A cyclist struck by an insured car in New York can claim no-fault benefits from that driver’s insurer. For young riders and Class 3 e-bike riders the law requires to wear a helmet, going without one cannot reduce the recovery. Since May 2026, a rider found to be 51% or more at fault recovers nothing, which makes early evidence decisive.

Trial-Tested Advocates for Injured New York City Bicyclists

The Pryor Law Firm represents bicyclists struck by drivers on New York City and Long Island streets. New York City personal injury lawyer Kenneth A. Pryor has spent more than 30 years handling personal injury cases in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk counties. We deal with the no-fault insurer, the driver’s liability insurer, and collect available evidence while you concentrate on treatment. Consultations are free, and there is never an attorney fee until we recover compensation for you.

Why Injured Riders Trust The Pryor Law Firm

A New York City bike crash is rarely just a simple property‑damage claim. It triggers no‑fault forms, liability adjusters, and police paperwork that can misstate what really happened. Our team moves quickly to secure collision records, medical documentation, and witness statements to ensure that evidence collected in our investigation supports what actually happened in your crash, as opposed to the insurer’s version of events. Bicycle riders repeatedly choose The Pryor Law Firm for various reasons: 

  • Direct access to the trial lawyer. You work directly with our attorneys throughout your case. You are never passed off to paralegals or outside firms or attorneys
  • Proven trial record. We prepare cases for trial and have secured significant verdicts when insurers refuse to settle for fair value, securing over $45 million for our clients
  • Courtroom experience. Kenneth Pryor is a former Bronx prosecutor, a Hofstra Law adjunct professor, and a Million Dollar Advocates Forum member
  • Recognition. New York Magazine has named the firm a Leading Personal Injury Firm in New York, and AVVO rates it 10.0.
  • Local reach. Offices in Garden City, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, by appointment.
  • Virtual/Remote. Remote consultations/meetings available for your convenience.
  • No fee unless we win. Consultations are free, and we can meet you at home, remotely, or in the hospital when travel is difficult.

The Pryor Law Firm is exclusively dedicated to personal injury law and has recovered more than $45 million in verdicts and settlements for accident victims throughout New York City and Long Island. Insurers know they are dealing with a former Bronx prosecutor and seasoned trial lawyer who is prepared to take a case to court when full value is not offered.

What New York Law Says About Drivers and Bicyclists

State law does not treat a bicycle as second class on the road, and several Vehicle and Traffic Law provisions work in an injured rider’s favor.

  • Section 1231 gives a rider on a roadway a driver’s rights and duties, with limited exceptions.
  • Section 1146 requires every driver to use due care to avoid colliding with a bicyclist, and creates a rebuttable presumption in the traffic case that a driver who injures a cyclist by failing to use due care caused it.
  • Section 1214 bars opening a car door on the side available to moving traffic until it is reasonably safe, the rule behind dooring claims.
  • Section 1238 requires a helmet only for riders under 14 and anyone on a Class 3 e-bike, and says non-compliance cannot count as contributory negligence or reduce damages. A city may add its own helmet rules, which carry no such protection.
  • Section 1242 bars e-bike operation under 16 with the same protection.

Insurers argue rider fault routinely. The last two provisions often end that argument early. We provide clear explanations of your legal rights and the options for seeking recovery after a bicycle crash.

Bicycle, E-Bike, and Citi Bike Crashes We Handle

Delivery traffic, rideshare pickups, and a growing lane network produce familiar collisions.

  • Left and right hooks by turning drivers
  • Dooring by drivers and by taxi or rideshare passengers
  • Collisions with delivery vans and box trucks
  • Drivers stopped in or driving through a bike lane
  • Crashes on e-bikes, pedal-assist bikes and Citi Bike
  • Hit-and-run crashes with no identified driver

Each puts different proof in play, and it disappears fast. We also handle car accident and pedestrian claims here, including in Brooklyn.

Who Pays Your Medical Bills After a Bike Crash

New York’s no-fault system (Personal Injury Protection or PIP) includes cyclists if the crash involves a motor vehicle. State law does not classify a bicycle, or a bicycle with electric assist, as a motor vehicle, so a rider struck by an insured car is an eligible injured person under that car’s policy and can claim benefits regardless of fault. Mopeds are different, and the city publishes a chart of which machines count as e-bikes.

