Bike accidents occur within a second, yet the consequences may touch upon all aspects of your life. Most of the injured cyclists arrive at our place feeling overwhelmed, confused and not knowing what to do next.
We know how challenging this stage can be at the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, a bicycle crash may cause unexpected medical expenses, increased costs and painful injuries that may take months or even years to recover. You do not need to go through this alone.
For more than 25 years of combined experience, our legal team has been standing up for accident victims throughout New Jersey.
We battle careless drivers, the poor road conditions and insurance companies who attempt to downplay your injuries or deny liability. More to the point, we do not consider any client as a case number, but rather a human being.
You deserve a New Jersey bicycle accident attorney who stays by your side from the first day of your case until it’s fully resolved.
The problem of bicycle accidents is still acute in the state. Whether you’re riding to work, or just riding to have fun, the New Jersey roads and traffic patterns are real dangers to the cyclists. According to the latest statistics, 27 cyclist deaths were registered in one year, which is almost 4 percent of all fatal accidents in the state. These figures are not inclusive of the hundreds of bicycle accident injuries that take riders to the emergency room annually.
Most of these accidents occur when a motor vehicle does not give way, miscalculates a turn or overtakes too closely. There is minimal physical protection of cyclists and therefore, even a low-speed collision may lead to life-changing injuries. With the New Jersey bicycle accidents on the increase, the necessity of powerful legal representation, as well as the knowledge of the rights of cyclists, has never been more urgent.
Our bicycle accident lawyers in New Jersey carefully study the state trends, police reports, and data at the scene of accidents to create cases that represent the actual occurrences. Knowing these statistics will assist us to prove the risks that cyclists are exposed to and the carelessness that usually leads to such accidents.
Cyclists in New Jersey have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles. That means bike riders are legally permitted to use public roads, travel in bike lanes, and expect surrounding drivers to respect their right of way. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to follow these traffic laws — leading to preventable collisions.
One of the most important protections is New Jersey’s Safe Passing Law, which requires:
Drivers to leave at least four feet of space when passing a bicycle on a single-lane road
If four feet cannot be given, the driver must slow down, wait behind the cyclist, and pass only when it is safe
Drivers must treat cyclists the same as any slow-moving vehicle and exercise caution when overtaking
When a negligent driver violates these rules and a bicycle accident is caused by unsafe passing, speeding, distraction, or inattention, the injured cyclist has the legal right to seek compensation.
A New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer at our firm can explain your rights, review what happened on the road, and help you pursue a bicycle accident claim that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses.
Before diving deeper into liability, it’s important to understand why bike accidents happen so often. Cyclists are vulnerable because even small errors by a motorist can create catastrophic outcomes.
Negligent motorists remain the number one cause of bicycle accidents in New Jersey. We frequently see collisions caused by:
Driver inattention
Texting or distracted driving
Speeding
Failure to yield at intersections
Passing too closely
Opening car doors into a cyclist’s path (“dooring”)
Driving under the influence
When a negligent driver ignores a cyclist’s presence or violates traffic laws, it can lead to severe injuries — especially when the vehicle passes too closely or travels in the opposite direction and misjudges distance.
Bicycles react differently to road conditions than cars. Hazards that would barely affect a motor vehicle — debris, potholes, uneven pavement — can send a cyclist into a serious crash.
In these cases, the responsible party may include:
Municipalities
Road maintenance contractors
Property owners
Construction companies
Sometimes a bike accident is caused by faulty equipment, including:
Brake failures
Wheel detachments
Handlebar defects
Frame failures
If a defective part contributes to the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be liable.
Our New Jersey bicycle accident attorneys thoroughly investigate each scenario to identify every liable party and strengthen your case for maximum compensation.
A successful bicycle accident claim may allow you to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
These are financial losses caused by the bike accident:
Medical bills
Prescription costs
Physical therapy
Future medical needs
Lost wages
Lost income from time away from work
Property damage (including the cost of replacing a damaged bicycle)
Health insurance co-pays and uncovered costs
These compensate for life-changing injuries and emotional consequences, including:
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Permanent disability
Scarring or disfigurement
When we calculate damages, we take a comprehensive approach — speaking with your doctors, reviewing your medical records, and consulting experts to assess future medical needs and lost earning capacity. Our goal is simple: maximum compensation for every client.
Winning a bicycle accident case requires proving that the driver’s negligence caused the collision. This process can be complex, especially when the insurance company disputes fault.
Our legal team collects and analyzes:
Police reports
Accident scene photographs
Video footage (dashcam, surveillance, intersection cameras)
Eyewitness statements
Expert witness reconstruction
Vehicle data
Medical records
Road conditions
We build the case step by step, documenting how the driver acted unreasonably — whether they failed to yield, followed too closely, or violated the Safe Passing Law.
Under New Jersey law, the injury victim must prove negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning “more likely than not.” Having a skilled New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer on your side can make a significant difference in your ability to meet this legal standard.
