Bicycle accidents can lead to devastating injuries, overwhelming medical expenses, and difficult legal battles. When a bike rider is struck by a motor vehicle, the consequences can be life-altering. At Brown Chiari LLP, our attorneys understand the unique challenges bicycle accident victims face, and we’re here to help individuals in Amherst and throughout New York fight for the compensation they deserve.
If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, our legal team has the experience, resources, and dedication to guide you through the legal process while protecting your legal rights.

Bike riders are vulnerable to serious injuries when involved in collisions with cars, trucks, or other vehicles. Even with helmets and safety gear, bicyclists often suffer severe physical trauma in crashes—especially when a motor vehicle is speeding, ignoring traffic signals, or changing lanes without checking for cyclists.
We’ve handled many bicycle accident cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and long-term disability. Some clients experience temporary setbacks, while others endure permanent impairments that diminish their quality of life. Regardless of the severity, our role is to ensure that injured clients receive the legal representation they need to recover damages and move forward.
The law recognizes the rights of bicyclists, but those rights are too often ignored by reckless or distracted drivers. When that happens, our attorneys step in to pursue compensation and accountability from the at-fault party.
Accidents involving bicycles occur in a variety of ways. One common scenario involves a driver making a sudden right turn across a bike lane or opening a car door without checking for passing cyclists. In other cases, a driver may fail to obey stop signs or traffic signals, drift into the bike lane, or drive aggressively near vulnerable road users.
Distracted driving and reckless driving continue to be two of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in New York. Other contributing factors include poor road design, inadequate lighting, and failure to maintain a proper red rear light or ride in the same direction as traffic. Understanding the cause of the accident is crucial in proving fault and building a strong bicycle accident claim.
We use every resource available to gather evidence and determine what happened. This includes reviewing traffic signals, medical records, police reports, witness statements, and damage to the bicycle and other vehicles. In certain cases, we work with accident reconstruction experts to clarify complex scenarios.
Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries that require hospitalization, surgery, or rehabilitation. Many injured bicyclists face medical costs that continue for months or even years. The most common injuries sustained in these accidents include brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, deep lacerations, broken bones, and internal bleeding.
Beyond physical recovery, victims may experience emotional trauma, diminished quality of life, and financial stress. Lost earnings, long-term disability, and the inability to return to work are realities many bike riders face after a collision. That’s why it’s so important to file a personal injury claim that addresses both immediate and future losses.
At Brown Chiari LLP, we fight for compensation that covers medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or emotional distress. When appropriate, we also pursue punitive damages in cases involving egregious negligence.

Navigating the legal process after a bike accident isn’t easy—especially while recovering from devastating injuries. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling such cases and understand the legal options available to injured bicyclists. We focus on uncovering critical details, determining liability, and building a compelling case from day one.
In New York, bicycle accident victims are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at fault party. This usually means pursuing a claim against the at fault driver’s insurance policy. However, insurance companies often attempt to downplay injuries or blame the bicyclist in an effort to reduce payouts.
We anticipate these tactics and respond with strong evidence, legal arguments, and a deep understanding of personal injury law. Our firm’s goal is always to recover compensation that fully reflects the seriousness of your injuries and the life changes you’ve endured.
After a crash, your first step should be to seek medical attention. Even if you feel relatively okay, symptoms of brain injury, internal trauma, or soft tissue damage may appear hours or days later. Prompt medical treatment not only protects your health but also creates documentation vital to your personal injury case.
It’s also important to contact a bicycle accident attorney quickly. Evidence such as skid marks, damaged bicycles, and the condition of the accident scene can disappear within days. Our legal team acts fast to preserve this evidence, contact witnesses, and begin preparing your bicycle accident claim.
We also advise clients to avoid speaking with the insurance company until they’ve consulted with legal counsel. Statements made early on, even if they seem harmless, can be used against you. Our legal team manages all communication and negotiates directly to help you seek fair compensation.
Brown Chiari LLP has earned a reputation for strong, client-centered representation in personal injury cases throughout Amherst and Western New York. We bring decades of experience, a deep commitment to seeking justice, and a proven track record of success in bicycle accident claims.
Our bicycle accident attorneys work closely with each client to understand the injuries sustained, calculate medical bills and lost wages, and pursue every possible source of recovery. We also take the time to explain your legal rights clearly and answer all your questions—because we believe in supporting our clients with both knowledge and advocacy.
We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Whether your case involves a minor collision or catastrophic injuries, our legal team is here to fight tirelessly for your future.
Learn more about Amherst Bicycle Accident Lawyer. Call Brown Chiari LLP at (716) 681-7190 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. You can also reach us anytime through our contact page. Let us help you take the first step toward justice and recovery.
Start by seeking medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. After receiving care, contact a bicycle accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights and begin gathering the evidence needed to support your claim.
Yes. In New York, you can still pursue compensation for your injuries even if you weren’t wearing a helmet. However, the insurance company may attempt to reduce your recovery, especially if a brain injury occurred. Legal representation can help protect your claim.
The value depends on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. We seek maximum compensation for both economic damages and non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
Even if the driver claims you were at fault, that doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. New York follows a comparative fault rule, which means your compensation may be reduced, but not eliminated, based on your share of the blame.
In most bicycle accident cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York. However, it’s best to act quickly, as delays can impact evidence and your ability to recover damages.