Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, Staten Island Law Office
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, has a law office on Staten Island located at 26 Watchogue Rd Suite 1, Staten Island, NY 10314.
Drop by our office to speak with an attorney for free, or contact us to set up an appointment. We can also come to your home or hospital room, and we offer virtual consultations for our clients who cannot physically make it to our office.
Staten Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer
For many Staten Island residents, riding a bicycle plays a part in everyday life. Children all over the Island enjoy time on two wheels, but adults, too, cycle for exercise, work, commuting, or just to get around. Bikes provide great health benefits, take up minimal space, and help the environment. Seems like a win-win… until it isn’t.
“Riding bikes on Staten Island and around the other four boroughs also comes with serious accident risks. Collisions between bikes and vehicles happen often on crowded city streets, especially when motorists do not share the road equally with cyclists.
Suffering injuries in a severe bicycle accident can devastate a person’s life, inflicting physical, emotional, and financial pain. Between losing income from missing work, and needing expensive medical care, a Staten Island bike accident injury can even lead to financial disaster.
If a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s careless or reckless actions has caused you or a loved one severe injuries, then you should not have to shoulder the financial burden on your own. You likely have rights under New York law to receive substantial compensation from the person who harmed you. Contact the experienced Staten Island bicycle accident injury team at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP at 877-505-2368 or online for a free case evaluation to discuss the events that led to your bicycle accident and injuries you suffered.
Staten Island Bike Accident Lawyers Securing Results for Injured Cyclists
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP represents injured cyclists and other accident victims across New York City, including Staten Island. For decades, our personal injury lawyers have handled complex personal injury cases involving serious injuries caused by negligent drivers, commercial vehicles, and municipal entities.
In one recent case, our firm secured a $6,350,000 settlement for a 38-year-old man who was struck while riding to work in a designated bike lane in Brooklyn. A New York City garbage truck suddenly reversed into the lane to access trash along the curb, hitting our client and causing him to strike his head against the rear of the truck and the pavement.
Although he was wearing a helmet, the impact caused a traumatic brain injury that led to significant mood and behavioral changes. The effects were so severe that the New York City disability board ultimately determined he was permanently disabled. The case resolved for $6.35 million on the morning jury selection was scheduled to begin.
In another case, a 25-year-old college student was riding along Shore Road and 79th Street in Brooklyn when his front tire caught in a deep depression within a designated bike lane. The sudden stop threw him from his bike. He suffered fractures to his dominant hand and wrist that required surgical repair. We were able to secure a $425,000 settlement for him.
These matters illustration how catastrophic harms sustained in a bike crash can alter every aspect of a person’s life — employment, independence, and long-term health. It also reflects the level of preparation required in personal injury litigation involving city vehicles and government defendants.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every personal injury lawsuit depends on its specific facts, available evidence, and the extent of the harm suffered. Jacoby & Meyers, LLP carefully evaluates each case and works to build strong claims for injury victims seeking accountability and full compensation.
Staten Island Cyclists Can Suffer Severe Injuries
Staten Island traffic accidents of any kind can lead to severe injuries that cause lifelong disability and pain. Cyclists have an even greater risk of suffering severe or catastrophic injuries than others on the road. Bicycles do not shield riders from injuries the same way that passenger vehicles shield drivers and passengers in a collision.
Some examples of severe bicycle accident injuries that may entitle a cyclist to recover money damages include:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, especially when cyclists aren’t wearing a helmet;
- Broken bones, especially when crushed by a vehicle or by the impact of a crash;
- Deep cuts and wounds when a bicyclist’s body gets thrown from a bike in an accident;
- Dislocated joints and damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons;
- Internal injuries that can be fatal if left untreated;
- Neck and back injuries including fractured vertebrae and herniated discs; and
- Spinal cord injuries that lead to temporary or permanent paralysis throughout the body.
No matter how a cyclist gets injured in a Staten Island traffic accident, the seasoned bicycle accident injury attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP have the resources and know-how to build a strong case for compensation.
