Our Verdicts and Settlements
$2,500,000
Settlement at trial for negligent road design
$2,400,000
Settlement at trial for a construction worker
$1,750,000
For a student injured at school
$1,300,000
For a motorcyclist
$1,200,000
Verdict for Car Crash Victim
$1,000,000
For a motorcyclist
$950,000
For car crash victim
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in Amherst
Amherst’s own road planners have flagged this risk directly: the Town recently secured federal funding to redesign the Maple Road and North Bailey Avenue intersection over safety concerns, and it’s moving forward with bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Casey and Paradise roads. The risk isn’t hypothetical: a Buffalo News investigation found that in one stretch between late April and early August 2025, six fatal crashes involving cyclists, e-bike riders, and motorcyclists struck by a car or SUV occurred across the region, including one in Amherst.
Our bicycle accident attorneys represent injured cyclists in Amherst in cases involving:
- Right-hook and left-cross bicycle accidents, where a driver turns across a cyclist’s path at an intersection
- Bicycle dooring accidents, when a driver or passenger opens a parked car door into a cyclist’s lane of travel
- Failure-to-yield crashes, where a driver pulls out of a driveway, parking lot, or side street without seeing an oncoming cyclist
- Unsafe passing and bicycle sideswipe accidents on roads without a dedicated bike lane
- Distracted, drowsy, or impaired driving crashes
- Collisions on or near shared-use paths, including the Ellicott Creek Trailway, the Amherst Canalway Trail, and points where those trails cross a roadway
- E-bike and e-scooter collisions, including crashes involving delivery and rideshare-style riders
- Hit-and-run bike crashes where the driver flees the scene
- Crashes involving students and staff near the University at Buffalo North Campus
- Wrongful death claims arising from a fatal bicycle crash
Facilities like intersections and driveways create most of these cases, but the road, trail, or shared-use path itself can also be part of the problem. Getting a bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst involved quickly helps make sure surveillance footage, vehicle damage, and witness accounts are preserved before they disappear.
What If a Driver Says I Was at Fault for the Bicycle Accident?
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1231, a person riding a bicycle on the roadway is granted the same rights, and held to the same duties, as the driver of a motor vehicle. That means a driver who fails to yield, opens a door into traffic, or passes unsafely can be held responsible in largely the same way as if the collision had involved two cars.
Insurers routinely argue that the cyclist was at fault for “coming out of nowhere” or riding too far into the lane. Our job is to investigate the specific statute that applied to the road or path where the bike crash happened before accepting that version of events.
Why Amherst Cyclists Choose Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law
A bicycle accident claim in Amherst, NY, can move quickly against you. Insurers often reach out within days, and the physical evidence that proves what happened, skid marks, vehicle damage, nearby surveillance footage, can disappear just as fast.
With more than 27 years of litigation experience, over 300 years of combined legal experience, nearly 20,000 clients served, 48 attorneys, and a 240-person team, Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law has the resources to investigate your crash thoroughly and stand up to insurance companies that would rather blame the cyclist than the driver.
We Move Fast to Preserve Important Evidence
Traffic and business surveillance cameras along corridors like Maple Road, Millersport Highway, and Niagara Falls Boulevard often overwrite footage within days. One of the first things we do for our clients is to request and preserve video, vehicle data, and physical evidence before it is lost.
Local Lawyers With Our Main Office in Amherst
Our personal injury law firm’s main office is located at Amherst Development Park, 6000 N. Bailey Ave., Suite 1A. Being based in Amherst means our attorneys are here to meet with local bicycle accident clients and understand the local roads, trails, and circumstances that can shape bicycle accident claims in our community.
Trial-Ready When Insurers Dispute Liability
Insurance companies are far more willing to fairly value a claim when they know the firm on the other side is prepared to take the case in front of an Erie County jury. We are trial-ready personal injury lawyers in Amherst who build every bicycle accident case as though it is headed to trial.
We Have a No-Fee Guarantee
You never pay us upfront. We only get paid if we win for you, so our success is directly tied to yours.
Free Case Evaluation
Speak with a lawyer at no cost. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the best path forward.
You’re More than a Case
We treat every client like family, taking the time to understand your story and guide you through every step with care and compassion.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Bicycle Accident in Amherst?
A bicycle accident claim can draw on more than one source of compensation, and the right source often depends on who caused the crash, whether that’s a distracted commuter, an NFTA Metro bus, a UB Stampede shuttle, or a delivery driver near one of Amherst’s busy retail corridors. Depending on the facts, your bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst may pursue:
- No-Fault benefits: If you are injured in a crash involving a motor vehicle, you may be entitled to No-Fault benefits for medical expenses and certain lost earnings regardless of fault. The applicable insurer depends on the circumstances, and written notice is generally required within 30 days of the accident.
