Hit On A Bike In New Jersey? You May Have A Major Case.
Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on New Jersey roads. When a car hits a cyclist — even at low speeds — the injuries can be catastrophic: broken bones, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, road rash, and worse. Goldman Law Firm represents NJ cyclists injured by motor vehicles. We work on contingency: no fee unless we win. Call 908-692-7745 for a free consultation, 24/7.
NJ Cyclists Have Strong Rights
Under New Jersey law, bicycles are vehicles. Cyclists have the right to use most roads, and drivers have a legal duty to share the road safely. When a driver fails to yield, opens a door into a bike lane, fails to check a blind spot before turning, or otherwise breaches that duty, the injured cyclist has a personal injury claim against the driver and the driver’s insurance.
NJ’s no-fault auto insurance system covers cyclists too. If you have your own auto insurance, your PIP coverage typically pays your medical bills regardless of fault. Beyond PIP, you can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages (subject to the lawsuit threshold rules — see our car accident page for more on that).
Common NJ Bicycle Accident Scenarios
- Right hook — driver turns right across a cyclist traveling straight
- Left cross — driver turns left into oncoming cyclist’s path
- Dooring — parked driver opens door into bike lane or roadway
- Rear collision — driver hits cyclist from behind
- Driveway / parking lot pull-out — vehicle exits without yielding to cyclist on roadway or sidewalk
- Distracted driving — phone use, GPS, eating, drinking
- DUI driver — impaired driver hits cyclist (often triggers higher damages)
- Failure to give 3+ feet — NJ’s “Safe Passing Law” requires drivers to give cyclists adequate clearance
NJ’s Safe Passing Law & Cyclist Protections
New Jersey passed the Safe Passing Law to require drivers to give vulnerable road users — including cyclists — at least 4 feet of clearance when passing, or slow down to 25 mph and pass with care. Violations carry fines and points, and they’re evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. We use these statutes and accident reconstructions to establish liability.
What Your Bicycle Accident Case Is Worth
Cyclist injury cases often produce significant recoveries because of:
- Severity of injury — without the protection of a vehicle frame, cyclists frequently suffer fractures, head trauma, internal injuries
- Clear liability — driver-versus-cyclist cases often have strong evidence of driver fault
- Permanent impact — many cyclist injuries leave permanent impairment
- Wage loss — recovery time is often months
- Pain and suffering — beyond economic damages, NJ allows compensation for the human impact of a serious injury (subject to the verbal threshold)
We’ve handled cases producing six-figure and seven-figure settlements for injured NJ cyclists. We won’t promise a number without seeing your file — but we’ll evaluate it honestly and quickly.
What To Do After A NJ Bicycle Accident
- Call 911. Always. Get a police report. The report is foundational evidence.
- Don’t move the bicycle until police document the scene.
- Photograph everything — your bike, the vehicle, road conditions, signage, the driver’s plate.
- Get the driver’s info — license, insurance, plate, contact.
- Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Go to the ER. Adrenaline masks injuries. Get checked out.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance carrier.
- Save your damaged gear — bike, helmet, clothes.
- Call us — 908-692-7745 — 24/7.