Staten Island Bicycle Accidents Occur for Many Reasons
Preventable bicycle accidents occur in Staten Island and around New York City for many reasons. Common causes include:
Distracted Drivers
Drivers who surrender their attention behind the wheel to common distractions put those with whom they share the road, especially cyclists, at risk for injury and death. Cell phone use while driving continues to cause traffic accidents throughout the five boroughs, though programs created to educate the public about the dangers of texting and driving have had a positive impact. However, smartphones represent just one of many dangerous driver distractions that can cause a bicycle accident.
Examples of other common distractions that take a driver’s mind from safety, eyes from the road, and hands from the wheel, include:
- Adjusting vehicle features such as A/C, heat, radio, and seats;
- Programming a GPS;
- Engaging with backseat passengers, especially common among taxi and rideshare drivers;
- Reaching for items dropped on the floor;
- Eating and drinking;
- Personal grooming such as fixing hair and putting on makeup; and
- Watching accidents and other events outside the vehicle.
Drunk/Drugged Drivers
Drivers who consume alcohol or use drugs before getting behind the wheel lose their ability to react safely to common driving situations. Impairment makes it much more difficult for drivers to see cyclists, for example, especially in low-light conditions. Drunk/drugged drivers struggle to react in time to traffic signals, or ignore them altogether, which also puts bicyclists in harm’s way. Impairment also inhibits a drunk or drugged driver’s ability to judge time and distance, which increases the risk of a collision with a bicycle.
Drowsy Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates the trucking industry, has devoted significant time and resources to studying the relationship between driver impairment and sleep. Its research has discovered that drivers, whether in a truck or passenger vehicle, who forgo sleep for 18 hours suffer the same impairment as a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit. Impairment from the lack of proper rest can also cause a driver to nod off at the wheel or completely fall asleep, potentially leading to catastrophic bicycle accidents.
Reckless Drivers
Some drivers simply do not care about traffic regulations. They speed, fail to make complete stops at stop signs, weave in and out of traffic, tailgate, and run red lights. They also seldom yield to bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists. Virtually any aggressive driving behavior puts cyclists at risk of serious, even fatal, injuries. Even if a collision does not occur, dangerous driving can throw cyclists off balance and cause them to fall. At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we believe in making sure cyclists enjoy the same rights to the road as anyone else, as the law requires.
Poorly Maintained Roads
City and state road authorities have a responsibility to maintain Staten Island roads in a safe condition not just for cars and trucks, but also for bicycles. Cyclists can suffer serious injuries in accidents caused by poorly maintained bike lanes and roads. Potholes, grooved pavement, debris, missing manhole covers, fallen or missing traffic signs, and malfunctioning stoplights can all do as much, if not more, harm to cyclists as they can to cars and trucks. Children on bikes are especially vulnerable to irregularities on road surfaces because they do not have the balance or control of adult cyclists.
Suffering Bicycle Accident Injuries On-the-Job
Many people in Staten Island and across New York City rely on bicycles for work. Delivery riders, messengers, and gig workers for companies such as Instacart and DoorDash spend long hours navigating traffic, often in congested areas. That constant exposure increases the risk of a serious bike crash involving a car, truck, or commercial vehicle.
If you are injured while riding for work, your path to financial recovery depends largely on your employment classification.
Employees are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which may cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. Independent contractors, however, are often excluded from those protections. Misclassification disputes are common in these situations, particularly in the gig economy.
- After any on-the-job collision:
- Notify your employer immediately.
- Seek prompt medical care and document your injuries.
- Preserve any evidence related to the crash.
Workers’ compensation may not be the only remedy available. In many personal injury cases, injured cyclists can also pursue a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver or other responsible party. That claim may allow recovery for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, including pain and suffering.
If you are uncertain about your worker classification — or if your claim has been denied — consulting experienced personal injury lawyers can help clarify your options. Accident victims injured while working may have more than one avenue for compensation, particularly when serious injuries are involved.
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP evaluates these matters carefully to determine whether injured cyclists are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury claim, or both.
Where Are Most Bike Crashes Happening in Staten Island?