Those PIP benefits carry short deadlines.

  • Up to $50,000 in basic economic loss per person for medical care, most lost earnings, and other expenses
  • Written notice to the insurer within 30 days of the crash (with limited exceptions)
  • Health service claims submitted within 45 days of the services rendered
  • Work loss and other expense proof submitted within 90 days of the loss or service

A late filing can be excused with written proof of clear and reasonable justification, but early notice is always wise. PIP benefits never pay for pain and suffering, which is why the second half of a case matters as much as the first.

What Changed for New York Injury Claims in 2026

Amendments effective May 26, 2026 apply to actions commenced on or after that date. Pain and suffering still requires an injury meeting the serious injury definition in Insurance Law 5102(d) to be compensable for pain and suffering. However, the Legislature deleted the old 90/180 day category, which was favorable to victims of motor vehicle accidents.

The change that matters most is the new fault rule. In motor vehicle injury actions governed by the no-fault law, a claimant determined to be 51% or more at fault now recovers nothing. The old rule only reduced the amount of the award. Insurers often blame cyclists reflexively, so camera footage and witness names matter more than ever.

Speak With a New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If a driver hit you while riding in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, or Nassau and Suffolk counties, the sooner we begin, the more evidence survives. Contact our office for a free consultation. There is never an attorney fee until we recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still have a claim if I was not wearing a helmet?

Under state law, yes. New York requires a helmet only for riders under fourteen and anyone on a Class 3 e-bike, and the statute says non-compliance cannot count as contributory negligence, bar the claim, or reduce damages. The city sets separate rules for delivery riders.

Does no-fault cover me if I was riding an e-bike or a Citi Bike?

Generally yes, when an insured motor vehicle struck you. New York does not classify a bicycle with electric assist as a motor vehicle, so the rider claims benefits from the striking vehicle’s insurer. The type of bicycle you were riding is fact-specific, so you should contact us as soon as possible to determine your rights. 

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in New York?

The general deadline for a New York personal injury action is three years from the crash. Claims against a city, a public authority, or a government vehicle carry separate and far shorter notice requirements.

Bicycle Accidents
A cyclist struck by an insured car in New York can claim no-fault benefits from that driver’s insurer. For young riders and Class 3 e-bike riders the law requires to wear a helmet, going without one cannot reduce the recovery. Since May 2026, a rider found to be 51% or more at fault recovers nothing, which makes early evidence decisive.

Trial-Tested Advocates for Injured New York City Bicyclists

The Pryor Law Firm represents bicyclists struck by drivers on New York City and Long Island streets. New York City personal injury lawyer Kenneth A. Pryor has spent more than 30 years handling personal injury cases in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk counties. We deal with the no-fault insurer, the driver’s liability insurer, and collect available evidence while you concentrate on treatment. Consultations are free, and there is never an attorney fee until we recover compensation for you.

Why Injured Riders Trust The Pryor Law Firm

A New York City bike crash is rarely just a simple property‑damage claim. It triggers no‑fault forms, liability adjusters, and police paperwork that can misstate what really happened. Our team moves quickly to secure collision records, medical documentation, and witness statements to ensure that evidence collected in our investigation supports what actually happened in your crash, as opposed to the insurer’s version of events. Bicycle riders repeatedly choose The Pryor Law Firm for various reasons: 

  • Direct access to the trial lawyer. You work directly with our attorneys throughout your case. You are never passed off to paralegals or outside firms or attorneys
  • Proven trial record. We prepare cases for trial and have secured significant verdicts when insurers refuse to settle for fair value, securing over $45 million for our clients
  • Courtroom experience. Kenneth Pryor is a former Bronx prosecutor, a Hofstra Law adjunct professor, and a Million Dollar Advocates Forum member
  • Recognition. New York Magazine has named the firm a Leading Personal Injury Firm in New York, and AVVO rates it 10.0.
  • Local reach. Offices in Garden City, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, by appointment.
  • Virtual/Remote. Remote consultations/meetings available for your convenience.
  • No fee unless we win. Consultations are free, and we can meet you at home, remotely, or in the hospital when travel is difficult.

