GARDEN CITY BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Garden City Personal Injury Lawyer » Garden City Bicycle Accident Attorney

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Alex Nocerino

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Alex Nocerino is a founding partner at our firm and a successful trial lawyer with roots in New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice. He has helped injured individuals win hundreds of millions in compensation from large corporations, government entities, and wealthy landlords.

With 18 years of experience, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2019 and has a five-star Avvo rating. He is a true New Yorker and a successful trial lawyer who is unafraid to go up against even the powerful and combative defendants.

Content Last Updated: April 23, 2024

Injured Garden City bicycle accident? Was someone else at fault? Contact the Garden City bicycle accident lawyers at Chopra & Nocerino. We fight for fair compensation for cyclists hurt by negligent drivers. Our skilled attorneys will support you by acting swiftly to file insurance claims, gather evidence, negotiate a settlement, and more. Don’t go at it alone. Let our team go to bat for you.

Cycling is a popular, healthy way to get around NYC, but bike riders also face high injury risks even when following safety laws. In 2022 alone, over 4,600 cyclists in New York were hurt in crashes with vehicles.

If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Garden City, our Garden City bicycle accident lawyers can explain your options and handle every step of the legal process so you can focus on healing. With extensive experience handling bike injury cases, we will work to secure compensation as you navigate recovery challenges. Don’t endure this alone – a lawyer’s guidance can relieve the burden.

What Are Your Legal Options After a Bike Accident in Garden City?

If you or someone you know is injured in a bike accident in Garden City, you have options for compensation. Regarding auto insurance claims, New York is a no-fault state. However, if an injured person has a “serious injury” or a total basic economic loss of more than $50,000, they can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If the other party is uninsured or damages exceed their insurance coverage, you can sue them for damages, but only if you suffered severe injury or total economic loss.

Does Insurance Usually Cover Injuries From Bike Accidents?

Yes, if you were hit by a car while cycling, take swift action to file a claim:

Call the police as soon as you can and obtain a crash report. This report is invaluable evidence and can be used to prove fault. Provide the police with details for the report. Be sure to mention that you are injured if your injuries are not apparent.
Get driver and vehicle information, such as their name, license plate, and insurance information.
Take photos of the scene and gather witness contact information. Your lawyer may use witness statements and photographs to strengthen your claim.
Avoid admitting fault, as your statements can be used as evidence. If the report erroneously names you at fault, you can request to amend the report.
If the police don’t write a crash report, you can submit an MV-104 within ten days of the accident.
Consult our New York bike accident attorneys to protect your rights.

Insurance will pay if your damages are less than $50,000 for a bike accident and you did not suffer a severe injury. If you are on a bicycle and are involved in an accident, the following coverage may situations will apply:

	Accident Between Two (Or More) Cyclists	Hit By a Motor Vehicle	Accident Between a Cyclist and a Pedestrian	Accident With a Stationary Object
If You’re at Fault	Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other rider’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.	The driver’s PIP insurance will cover damages not exceeding $50,000. If the damages are in excess of $50,000 and you were not fully at fault, you can file an auto insurance claim for the remaining damages. In the case of an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may seek compensation through your own UM/UIM policy. Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other driver’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.	Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other rider’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.	If you collide with a pothole, tree, parked car, curb, etc., while on your bicycle, you may be able to claim damage to your bike on your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy. Personal liability coverage may cover damage to the stationary object if it is someone else’s private property.
If the Other Person Is at Fault	Their renters’ or homeowners’ policy may cover your injuries and damage.	The driver’s PIP insurance will cover damages not exceeding $50,000. If the damages are in excess of $50,000, you can file an auto insurance claim for the remaining damages. In the case of an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may seek compensation through your own UM/UIM policy. The driver’s auto liability insurance can cover medical costs and bike repair or replacement. Bike damage depends on the cyclist’s homeowners or renters’ policy.	The pedestrian’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the cyclist’s damages and injuries.

Accident Between Two (Or More) Cyclists

Hit By a Motor Vehicle

Accident Between a Cyclist and a Pedestrian

Accident With a Stationary Object

If You’re at Fault

Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other rider’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.

The driver’s PIP insurance will cover damages not exceeding $50,000. If the damages are in excess of $50,000 and you were not fully at fault, you can file an auto insurance claim for the remaining damages.

In the case of an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may seek compensation through your own UM/UIM policy.

Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other driver’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.

Your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the other rider’s injuries and damages through personal liability coverage.

If you collide with a pothole, tree, parked car, curb, etc., while on your bicycle, you may be able to claim damage to your bike on your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy. Personal liability coverage may cover damage to the stationary object if it is someone else’s private property.

If the Other Person Is at Fault

Their renters’ or homeowners’ policy may cover your injuries and damage.

