Riding a bike in New Jersey should be enjoyable, maybe even a bit freeing. But sharing the road with cars and trucks means vulnerability. One moment of driver carelessness can flip your world sideways, leaving you injured, stressed, and facing a mountain of problems you didn't ask for.
If a driver's negligence caused your bicycle accident, you shouldn't be left footing the bill for their mistake. Pursuing fair compensation is your right, but dealing with insurance companies and the legal system alone is a bad idea. A New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer can help you navigate the road ahead and fight for what you deserve.
Contact the Reinartz Law Firm at (201) 289-8615 to discuss your case.
New Jersey Bicycle Accident Guide
Why Choose The Reinartz Law Firm?
At the Reinartz Law Firm, we focus squarely on personal injury law. Our team has a documented history of securing significant results for clients, including multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. We've achieved results like $1.32M for slip-and-fall cases, $950K for motor vehicle accidents, and handled complex matters like an $8.75M medical malpractice class action.
Our lead attorney, Richard Reinartz, possesses valuable perspective from having represented both plaintiffs and defendants, including Fortune 500 companies. This background provides us insight into how insurance companies and large corporations operate and defend claims, which we use to strengthen your case. We are recognized by peers and legal organizations, including Super Lawyers (a distinction given to only 2.5% of NJ attorneys), the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Richard Reinartz's appointment by the NJ Supreme Court to its Ethics Committee also speaks to our commitment to professional integrity.
We believe in clear communication and a client-focused approach. You deserve to know what's happening with your case without chasing down answers. Our Hackensack office, located at Court Plaza South - West Wing, 21 Main St Suite 205, Hackensack, NJ 07601, is centrally positioned near the Bergen County courthouses, making it convenient for many clients in Northern New Jersey.
What's Your Bicycle Accident Claim Really Worth?
After getting hit, one of the biggest worries is money. Medical bills pile up fast. You might be unable to work. The question "How much is my case worth?" is completely understandable, but there's no simple calculator for it. Each case depends heavily on its specific facts.
However, we can break down the types of compensation, often called damages, that we pursue for injured cyclists in New Jersey.
Economic Damages
These are the tangible, calculable financial losses stemming directly from the accident. Think of them as the line items on a receipt.
- Medical Expenses: This includes everything from the initial ambulance ride and emergency room visit to ongoing physical therapy, surgeries, medication, assistive devices (like crutches or wheelchairs), and future anticipated medical care related to your injuries.
- Lost Wages: If the accident forced you to miss work, you can seek compensation for the income you lost. This covers salary, hourly wages, bonuses, commissions, and any other earnings you were deprived of during your recovery.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries are severe enough to permanently affect your ability to earn a living at the same level as before the accident, we calculate the long-term financial impact and seek compensation for this diminished capacity.
- Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your bicycle and any other personal property damaged in the crash, like your helmet, clothing, or phone.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages compensate for the intangible, non-financial consequences of the accident. They address the human cost of the injury, which is harder to put a number on but just as real.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress you experience because of your injuries. It acknowledges the hardship you endure during recovery and potentially long after.
- Emotional Distress: Accidents are traumatic. This category addresses issues like anxiety, depression, fear, insomnia, or PTSD resulting from the crash and its aftermath.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, activities, or daily routines you previously enjoyed, you can seek compensation for this diminished quality of life.
- Loss of Consortium: In some cases, a spouse may claim damages if the injured person's catastrophic injuries negatively impact the marital relationship (e.g., loss of companionship, support, intimacy).
Punitive Damages
These are different. Punitive damages aren't meant to compensate you for losses but rather to punish the defendant for particularly outrageous or reckless behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. They are awarded only in rare cases where the defendant acted with actual malice or a wanton and willful disregard for safety, as defined under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.12).
How We Calculate Damages
Calculating the full value of your claim involves gathering extensive evidence. We collect medical records, bills, proof of lost income, expert opinions on future medical needs or earning capacity, and your own account of how the accident impacted your life. We meticulously document every loss to build a strong case for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Danger Zones: New Jersey Bicycle Accident Hotspots
Recent years have seen a concerning rise in cyclist fatalities statewide. Data suggests many accidents occur during evening or nighttime hours, likely due to reduced visibility; nearly half of bicycle-motor vehicle accidents in the state happen in low-light conditions. Urban areas, with their higher traffic density and complex intersections, are where most bicycle-related deaths happen.
Historically, Southern New Jersey areas around Trenton, Camden, Atlantic City, and Millville have been identified as having higher rates of fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes. Lakewood Township has also been noted as a hotspot.
In Northern New Jersey, densely populated counties like Bergen, Essex, and Hudson recorded thousands of bicycle crashes over a decade, including numerous fatalities.
Bike Accidents: The Nitty-Gritty
Common Types of Bicycle Accidents
Driver negligence is frequently the root cause of these incidents:
- Dooring: A driver or passenger opens a car door directly into the path of an oncoming cyclist.
- Left Cross: A driver making a left turn fails to see an oncoming cyclist and turns directly into their path.
- Right Hook: A driver overtakes a cyclist and then makes an immediate right turn, cutting off the cyclist or colliding with them.
- Sideswipe: A vehicle passes too closely, striking the cyclist or forcing them off the road.
