Hit on Your Bike
in Brooklyn?
You Deserve a Fighter.
From Prospect Park to Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn cyclists face real dangers every single day. Koenig Pierre is a personal injury attorney — and an avid cyclist — who has ridden these same streets. NYC data shows thousands of cyclists are injured each year. He knows exactly what you're going through.
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Riding Prospect Park?
Koenig Knows It Like You Do.
Prospect Park is the beating heart of Brooklyn cycling. Every weekend, thousands of riders circle the 3.35-mile loop — road cyclists, families, commuters, and recreational riders. The park's main loop goes car-free on weekends, making it one of the few truly protected cycling spaces in the borough.
Koenig Pierre rides Prospect Park regularly. He knows the Grand Army Plaza circle where cars and cyclists collide at peak hours. He knows the entrance roads on Flatbush Avenue and Parkside Avenue, where motorists cut off cyclists making turns. He knows the pedestrian crossings inside the loop where distracted walkers step into fast-moving bike traffic. He also knows what it's like at Grand Army Plaza when an impatient driver leans on their horn demanding you move out of the lane — even when there is nowhere to go. Cyclists have the same right to the road as any vehicle. If aggressive honking startles you into a crash or forces an evasive maneuver that results in injury, the driver can be held liable.
Even in Prospect Park, accidents happen. Whether you were clipped by a vehicle entering the park, doored on Flatbush, or hit at one of the park's busy intersections, Koenig Pierre is ready to fight for you — because he's been out there himself.
Park loop is car-free 24/7 on weekends and holidays — but entrance roads at Grand Army Plaza, Flatbush Ave, and Parkside Ave remain dangerous. Accidents happen regularly at these junctions.
The Most Dangerous Spots
for Brooklyn Cyclists
Brooklyn's streets can be unforgiving on two wheels. NYC crash data shows these corridors see the highest concentration of bike accidents in the borough.
What Is a "Salmon Rider" —
and Can You Still Recover?
In NYC cycling culture, a "salmon rider" is someone who rides against the flow of traffic — going the wrong way in a bike lane or on a street. The term comes from salmon swimming upstream. It's more common than most people realize, and the legal situation may surprise you.
Is Salmon Riding Legal in NYC?
No. Under New York City traffic law, cyclists must ride in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic. Riding against traffic is illegal and puts both you and others at serious risk. If you are salmon riding and get hit, you could be found partially at fault for your own injuries — but that doesn't necessarily mean your case is over.
You May Still Have a Claim
New York follows "pure comparative negligence" (CPLR §1411). Even if you were partly at fault — including if you were riding the wrong way — you can still recover money proportional to the other party's fault. If a driver ran a red light at speed while you were salmon riding, that driver may still be found majority liable. Don't assume you have no case until you've spoken with Koenig.
Were you hurt while salmon riding? Call before assuming you have no case.
Call 1-800-946-4616Getting "Doored"?
That's a Crime — and a Lawsuit.
"Dooring" happens when a driver or passenger swings open a car door right into your path as you ride by. You have a fraction of a second to react. The results can be catastrophic — riders have been launched into traffic and killed by this exact scenario, on streets you ride every day.
It happens constantly in Brooklyn — especially on Bedford Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, and in the parking lanes along 4th Avenue. The law is crystal clear: the person who opened that door without checking is responsible for what happens next. No-fault insurance may also cover your initial medical costs. And it isn't only doors — a delivery truck or rideshare vehicle parked dead-center in the bike lane creates the same forced-into-traffic danger. Blocking a bike lane is illegal in New York City. When a blocked lane forces you into moving traffic and you are struck, both the blocking vehicle's operator and the driver who hit you can share liability — and if the blocking driver was working for a company at the time, that employer may be on the hook too. Similarly, if a Citi Bike with defective brakes, a worn tire, or a malfunctioning docking mechanism caused your crash, the rental company — not just a driver — may bear liability for failing to maintain its fleet.
No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
What This Means For You
If a driver or passenger opened a door into you without checking, they violated this law. You have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries, your broken bike, your medical bills, and your lost wages — with no money out of pocket.
Pro Tip: The Dutch ReachNYC cycling advocates promote the "Dutch Reach" — opening a car door with your far hand, which naturally turns the body to check for cyclists. Failure to use any reasonable precaution is evidence of negligence in your claim.
Brooklyn Bike Accident Cases
That Changed the Game
Real court cases in Brooklyn have established important precedents for injured cyclists. These illustrative examples show how New York law protects riders.
Cyclist Doored and Launched Into Moving Traffic
A cyclist riding in the established bike lane on Atlantic Avenue was struck by a taxi passenger who swung open the rear door without warning — a clear violation of NYC TLC passenger safety rules. The impact sent the rider directly into the adjacent traffic lane, where she was struck by a second vehicle. She suffered a fractured pelvis, broken clavicle, and traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit named both the taxi passenger who opened the door and the driver of the second vehicle. Under New York law, both parties were found liable — the passenger for violating VTL §1214, and the driver for failing to avoid a visible hazard. This case resulted in a substantial settlement covering past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost earnings.
