Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney

Representing injured cyclists throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Brooklyn has some of the busiest bike lanes in New York City, from Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg to Flatbush Avenue and Ocean Parkway. But heavy bike traffic sharing the road with delivery trucks, rideshare vehicles, and commuter cars means Brooklyn cyclists face collisions every day, some of which end in life-changing injury or death.

At Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C., we represent people who have been injured because of another party’s negligence.  As a dedicated Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney, Michael J. Redenburg has spent more than 15 years representing injured New Yorkers and personally handles bicycle accident cases rather than passing clients off to a case manager. The firm offers free consultations and handles personal injury matters on a contingency-fee basis.

Michael’s experience includes obtaining a $900,000 settlement for a client injured in a Brooklyn e-bike collision. If you were injured while riding a bicycle anywhere in Brooklyn, call 212-240-9465 to discuss what happened and learn what options may be available to you.

Why Brooklyn’s Streets Are Especially Dangerous for Cyclists

Brooklyn’s popularity with cyclists comes with a downside: some of its busiest cycling corridors are also some of its busiest truck and delivery routes.

Streets like Flatbush Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, and the approaches to the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges combine heavy bike commuter traffic with buses, box trucks, and turning vehicles. Neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Sunset Park report some of the highest volumes of bike-versus-vehicle crashes in the borough.

Cyclists riding through Brooklyn commonly face:

• Vehicles turning across bike lanes on major avenues
• Delivery trucks and vans double-parked in bike lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic
• Drivers opening car doors into bike lanes near residential blocks
• Distracted or speeding drivers on wide, multi-lane roadways
• Poor visibility at complex intersections near bridge approaches
• Construction zones that block or narrow protected bike lanes

New York City’s protected bike lane network has expanded significantly, and citywide data shows measurable safety gains where those lanes exist. But Brooklyn’s mix of older infrastructure and heavy commercial traffic means collisions remain common, and when a bicycle is involved, the cyclist is almost always the one who ends up seriously hurt.

What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Brooklyn?

A cyclist has essentially no protection when a vehicle strikes them. The driver of a car or truck might walk away with a dented bumper while the cyclist is taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Injuries commonly associated with Brooklyn bicycle accidents include:

Traumatic brain injuries. Striking the pavement, a curb, or a vehicle can cause anything from a concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury.

Broken bones and fractures. Wrists, arms, collarbones, ribs, hips, and legs frequently absorb the force of a fall or impact.

Spinal injuries. Disc damage, vertebral fractures, and nerve damage can result from the sudden force of a collision, and in the most serious cases, the spinal cord itself may be affected.

Road rash and lacerations. Sliding across pavement at speed can cause deep abrasions, scarring, and wounds requiring reconstructive treatment.

Internal injuries. Blunt-force trauma to the chest or abdomen can cause internal bleeding that isn’t immediately obvious.

Facial and dental injuries. Impact with the ground, a windshield, or a vehicle can fracture facial bones or knock out teeth.

Some of these injuries are obvious right away. Others, particularly concussions and internal injuries, don’t show clear symptoms until hours or days later. Getting evaluated by a doctor promptly does two things: it protects your health, and it creates a medical record connecting your injuries to the crash.

Drivers Are Often Responsible for Bicycle Accidents in Brooklyn

When a car, truck, or rideshare vehicle collides with a cyclist, one of the first questions is what the driver did or failed to do.

Driver negligence in Brooklyn bike accidents frequently involves:

• Speeding on wide arterial roads like Ocean Parkway or Eastern Parkway
• Making an unsafe or blind turn across a bike lane
• Opening a car door without checking for approaching cyclists
• Following too closely or failing to yield at an intersection
• Distraction from a phone, GPS, or passengers
• Entering or blocking a designated bike lane

Drivers aren’t necessarily the only parties who can be held responsible. Depending on the facts, liability could also extend to:

• The vehicle’s owner, if different from the driver
• An employer, if the driver was working at the time
• A delivery or trucking company
• A rideshare-related entity
• A governmental entity responsible for dangerous roadway conditions

New York also follows a comparative negligence rule. Under CPLR § 1411, a cyclist’s own conduct doesn’t automatically bar recovery, even if an insurance company argues the cyclist contributed to the crash. Instead, any damages are reduced by the cyclist’s percentage of fault. That means an insurer’s attempt to blame you for riding too fast, or for your positioning on the road, doesn’t necessarily end your claim, especially where the evidence shows the driver made an unsafe turn, failed to yield, or was distracted. A Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney can help gather the evidence needed to counter these claims and protect the value of your case.

How a Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney May Help You Build Your Case

Bicycle accident claims tend to move quickly on the evidence side. Brooklyn is full of businesses, residential buildings, and traffic cameras, but footage and records don’t stay available forever.

At Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C., investigating a Brooklyn bicycle accident may include gathering and reviewing:

• NYPD accident reports
• Photos and video from the scene
• Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or residences
• Dash-camera or bike-camera footage
• Witness statements
• Damage to the bicycle and the vehicle
• Medical records documenting your injuries
• Employment and wage records
• Insurance policy information
• Traffic-control and signal data
• GPS or fleet data for commercial vehicles, where applicable

The goal isn’t just to show that a crash happened. It’s to build a clear picture of how it happened, who was responsible, and how it has changed your life.