- Bodily injury compensation: If another party was at fault, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. A claim for pain and suffering generally requires proof that your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits: Your own policy may provide coverage if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your losses. Coverage may also apply in certain hit-and-run situations.
- MVAIC benefits: If an unidentified or uninsured driver caused the crash, MVAIC may provide a potential source of compensation if you meet its eligibility requirements and comply with applicable deadlines.
- Property damage: You may seek compensation for damage to your bicycle, helmet, clothing, and other personal property caused by the crash.
- Wrongful death damages: When a bicycle accident results in death, the decedent’s personal representative may pursue a wrongful death claim for losses recoverable under New York law.
An insurance company’s first offer is often calculated before the full extent of your injuries and future treatment is known, and accepting it usually closes your case for good, even if things get worse later. A bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst can review any offer against the true value of your claim before you sign anything.
"We fight for our clients as if they were family—taking cases to trial when necessary to ensure they receive the justice and financial recovery they deserve."
How New York’s Comparative Fault Law Can Affect Your Bicycle Accident Claim
New York recently changed its comparative fault rules for certain personal injury claims. For cases filed on or after May 26, 2026, a cyclist can be barred from recovering damages if their share of fault is greater than the combined fault of the driver or drivers they are suing.
Amherst bicycle accidents that do not fall under the new rule, such as crashes caused by a defective trail or involving another cyclist or pedestrian, generally remain subject to New York’s traditional rule, where your compensation is reduced based on your share of fault rather than eliminated entirely.
How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Amherst Help?
From the scene of the crash through settlement or trial, our attorneys manage the investigation, the insurance claims, and the legal deadlines while you focus on recovering.
✓ Acting before critical evidence disappears: We move quickly to preserve surveillance footage, bicycle and vehicle damage, photographs, electronic data, and witness accounts. Many clients we represent in Amherst rely on this evidence to establish what happened.
✓ Reconstructing how the crash happened: We examine the road layout, traffic signals, bicycle lanes, right-of-way rules, and other New York traffic laws that apply to your crash.
✓ Looking beyond the other driver’s insurance: We identify potentially available coverage, including the driver’s liability policy, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and MVAIC when applicable.
✓ Protecting your No-Fault benefits: We help address the required No-Fault notice and paperwork within the applicable 30-day deadline, helping protect benefits while you deal with your injuries.
✓ Evaluating fault under New York’s current rules: We assess your actions, the driver’s conduct, and the circumstances of the crash under the comparative fault rules that apply to your claim.
✓ Building the medical record around your actual losses: We document your treatment, injuries, recovery, and lasting limitations, including the ways an accident can affect your work and daily activities.
✓ Preparing your claim for settlement or trial: We assess insurance offers against the evidence and damages in your case and prepare each claim for the possibility of litigation.
The sooner a bicycle accident lawyer gets involved, the less likely it is that camera footage, the driver’s insurance details, or physical evidence from your bike gets lost. From there, our focus shifts to building the strongest possible record for your crash and pushing your claim toward what it’s actually worth, not what an insurer would prefer to pay.
Common Injuries in Amherst Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents often cause injuries out of proportion to how the collision looked from the outside. Some of these injuries, particularly head trauma and internal bleeding, are not always obvious right after a crash. That is why it is important to seek medical attention even if you feel fine in the moment.
We often help clients pursue compensation for:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Fractures, particularly to the wrist, collarbone, and hip
- Road rash, lacerations, and permanent scarring
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries and internal bleeding
- Facial and dental injuries
- Lingering anxiety and a fear of riding again
A bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst can help make sure your claim reflects the injury as it develops, not just how it first appeared at the scene.
Ida and Stephanie were great! They kept me posted about my case. They provided documents for my doctors to fill out so I had as much medical records as I could! Stephanie represented me in the Judge appeal and was great asking me questions about my disability and helping me convey those disabilities to the judge! I’m so grateful ☺️ for their help! Highly recommend them!
Working with Hiller Comerford was easy. They took care of everything and their communication was exceptional. I’ve already referred others to them.
Seriously grateful to my attorney, Ryan Taylor. I spent years trying to navigate VA disability on my own and they managed to finally make headway where I could not.
Everyone I spoke with and worked with was extremely kind and had great communication also they were compassionate,they worked very diligently to help me and kept me well informed throughout the process I couldn't thank them enough.
I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law for their exceptional support and guidance throughout my disability benefits process. Their expertise and dedication made an overwhelming situation feel manageable, and they ensured every step was handled with care and clarity. I am truly grateful for their assistance and highly recommend their services.
