Trusted bicycle accident attorneys with over 75 years of experience representing injury victims across New York.
Our Hempstead, NY bicycle accident lawyerknows that when a car hits a rider, the injuries tend to be severe, and financial hardships tend to follow. At Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP, we have been fighting for injured New Yorkers for over 75 years. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Bicycle Accident Attorney Hempstead, NY
What does it actually take to win a bicycle accident case in Nassau County? Cyclists get treated differently, by drivers, by insurers, and sometimes by courts. Questions about lane positioning, helmet use, traffic signal compliance, and how New York’s comparative negligence rules apply to a rider’s conduct all become leverage points for insurance adjusters trying to reduce what they owe.
Legally, your claim requires proving that another party owed you a duty of care, failed to meet it, and that failure caused your injuries. But when there are conflicting accounts of how the crash happened, missing footage and evidence, or a driver who insists the cyclist came out of nowhere. So building a case that holds up against opposing parties requires investigation and preparation from a team who has done this before.
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in Hempstead
We represent riders hurt in crashes throughout Hempstead and across Nassau County. The circumstances differ from case to case, but our commitment to recovering what clients are owed does not. Here are the types of cases we handle:
- Car accidents. Most serious bike crashes involve a passenger vehicle, such as dooring incidents, intersection failures, distracted driving, illegal turns.
- Truck accidents. A commercial truck striking a cyclist almost always results in catastrophic injuries. These cases involve multiple potential defendants, including the driver, the carrier, and sometimes a loading company.
- Pedestrian-related collisions. Crashes in mixed-use areas, crosswalks, and shared paths can blur the lines between pedestrian and vehicle claims.
- Motorcycle accidents. When a motorcyclist and a cyclist are both involved, reconstructing what happened and allocating fault correctly requires careful analysis.
- Lyft accidents. A driver for a rideshare platform who opens a door into a bike lane, or cuts a rider off while looking at the app, creates real coverage complications. We know how those layered insurance policies work and where to find recovery.
- Defective road and infrastructure conditions. Potholes, deteriorated pavement, missing signage, and poorly designed bike lanes maintained by a municipality can form the basis of a premises or government liability claim.
- Wrongful death cases. When a crash is fatal, we represent the surviving family in wrongful death claims. It’s some of the most consequential work we do, and we approach it accordingly.
Why Choose Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP for Bicycle Accidents in Hempstead, NY?
Trial-Tested Experience Since 1978
The firm was co-founded in 1978 by Martin Schiowitz, who serves as Founding and Managing Partner with over 50 years of practice. He has handled high-stakes personal injury cases, wrongful death litigation, products liability claims, labor law matters, and complex municipal liability disputes throughout his career. His peers selected him as a Super Lawyer, which is a recognition that comes from other attorneys in the field. The firm he built has recovered millions for injured New Yorkers across a wide range of case types.
Jeremy Schiowitz has more than 16 years of experience representing injury victims across New York City and Long Island. Named a Super Lawyer every year from 2014 through 2025, he argued a landmark appellate case that fundamentally changed how train platform accident liability is analyzed in New York City. That kind of appellate track record shapes how a case gets built from day one. As a personal injury lawyer in Hempstead, NY, he brings that same rigor to every Nassau County file.
Results That Matter
Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for clients across New York, including riders left with traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, and long, difficult recoveries that changed the trajectory of their lives. Those results come from preparation, persistence, and a willingness to go to trial when the insurer won’t negotiate fairly.
Understanding Bicycle Accident Cases in Hempstead
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases
What a bicycle accident victim in Hempstead, NY can recover depends on the nature of the injuries, how liability is allocated, and the insurance coverage available. Here are examples of economic damages that you may receive compensation for:
- Current and future medical costs (emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, durable medical equipment)
- Lost wages during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injuries create long-term limitations
- Out-of-pocket expenses like transportation to appointments, prescription costs, and home modifications if the injuries are severe
New York follows a pure comparative fault standard. If a jury finds you 20% responsible for the crash, your recovery is reduced by 20%, but it is not eliminated. Defense attorneys know about this angle and may work hard to push that percentage as high as possible, but we know how to strategically counter this.
Important Aspects in Your Bicycle Accident Case
A few things consistently affect how Nassau County bicycle accident claims develop. Here are considerations for your case that we can review with you over a consultation.
- Helmet use. Wearing a helmet is not legally required for adults in New York State. But defense attorneys raise it anyway, framing it as comparative fault evidence.
- Surveillance footage and witness statements. Visual recordings can be the deciding factor when stories conflict. Early action on evidence preservation matters more than most clients initially realize.
- Treatment gaps. If you delay in getting medical care, the defense counsel may use this to show your injuries were not as severe as you claim. Getting treatment shortly after the crash is imperative to your health and case outcome.
- Filing deadlines. Personal injury claims in New York generally carry a three-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. Claims against government entities are different, as a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days. If you miss this deadline, it typically ends your case.
Bicycle Accident Case Timeline
Bicycle accident cases don’t all move at the same pace, but the general progression in a Hempstead bicycle accident claim tends to follow a consistent arc:
- Immediately after the crash: Get medical attention and document everything you can, including photos of the scene, the bike, your injuries, the vehicle involved. Do not provide a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- Investigation and filing: We obtain the police report, collect witness statements, review relevant surveillance footage, and analyze available insurance coverage before submitting your claim.
- Insurance negotiation: The at-fault driver’s carrier will make an offer. Almost always, it’s lower than what the case is worth. We evaluate it, respond, and push back with the evidence and legal support to justify a higher number.
- Litigation when necessary: If negotiations stall, we file suit. Discovery follows, depositions are taken, and motion practice begins.
- Resolution: The majority of cases settle before trial. But when they don’t, we are prepared to try them.
What to Bring to Your Bicycle Accident Consultation
Bring what evidence and information you have to your consultation. Most people don’t come in with everything organized, and you don’t have to. Here is what is most useful to us during your meeting:
- A copy of the police report, if one was filed at the scene
- Photos of your injuries, the damaged bike, and the location of the crash
- Medical records and any bills you’ve received so far
- Contact information for witnesses, if you were able to get it
- Insurance information for both you and the driver, to the extent you have it
We’ll tell you what else we need once we understand the situation. The first conversation is about getting a clear picture of what happened and what we suggest doing next to pursue payment for your damages and losses.
New York Legal Resources for Bicycle Accidents
New York’s legal framework for bicycle accident claims is built on several intersecting bodies of law. The resources below provide direct access to the statutes and agencies most relevant to a Nassau County cycling accident claim.
- New York Insurance Law § 5102: Defines the serious injury threshold that must be met to pursue pain and suffering damages in a no-fault accident case.
- New York General Municipal Law § 50-e: Governs the notice of claim requirement for lawsuits against government entities, including the 90-day filing window
- New York CPLR Article 14-A: Codifies New York’s pure comparative fault standard and how damages are apportioned when more than one party bears responsibility
Reach Out to Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP to Schedule a Consultation
If you were recently hit while on a bike and sustained injuries, please don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner you have counsel involved, the better positioned your case is from the start. Your initial consultation is free, and there is no obligation to continue. Contact Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP today to speak with a Hempstead bicycle accident lawyer about your situation.