The Pryor Law Firm is exclusively dedicated to personal injury law and has recovered more than $45 million in verdicts and settlements for accident victims throughout New York City and Long Island. Insurers know they are dealing with a former Bronx prosecutor and seasoned trial lawyer who is prepared to take a case to court when full value is not offered.

What New York Law Says About Drivers and Bicyclists

State law does not treat a bicycle as second class on the road, and several Vehicle and Traffic Law provisions work in an injured rider’s favor.

  • Section 1231 gives a rider on a roadway a driver’s rights and duties, with limited exceptions.
  • Section 1146 requires every driver to use due care to avoid colliding with a bicyclist, and creates a rebuttable presumption in the traffic case that a driver who injures a cyclist by failing to use due care caused it.
  • Section 1214 bars opening a car door on the side available to moving traffic until it is reasonably safe, the rule behind dooring claims.
  • Section 1238 requires a helmet only for riders under 14 and anyone on a Class 3 e-bike, and says non-compliance cannot count as contributory negligence or reduce damages. A city may add its own helmet rules, which carry no such protection.
  • Section 1242 bars e-bike operation under 16 with the same protection.

Insurers argue rider fault routinely. The last two provisions often end that argument early. We provide clear explanations of your legal rights and the options for seeking recovery after a bicycle crash.

Bicycle, E-Bike, and Citi Bike Crashes We Handle

Delivery traffic, rideshare pickups, and a growing lane network produce familiar collisions.

  • Left and right hooks by turning drivers
  • Dooring by drivers and by taxi or rideshare passengers
  • Collisions with delivery vans and box trucks
  • Drivers stopped in or driving through a bike lane
  • Crashes on e-bikes, pedal-assist bikes and Citi Bike
  • Hit-and-run crashes with no identified driver

Each puts different proof in play, and it disappears fast. We also handle car accident and pedestrian claims here, including in Brooklyn.

Who Pays Your Medical Bills After a Bike Crash

New York’s no-fault system (Personal Injury Protection or PIP) includes cyclists if the crash involves a motor vehicle. State law does not classify a bicycle, or a bicycle with electric assist, as a motor vehicle, so a rider struck by an insured car is an eligible injured person under that car’s policy and can claim benefits regardless of fault. Mopeds are different, and the city publishes a chart of which machines count as e-bikes.

Those PIP benefits carry short deadlines.

  • Up to $50,000 in basic economic loss per person for medical care, most lost earnings, and other expenses
  • Written notice to the insurer within 30 days of the crash (with limited exceptions)
  • Health service claims submitted within 45 days of the services rendered
  • Work loss and other expense proof submitted within 90 days of the loss or service

A late filing can be excused with written proof of clear and reasonable justification, but early notice is always wise. PIP benefits never pay for pain and suffering, which is why the second half of a case matters as much as the first.

What Changed for New York Injury Claims in 2026

Amendments effective May 26, 2026 apply to actions commenced on or after that date. Pain and suffering still requires an injury meeting the serious injury definition in Insurance Law 5102(d) to be compensable for pain and suffering. However, the Legislature deleted the old 90/180 day category, which was favorable to victims of motor vehicle accidents.

The change that matters most is the new fault rule. In motor vehicle injury actions governed by the no-fault law, a claimant determined to be 51% or more at fault now recovers nothing. The old rule only reduced the amount of the award. Insurers often blame cyclists reflexively, so camera footage and witness names matter more than ever.

Speak With a New York City Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If a driver hit you while riding in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, or Nassau and Suffolk counties, the sooner we begin, the more evidence survives. Contact our office for a free consultation. There is never an attorney fee until we recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still have a claim if I was not wearing a helmet?

Under state law, yes. New York requires a helmet only for riders under fourteen and anyone on a Class 3 e-bike, and the statute says non-compliance cannot count as contributory negligence, bar the claim, or reduce damages. The city sets separate rules for delivery riders.

Does no-fault cover me if I was riding an e-bike or a Citi Bike?

Generally yes, when an insured motor vehicle struck you. New York does not classify a bicycle with electric assist as a motor vehicle, so the rider claims benefits from the striking vehicle’s insurer. The type of bicycle you were riding is fact-specific, so you should contact us as soon as possible to determine your rights. 

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in New York?

The general deadline for a New York personal injury action is three years from the crash. Claims against a city, a public authority, or a government vehicle carry separate and far shorter notice requirements.