Last Updated: October 2026

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Attorney Serving New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey

Hit while walking or riding a bicycle in New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey? Eddy & Associates offers free consultations and helps evaluate insurance coverage.

Elmhurst, NY (212) 459-1800 · Westport, CT (203) 341-9808

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE. This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary. Do not send confidential or time-sensitive information.

When a Driver Hits Someone Outside a Vehicle

Pedestrians and cyclists have little protection from a motor vehicle. Eddy & Associates represents injured pedestrians and cyclists and gathers police reports, camera footage, witnesses, vehicle data, medical records, and insurance documents.

How Crashes Happen

Drivers turning across crosswalks.

Drivers turning through bicycle lanes.

Failure to yield.

Dooring.

Distracted or impaired driving.

Speed and poor visibility.

Unsafe roads or work zones.

Hit-and-run crashes.

How New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey Claims Differ

New York

A pedestrian or cyclist struck by a motor vehicle may have access to no-fault benefits through the vehicle’s insurer. Written notice to the insurer is generally required within a short window after the crash, and missing it can affect benefits. MVAIC or uninsured motorist coverage may help in qualifying hit-and-run or uninsured claims.

Connecticut

Connecticut has no motor vehicle no-fault system. Health insurance, optional medical payments, liability, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist coverage may apply.

E-Bikes

A compliant New York e-bike is generally treated as a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle. The claim path depends on the vehicles and policies involved.

What to Do After a Crash

Get medical help.

Report the crash to law enforcement.

Preserve photographs, damaged clothing, the bicycle, helmet, lights, witnesses, and camera locations.

Protect the insurance claim and avoid guesses in recorded statements.

Speak with an attorney promptly.

How Eddy & Associates Helps

Free consultation.

Investigation and evidence collection.

Review of no-fault, liability, uninsured, underinsured, business, or other coverage.

Claim presentation, negotiation, and litigation.

Compensation That May Be Available

Medical care and future treatment.

Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.

Pain and suffering and reduced quality of life.

Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent impairment.

Damage to a bicycle, clothing, helmet, phone, or other property.

Wrongful death damages in a fatal crash.

New Jersey

A pedestrian or bicyclist struck in New Jersey may have access to personal injury protection benefits even without owning a car. Those benefits can come through a household auto policy or, in some situations, through the policy covering the vehicle involved. Because eligibility depends on household coverage and the facts of the crash, the coverage question should be answered early.

New Jersey requires drivers to stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. A violation is relevant evidence of negligence, though it does not by itself decide a claim.

Comparative fault applies. Insurers frequently argue that a pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk or that a cyclist rode against traffic, and those arguments are met with scene evidence, video, and witness accounts rather than argument alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays medical bills when a car hits a pedestrian or cyclist in New York?

The vehicle’s insurer may provide no-fault benefits, subject to notice and eligibility rules.

What happens in a hit-and-run?

Report it immediately. MVAIC or uninsured motorist coverage may be available depending on eligibility and policies.

Can I bring a claim if I was outside a crosswalk or partly at fault?

Possibly. Comparative fault may reduce compensation, but it does not automatically end every claim.