Cyclist Struck by Delivery Truck — City Found Partially Liable
A cyclist was T-boned by a delivery truck at one of Brooklyn's most congested corners. The truck ran a red light while the cyclist had a green signal in the designated bike lane. In litigation, the plaintiff's attorney argued not only driver negligence but also that the City of New York had documented knowledge of the intersection's dangerous configuration and failed to install adequate cyclist protections despite prior accidents — a pattern documented in NYC Vision Zero reports. The jury found the truck driver primarily negligent but also apportioned partial liability to the City for failing to act on known safety hazards. The plaintiff recovered damages for a shattered knee, multiple surgeries, and permanent disability — including money from the City itself. Learn more about how personal injury claims work in New York.
Note: Case descriptions represent illustrative examples of fact patterns that have appeared in Brooklyn bike accident litigation. Provided for educational purposes only.
Injured in an E-Bike Accident
in Brooklyn?
E-bikes have transformed how Brooklyn moves — from food delivery workers on Flatbush Avenue to commuters crossing the Manhattan Bridge. But with more e-bikes on the road comes a sharp rise in serious accidents, and the legal questions they raise are more complicated than a standard bike crash.
Were You Hit by an E-Bike?
E-bikes can reach speeds of 20–28 mph — fast enough to cause serious injuries to pedestrians and other cyclists. If a rider running a red light, riding on the sidewalk, or operating recklessly struck you, they can be held personally liable. If they were a delivery worker, their employer may also be on the hook under respondeat superior — the legal rule holding companies responsible for their employees' on-the-job actions.
Were You Riding an E-Bike When You Were Hit?
The same rules that protect traditional cyclists protect e-bike riders. If a negligent driver struck you while you were on an e-bike — whether you were commuting, making a delivery, or riding recreationally — you have the right to file a personal injury claim. Your mode of transportation does not reduce your legal rights. Insurance companies may argue otherwise — don't let them.
Defective E-Bike or Battery Fire
Lithium-ion battery fires in e-bikes have become a serious public safety crisis in New York City, injuring and killing riders and bystanders alike. NYC FDNY has documented hundreds of e-bike battery fires. If a defective battery, faulty charger, or manufacturing defect caused your injury, you may have a products liability claim against the manufacturer — separate from any claim against a driver.
Rental E-Bike Accidents (Citi Bike & Others)
If you were injured while riding a Citi Bike or other rental e-bike, the rental company can be pulled into the lawsuit if the accident resulted from poor maintenance — brake failure, a defective tire, or a battery malfunction. Rental companies have a duty to maintain their fleets. When they don't, they share liability for what happens.
E-bike cases move fast. Evidence disappears. Don't wait.
Surveillance footage, employer records, battery serial numbers — all of it must be preserved immediately after an e-bike accident.
5 Things to Do Right After
a Bike Crash in Brooklyn
The steps you take in the first hours after a crash can make or break your case. Here's what Koenig advises — as both your lawyer and a fellow cyclist.
Call 911 and Secure a Police Report
Even if the driver seems cooperative, always call the police. You need an official report with a case number. Insurance companies and courts take police reports seriously — without one, the driver can change their story later. Get the responding officer's name and badge number before you leave.
Document Everything Before Anything Moves
If you're physically able, use your phone to photograph and video everything: your bike, the vehicle, the license plate, the road condition, skid marks, any open doors, traffic signals, and your visible injuries. Shoot the entire scene from multiple angles. This evidence disappears fast.
Get Witness Contact Information
Other cyclists, pedestrians, shop owners, and bystanders may have seen exactly what happened. Get their name and phone number. A credible witness who can tell a jury "I saw the car run the light" is often worth more than any other piece of evidence in a bike accident case.
Go to the Emergency Room — Even if You Feel Fine
Adrenaline is powerful. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, spinal injuries, and fractures often don't hurt immediately. If you refuse treatment at the scene and skip the ER, the insurance company will use that against you — it becomes evidence that you weren't seriously hurt.
Call Koenig Pierre Before Talking to Any Insurance Company
The other driver's insurance company will call you fast. They will be friendly and sympathetic. Their real goal is to get you to say something — or accept something — that damages your case. Don't give a recorded statement. Don't accept a quick settlement. Call Koenig first.
10 Biggest Issues in Brooklyn
Bicycle Accident Cases
Brooklyn's streets create unique legal situations for injured cyclists. Here are the ten issues that come up most often — and what you need to know about each one.
Dooring Incidents
Dooring is one of the most common and underreported collisions in Brooklyn. A parked car's occupant swings open a door directly into your path — and under VTL §1214, they're liable. Especially prevalent in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Koenig handles all Brooklyn bicycle accident cases.
Hit-and-Run Crashes
Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick, and Downtown Brooklyn see some of the highest cycling crash volumes in NYC — especially at night from truck traffic and speeding. In hit-and-run cases, time is critical: surveillance footage gets overwritten fast and must be preserved immediately.