There is not a lot of bike infrastructure in Staten Island (H, so crashes could be more likely in heavily-traveled areas. Bay Street in Tompkinsville sees record crashes, with the segment of Castleton Avenue between Jewett Avenue and Bard Avenue also emerging as a frequent site of incidents.
What Damages Can I Seek in Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Bike Crash?
Injured cyclists in Staten Island often have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the crash. Every case depends on its specific facts, and outcomes vary based on the severity of the injuries and the available evidence. However, personal injury cases involving catastrophic, permanent, or long-term losses typically allow accident victims to seek recovery for both economic and non-economic losses.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses. Emergency treatment, ambulance transport, hospital stays, surgery, diagnostic imaging, medication, follow-up appointments, and other necessary care related to the crash.
- Future medical care. Projected treatment costs when injuries result in permanent impairment, long-term therapy, or ongoing medical supervision.
- Rehabilitation services. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and other specialized care needed to restore function or adapt to lasting limitations.
- Lost income. Wages and employment benefits lost while recovering.
- Loss of future earning capacity. Income an injury victim can no longer earn due to long-term or permanent disability.
- Assistive devices and accessibility modifications. Wheelchairs, braces, mobility aids, and necessary home modifications such as ramps or handrails.
- Replacement services. Costs associated with hiring help for household responsibilities the injured person can no longer perform, including childcare, cleaning, or maintenance.
- Pain and suffering. Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the overall impact of the injury on daily life.
- Loss of consortium. Damages related to the effect of serious injuries on a marital relationship.
- Scarring and disfigurement. Damages related to any permanent physical harms or trauma, such as amputation or scarring-related conditions.
- Punitive damages. In limited cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct, courts may award additional damages intended to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.
In the tragic case of a fatal collision, the victim’s surviving family members may have the right to take legal action for damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. Speak with an attorney from Jacoby & Meyers, LLP today if you lost a loved one to a bike accident on Staten Island. You and your family may have the right to recover many of the categories of compensation listed above.
Why Injured Cyclists Choose Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
Not every personal injury law firm is built to handle complex bike crash litigation. Claims involving commercial vehicles, municipal defendants, roadway defects, or catastrophic injuries require detailed investigation and substantial legal resources.
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP brings decades of experience handling serious personal injury matters across New York City, including Staten Island. Our team understands how to build cases that withstand scrutiny from insurance carriers, city agencies, and defense counsel.
When representing injured cyclists, our approach includes:
- Conducting immediate scene investigations and preserving roadway evidence
- Securing surveillance footage and witness statements
- Reviewing maintenance records and prior complaints when municipal liability may be involved
- Working with medical professionals to document the full extent of serious injuries
- Preparing every case as if it will proceed to trial
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize the impact of a cyclist’s injuries or shift blame. We focus on developing clear evidence of liability and presenting a comprehensive picture of how the crash has affected our client’s health, livelihood, and future.
Our results reflect careful preparation and a willingness to litigate when necessary — not quick settlements. Every case is evaluated individually, with strategy tailored to the specific facts and long-term consequences involved.
Staten Island Bicycle Accident FAQ
Injured in a bike crash? You probably have a lot of questions. Our personal injury law firm is happy to answer your most common questions here, or during a free consultation.
Though following a bike accident can be an anxious time, keep calm and act quickly to help protect your or your child’s physical health and right to compensation.
Get medical care.
If anyone has sustained severe injuries, you may want to summon an ambulance to take you straight to Staten Island University Hospital. In some cases, however, injuries do not require an ambulance. Regardless of the extent of the injuries, visit the hospital or an urgent care center right away. Get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible, even if injuries are not visible from the accident. Sometimes, a medical care provider may identify injuries that you did not notice at the time of the accident.
Call the police and report the accident.
Always call the police and report any accident, including a bicycle accident involving you or your child. Never allow the driver that caused the accident to leave without reporting the accident, even if there were no serious injuries in the accident. Often, you may discover later that your or your child’s injuries are more serious than you thought.