My lawyer RyanTaylor was amazing. He told me exactly how the process goes, what to expect and how long it realistically would take. He was able to get for me exactly what I had tried twice to do myself but was rejected by the VA for. I will recommend all my Veteran friends to him.
Hard workers, always looking at the positive side of the case and always listening to the client. Only down remark is hard to get calls back.
Hiller Comerford have been amazing. They got me a fully favorable decision on my disability claim, I could have never been able to do that on my own. Everyone in their office is so kind and so knowledgeable. They really helped make a difficult time of my life a pleasure. Thank you so much Hiller Comerford!!!
The firm understands the situation, and are very acknowledged about the social security laws and guidelines. Staff were very friendly. The attorney that represented me was Charles Gaughan and the case manager was Olivia Fritzen. They did a wonderful job with my representation for my case. I would highly recommend The law firm of Hiller and Comerford.
Bicycle Accident Statute of Limitations and Deadlines in New York
In New York, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is generally three years from the date of the crash under CPLR § 214(5). A wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death.
Other deadlines can arrive much sooner and may affect whether certain benefits or claims remain available:
- A No-Fault claim generally requires written notice to the applicable insurer within 30 days of the crash.
- If the driver fled the scene and cannot be identified, an MVAIC claim generally requires the accident to be reported to police within 24 hours and a Notice of Intention to MVAIC within 90 days.
- If a defective or poorly maintained roadway, trail, or traffic signal maintained by the Town of Amherst or Erie County contributed to your crash, a Notice of Claim generally must be served within 90 days under General Municipal Law § 50-e. Claims against New York State or certain state agencies may be subject to different notice and filing requirements.
Missing any of these deadlines can permanently affect your ability to recover compensation. Speaking with a bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst promptly after your crash gives us the best chance to meet every applicable deadline and preserve the evidence your injury claim depends on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to the questions we hear most often from injured cyclists in Amherst. For guidance specific to your situation, contact a bicycle accident lawyer today for a free case evaluation.
What should I do immediately after a bicycle accident in Amherst?
What you do after a bicycle accident matters. Call 911 and seek medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at first. If you can safely do so, get the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance details, and take photos of the scene, your bicycle, and your injuries. Look for witnesses and nearby surveillance cameras, and make sure a police report is filed. Hold onto the damaged bicycle and gear rather than repairing or discarding them, since they can be important evidence later. Reach out to a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as you can so we can secure evidence and shield you from early mistakes.
What are the bicycle helmet laws in Amherst, New York?
New York’s helmet law generally applies in Amherst. Under VTL § 1238, anyone under 14 must wear an approved helmet while riding a bicycle, as must riders of Class 3 electric-assist bicycles regardless of age. Adults riding standard bicycles are not required to wear helmets under state law, although local rules can impose additional requirements for certain electric-assist bicycles and other devices.
Who can be held liable for a bicycle accident in Amherst?
A negligent driver is often responsible, but liability can extend to others depending on how the crash happened. A collision on roads such as Maple Road or Niagara Falls Boulevard may involve a driver, commercial vehicle operator, or employer, while a crash on the Ellicott Creek Trailway or Amherst Canalway Trail may raise different questions about the condition or maintenance of the path. We investigate the circumstances to determine who may be legally responsible and what insurance coverage may be available.
How much does it cost to hire a bicycle accident lawyer in Amherst?
There are no upfront fees. Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law handles bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. The initial case evaluation is always free.
What happens if I was riding an e-bike or e-scooter?
E-bikes are classified under New York law based on their motor and top assisted speed, and that classification can affect helmet requirements and how an insurer treats your claim. We review the specific device involved and the circumstances of the crash to determine what coverage and legal theories apply.
Can I still recover compensation if the driver fled the scene of the accident?
You may still have a path to compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or, if you meet the eligibility requirements, the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). Hit-and-run claims can involve strict reporting and notice requirements. For example, MVAIC generally requires a hit-and-run accident to be reported to police within 24 hours and a Notice of Intention within 90 days, subject to the applicable eligibility rules.
What is the average settlement for a bicycle accident in Amherst, NY?
There isn’t a reliable “average” to point to, since settlements are rarely made public and the value of any claim depends on the specific facts: the severity and permanence of the injury, how clearly fault can be established, and the insurance coverage actually available. A fractured wrist with a short recovery is valued very differently than a traumatic brain injury or a permanent disability. Rather than quoting a generic number, we build your claim around your actual medical evidence, lost income, and long-term impact, and evaluate what it’s really worth before you decide whether to accept any offer.
