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 Tagged with bicycle accident lawyer nyc

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As New York City bicycle-accident attorneys, we question Mayor Eric Adams’s push to cap e-bike speeds at 15 mph. The proposal grabs headlines, but the data shows that speed-limited e-bikes aren’t what’s killing New Yorkers—multi-ton motor vehicles and policy inaction are.

What the Numbers Say

From January 2024 through May 2025 at least 16 fatal bike-related crashes occurred city-wide. Only one involved a cyclist striking a pedestrian. The rest were motorists striking cyclists or cyclists forced into harm’s way by car doors, trucks, or emergency vehicles.

Date Victim Bike Type Citi Bike Cause Category Specific Cause / Scenario At Fault
2024-02-22 Cyclist Private pedal No Driver Error Truck left-turn hit-and-run Motorist
2024-02-23 Cyclist Private pedal No Driver Error Speeding driver ran red light Motorist
2024-02-27 Cyclist Citi Bike e-assist Yes Dooring + Driver Error Doored, then hit by passing car Shared
2024-04-04 Cyclist Private (pedal) No Driver Error Truck “right-hooked” across protected lane Motorist
2024-06-07 Cyclist Citi Bike pedal Yes Driver Error Box truck struck rider Motorist
2024-08-19 Cyclist Private e-bike No Driver Error Box truck right turn into teens on e-bike Motorist
2024-09-01 Cyclist Private pedal No Driver Error Drunk, unlicensed van driver Motorist
2024-10-22 Cyclist Private pedal No Police Chase Fleeing pickup ran red light Motorist
2024-10-30 Cyclist Private (pedal) No Emergency Vehicle FDNY pickup struck cyclist Motorist
2024-11-02 Cyclist Private (pedal) No Police Chase Fleeing minivan ran red light Motorist
2025-02-25 Cyclist Private (pedal) No Driver Error MTA bus turning through intersection Motorist
2025-03-19 Cyclist Private e-bike No Driver Error Two cars in chain-reaction crash Motorist
2025-03-21 Pedestrian Delivery e-bike No Cyclist Error E-biker blew stop sign, struck pedestrian Cyclist
2025-04-19 Cyclist Private (pedal) No Emergency Vehicle FDNY fire engine ran red light Motorist
2025-05-01 Cyclist Private e-bike No Dooring + Driver Error Doored, then run over by box truck Shared

Ghost bike in New York City as a tribute to the cyclist who died at this location

Totals (Jan 2024 – May 2025)

  • Driver Error / Motorist at fault: 13 deaths
  • Dooring + Driver Error (shared fault): 2 deaths
  • Emergency Vehicle collisions: 2 deaths
  • Police-chase crashes: 2 deaths
  • Cyclist error: 1 death (pedestrian struck)

Why a 15 mph Cap Misses the Mark

  • Motor-vehicle violence—not e-bike speed—is the killer. Thirteen of sixteen deaths were caused by drivers of vans, trucks, buses, or cars.
  • Dooring remains lethal. Two fatalities started with a parked driver flinging a door open. No speed cap fixes that.
  • High-speed police chases and emergency-vehicle protocols need reform. Two cyclists died because drivers—fleeing or on emergency runs—blew through red lights.
  • Delivery workers will bear the burden. A blanket e-bike cap criminalizes low-wage couriers while leaving truck violence untouched.

What Will Save Lives

  1. Build the protected bike-lane network Mayor Adams promised. Paint alone isn’t protection; New Yorkers need concrete-separated lanes in every borough.
  2. Daylight intersections and end curbside parking at corners so cyclists aren’t hidden from turning trucks.
  3. Hold dangerous drivers accountable—especially for hit-and-runs, DWI, and dooring violations.
  4. Equip city and commercial trucks with side guards and better visibility tech.
  5. Re-evaluate NYPD pursuit policies that turn city streets into racetracks.

