Legally Reviewed by Jae E. Lee, Esq. on August 11, 2026
A pedestrian or a cyclist has almost no protection when a vehicle strikes them, and the injuries that follow are often severe. Broken bones, spinal damage, and traumatic brain injuries are common, and the medical bills, lost income, and physical limitations that follow can affect a family’s finances for years.
At Jae Lee Law, our personal injury attorneys have spent over 30 years representing pedestrians and cyclists injured throughout Bergen County and the rest of New Jersey. Jae E. Lee is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court, placing her among the top three percent of attorneys in the state, and our motor vehicle accident team has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. Our multilingual staff speaks English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian, so Bergen County’s diverse community can work with our team in the language they prefer.
Time-Sensitive: New Jersey Law Limits Your Window to File
New Jersey gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.
Jae Lee Law brings over 30 years of experience, more than 100 years of combined legal experience, and a contingency fee structure, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
What To Do Immediately After a Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident in Bergen County
The steps you take right after a collision protect both your health and your compensation claim. Insurance companies look for any reason to reduce what they pay an injured pedestrian or cyclist, so acting carefully matters from the first minute.
Call 911 and Stay at the Scene
A police report documents the collision and often notes which driver failed to yield.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Head injuries and internal bleeding may not show symptoms for hours or days after impact.
Photograph the Scene
Vehicle position, skid marks, crosswalk signals, and your injuries all support your claim later.
Get Witness Information
Bystanders who saw the crash can confirm what happened before memories fade.
Contact an Attorney Before Giving a Recorded Statement
Insurance adjusters ask questions designed to shift fault onto the pedestrian or cyclist.
Once you have taken these steps, reaching out to our Bergen County pedestrian and bicycle accident attorneys allows us to start preserving evidence while it still exists.
Common Causes of Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Bergen County
Driver negligence causes most of the pedestrian and bicycle collisions we see in Bergen County. Distracted driving remains the single largest factor, particularly near crosswalks and intersections where drivers focus on traffic ahead rather than people on foot or on two wheels.
Dangerous road conditions add another layer of risk. Poorly designed intersections, missing or faded crosswalk markings, and construction zones without pedestrian protections force people into traffic lanes where they face a much higher chance of being struck.
Not every pedestrian fall involves a vehicle. If you were hurt on an unshoveled sidewalk or an icy walkway rather than being struck by a car, that claim generally falls under premises liability rather than a motor vehicle accident case. See our page on snow and ice injury claims if that describes what happened to you.
| Common Cause | How It Leads to a Crash |
|---|---|
| Distracted Driving | Drivers checking phones or adjusting navigation fail to notice pedestrians in crosswalks or cyclists sharing the lane. |
| Failure to Yield | Common at intersections and crosswalks, especially during rush hour commutes through Hackensack and Englewood. |
| Dangerous Road Conditions | Missing crosswalks, poor lighting, and blocked sidewalks push pedestrians and cyclists into active traffic lanes. |
| Dooring and Blind Spots | Drivers opening car doors into bike lanes or failing to check blind spots before turning strike cyclists who have the right of way. |
Bicycle-Specific Risks on Bergen County Roads
Cyclists face hazards that pedestrians do not. Many Bergen County roads still lack protected bike lanes, which forces riders to share narrow lanes with vehicle traffic. Right-hook collisions, where a driver turns right directly into a cyclist’s path, and dooring incidents, where a parked driver opens a door into an oncoming rider, account for a significant share of the bicycle accident claims our firm handles.
New Jersey law requires drivers to give cyclists at least four feet of clearance when passing, and it treats bicycles as vehicles entitled to the same right of way protections as cars. When a driver ignores that clearance requirement or fails to yield to a cyclist, the driver can be held financially responsible for the resulting injuries.
New Jersey Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Claims
New Jersey law gives injured pedestrians and cyclists a limited window to take legal action, and missing that deadline can permanently end your right to compensation. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, most personal injury claims, including pedestrian and bicycle accident cases, must be filed within two years from the date of the crash. If a collision proves fatal, family members have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim, under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3.
This deadline can shift when the injured person was a minor at the time of the accident or when a government entity, such as a municipality responsible for a defective crosswalk, is involved. Because these exceptions are fact specific, contacting an attorney as soon as possible protects your right to file on time.
Compensation Available for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Victims
New Jersey law allows injured pedestrians and cyclists to pursue both economic and non-economic damages once their injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold, which requires permanent injury, significant disfigurement, or substantial limitation of a body function.
| Type of Compensation | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Past and future treatment, hospitalization, surgery, and ongoing rehabilitation tied to documented care. |
| Lost Wages and Earning Capacity | Income missed during recovery and any reduced ability to earn if your injuries affect your career long term. |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical discomfort, emotional distress, and the broader impact on your quality of life. |
| Loss of Enjoyment of Life | Compensation for activities and experiences you can no longer take part in because of your injuries. |
| Wrongful Death Damages | Where applicable, funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship for surviving family members. |
How Jae Lee Law Investigates Your Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident Case
Thorough investigation separates a well-supported claim from one that gets underpaid or denied. Our team moves quickly to preserve surveillance footage, which many businesses overwrite within days, and to document road conditions, crosswalk signals, and vehicle damage before the evidence disappears.
We interview witnesses, obtain official police reports, and, when fault is disputed, retain accident reconstruction professionals who analyze the physical evidence and provide testimony supporting your version of events.
The Claims Process for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Victims
Why Bergen County Residents Choose Jae Lee Law
Choosing the right attorney after a pedestrian or bicycle accident can affect every part of your recovery, from the medical care you receive to the settlement you are offered.
Jae E. Lee is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court, placing her among the top three percent of attorneys in the state, and our team brings that same preparation to every pedestrian and bicycle accident case we handle.
Contingency Fee Basis
We take pedestrian and bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Multilingual Staff
Our staff speaks Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian, so Bergen County’s diverse community can communicate clearly with our team throughout the process.
We Meet You Where You Are
We meet clients at home, in the hospital, or at another location that fits their recovery, because travel is not always realistic after a serious accident.
30+ yrs
of personal injury litigation experience throughout New Jersey
3%
only 3% of NJ attorneys hold Supreme Court certification, Jae E. Lee is one of them
5
languages spoken by our multilingual staff, English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian
$0
out of pocket, we take cases on a contingency fee basis
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Bergen County
Contact Jae Lee Law for Your Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident Case
A pedestrian or bicycle accident can leave you facing medical bills, lost income, and an insurance company working to pay you as little as possible. You do not have to face that process alone.
Our attorneys will investigate your accident, handle every conversation with the insurance company, and pursue full compensation for your recovery, all without charging a fee unless we win your case. Contact Jae Lee Law today for a free consultation about your pedestrian or bicycle accident claim.