- Rear-End Collision: A driver fails to stop in time or misjudges speed and hits a cyclist from behind.
- Intersection Accidents: Drivers running red lights or stop signs, or failing to yield the right-of-way to cyclists legally present in the intersection.
- Failure to Yield: Drivers pulling out from driveways, parking lots, or side streets without yielding to cyclists on the roadway.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Because cyclists lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, injuries are often severe:
- Head Injuries / Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a helmet, impacts can cause concussions or more severe brain injuries with long-term cognitive or physical effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis, drastically altering a person's life.
- Fractures: Broken bones, particularly in the arms, legs, collarbone, wrists, and hips, are frequent.
- Road Rash: Severe skin abrasions caused by sliding on pavement can be painful, require extensive cleaning and dressing, lead to infection, and cause permanent scarring.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs, internal bleeding, or ruptured spleen can occur from blunt force trauma.
- Facial Injuries: Broken facial bones, dental damage, and eye injuries are common.
Relevant New Jersey Laws
Several New Jersey statutes are pertinent to bicycle accident cases:
- Rights and Duties (N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.1): Grants cyclists the same rights and subjects them to the same duties as drivers of motor vehicles when on roadways.
- Safe Passing Law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.4): Mandates drivers maintain a safe distance (at least four feet recommended) when passing cyclists.
- Helmet Law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-10): Requires cyclists under 17 years old to wear a helmet. While not wearing a helmet if you're over 17 doesn't prevent you from filing a claim, insurance companies might try to argue it contributed to head injuries.
- Comparative Negligence (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1): New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages as long as your percentage of fault is not greater than the fault of the party(ies) you are suing. Your recovery amount is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Statute of Limitations (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2): Generally, you have two years from the date of the bicycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey. Missing this deadline means losing your right to sue for damages.
Fighting the Insurance Machine
After a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you'll likely deal with their insurance company. It's important to remember who the insurance adjuster works for: the insurance company. Their objective is to protect the company's bottom line by minimizing payouts or denying claims altogether.
Insurance companies employ various tactics to achieve this. They might contact you quickly after the accident, sounding friendly and concerned, hoping to get a recorded statement before you've spoken to a lawyer or fully understand your injuries. They might twist your words later or use innocent statements against you to suggest you were partially at fault or your injuries aren't serious.
Another common tactic is the early, lowball settlement offer. They might offer a quick check, hoping you'll take it out of desperation or before realizing the true extent of your injuries and future costs. Accepting such an offer usually requires signing away your right to seek further compensation, even if your condition worsens or you discover more extensive damages later.
They may also dispute liability, claiming their insured driver wasn't at fault, or argue that your injuries pre-existed the accident or aren't as severe as you claim. At the Reinartz Law Firm, we anticipate these tactics. We handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, shielding you from pressure. We conduct our own thorough investigation, gather evidence to establish liability, document your injuries meticulously, and build a compelling case for fair compensation. We aren't afraid to push back against unfair tactics and take your case to court if a just settlement cannot be reached through negotiation.
After the Dust Settles: Protecting Your Claim
You've dealt with the immediate aftermath – the police, the paramedics, maybe the emergency room. Now you're home, hurting, and wondering what comes next. While the initial chaos is over, the steps you take now can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation later.
Think of this phase as building the foundation for your potential legal claim. Here’s what helps:
- Follow Medical Advice Religiously: Attend all doctor's appointments, physical therapy sessions, and specialist consultations. Follow through on all treatment plans and take prescribed medications. Failing to do so gives the insurance company an opening to argue you weren't truly injured or didn't take your recovery seriously.
- Keep Every Piece of Paper: Maintain a detailed file of everything related to the accident and your injuries. This includes medical bills, receipts for prescriptions and medical supplies, explanations of benefits (EOBs) from your health insurance, repair estimates for your bike, pay stubs showing lost wages, and any correspondence with insurance companies.
- Document Your Experience: Keep a simple journal detailing your pain levels, physical limitations, emotional state, and how the injuries affect your daily life. Note missed workdays, activities you can no longer do, sleepless nights, and any difficulties performing routine tasks. This provides valuable evidence of your non-economic damages.
- Obtain the Police Report: Get a copy of the official police report filed for the accident. While not always definitive, it contains key information like names, addresses, insurance details, witness contacts, and the officer's initial observations about how the crash occurred.
- Be Careful What You Say: Avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver's insurance adjuster without speaking to a lawyer first. Stick to factual statements if you must communicate, but it's best to let your attorney handle these interactions.
- Stay Off Social Media (About the Accident): Insurance companies often check claimants' social media profiles. Posting pictures or comments about activities, even seemingly innocent ones, can be taken out of context and used to argue your injuries aren't as severe as you claim. It’s safest to refrain from posting about the accident, your injuries, or physical activities until your case is resolved.
Take Control of Your Recovery
Let the Reinartz Law Firm handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing. We're ready to put our experience to work for you. Call us today at (201) 289-8615 or contact us online to discuss your New Jersey bicycle accident case.
The Reinartz Law Firm - Hackensack Office
Address: 21 Main St Suite 205
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 289-8615
Testimonial
HEATHER F.
"Richard guided me in my suit and made me feel confident in my decisions during my entire case. He made recommendations that I otherwise, would not have known about."