Losses Recoverable After a Brooklyn Bicycle Accident

What a bicycle accident claim is worth depends on the severity of your injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the strength of the liability evidence. Every case is different, but the categories of damages typically considered include:

Medical Expenses

Ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, surgery, physical therapy, medication, diagnostic imaging, and future medical care can all become part of a claim.

Lost Income

If you’re unable to work while recovering, or if your injuries permanently affect your ability to do your job, lost wages and reduced future earning capacity may be recoverable.

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain, emotional distress, scarring, and the impact an injury has on your daily life are all factors that can affect the value of a claim.

Future Costs

More serious injuries may require years of continued treatment, additional surgeries, physical therapy, or assistive equipment.

Property Damage

A damaged bicycle, helmet, phone, or other personal property lost in the crash may also factor into your claim.

New York’s No-Fault system. When a bicyclist is injured in a crash involving a covered motor vehicle, New York’s No-Fault insurance may apply to certain economic losses like medical bills and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident. Sorting out which insurer applies, and what additional claims may be available beyond No-Fault, can get complicated fast, especially in hit-and-run cases or crashes involving commercial vehicles.

No-Fault Insurance and Bicycle Accidents in Brooklyn

Insurance questions can get confusing for injured cyclists, since a bicycle isn’t a registered, insured vehicle the way a car is.

When a Brooklyn cyclist is hurt in a crash involving a covered motor vehicle, New York’s No-Fault insurance system may apply to certain economic losses, regardless of who caused the accident. No-Fault, also called Personal Injury Protection or PIP, is designed to cover medical bills and a portion of lost wages quickly, without requiring a cyclist to first prove the driver was at fault.

That doesn’t mean No-Fault covers everything. It generally doesn’t include compensation for pain and suffering, and there are limits on the wages and expenses it reimburses. For losses beyond what No-Fault provides, or in cases involving serious injury, a separate personal injury claim against the at-fault driver may be necessary.

Figuring out which insurer is responsible can get complicated fast, particularly in:

• Hit-and-run crashes, where the driver isn’t identified
• Crashes involving commercial or delivery vehicles
• Crashes involving multiple vehicles
• Crashes where the cyclist doesn’t own a car and has no personal auto policy of their own

Because No-Fault claims are subject to their own filing deadlines, separate from the statute of limitations for a lawsuit, it’s worth having a claim reviewed early rather than assuming coverage will sort itself out.

Recent Bicycle Accidents in Brooklyn

Brooklyn consistently reports more bicycle-versus-vehicle crashes than any other borough except Manhattan and Queens, and it leads the city in overall crash injury totals across all modes.

According to NYC Department of Transportation data compiled from NYPD collision reports, Brooklyn recorded 1,469 crashes between bicycles and motor vehicles in 2024, resulting in 1,297 cyclist injuries and 3 cyclist fatalities.

Some of the Brooklyn precincts with the highest bike-versus-vehicle crash totals in 2024 included:

Citywide, the danger hasn’t gone away. Through June 29, 2026, NYC DOT reported 94 total traffic fatalities, including 3 traditional bicycle deaths and 18 deaths involving e-bike, scooter, and moped riders, a reminder that Brooklyn’s bike lanes and busy avenues carry real risk every day, not just in the years reflected in annual reports.

These numbers only capture crashes between bicycles and motor vehicles. They don’t include the growing number of e-bike and moped-related collisions, which NYC DOT tracks separately and which have been rising citywide.

Statistics like these tell only part of the story. A crash doesn’t need to be fatal to derail someone’s life; thousands of Brooklyn cyclists deal with emergency treatment, missed work, and months of recovery every year.

What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident in Brooklyn?

A few steps after a crash can help protect both your health and any future claim.

Seek medical attention first, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, especially head injuries, don’t show symptoms right away.

Report the crash to police and get the driver’s information. Photograph the scene, your bike, the vehicle, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses if you can. Try not to repair or dispose of a damaged bicycle before its condition has been documented.

It’s also worth identifying nearby cameras quickly, since footage isn’t kept indefinitely. And be cautious about giving a detailed recorded statement to an insurance company before you understand your rights. Speaking with a Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney before giving a statement can help you avoid saying something that gets used against you later.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

Deadlines depend on who caused the accident. Most New York personal injury claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under CPLR § 214.

Claims involving a city or state entity, such as a crash tied to a dangerous roadway condition, can have a much shorter deadline. New York General Municipal Law § 50-e generally requires a notice of claim within 90 days. Waiting even a few weeks can mean losing evidence and, in some cases, losing the right to file at all.

Talk to a Member of Our Bicycle Accident Team Serving Brooklyn

A serious bike accident can leave you dealing with medical bills, missed work, insurance adjusters, and a lot of uncertainty all at once, which is why speaking with a Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Attorney early can make a real difference. You don’t have to sort out fault, chase down insurance coverage, or figure out what your case is worth on your own.

At Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C., you work directly with an experienced New York personal injury attorney. Michael has spent more than 15 years representing injured New Yorkers and handles bicycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis.

The firm represents injured cyclists throughout Brooklyn and the rest of New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.

If you or a family member has been injured in a bicycle accident in Brooklyn, call Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C. at 212-240-9465 for a free consultation.