Bicycle Accident Lawyer Brooklyn

Bicyclists throughout Brooklyn face real risks when sharing roadways, bridge approaches, and intersections with motor vehicle traffic, and a collision can leave a rider with serious injuries and significant medical expenses. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents cyclists who have been injured in crashes involving cars, trucks, other bicycles, or pedestrians across the borough. The legal framework that applies to a bicycle accident claim depends on how the collision occurred. When a motor vehicle strikes a cyclist, the resulting personal injury claim is generally treated as a motor vehicle case under New York’s no-fault insurance framework. When a crash instead involves two bicycles, or a bicycle and a pedestrian, without a motor vehicle involved, a different and more general comparative-fault rule typically applies instead. The firm reviews the circumstances of each Brooklyn bicycle accident, gathers relevant evidence such as police reports and witness accounts, and applies the New York statutes that govern the specific type of collision involved. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys bring perspective from both prosecution and civil practice to these matters. If you were injured while cycling in Brooklyn, understanding which legal rules apply to your situation is an important first step. Call (888) 437-7747.

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What Bicycle Accidents Mean in Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s expanding network of bike lanes and greenways has increased the number of cyclists sharing roadways with cars, trucks, and buses throughout the borough, and collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles remain a recurring source of serious injury. A claim arising from this kind of crash is analyzed under one of two different New York legal frameworks, depending on how the collision happened. When a cyclist is struck by a motor vehicle, the resulting personal injury claim is generally subject to Insurance Law article 51, which means N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(b) controls the comparative-fault analysis: a claimant whose own fault is greater than that of the defendant, or the combined defendants, is barred from recovering damages entirely. Because the claim also involves a motor vehicle, New York’s no-fault insurance law requirements, including the “serious injury” threshold, may apply to the cyclist’s ability to recover pain and suffering damages. When a bicycle collision does not involve a motor vehicle at all, such as a crash between two bicycles or between a bicycle and a pedestrian, the general pure comparative-fault rule under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(a) applies instead, and a claimant’s damages are simply reduced in proportion to their own share of fault rather than being barred outright. These two frameworks are distinct, and correctly identifying which one governs a particular Brooklyn bicycle collision is an essential part of evaluating a potential claim. Litigation arising from a bicycle accident in Brooklyn may be filed in Kings County Supreme Court, part of the state’s 2nd Judicial District, where the case proceeds under New York’s civil procedure rules. The firm examines the facts of each incident, including whether a motor vehicle was involved, to determine which statutory framework applies and how the claim should be pursued on behalf of the injured cyclist.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Bicycle Accident Cases

When evaluating a Brooklyn bicycle accident, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin by determining whether a motor vehicle was involved in the collision, since this threshold question determines which New York statute governs the claim. If a car, truck, or other motor vehicle struck the cyclist, the firm applies N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(b) to the comparative-fault analysis and reviews whether N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 388 provides a basis for holding the vehicle’s owner liable, since that statute extends liability to an owner whenever the driver operated the vehicle with the owner’s express or implied permission. The firm also considers whether the cyclist’s injuries meet the “serious injury” definition under New York’s no-fault insurance law, since that threshold affects the ability to pursue pain and suffering damages in a motor vehicle case. If, instead, the collision involved only bicycles or a bicycle and a pedestrian, the firm applies the general comparative-fault rule under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(a), under which the claimant’s damages are reduced by their own percentage of fault rather than barred outright. In either scenario, the firm gathers available evidence, including police reports, photographs, and witness information, to support the claim. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work to apply the correct statutory framework to the facts of each Brooklyn bicycle accident, recognizing that misapplying the wrong comparative-fault rule could affect how a claim is evaluated and pursued on behalf of an injured cyclist.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of the firm, founded the practice in 1997 and has practiced law continuously since that year. He began his legal career as a former prosecutor, which gave him firsthand experience with how injury and liability cases are investigated and presented in court. Mr. Sris studied at George Mason University, where he developed a background in accounting and information systems that he has applied to complex financial and technology-related cases the firm has handled over the years. He is admitted to practice law individually in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work alongside Mr. Sris on the personal injury matters the firm handles, including bicycle accident claims involving both motor vehicle and non-motor-vehicle collisions. The firm’s phone intake line is staffed 24/7, allowing an injured cyclist or a family member to reach the office at any hour to begin discussing a potential claim. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys bring this combined perspective to bicycle accident matters throughout Brooklyn, working to identify the correct legal framework and the parties who may be responsible for a client’s injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the same fault rule apply whether or not a car was involved in my bicycle accident?

No. If a motor vehicle struck you, your claim is generally treated as a motor vehicle personal injury case under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(b), which bars recovery entirely if your own fault is found to be greater than the defendant’s. If your accident involved only bicycles, or a bicycle and a pedestrian, the general comparative-fault rule under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(a) applies instead, and your damages are simply reduced in proportion to your own share of fault rather than eliminated. Determining which rule applies depends on the specific facts of how your collision occurred, which is one of the first questions the firm reviews when evaluating a bicycle accident claim.

Can I hold a driver’s employer or the vehicle owner responsible if I was hit while cycling?

Potentially. N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 388 makes the owner of a motor vehicle liable for injuries caused by a driver’s negligence when that driver operated the vehicle with the owner’s express or implied permission. This can extend liability to a delivery company, rental agency, or other entity that owns the vehicle involved, in addition to the driver. Whether this statute applies depends on the ownership of the vehicle and whether the driver had permission to operate it at the time of the collision, both of which require factual investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

What is the deadline for filing a bicycle accident injury claim in New York?

Under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5), a personal injury claim in New York generally must be filed within three years of the date of the accident. This three-year period applies whether the claim involves a motor vehicle or a collision between bicycles or a bicycle and a pedestrian. Certain circumstances may toll or otherwise affect this period, so the applicable deadline can vary depending on the facts of a specific case. Because evidence can become more difficult to gather as time passes, prompt evaluation of a potential claim is generally advisable.

Do I need to show a “serious injury” to recover for a bicycle accident?

That requirement applies only when a motor vehicle was involved in the collision. New York’s no-fault insurance law limits recovery for pain and suffering in motor vehicle cases to injuries that meet the “serious injury” categories defined under N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture, significant disfigurement, or a permanent limitation of use of a body function. If your bicycle accident did not involve a motor vehicle, this particular threshold does not apply, and your claim proceeds instead under the general comparative-fault rule described above.

What evidence helps support a Brooklyn bicycle accident claim?

Police reports, photographs of the scene and any property damage, witness contact information, and medical records documenting your injuries and treatment are generally useful in supporting a bicycle accident claim. If a motor vehicle was involved, information about the vehicle’s owner and the driver’s relationship to that owner can also be relevant under New York’s vehicle-owner liability statute. Gathering this evidence as soon as possible after the collision, while it remains available, helps support a thorough evaluation of the claim by the firm.

How do I begin the process after a bicycle accident in Brooklyn?

You can call the firm’s intake line, staffed 24/7, at (888) 437-7747 to request a consultation and describe how your accident occurred. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review the facts, including whether a motor vehicle was involved, to determine which New York statutes apply to your situation. Because statutory deadlines apply to these claims, reaching out as soon as reasonably possible after the collision helps preserve the opportunity to gather relevant evidence while witnesses and records remain available.

The same rules apply outside Brooklyn, and our page on bicycle accident claims across New York walks through each stage.