Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

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truck side guards can protect pedestrian and cylcists liveThe recent fatal truck crash involving a 15-year-old Citi Bike rider on East 14th Street is raising significant legal questions about commercial truck safety, driver responsibility, and the effect of a New York City exemption that allowed the truck to operate without a side guard designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians.

15-year-old Daria Serkov was killed on September 18, 2026, after a hydro-excavation truck traveling west on East 14th Street turned right onto First Avenue and struck the electric Citi Bike she was riding with another teenager. The precise circumstances remain under investigation, and the truck driver had not been criminally charged as of September 21.

The crash is particularly notable because the truck reportedly did not have a side guard. The New York City Business Integrity Commission had granted the vehicle a waiver from the City’s side-guard requirement in 2023.

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Location of the e-bike accident that killed a teenager and injured anotherA tragic collision involving an electric Citi Bike and a sanitation truck in Manhattan’s East Village has left a 15-year-old girl dead and a 16-year-old girl injured, once again highlighting the potentially devastating consequences when cyclists and large commercial vehicles share New York City streets.

According to Streetsblog, the two teenagers were riding together on an electric Citi Bike near East 14th Street and First Avenue at approximately 9 p.m. on September 18 when they were involved in a collision with a Peterbilt truck. Both teenagers were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where the 15-year-old later died. The 16-year-old reportedly suffered a leg injury and was listed in stable condition.

The truck driver remained at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Vision Zero reimagined coverNew York City has announced a major expansion of its Vision Zero street-safety initiative, introducing more than 100 commitments intended to reduce pedestrian deaths, serious injuries and dangerous driving throughout the five boroughs.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the 10-year “Vision Zero Reimagined” plan on September 15, 2026. The initiative calls for changes to the way New York City addresses speeding and repeat dangerous drivers, intersection design, oversized vehicles, e-bikes and scooters, and the safety of municipal vehicles.

For the millions of New Yorkers who walk, bike or drive on city streets, the proposals could eventually result in significant changes to both street design and the measures used to identify and address dangerous driving.

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e-bike accidents can be devastatingNew York City lawmakers are undertaking a sweeping review of e-bike and e-scooter safety as collisions involving e-bikes continue to rise across the five boroughs

On August 4, 2026, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced that the Council will hold a comprehensive hearing on September 30 to examine e-bike and e-scooter safety, enforcement of existing laws, and at least 17 legislative proposals intended to address the growing risks associated with electric bicycles, scooters and other forms of micromobility.

According to the City Council, more than 500 e-bike collisions have already occurred in New York City in 2026, representing a 31.7% increase compared with the same period last year.

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NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to prevent car accidentsToday is National Bike and Roll to School Day, a nationwide event promoting safe and active transportation for children traveling to school. In Brooklyn, the occasion also served as the backdrop for a major announcement from Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Transportation regarding planned bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements along Bergen Street and Dean Street.

As New York bicycle accident lawyers representing injured cyclists and grieving families for decades, we understand why initiatives like National Bike and Roll to School Day matter. Children and families should be able to bike to school without being forced to navigate dangerous traffic conditions, speeding vehicles and streets lacking adequate cycling infrastructure.

Too often, serious bicycle accidents occur because roadways were not designed to safely accommodate cyclists.

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New-York-City-scaledNew York City recorded one of the lowest first-quarter traffic fatality totals in more than a century, with 42 deaths reported across all road users in early 2026. Pedestrian fatalities dropped to 23,  the lowest first-quarter number since recordkeeping began, while deaths among occupants of cars and trucks also reached historic lows.

City officials credit Vision Zero street redesigns, expanded enforcement, and automated camera systems targeting speeding and red-light violations. On paper, the trend is encouraging.

But from a legal perspective, the story is more complex.

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the South East Side of Prospect Park is dangerous for cyclistsPlans to build a long-awaited protected bike lane along the eastern edge of Prospect Park are finally moving forward, bringing important safety improvements to one of Brooklyn’s most heavily used cycling corridors.

According to city transportation officials, construction will begin this month on a $16.25 million restoration and safety project that will redesign sections of Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue bordering Prospect Park. The project is funded by the New York City Mayor’s Office, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and City Council District 40.

For the more than 400 cyclists who ride along this stretch every day, the project represents a significant step toward safer streets in an area long recognized as hazardous for riders.

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Canal street is dangerous to pedestrians and cyclistsCommunity members, street-safety advocates, and families of crash victims recently gathered on Canal Street to hold a vigil honoring the 21 people who have lost their lives in traffic crashes along the corridor over the years. The event was organized to remember the victims and to highlight the ongoing dangers faced by pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers traveling along one of Manhattan’s busiest and most complex roadways.

Canal Street stretches across Lower Manhattan, connecting major traffic routes including the Manhattan Bridge and the Holland Tunnel approaches. With heavy vehicle traffic, delivery trucks, buses, cyclists, and thousands of pedestrians moving through the area daily, the corridor has long been considered one of the city’s most challenging streets from a traffic safety perspective.

A High-Risk Corridor for Pedestrians and Cyclists

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New York CityNew York City’s transportation policy continues to evolve as officials seek to reduce traffic deaths and redesign streets to prioritize safety. On March 3, 2026, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn appeared before the City Council Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to testify about progress under the New York City Streets Plan and the city’s next steps to improve street safety.

From the perspective of our NYC car accident lawyers, these policy discussions are significant because they directly influence the safety of drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders across the five boroughs.

Historic Drop in Traffic Deaths Since Vision Zero

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New York City’s streets are once again at the center of public policy. At a February 13 press conference, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the relaunch of the Streets Master Plan, originally enacted by the City Council in 2019 to require measurable progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure. The plan had stalled under former Mayor Eric Adams. Now, the new administration has pledged to restore coordination between agencies and bring the city closer to its Vision Zero goals.

From the perspective of experienced NYC car accident lawyers, this is more than a transportation story. It is a public safety issue with direct consequences for injury victims and their families.

Why the Streets Plan Matters in Car and Truck Accident Litigation