Lowering e-bike speeds to 15 mph may feel like action, but it’s a distraction. Let’s focus on the proven fixes that keep every New Yorker, cyclist, pedestrian, and motorist, alive.

Need legal help after a bicycle crash? Our team at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf has recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements for injured cyclists and their families. Call 212-943-1090 for a free consultation.

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A part of the Greenway that was closedThe extended closure of the Hudson River Greenway between Dyckman and 181st Streets isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a safety hazard. As New York bicycle accident lawyers, we know that even short detours can have serious consequences when cyclists are forced into traffic-heavy streets without proper protections.

What’s unfolding in Upper Manhattan right now is a striking example of how the city continues to treat cyclists as second-class commuters. The Greenway, the busiest bike path in the United States, is not just a recreational amenity—it’s a critical part of New York City’s transportation infrastructure. When it’s closed, riders aren’t just delayed—they’re endangered.

A Detour That Isn’t a Detour

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Queensboro_Bridge_from_Manhattan_sideA Blog by our NYC Personal Injury Lawyers

After years of dangerous conditions and tireless advocacy, New Yorkers finally have a safer way to cross the Queensboro Bridge. On Sunday, the city officially opened a newly redesigned layout that separates cyclists and pedestrians for the first time in the bridge’s history.

Until now, pedestrians and cyclists were forced to share a narrow 11-foot-wide space on the north outer roadway — a setup that led to constant congestion, unsafe conditions, and a documented pattern of injuries. As lawyers who represent victims of bicycle and pedestrian accidents throughout New York City, we’ve long seen the consequences of neglecting proper infrastructure. The redesign is a major step in the right direction.

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Queensboro_Bridge_from_Manhattan_sideDespite years of planning and a near-complete pedestrian infrastructure project on the Queensboro Bridge, New York City continues to favor motor vehicles over the safety of its most vulnerable road users. On Saturday, more than 200 activists, including local officials and transportation advocates, walked across the southern roadway of the bridge to protest Mayor Adams’s failure to open the long-promised pedestrian pathway.

As New York City bicycle crash attorneys and pedestrian accident lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand how overcrowded, dangerous infrastructure contributes to severe injuries and fatalities. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Queensboro Bridge, where pedestrians and cyclists are forced to share a single, narrow 10-foot path—often resulting in collisions, near-misses, and chaos.

A Preventable Safety Crisis

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As NYC bicycle accident attorneys, we have seen the devastating impact of the city’s failure to prioritize safe streets. Victims of reckless drivers often suffer life-altering injuries—broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage—all because the city refuses to implement the infrastructure that could prevent these tragedies.

A newly released Department of Transportation (DOT) report confirms what cyclists and safe-street advocates have long suspected: Mayor Eric Adams has systematically undermined New York City’s legally mandated commitments to expand bike lanes and bus lanes, putting cyclists and pedestrians at continued risk.

The Report’s Findings: A Stark Failure to Meet Commitments

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Juraed Umedjon was killed in a bicycle accident in BrooklynCyclist deaths in New York City have reached alarming levels, with 2023 marking the highest number of fatalities in 24 years. Despite Mayor Eric Adams’ promises to make the city safer for cyclists by building 300 miles of protected bike lanes during his first term, the city has only constructed 58 miles so far. This shortfall has left cyclists increasingly vulnerable on the city’s streets, as evidenced by the recent tragic incidents that have claimed the lives of several riders.

Just last week, a 16-year-old cyclist, Juraed Umedjon, was killed by a truck driver on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. This marks the 15th cyclist death this year and the 12th child to lose their life on New York City’s roads in 2024. The intersection of Ditmas and Coney Island avenues, where the crash occurred, is notorious for its dangers. Despite being a Vision Zero priority zone since 2015, the area has seen little in terms of safety improvements. The promises made by Mayor Adams to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists have yet to materialize, leaving dangerous roadways like Coney Island Avenue largely unchanged.

