One moment you're riding. The next, a driver drifts into the bike lane, swings open a car door, or blows through a turn—and you're on the ground. If that happened to you or someone close to you, you're probably dealing with medical bills, missed work, and an insurance company that isn't making things any easier. You don't have to handle that alone.
These crashes are more common than most people think. According to New Jersey's Highway Safety Plan, there were roughly 1,700 to 2,100 bicycle crashes every year between 2017 and 2021, and about 80% of them resulted in injuries. A bicycle accidents attorney can get involved early—locking down evidence, figuring out who's responsible, and making sure the insurance company doesn't control how the story gets told. We see these cases throughout Ocean County and Monmouth County—Toms River, Brick, Manasquan, the shore routes in summer—and they almost always involve serious injuries and fights over who was at fault.
Bicycle Accident Claims in New Jersey
At its core, a bicycle accident case is a personal injury claim. You were riding lawfully, someone else was careless or reckless, and you got hurt because of it. Most of these cases involve a collision with a motor vehicle, but not all of them. Sometimes the problem is a dangerous road that should have been fixed, a defective bike component, or a “dooring” incident—where someone opens a car door right into a cyclist's path.
To win, you need to show that someone owed you a duty of care, broke that duty, and caused your injuries. Under New Jersey law, cyclists have the same rights on the road as drivers—and drivers are required to exercise reasonable care around them. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer knows how to build that proof: crash scene photos, witness interviews, surveillance or dashcam footage, vehicle data, and cell phone records when distracted driving may have been a factor.
Who Can File and How Deadlines Work
If you were the one injured, you can pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. If the crash killed someone, New Jersey law allows the executor or administrator of the estate to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of family members who depended on that person financially. The legal process for establishing the estate can feel confusing, but a bicycle accident attorney can walk you through it and make sure the claim stays protected while those details get sorted out.
Don't wait too long. In most cases, New Jersey gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim, and wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. There are limited exceptions, but they're fact-specific. Beyond the legal deadlines, there's a practical reason to act quickly: surveillance footage gets deleted, vehicles get repaired, and witnesses forget details. The sooner you get started, the stronger your case will be.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
We see the same patterns over and over: a driver texting behind the wheel, cutting off a cyclist during a turn, passing too close, speeding through a residential area, or opening a car door without looking. Drunk and impaired driving is in the mix too. But it's not always another driver. A pothole, a pile of debris, a missing road sign, or a badly maintained shoulder can send a cyclist into traffic or cause a sudden wipeout. In those situations, a municipality, a contractor, or a property owner may share responsibility—and it takes a fast investigation to figure that out before the evidence disappears.
A bicycle accidents attorney looks at liability from every angle—because the best results come from identifying every responsible party and every available insurance policy, not just the obvious ones.
Compensation and How Our Firm Helps
After a serious bike crash, the bills start piling up fast—emergency room visits, imaging, follow-up appointments, physical therapy. If you can't work, lost wages make things worse. And some injuries change your life long-term: chronic pain, limited mobility, or the inability to do the job you used to do. A bicycle accident claim can seek compensation for all of that—medical bills, future treatment, rehab, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage to your bike and gear. When a crash is fatal, families can pursue wrongful death damages as well.
People sometimes ask us, “Why do I need a bicycle accident lawyer?” Here's the short answer: insurance adjusters do this every day, and they're good at it. They'll push for a recorded statement before you've even seen a specialist, argue you were partly at fault, or dangle a quick settlement that doesn't come close to covering your future medical needs. A bicycle accidents attorney levels the playing field—preserving evidence, documenting your damages properly, handling every communication with the insurer, negotiating aggressively, and taking the case to court if a fair offer never comes.
Client Testimonial
"The staff is great, professional, responsive and always super helpful. Mr. Carmine is great at his job. Even through a pandemic things were hassle free. He kept everything super simple and stress free. Even when I had questions and just emailed him and he literally responded back immediately. I would recommend to anyone that needs a lawyer. He is the BEST." – Jayson Le
"Carmine is a great lawyer with an honest and caring approach that helped guide me through the process. I highly recommend him, you will not be disappointed with the results. Thanks Carmine!" – Chris Fedroff
"Well worth the money. Got exactly what I was looking for. Carmine knows what he's doing and talking about. Will use this firm again if needed and recommend to others to use as well." – Harrison Utter
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Who pays for my medical bills if I am hit by a car while riding my bike?
In New Jersey, medical expenses are typically covered by Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Most people are surprised to learn that if you own a car, your own auto insurance policy is usually the first in line to pay your medical bills—even though you were on a bicycle at the time. The law classifies bicyclists as "pedestrians" for insurance purposes. If you do not own a vehicle, you may be covered by the policy of a household relative or, in some cases, the insurance of the driver who hit you.
2. What is the "Safe Passing Law" and how does it protect me?
New Jersey's Safe Passing Law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.4) requires motorists to use "due caution" when approaching "vulnerable road users" like bicyclists. Under this law, drivers must move over one lane if possible. If a lane change is not safe or available, the driver must allow at least 4 feet of space when passing. If 4 feet is not possible, the driver must slow down to 25 mph and wait until it is safe to pass. A violation that results in bodily injury can lead to significant fines and motor vehicle points for the driver.
3. Am I still eligible for compensation if I wasn't wearing a helmet?
Yes. In New Jersey, only minors under the age of 17 are legally required to wear a helmet. While a bicycle crash lawyer will always recommend wearing one for safety, failing to do so as an adult does not automatically bar you from seeking damages. However, an insurance company might try to use the "comparative negligence" rule to argue that your injuries would have been less severe if you had been wearing a helmet, potentially reducing your total compensation.
4. Can I be found at fault for a bicycle accident?
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. For example, if a jury finds you were 20% responsible because you didn't have the required lights while riding at night, your total award would be reduced by 20%. Common factors that impact fault include following traffic signals, riding with the flow of traffic, and using front and rear lights between sunset and sunrise.
5. How are the rules different for electric bicycles (e-bikes) in 2026?
As of early 2026, New Jersey has implemented stricter regulations for electric bicycles. Under the newest statutes, e-bike riders must now follow specific licensing and registration requirements. For example, riders must be at least 15 years old, and certain classes of e-bikes now require the owner to carry a liability insurance policy. If you are involved in a crash while riding an e-bike, a bicycle accidents attorney can help determine how these new compliance standards impact your personal injury claim.
Call an Experienced New Jersey Bicycle Accidents Attorney
If you or a family member was hurt in a bike crash, talk to a bicycle accidents attorney as soon as you can. The earlier we get involved, the better chance we have of preserving key evidence, sorting out insurance coverage, and keeping you from making the kind of mistakes that adjusters use against people later. Villani and DeLuca, P.C. offers a free consultation and we're available around the clock. Call (732) 709-7757 to tell us what happened and find out where you stand.
Contact Us Today
Villani and DeLuca, P.C. handles Divorce and Family Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and DWI and Traffic Law matters across Ocean County and Monmouth County, New Jersey. We offer a free consultation and are happy to discuss your situation at a time that works for you. schedule an appointment.