What You Need To Know About Bicycle Accident Settlements on Long Island

If you were hit by a car while biking on Long Island, one of the first questions you probably have is what your claim might be worth. The truth is that there is no standard answer. Every settlement reflects the specific facts of that bicycle accident case, including factors like the amount of insurance coverage available, the nature and severity of the injuries, and whether the cyclist bears any responsibility for the crash. In this article, we’ll discuss how compensation works, including the types of damages an injured cyclist can typically pursue, what factors affect bicycle accident settlement amounts, and how a bicycle accident lawyer can help.

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How Does New York’s No-Fault System Apply to Bicyclists?

When a bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle in New York, they can generally seek no-fault benefits through the insurance policy covering that vehicle. These benefits are available regardless of who caused the accident.

Basic no-fault coverage provides up to $50,000 for combined economic losses, including medical treatment and a portion of lost earnings. But what no-fault does not cover is equally important to understand. It does not compensate a cyclist for bicycle damage or pain and suffering, and if their injuries are severe, it may not be enough to cover the full impact on the cyclist’s life. That gap is when a separate personal injury claim against the responsible driver may be appropriate.

To be eligible to file a personal injury claim, a cyclist’s injuries must meet New York’s serious injury threshold, which includes fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent loss or limitation of a body part or function, and other significant physical limitations.

These are fault-based claims, which means that you must also be able to prove the driver’s negligence caused or contributed to the crash. Examples of negligence include:

• Failing to yield to a cyclist at an intersection
• Turning or changing lanes without checking for bicycle traffic
• Opening a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path
• Passing without leaving sufficient space
• Speeding or running a traffic signal
• Driving while distracted or impaired

What Bicycle Accident Compensation Can You Recover Through a Personal Injury Claim?

When you file a personal injury claim, you can generally pursue compensation for both the economic and non-economic effects of your bike crash.

Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, such as:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Future care and medical equipment
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Bicycle and other property damage
• Necessary transportation or household assistance

Non-economic damages address the personal effects of the injuries, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent limitations or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Reduced independence and quality of life

What Factors Affect the Value of a Bicycle Accident Settlement?

There is no “average” settlement for a bicycle accident on Long Island. The value of a personal injury settlement depends on several overlapping factors, including:

• The severity and permanence of the injuries: Fractures, brain injuries, spinal injuries, torn ligaments, and other serious injuries may require surgery or lengthy rehabilitation. Claims may be worth more when the cyclist is left with permanent weakness, limited movement, scarring, disability, or the need for continued treatment.
• Medical expenses and future care: A settlement may account for hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, assistive equipment, and other treatment. When future care is expected, medical evidence may be needed to establish what treatment will be necessary and how much it is likely to cost.
• The effect on the cyclist’s employment: Lost wages may include more than regular paychecks. The claim may also involve missed overtime, lost bonuses, reduced self-employment income, an inability to return to the same position, or diminished future earning capacity.
• Pain and the effect on daily life: Settlement value may reflect the duration and intensity of the cyclist’s pain, emotional distress, loss of independence, and difficulty exercising, driving, caring for family members, or participating in hobbies and relationships.
• The strength of the fault evidence: Police reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, vehicle damage, cellphone records, and accident reconstruction evidence may help establish how the collision occurred. Strong evidence is especially important when the driver and cyclist provide conflicting accounts.
• Available insurance coverage: The amount that can realistically be recovered may depend on the driver’s liability limits and whether additional coverage applies through a vehicle owner, employer, commercial policy, or another responsible party.
• Whether the cyclist shares fault: New York applies a modified comparative negligence rule to bicycle injury claims governed by the no-fault law. A cyclist who is 50% or less responsible may still recover compensation, but the settlement is reduced by their percentage of fault. A cyclist who is more than 50% responsible may be barred from recovery. For example, if the cyclist’s damages total $200,000 and they are found 25% at fault, the potential recovery would be reduced to $150,000.

How Can a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help Determine What Your Claim Is Worth?

Calculating the value of a bicycle crash claim involves more than adding up your existing medical bills. A bicycle accident lawyer on Long Island can evaluate the full effect of the injuries on your life, the strength of the evidence, and the amount of insurance available before determining what would constitute a reasonable settlement.

Here are just a few of the ways that a lawyer helps:

• Identifying all recoverable losses: This may include medical expenses, lost earnings, property damage, pain and suffering, and other effects of the accident.
• Estimating future damages: Medical providers, vocational specialists, and financial experts may be needed to evaluate future treatment costs or reduced earning capacity.
• Documenting non-economic harm: Medical records, testimony, photographs, and other evidence can demonstrate how the injuries have affected the cyclist’s mobility, independence, and daily life.
• Evaluating fault: A lawyer can assess the available evidence and determine how allegations that the cyclist contributed to the crash may affect the claim.
• Identifying available insurance: This may include coverage through the driver, vehicle owner, employer, or another responsible party.
• Reviewing settlement offers: An attorney can compare an offer against the cyclist’s documented current and future losses before recommending whether to accept it or continue negotiating.

Our Long Island Bicycle Accident Lawyers Help Clients Pursue Maximum Compensation

Bicycle accident settlement amounts can vary based on the nature of your injuries, financial losses, long-term limitations, and numerous other factors. Working with an attorney can help you ensure that any settlement you receive accurately accounts for the impact of the harm you’ve suffered.

At The Odierno Law Firm, our team has represented injured people on Long Island since 1978, recovering more than $300 million for our clients. In one case, our firm recovered a $555,000 settlement for a 33-year-old cyclist who tore his ACL after being struck by a vehicle in an intersection. The driver claimed that he was stopped at a red light and that the cyclist caused the collision by riding off the sidewalk and into his vehicle. Despite that dispute over fault, we successfully pursued compensation for the cyclist’s surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and lasting knee injury.

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, contact our Long Island bicycle accident attorneys for a free consultation. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee unless we win.