The failure to build adequate protected bike lanes is not just a matter of missed targets; it is a matter of life and death. The recent death of Juraed Umedjon, along with the injuries to his fellow riders, underscores the urgent need for action. Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safer streets, has highlighted that more children have been killed so far in 2024 than in nine of the last ten years. This is a clear indication that the city’s current approach is insufficient.

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Bicycle accidentAs bicycle accident lawyers in New York City, we have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of unsafe cycling conditions on our streets. A recent data analysis on Bedford Avenue by Replica underscores the urgent need for a protected bike lane, which would not only enhance safety but also benefit the local residents and businesses in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill.

A significant portion of the thousands of cyclists who traverse Bedford Avenue daily are local residents commuting to homes, shops, and workplaces within the neighborhood. This debunks the myth that street safety projects cater primarily to non-residents. The data, compiled by Replica, highlights that 56% of these cyclists are people of color, and 45% end their trips in Bed-Stuy or Clinton Hill. Furthermore, 60% of these trips conclude at residential locations, while 29% end at retail spots, demonstrating the reliance of local cyclists on this corridor.

The push for a protected bike lane has garnered substantial support from local businesses. Forty-one businesses along Bedford Avenue between Dean and Flushing have signed a letter backing the project. McKendree Key, founder of the Artshack ceramic studio, emphasized the safety concerns, noting that the current bike lane is frequently obstructed by vehicles, posing risks to the many children and adults who visit the studio each week.

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Brooklyn location of the fatal bicycle accidentOn Tuesday morning a cyclist was fatally injured in a collision precipitated by a suddenly opened car door in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The impact sent the cyclist into the path of an oncoming Hyundai Elantra, resulting in catastrophic injuries that led to his untimely death. The accident occurred a block away from another fatal crash less than 12 hours prior.

As bicycle accident lawyers deeply entrenched in the fight for NYC cyclists’ rights and safety, these two accidents underscore a critical and ongoing issue within our urban infrastructure and legal systems.

While the driver of the Elantra remained at the scene and an investigation is underway, the legal journey ahead for the victims’ families will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges. In cases like these, a bicycle accident lawyer plays a crucial role in navigating the complexities of the legal system, advocating for the deceased’s rights, and ensuring that justice is served. This includes thorough investigations to establish liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and if necessary, litigating to secure compensation for the victims’ families.

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AmbulanceAs attorneys specializing in bicycle accidents, we would like to address the perilous issue of “dooring” accidents in  New York City. A recent tragedy in Brooklyn underscores the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures against this often-overlooked hazard.

In Cypress Hills, a food delivery worker on a scooter experienced a life-threatening incident that highlights the dangers faced by cyclists and scooter riders daily. While navigating Fulton Street, the individual was struck by an opened car door from a parked orange car. This collision resulted in severe injuries, leaving the victim unresponsive and critically injured with a head injury. Witnesses at the scene and surveillance footage confirm the sudden and devastating impact of the dooring.

This incident is not isolated but represents a wider issue within our urban landscapes. “Dooring,” or the act of a car occupant opening their door into the path of an oncoming cyclist or scooter rider, poses significant risks. The abrupt and unexpected nature of these incidents leaves the rider with little to no time to react, often leading to severe injuries or even fatalities.

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The Brooklyn NYC intersection where the bus collided with the cyclistA school bus and a 44-year-old bicyclist were both traveling in the same direction along Fort Hamilton Parkway when the bus made a right turn onto 41st Street, resulting in the back of the bus striking the cyclist. Despite the immediate response of the bus driver, the bicyclist succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock.

Local residents and witnesses to the accident expressed their condolences for the victim’s family and voiced their concerns about the safety of this particular intersection. They highlighted the area’s reputation as a busy and potentially dangerous spot for both cyclists and motorists alike. Instances like this underscore the urgency of addressing safety concerns on our roads.

In the aftermath of such a tragic incident, investigations are launched to determine the exact cause of the collision. Bicycle accident lawyers play a pivotal role in assisting victims and their families during this challenging time. They:

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