Expert witnesses play a crucial role in strengthening a bicycle accident case in New Jersey, especially when liability is disputed or the injuries are significant. Our firm regularly works with accident-reconstruction professionals who analyze every detail: the vehicle’s speed, distance, sightlines, road layout, and the physical evidence left at the scene. Their findings help us show exactly how the crash happened and whether a driver violated New Jersey traffic laws or the Safe Passing Law.
We also partner with medical specialists who can explain the full extent of a cyclist’s injuries, the long-term medical impact, and the type of care the rider will need in the months or years ahead. In more complex cases, we bring in economic experts to evaluate losses such as future income, diminished earning capacity, and ongoing medical costs.
When combined, these expert evaluations provide powerful support for your personal injury claim and help ensure the injured cyclist receives the compensation they deserve.
Dealing with insurance companies are one of the most frustrating aspects of the recovery process in the event of a bicycle accident in New Jersey. Most injured cyclists are amazed at the speed at which an insurance adjuster calls after the accident and appears friendly and concerned, yet secretly gathers facts to work against the injury victim in the future. The only objective of these companies is to restrict payouts and they tend to pay claims of bicycle accidents way before the full scope of the injuries or medical bills is known.
Adjusters can also challenge the need to have been treated, that your pain is not caused by the crash, or that you are in some way to blame in the accident, even when a careless driver has obviously breached the New Jersey traffic law or the provision of the Safe Passing Law that requires a cyclist to leave at least four feet of space when passing.
Other adjusters coerce injured bicycle riders into making recorded statements or signing medical authorization forms that permit wide access to personal health information, and all in the guise of making the steps seem normal.
That is why the presence of a qualified New Jersey bicycle accident attorney at the initial stages can make such a difference. After our firm acquires a case, we come between you and the insurance company. At this point, the adjusters must talk to us, not to you, hence you do not have to take stressful calls anymore or answer misleading questions. Our attorneys record all the injuries, all the medical bills and all the details of the bicycle accident.
We fight back when an insurer tries to underestimate bike accident injuries, refuse to pay, or give a hasty settlement that would leave the injured cyclist without the financial support to get medical attention and lost earnings in the future.
The insurance companies usually possess legal departments and huge resources at their disposal and they are relying on the fact that the injured cyclists are not well aware of the worth of their personal injury cases. Our company has over 25 years of cumulative experience to stand up against these companies and represent bicycle accident victims in the state of New Jersey.
We are familiar with the tricks of adjusters, and we are familiar with the methods of refuting them by good evidence, professional judgment, and a clear knowledge of state law. We are aggressive when we negotiate, and we aim at making sure that all clients are compensated fairly on medical costs, lost earnings, pain, and suffering, and the long-term effects of the accident.
When you have our representation, you can concentrate on your healing and leave the rest to us to defend your rights and ensure that the careless drivers are paying for their mistakes.
If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and fight for you in court. A lawsuit can ultimately lead to a jury verdict or settlement that accurately reflects your injuries and losses.
The litigation process may include:
Investigation
Discovery
Depositions
Expert reports
Settlement negotiations
Trial preparation
Throughout the process, our legal team keeps you informed, explains every step, and ensures you never feel alone. We understand how stressful litigation can be, and we make sure you always know what to expect.
New Jersey law gives most accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. There are exceptions, but missing the deadline can permanently bar your right to seek compensation.
Because evidence can fade quickly — skid marks disappear, road conditions change, witnesses become harder to reach — it’s important to speak with a New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Early representation allows us to secure key evidence before it is lost.
When we calculate damages, we consider both current and future effects of the accident. This may involve:
Reviewing medical records and bills
Obtaining proof of lost wages
Assessing whether you can return to your job
Evaluating long-term disability
Projecting future medical treatment
Documenting the impact on your daily life
No two bicycle accident cases are alike. Our attorneys take the time to understand your unique circumstances — a core philosophy of our firm’s mission and personal touch.
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between a low settlement and full, fair compensation. At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we believe that clients deserve:
Personal attention
Transparent communication
Aggressive representation
Compassionate guidance
A legal team that treats them with dignity and respect
Our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for accident victims and is built on integrity, human connection, and a commitment to standing up to even the largest insurance companies. When you work with our New Jersey bicycle accident lawyers, you gain a team dedicated to protecting your rights and helping you rebuild your life.
A bicycle accident can change everything, but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of a negligent driver, unsafe road condition, or defective bicycle part, help is available today.
At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we are here to guide you through the entire process — from understanding your rights to negotiating with insurance companies to taking your case to court if needed. Our mission is simple: protect injured cyclists and fight for the compensation they need to move forward.
Call today for a free consultation: (908) 279-7979
You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
With the right legal team on your side, you can stand up to negligent drivers, protect your future, and take the first step toward healing.