If you saw the accident, you can discuss what you saw with the officer who responded to the scene. On the other hand, if you did not see the accident, you may want the police officer to question any witnesses.
Photograph any evidence, if you can.
If you have your phone handy and can, you may want to snap photos that can serve as evidence if you need to file an injury claim. You can collect photo evidence while you wait for help to arrive. You may want to take pictures of the scene of the accident, the vehicle that struck you or your child, and visible injuries to you or your child. You may also want to take photos of any damage to the bicycle involved.
Contact a Staten Island bicycle accident attorney to help with a bicycle accident claim.
If you or your child has suffered injuries in a collision with a motor vehicle, you may face a complex injury claim. Working with a Staten Island bicycle accident lawyer can offer you more information about your rights and the steps necessary to file a bicycle accident claim. Additionally, a Staten Island bicycle accident lawyer can offer insights into the distribution of settlement funds from a child’s bicycle accident, as New York law states that funds should go to the child’s interests.
Whether you received treatment at Staten Island University Hospital or you chose to pursue treatment from an urgent care center, you may have high medical bills to pay off. It does not take long for those medical bills to start to feel like they have risen out of control, especially if you have injuries requiring ongoing care.
Unfortunately, as the injured party, you will have personal responsibility for those medical bills and will need to make arrangements to pay them. You may use your medical insurance to alleviate the immediate cost of many of your medical bills. You may have the right to file an injury claim against the party that caused your bicycle accident, but no matter, you will need to cover the expenses.
A Note on PIP Insurance for Bicycle Accident Injuries
In New York, drivers must carry PIP insurance, or personal injury protection insurance, as part of their auto insurance policies. If you carry auto insurance, you may have PIP coverage through your insurance provider. That insurance may provide coverage any time you suffer injuries in an accident with a vehicle, regardless of whether you were an occupant of the insured vehicle. Consult your insurance company to learn more about the coverage you may have.
If another person’s negligence causes you to suffer injuries on your bicycle, you have the right to file a claim for those injuries. That includes cases when a driver or a passenger opens a car door into you while biking on Staten Island. You typically file a claim against the insurance policy covering the car’s driver.
New York law requires individuals under the age of 15 to wear a bicycle helmet. Anyone over 15 does not legally have to wear a bicycle helmet. Lack of helmet use does not change your right to file an injury claim if you suffer injuries in a Staten Island bicycle accident. Even a child who fails to wear a helmet can still pursue compensation for any injuries sustained in a bicycle accident.
However, helmet use can substantially decrease head and neck injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, in bicycle accidents. Furthermore, a helmet can substantially reduce your risk of death in a bicycle accident, especially with a car.
In many cases, the driver who caused or contributed to your bicycle accident will bear liability for any injuries you sustained. You will seek compensation through that driver’s insurer. To establish the driver’s liability for your bicycle accident injuries, you need to show that the driver violated their duty of care to you. This violation includes distracted driving, ignoring road rules, or failing to yield the right of way to you as a bicycle rider.
Other entities may share liability for a bicycle accident, including the manufacturer of a defective bicycle that caused a collision or defect in the car produced by the vehicle’s manufacturer. If you have questions about the conditions that caused or contributed to your bicycle accident, a Staten Island bicycle accident lawyer can help answer those questions and pursue compensation from the parties liable for your accident.
If you suffered injuries in a Staten Island bicycle accident, it will benefit you to have a lawyer to help with your claim. A lawyer offers powerful legal support and knowledge as you negotiate with the insurance company to recover the full compensation you deserve for your bicycle accident injuries and losses.
If you attempt to handle your bicycle accident claim on your own, you should note several key challenges that can be difficult to overcome without a lawyer to fight for you.
The insurance company issues a settlement offer that seems to ignore your needs.
After a serious bicycle accident, you may have injuries that can require substantial medical treatment. You need compensation through your bicycle accident claim to help pay for those injuries. Unfortunately, in some cases, the insurance company may issue a settlement offer that does not seem to reflect the compensation you deserve for your accident.
