Overview

Getting hit is disorienting. Adrenaline masks pain, drivers pressure you to settle on the spot, and you may not realize how badly you or your bike are damaged until later. This guide covers what to do at the scene, in the hours after, and in the weeks that follow. Bookmark it and hope you never need it.

At the scene

1. Get out of the road. Move yourself and your bike to the sidewalk or a safe spot. Do not stay in the lane.

2. Call 911 if anyone is injured. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask fractures, concussions and internal injuries. If you hit your head, went over the handlebars or feel any pain at all, get checked out. An ambulance ride is expensive but a missed head injury is worse.

3. Do not say you are okay. You do not know that yet. Do not apologize or admit fault. Keep it factual -- "a car hit me" is enough.

4. Call the police and get a report. Ask the responding officer for the police report number. If the driver leaves before police arrive, that is a hit-and-run -- tell the officer. A police report is critical for insurance claims and any legal action. In NYC, you can also file a report online at the NYPD Online Report portal within 24 hours if officers did not respond.

5. Get the driver's information. Write down or photograph:

  • Driver's name, phone number and address
  • Driver's license number
  • License plate number
  • Insurance company and policy number
  • Make, model and color of the car

6. Document everything. Use your phone:

  • Photos of your injuries, your bike, the car's damage, the license plate
  • Wide shots of the intersection showing traffic signals, bike lanes, road conditions
  • Photos of any skid marks or debris
  • Video of the scene if you can

7. Get witness information. If anyone saw the crash, ask for their name and phone number. Witnesses disappear fast -- do this before they leave.

8. Do not negotiate with the driver. Do not accept cash on the spot. Do not agree that everything is fine. Do not sign anything. Anything you say can be used against you later.

In the first 24 hours

Go to urgent care or the ER. Even if you feel okay. Document your injuries medically -- this creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash. Concussion symptoms, soft tissue damage and hairline fractures often show up the next day. Tell the doctor exactly what happened.

Write down everything you remember. Time of day, direction of travel, what the driver did, what you did, traffic signals, weather. Memory fades and details matter. Do this as soon as you can.

File a police report if you haven't already. You can do this at the local precinct or online. Do not skip this step.

Do not post about the crash on social media. Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers will look at your posts. Anything you say publicly can be used to minimize your claim.

Insurance and medical bills

In New York, the driver's auto insurance covers your medical bills under no-fault / Personal Injury Protection (PIP) -- even if you were at fault. This covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and lost wages. You must file the no-fault claim within 30 days of the crash.

Steps:

  1. Get the driver's insurance information from the police report if you did not get it at the scene
  2. Call the driver's insurance company and file a no-fault claim
  3. Keep every medical receipt, bill and record
  4. If you missed work, document your lost wages

If you do not have the driver's info (hit-and-run), you can file a no-fault claim through your own auto insurance if you have one, or through MVAIC (Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation) which covers uninsured New Yorkers.

Should you get a lawyer?

If any of the following are true, talk to a lawyer:

  • You were seriously injured (broken bones, concussion, surgery, missed work)
  • The driver's insurance is denying or lowballing your claim
  • The driver was uninsured or fled the scene
  • The police report is inaccurate or blames you incorrectly
  • Medical bills are piling up

Bike crash lawyers in NYC typically work on contingency -- they take a percentage of your settlement and charge nothing upfront

Consultations are usually free. Even if you are not sure you need a lawyer, a 15-minute call can help you understand your options.

The statute of limitations for personal injury in New York is three years from the date of the crash. For claims against the city (e.g. dangerous road conditions), you must file a notice of claim within 90 days.

Your bike

The driver's insurance should cover your bike and gear damage in addition to medical expenses. Document everything:

  • Photograph all damage to your bike, helmet, clothing, bags and accessories
  • Get a written repair estimate from a bike shop, or a replacement value estimate for anything totaled
  • Keep the damaged parts -- do not throw them away or repair anything until the claim is settled

If the frame is cracked, bent or compromised, the bike may be totaled. A shop can assess this. Carbon fiber and aluminum frames should not be ridden after a significant impact even if the damage is not visible.