The driver’s PIP insurance will cover damages not exceeding $50,000. If the damages are in excess of $50,000, you can file an auto insurance claim for the remaining damages.

In the case of an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may seek compensation through your own UM/UIM policy.

The driver’s auto liability insurance can cover medical costs and bike repair or replacement. Bike damage depends on the cyclist’s homeowners or renters’ policy.

The pedestrian’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover the cyclist’s damages and injuries.

Can I Sue if I Was Hurt in a Bike Accident?

You can file a lawsuit if a vehicle hit you while you were cycling in New York, causing over $50,000 in losses or serious bodily injury. A bike accident lawsuit lets you seek economic and non-economic damages, including economic, physical, and emotional damages.

Under comparative fault rules, even if you were partly responsible, you can still sue the other partly culpable party to recover a percentage of losses reflecting their fault. So, if you were 90 percent at fault and the driver was 10 percent at fault, you may still collect 10 percent of your damages.

Why Choose the Garden City Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Chopra & Nocerino?

Your case matters and should be handled by a skilled law firm with a proven track record of success in bike accident cases. Our knowledgeable lawyers will go to bat for you while you focus on recovering.

Do I Really Need a Bike Accident Attorney to Recover Compensation?

Retaining a bike accident attorney relieves much of the burden after an injury collision:

They handle negotiations with insurers to pursue optimal settlements.
They tackle administrative tasks like paperwork, records collection, and documentation of losses.
They advocate for your best interests and right to fair compensation, taking cases to trial if needed.
They can connect you with top medical experts to support your recovery and assess your injuries and prognosis to provide strong evidence for your case.

Our experienced attorneys understand New York’s law and legal system inside out. As dedicated personal injury lawyers, we strongly advocate for injured clients while they focus on healing. Let us manage the legal details so you can devote your energy to recovering.

Chopra & Nocerino Step Up to the Plate

Our bike accident attorneys go to bat for injured cyclists in New York. We relentlessly pursue fair compensation, even against formidable opponents.

Take the case of Charles Puccio, who received a $2.25 million settlement from the City of New York after an NYPD detective grabbed his arm while cycling, causing him to crash. The NYPD denied fault and delayed releasing video evidence for years.

But we persevered for over three years, finally obtaining footage proving the officer’s actions. Our dedication and refusal to back down helped our client overcome initial denials and potential cover-up attempts to get justice against one of the most respected law enforcement departments in the country.

When facing an uphill legal battle after a cycling injury, turn to the attorneys who will go to bat for you. We have a proven record of successfully securing damages for clients.

Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents in Garden City, NJ

Due to the lack of protection and the intensity of impacts with vehicles or pavement, bicycle accidents can frequently cause serious injuries, including:

Broken bones

Head and neck injuries

Road rash

Back or spinal damage

These injuries can be serious. If you are in a bicycle accident and think you are hurt, visit a medical professional as soon as possible to seek help.

Important Cycling Laws That Could Impact Your Case

Sometimes, a plaintiff may have partially contributed to the accident. Under New York’s comparative fault law, damage awards are reduced by the percentage of the plaintiff’s fault. This means that even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover some compensation.

Bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as drivers of cars and trucks. This means bicyclists must obey traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings. Bicycles are allowed on city streets even if there is no marked bike lane. However, bicycles are not permitted on certain bridges, expressways, and highways where cars travel at higher speeds. Like motor vehicle drivers, bicyclists are not permitted to ride on sidewalks.

Bicyclists must also obey laws that drivers and trucks are not subject to, including:

Helmet use – Bicyclists must wear helmets when riding a bicycle for commercial purposes. Children under 14 years of age must also wear helmets.
Hand signals – Bicyclists must use hand signals to indicate left turns, right turns, stops, and reduced speeds.
Clinging to vehicles – No bicycle or bicyclist is permitted to cling onto a motor vehicle while it is operating on the roadway.
Equipment – Bicycles must be equipped with working brakes, a bell or other audible signal, white headlight and taillight for use from dusk to dawn, and reflective tires or other devices.
Proper riding methods – Bicyclists must ride on a permanent seat, with at least one hand on the handlebars and both feet on the pedals at all times.

If you fail to follow these laws, you may be found partially responsible for your accident.

Premises liability issues may also apply to bike accident claims. Property owners must maintain safe conditions. If your accident resulted from poor road conditions, the owner is typically the responsible party. In bike injury cases, the owner is usually the city or county, making those claims more complex than those involving a private owner’s negligence.

How to Contact a Garden City Bike Accident Attorney

Our skilled attorneys offer free consultations and work on bike injury cases with no fees unless we obtain compensation. We go to bat for our clients, and our results speak for themselves. Let us hit it out of the park for you. Contact the bike accident lawyers by calling (855) NYC-HURT or filling out our online contact form.