If you find yourself dealing with a low settlement offer from the insurance company, contact an attorney to discuss your rights and expectations regarding compensation. A lawyer will know how to apply pressure on the insurer to get them to acknowledge your total losses.
The insurance company disputes liability for your Staten Island bicycle accident.
You know that the vehicle driver caused your accident, but the insurance company covering that driver will likely try to argue otherwise. Disputing liability with an insurance company can be daunting and require expertise. Having a lawyer on your side can make it easier to establish liability and prove what compensation you deserve for your injuries.
You have trouble establishing information about your injuries with the insurance company.
Several details regarding your injuries can significantly impact your ability to file an injury claim:
- Where the injuries occurred.
- The treatment required.
- How the injuries affect your life, now and in the future.
When you file a claim with the insurance company, you will usually submit that information as part of the claim. However, the insurance company may dispute that information, claiming your injuries occurred at another time or that you have a preexisting condition, or that you do not need the treatments you underwent to treat your injuries.
A lawyer can help establish the information regarding your injuries, refute the insurance company’s claims, and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Receiving a settlement offer after your bicycle accident may seem helpful. However, it may not include the full compensation you need or deserve for the injuries you sustained in the accident. Before accepting a settlement offer, consult with a lawyer to look at the full financial losses you suffered and the compensation you deserve.
You do not have to accept any settlement offer, nor should you feel pressured into quickly accepting an offer before you have a chance to talk to a lawyer. Insurance companies may use tactics to convince you to act fast and accept a subpar offer, but you always have time and should discuss any offer with your lawyer.
A bicycle accident causes serious injuries and significant financial stress in your life. At Jacoby & Meyers, we aim to minimize your financial stress and provide the full-service legal assistance you need for your claim. First, we provide a free consultation to help you understand how your claim might progress and the steps you need to take next. We typically accept bike accident clients on a contingent fee basis. Under this arrangement, you pay nothing up front, and the lawyer only receives a percentage of your settlement if you win your claim.
In considering what it might cost to hire a Staten Island bicycle accident lawyer, make sure you carefully consider the cost of not having a lawyer on your side to navigate your claim. In many cases, an attorney can increase the compensation you recover for your injuries, even with legal expenses. Without a lawyer, you may not realize the full compensation you deserve for your bicycle accident injuries. You may have difficulty determining what represents a fair settlement offer and leave crucial money on the table.
The benefit of having a lawyer to stand up to the insurance companies far outweighs any costs. If another person’s negligence has caused you injury in a bicycle accident, contact the experienced team at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP. We will help you navigate the complex claims process and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your losses.
Contact Our Staten Island Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today
A Staten Island bicycle crash can leave victims and their families reeling from physical, emotional, and financial pain. The experienced bike accident injury attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP understand those challenges. We make it our mission to fight to make sure the parties at fault for that pain pay what they owe in damages.
Our team has the resources and know-how to evaluate even the most complex Staten Island bicycle accident matters, and to stand up to even the most powerful insurance companies and expensive defense lawyers. Contact us today online, start a chat with one of our live representatives, or dial (877) 469-3064 for a free case evaluation to discuss the events leading up to your bicycle accident, your specific injuries, and how your injuries have altered your life.
We take bicycle accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis and collect attorney fees from any compensation we secure for our clients in the form of a settlement or court-awarded damages. Instead of worrying about upfront or out-of-pocket costs, our clients can focus on recovery and rehabilitation.
Client Testimonial
“After my accident I contacted a law firm and explained the situation. They told me about cases they’ve had in the past and the most compensation they got for clients. They made me aware that they were not interested at the time but, I could contact them in the future if anything changed. After my surgery 2 years later my wife suggested I contact an attorney. Since it happened in a different state I contacted an attorney in that state and was told the statute of limitations was up. My wife told me not to give up, that’s when I contacted Jacoby & Meyers. They were able to figure out how to proceed with the case and settled it for 15 times the amount that the original law firm had said might be possible. I highly recommend Jacoby & Meyers, they were professional and kept me informed throughout the entire process.” -Charles D.
★★★★★
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