City Liability for Road Conditions
Potholes, debris in bike lanes, and poorly timed traffic signals near Flatbush Avenue or Barclays Center can all create City liability. You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days — miss that window and you permanently lose the right to sue the City. Read: How to Prepare for Your 50-h Hearing.
E-Bike Collisions
E-bike collisions rose 11% in 2025, with over 1,200 reported injuries and 13 deaths in NYC between 2020 and 2024. These cases often involve multiple parties: the rider, the driver, the manufacturer, and sometimes even the delivery company employing the rider.
Comparative Negligence — "You Were at Fault Too"
New York's pure comparative negligence rule (CPLR §1411) means you can still recover even if you were partly at fault. But insurers aggressively try to inflate your share of blame. Helmet use, lane position, and signal compliance all factor into the analysis.
Left-Turn and Right-Hook Accidents
Left-turn collisions are among the deadliest for cyclists — a driver crossing oncoming traffic who fails to yield causes catastrophic injuries. Right-hook crashes, where a vehicle cuts in front of a straight-riding cyclist while turning right, are equally common on Brooklyn's dense commercial corridors. See: New York Car Accident Cases.
Truck and Large Vehicle Collisions
Brooklyn's delivery, construction, and sanitation trucks create outsized danger. Collisions with large vehicles dramatically increase the risk of traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and wrongful death — and liability often extends to the trucking company itself, not just the driver. Learn more about truck accident claims in New York.
Drunk or Unlicensed Drivers
Cases like the death of cyclist Luis Mendez — struck and killed by an unlicensed driver on Union Avenue in Brooklyn — illustrate the serious civil and criminal stakes. Impaired and unlicensed drivers face both tracks simultaneously, and civil cases often benefit from parallel criminal proceedings. When a cyclist is killed, see our wrongful death practice. The same principle applies to road rage: cyclists who are deliberately yelled at, cut off, or have objects thrown at them from passing vehicles have experienced an assault. A driver who intentionally intimidates a rider and causes a crash faces criminal charges and full civil liability for every injury that results.
Citi Bike and Rental E-Bike Liability
When a crash involves a Citi Bike or rental e-bike, the rental company can be pulled into the lawsuit. Brake failure, battery defects, and improperly maintained tires are all grounds for product liability claims against the company — not just the rider.
Catastrophic Injury Damages
Over 5,000 cyclists were injured in NYC in 2024, with Brooklyn among the hardest-hit boroughs. Because cyclists have no physical protection, injuries are often life-altering. Serious cases warrant compensation for future medical care, lost earning capacity, permanent disability, and long-term pain and suffering — including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Compensation for Brooklyn
Bicycle Accident Victims
If a negligent driver caused your crash, New York law allows you to pursue compensation across multiple categories. A full claim includes:
ER visits, surgery, hospitalization, imaging, specialist appointments, and prescription costs — past and future.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and any ongoing treatment needed to fully recover from your injuries.
Every day you couldn't work because of your injuries — including future lost earning capacity if your injury is permanent.
The physical pain and emotional trauma caused by the accident and recovery — often the largest component of a serious injury claim.
Repair or replacement cost of your bicycle, helmet, cycling clothing, electronics, and any other gear destroyed in the crash.
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the fear of riding again are real injuries with real legal value — and can be included in your personal injury claim.
Koenig Pierre — A Lawyer Who Rides Like You Do
Most personal injury lawyers have never ridden a bike through Brooklyn. Koenig Pierre has. He's not just a New York personal injury attorney — he's an avid cyclist who regularly rides through Prospect Park, knows the bike lanes, and has experienced firsthand the anxiety of sharing the road with inattentive drivers. View all Koenig's practice areas.
That experience matters. When Koenig walks into a room to negotiate your settlement, he understands exactly what it felt like in the moment before the crash. He understands why you were where you were, why you did what you did, and why you deserved to be safe. That's a different kind of advocate.
Koenig serves bicycle accident victims throughout New York City — Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island — as well as Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.
Brooklyn has a vibrant cycling community working hard to make streets safer for everyone. Koenig is proud to support organizations like Bike South Brooklyn, Bike New York, the New York Bicycling Coalition, and Get Women Cycling — groups fighting every day to expand bike infrastructure, educate riders, and advocate for cyclist rights across the five boroughs. Safer streets protect everyone. Until the streets catch up, Koenig is here when they don't.
Straight Answers for
Brooklyn Cyclists
No legal jargon. No runaround. Just the answers Brooklyn cyclists actually want after a bike crash.
You Were Riding.
They Weren't Paying Attention.
That's On Them.
Brooklyn cyclists have rights under NYC and New York State law. You have the right to use the road. Read Koenig's blog for more on your rights. You have the right to your bike lane without getting doored. NYC law protects cyclists on every road. If someone took that from you, Koenig Pierre will fight to make it right — at no cost to you unless he wins.
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