violation can help establish liability.
Brooklyn's mix of dense traffic, delivery riders, and uneven bike-lane coverage creates specific crash patterns. Our team handles the full range of bicycle collisions across the borough, including the following:
A cyclist has little protection against the force of a motor vehicle. Even at low speeds, a crash can cause injuries that require surgery, long-term therapy, or lifelong care. We help riders with a wide range of injuries, including:
Some injuries are not obvious at the scene. Symptoms of a brain injury or internal injury can appear days later, so prompt medical care protects both your health and your claim.
A serious bicycle crash creates costs that reach far beyond the emergency room. When we take your case, we account for what you have already lost and what the injury will cost you in the years ahead. Compensation in a Brooklyn bicycle accident claim generally falls into two categories.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, including:
Non-economic damages cover harms that do not come with a receipt, including:
New York historically applied a pure comparative negligence system. This standard allowed you to collect compensation even if you shared the majority of the fault for a crash. However, a major legal update in May 2026 established a strict modified comparative negligence rule specifically for motor vehicle accidents. Now, under the updated CPLR Section 1411(b), you cannot recover any damages if your share of responsibility exceeds 50 percent. This means a driver found 51 percent at fault walks away with nothing.
Because of this crucial change, insurance adjusters actively try to shift blame onto injured riders. If an insurer successfully assigns 51 percent of the fault to you, the law completely bars your financial recovery. This tactic allows companies to protect their bottom line at your expense. We stop these companies from taking advantage of you.
However, every case is different. No lawyer can promise a specific result. To learn what your claim may be worth, call our firm at (917) 809-7014 for a free case evaluation.
New York gives injured people a limited window to take legal action. For most bicycle accident lawsuits, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of the crash. Miss that deadline, and the court can dismiss your case no matter how strong it is.
Shorter deadlines apply in specific situations. If a city vehicle or a dangerous street condition played a role, your case may involve a public entity. A claim against the City of New York or the MTA usually requires a formal notice of claim within 90 days.
A no-fault application, as noted above, is generally due within 30 days, and a wrongful death claim must usually be filed within 2 years. These timelines move faster than most people expect, and evidence fades quickly. Contacting our team early gives us the best chance to preserve proof and protect your rights.
Brooklyn is one of the most active cycling boroughs in New York City, and it consistently reports the highest number of injured cyclists. In recent years, well over a thousand riders have been hurt in Brooklyn crashes annually, according to New York City Department of Transportation data.
The patterns behind those numbers are clear. Distracted driving is a leading contributing factor; dooring remains a uniquely urban danger, and crashes involving e-bikes continue to rise across the city. Most cyclist injuries happen in collisions that involve a motor vehicle.
Citywide safety efforts have helped, and 2025 saw a record low in fatalities among riders of traditional bicycles. Still, thousands of cyclists are injured every year, and dense neighborhoods like Downtown Brooklyn and Williamsburg remain higher-risk areas. When a crash does happen, our team is ready to help you recover.
If you can, call 911, report the crash to the police, and get the driver's license, insurance, and contact information.
When a motor vehicle strikes you, that vehicle's no-fault insurance usually pays your initial medical bills and a portion of your lost wages, up to $50,000 in basic economic loss.
Yes. New York does not require adult cyclists to wear a helmet, so an insurance company generally cannot reduce your recovery simply because you were not wearing one.
No honest attorney can put a number on your case before reviewing it. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, the long-term effects on your life, and the available insurance coverage.
Often, the at-fault driver is responsible, but liability can reach further. A driver's employer may share responsibility if the driver was working, such as a delivery or rideshare driver.
You may still have a claim. If an e-bike or delivery rider struck you, that person can be held responsible for negligence, and their employer may share liability if they were working at the time.
A bicycle crash can leave you facing pain, mounting bills, and pressure to settle for less than you deserve. You do not have to face the insurance company alone. Our Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore, P.C., stand ready to protect your rights and fight for full compensation.
Founding attorney Darren T. Moore and our team prepare every case as if it will go to trial, and you pay no fee unless we win. Call (917) 809-7014 today for a free case evaluation, and let a Brooklyn bicycle accident lawyer start building your claim.
Darren Moore is the founder of The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore, P.C. and a dedicated New York personal injury attorney. Known for his relentless advocacy and client-focused approach, he has spent his career helping injury victims pursue justice and recover the compensation they deserve. Darren handles a wide range of personal injury matters and is committed to delivering personalized representation for every client.
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