What To Do After a Bike Accident in Queens

Injured while cycling? Here’s how to protect your rights, recover compensation, and get help from a Queens bicycle accident lawyer.

Cycling in Queens is becoming more popular—but also more dangerous. In 2024 alone, 787 cyclists were injured and 4 were killed on Queens streets, according to NYC OpenData. Across NYC, cyclist fatalities now account for over 10% of all traffic deaths, with distracted driving and failure to yield listed as top contributing factors.

Whether you were sideswiped on Northern Boulevard, doored in Astoria, or hit while crossing in a protected bike lane in Forest Hills, knowing what to do immediately after a bicycle accident can make or break your case.

This guide explains the critical steps to take after a Queens bike accident, your legal rights under New York law, and when to call a Queens bicycle accident lawyer for help.

What’s in This Guide

• Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

• What To Do Immediately After a Bike Accident in Queens

• Can You Get Compensation for a Bike Accident?

• Do Cyclists Have the Same Rights as Drivers?

• Queens Cycling by the Numbers: Why Legal Help Matters

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

According to NYC DOT crash data and NYC OpenData, the most common causes of bike accidents in Queens include:

• Distracted driving – In 2024, NYC recorded 1,544 cyclist injuries caused by driver inattention.
• Failure to yield at intersections – Drivers often assume cyclists must yield, leading to 648 documented crashes in NYC last year.
• “Dooring” incidents – When a driver opens a car door into a cyclist’s path.
• Unsafe lane changes or following too closely – 160 Queens cyclist injuries in 2024 were caused by tailgating.
• Poorly maintained roads and construction zones – Potholes, debris, and unmarked lanes caused dozens of solo-bike crashes.

Did you know? Queens ranks third in NYC for cyclist injuries but remains one of the deadliest boroughs, with a 13.3% cyclist fatality rate compared to all traffic deaths in 2024.

FAQ: What time of day do most bike accidents happen?
Evening hours are the most dangerous—33% of NYC cyclist injuries and nearly 30% of deaths occur between 6 PM and midnight.

What To Do Immediately After a Bike Accident in Queens

Whether it happened on Queens Boulevard, Crescent Street, or a back road in Bayside, follow these steps:

1. Get to safety and call 911. Request both police and EMS.
2. Exchange information with the driver—but say as little as possible about the crash.
3. Take photos of the scene, your bike, your injuries, traffic signs, and the vehicle.
4. Get medical attention—even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain.
5. Do NOT speak to their insurance company until you’ve spoken to a Queens car accident lawyer.

Tip: If your crash was caused by a city vehicle, construction hazard, or roadway defect, you may have to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days to sue.

Can You Get Compensation for a Bike Accident?

Yes. Under New York’s no-fault insurance law, if a motor vehicle was involved:

Medical expenses and lost wages are covered under the vehicle’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy.

If your injuries meet the “serious injury” threshold under NY Vehicle & Traffic Law §5102, you can sue the driver for pain and suffering, future medical care, and permanent disability.

If no car was involved (e.g., you hit a pothole or were doored by a parked car), you may still have a claim against:

• The City of New York for poorly maintained roads.
• A property owner for unsafe construction zones or obstructions.

FAQ: How much compensation for a bike accident?
It depends on your injuries and lost wages. Some NYC bike accident cases settle for tens of thousands, while severe cases involving permanent injuries can reach six or seven figures.

Do Cyclists Have the Same Rights as Drivers?

Yes. Under NY law, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. That means:

• You have the right to ride in traffic (and in bike lanes).
• Drivers must yield to you when required.
• You can sue if a driver’s negligence caused your injuries.

FAQ: Are bicyclists safer on the road than on the sidewalk?
Statistically, riding in traffic with protected bike lanes is safer than sidewalks, where crashes with pedestrians or sudden turns are more common.

Why Legal Help Matters

• 4 cyclists were killed in Queens in 2024, a slight decrease from 6 deaths in 2023.
• 787 cyclists were injured—nearly 8% of all traffic injuries in the borough.
• Northern Boulevard is one of the most dangerous streets for Queens cyclists, with 117 injuries reported between 2020–2024.
• Summer months see the highest fatalities, with 35% of NYC cyclist deaths happening June–August.

Sources: NYC DOT, NYC OpenData

Injured in a Bike Accident? We’re Here to Help.

If you’ve been injured in a Queens bike crash, you don’t have to deal with the legal system alone. Whether you were doored in Long Island City, sideswiped in Jamaica, or injured near Citi Field, our personal injury lawyers in Queens will fight for your rights.

Contact us for a free, no-pressure case evaluation.
We don’t get paid unless you win.