Bring the bike to the co-op and we can help you assess the damage. We will not charge for a post-crash inspection. If the bike is rideable but needs work after the claim settles, we can help with repairs.

Reporting beyond the police

Filing additional reports helps track dangerous intersections and push for infrastructure changes:

  • 311 -- report the crash to NYC 311, especially if road conditions contributed (potholes, missing signage, obstructed bike lane)
  • Crash Mapper by Transportation Alternatives -- adds your crash to a public database used for advocacy
  • Community Board -- if the crash happened at a known dangerous intersection, email your local community board's transportation committee

These reports do not help your individual case directly, but they build the data that gets intersections redesigned and bike lanes protected.

If the driver fled (hit-and-run)

Hit-and-runs are common and infuriating. What you can do:

  • Call 911 immediately and report it as a hit-and-run
  • Write down whatever you remember -- plate number (even partial), car color, make, direction of travel
  • Check for security cameras on nearby buildings and businesses. Ask the owner if they can save the footage. Police may not do this on their own.
  • File a police report -- this is required for MVAIC claims
  • File a no-fault claim through MVAIC if you do not have your own auto insurance: mvaic.com

Hit-and-run is a crime in New York. Even if the driver is not caught, the police report and MVAIC claim protect your access to medical coverage.

Crashes with Citi Bikes

If you are riding a Citi Bike and get hit by a car, the same steps above apply - document everything, call 911, file a police report, get medical attention. The driver's no-fault insurance covers you regardless of what bike you were on.

If the Citi Bike itself malfunctioned and caused the crash (brake failure, wheel lockup, pedal snapped), document the bike's dock number and serial number on the frame. Take photos of the defect. Report the issue through the Citi Bike app and keep a copy of the report. Lyft (Citi Bike's operator) carries liability insurance -- a lawyer can help you pursue a claim if a mechanical defect caused your injuries.

If you were hit by someone riding a Citi Bike, get their information the same way you would a driver. Citi Bike riders are personally liable for their actions -- there is no insurance policy that covers the rider hitting you.

Crashes with delivery riders

Crashes with e-bike and moped delivery riders are increasingly common in NYC. The challenge is that most delivery riders are uninsured and many ride for app companies that classify them as independent contractors.

At the scene, follow the same steps -- get out of the road, call 911, document everything, get their information. Photograph the rider, their bike, any delivery bag branding (Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, etc.) and the bike's serial number or plate if it has one.

The insurance situation is complicated:

  • Most delivery cyclists carry no personal liability insurance
  • App companies generally do not cover injuries caused by their riders to third parties
  • If the rider was actively on a delivery, the app company may have some liability -- but they will fight it
  • New York's no-fault auto insurance does not apply to bicycles or e-bikes (it covers motor vehicles only)

What you can do:

  • File a police report -- this documents the incident regardless of insurance
  • See a doctor and keep all records
  • If you have health insurance, use it for your medical bills
  • Talk to a personal injury lawyer -- they can assess whether the app company or the rider can be held liable
  • Check if the e-bike or moped qualifies as a motor vehicle under NY law (some do depending on speed and class), which could open up no-fault coverage

The reality is that recovering damages from an uninsured individual is difficult. A lawyer can advise on whether it is worth pursuing. The consultation is usually free.

The quick checklist

  1. Get to safety
  2. Call 911 if injured
  3. Do not admit fault or say you are okay
  4. Get the driver's info and document everything with photos
  5. Get witness contact info
  6. File a police report
  7. See a doctor within 24 hours
  8. File a no-fault insurance claim within 30 days
  9. Talk to a lawyer if injuries are serious
  10. Do not post on social media
  11. Bring the bike to the co-op for a damage assessment