Bicycle Accidents Caused by Road Hazards

Dangerous Roads Put Cyclists at Risk Every Day

Cyclists trust the streets beneath their tires. But when a road is cracked, flooded, or poorly maintained, even the most careful rider can end up injured. A hidden pothole on Atlantic Avenue, loose gravel along the Hudson Greenway, or an unmarked construction zone in Queens can throw a cyclist off balance in a heartbeat.

These aren’t “accidents” in the pure sense. They’re preventable harms, born from neglect. The people and agencies responsible for keeping roads safe often cut corners, and cyclists pay the price with broken bones, concussions, or worse.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our personal injury attorneys represent riders who’ve been hurt not by reckless drivers, but by the very infrastructure meant to carry them safely. We know how dangerous roads become when they’re neglected, and we fight to hold the right parties accountable.

Common Hazards That Cause Bicycle Accidents in New York

New York’s roads take a beating, between harsh winters, heavy traffic, and constant construction, conditions can deteriorate quickly. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to these hazards because bikes offer no cushion, no airbags, and no room for error.

Frequent dangers include:

• Potholes and broken pavement that cause sudden jolts or crashes.
• Uneven utility covers or grates left exposed after roadwork.
• Loose gravel, debris, or construction material scattered across lanes.
• Faded lane markings that confuse drivers and riders alike.
• Poor drainage, creating slick surfaces after rain.

Under New York law, municipalities are required to maintain safe roads. If they know—or should know, about a hazard and fail to repair it in a reasonable time, they can be held responsible. For federally maintained roads or property, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) applies, creating a pathway to sue the government for negligence.

Hazards might look ordinary, but their impact on cyclists is profound. What a car can roll over without a thought might flip a bicycle and cause weeks, or months, of painful recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Road Hazards

Liability isn’t always obvious in hazard cases. The driver of a car might not be at fault at all. Instead, the blame falls on those tasked with maintaining safe roadways.

Possible liable parties include:

• Cities or towns that fail to repair dangerous roads despite notice.
• Private contractors responsible for construction zones that leave unsafe conditions.
• Utility companies that neglect to secure access covers, trenches, or wiring.
• State or federal agencies maintaining highways, bridges, or military roads.

In New York, General Municipal Law § 50-e requires injured parties to file a notice of claim against a city or town within 90 days. Miss that deadline, and the right to compensation can vanish. With federal agencies, the FTCA requires filing an administrative claim before any lawsuit can proceed.

Determining who is responsible is half the battle. Once identified, that party can be held legally and financially accountable for the harm caused.

Evidence Needed to Prove Hazard Negligence

Proving that a hazard caused your crash, and that a responsible party should have fixed it, requires strong evidence. These cases turn on details: was the hazard visible? How long had it existed? Did anyone report it before?

Key evidence includes:

• Photographs and video of the hazard, preferably taken immediately after the crash.
• Maintenance and inspection records showing when the area was last reviewed.
• Prior complaints or reports from residents or agencies.
• Expert testimony on how the condition violated safety standards.
• Police or EMS reports linking the hazard to the injury.

In New York, courts look closely at whether a municipality had “actual or constructive notice” of the hazard. If it existed long enough that they should have fixed it, liability strengthens. Federal courts under the FTCA apply similar reasoning, but demand airtight paperwork and early filings.

Without evidence, these cases become uphill battles. With it, they become clear stories of negligence, and responsibility.

Unlike Vermont, New York Provides Broader Remedies for Road Hazard Victims

New York gives cyclists more options when road hazards cause harm than some neighboring states. Vermont, for example, applies stricter rules and shorter deadlines, often leaving victims without recourse.

In New York, riders can sue municipalities and recover for both economic and non-economic damages if they prove notice and negligence. Vermont’s system narrows recovery by capping damages in certain cases and requiring stronger proof of governmental fault.

Even more critical: Vermont bars recovery if a cyclist is found more than 50% at fault. New York’s comparative negligence rule, by contrast, allows recovery even when cyclists share much of the blame, reducing but not eliminating damages.

So, a cyclist who hits an unrepaired pothole in Albany may recover compensation. But the same scenario in Burlington could end with no remedy at all.

Holding the Right Parties Accountable for Road Hazard Injuries

When a cyclist suffers from a hazard-related crash, identifying the responsible entity is crucial. Was it a city that ignored complaints? A contractor that left debris in a lane? Or a utility company that failed to secure a grate?

Once the liable party is identified, the case becomes about accountability. Filing against municipalities means meeting strict notice deadlines. Private contractors, however, may carry large insurance policies that allow broader recovery. And when federal agencies are at fault, the FTCA opens the door, but only if the claim is filed on time and in the right format.

Accountability cases don’t just benefit the injured rider. They push agencies and companies to do better, to maintain roads properly, and to take cyclists’ safety as seriously as drivers’.

How to Demand Safer Road Conditions

Cyclists shouldn’t have to accept dangerous roads as “just the way it is.” Demanding better conditions can take many forms.

Filing claims after crashes forces municipalities to reckon with their neglect. Lawsuits highlight systemic issues, like stretches of road where dozens of riders have been injured. Even before accidents happen, residents can push cities to act by filing formal complaints, attending local meetings, and documenting hazards.

When cases reach verdicts or settlements, they often spark policy shifts. Increased maintenance budgets, quicker pothole response times, and clearer construction protocols are direct results of cyclists holding cities accountable.

Every demand for safer roads builds momentum. And that momentum saves lives.

Horn Wright, LLP, Holds Responsible Parties Accountable for Hazard Injuries

You didn’t choose the pothole, the loose grate, or the slick stretch of road. But you’re left to deal with the broken bones, hospital bills, and disrupted life it caused. That’s not justice.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our personal injury attorneys have handled countless road hazard cases across New York. We know how to trace responsibility back to the city, contractor, or agency that failed to act. And we know how to fight through their excuses.

Cyclists deserve safe roads. When those responsible let hazards linger, we step in, so victims aren’t left carrying the burden alone.