Pedestrian And Bicyclists Are At Risk For Serious Injuries

After going through a pedestrian or bicycle accident, you could be dealing with painful, debilitating injuries and wondering how you will be able to pay the bills. Bedell & Stripto serves Ocean and Monmouth counties, New Jersey, with aggressive representation and reliable results in personal injury litigation.

Careless Drivers, Injured Pedestrians

Too often, motorists disregard the rights and safety of people on foot or riding a bike. The force of a motor vehicle crashing into a human being generally leads to severe injury.

Contact us if you were hit by a car and suffered any major trauma, including:

• Back, neck or spinal injury
• Herniated or bulging disk in neck or back
• Brain injury
• Spine injury
• Ankle fracture with hardware or plate and screws
• Leg/tibia fracture or break with placement of a rod during surgery of with plate and screws
• Other fractured bones
• Knee injury with a torn meniscus
• Shoulder injury

Riders and pedestrians are also at much higher risk of being fatally injured in a collision.

Bad Drivers Cause Bicycle Accidents

Bike accidents often happen because the motorist was careless or overly aggressive. Drivers fail to check the bike lane before making a right turn, or even open their door right in front of a biker’s path. In some cases, they will crowd or tailgate a cyclist to try to intimidate the rider to “get out of the way.” The result is often a disaster.

Whether you were injured walking across the street or hit when riding your bike, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from the driver and their insurance company. Attorneys Donald Bedell and Jeff Stripto aggressively pursue maximum compensation for all of their clients. They regularly take personal injury claims to court to hold negligent actors accountable.

Understanding New Jersey Bicycle Safety Laws

New Jersey law mandates that anyone under 17 years of age who rides a bicycle or is a passenger on a bicycle must wear a properly fitted safety helmet. This requirement extends to children being towed as passengers by bicycles and applies to activities involving roller skates, inline skates and skateboards as well. Head injuries represent some of the most serious consequences of bicycle accidents, and wearing a helmet can significantly reduce the severity of brain trauma in the event of a collision. Helmets must meet federal standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and be properly fastened to provide adequate protection.

New Jersey law grants bicycle riders the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers when operating on roadways. Cyclists must follow all traffic laws, including obeying traffic signals, stop signs and speed limits to reduce accident risks and potential liability. Bicyclists should ride as close to the right side of the roadway as practical while exercising due care when passing vehicles. Riders may move left to make turns, avoid road hazards, pass slower vehicles or travel at the same speed as traffic flow. Cyclists may ride two abreast when traffic is not impeded, but should otherwise maintain a single-file formation.

New Jersey’s safe passing law requires motor vehicle operators to exercise due caution when approaching bicyclists and pedestrians. Drivers must make lane changes away from bicycle areas when possible under existing safety and traffic conditions. When lane changes cannot be safely accomplished, drivers must maintain at least four feet of distance while passing cyclists and pedestrians. If neither lane changes nor adequate spacing is possible due to traffic or road conditions, motorists must reduce speed to 25 mph or lower and be prepared to stop.

Violations of safe passing laws that result in bodily injury carry $500 fines and two motor vehicle penalty points. Violations without injury result in $100 fines without penalty points, emphasizing the importance of driver awareness and caution around vulnerable road users. Understanding these laws helps both cyclists and drivers share the road safely.

Understanding E-Bike Laws In New Jersey

Electric bicycles, known as e-bikes, are becoming increasingly popular in New Jersey as a convenient and efficient form of transportation. With more riders on the road, understanding how the law treats e-bikes is important, especially when accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists or motorists occur.

Under current New Jersey law, an e-bike is defined as a bicycle equipped with a motor that assists with propulsion, subject to specific speed and power limits. The law recognizes three classes of e-bikes, each with different characteristics:

• Class 1: Pedal-assist only, meaning the motor activates only when the rider is pedaling. These bikes stop providing assistance at 20 mph and are generally treated like traditional bicycles on most roads and shared-use paths.
• Class 2: These are equipped with a throttle that allows the bike to move without pedaling. They are also limited to 20 mph but may raise safety concerns in crowded areas due to the ability to accelerate without rider input.
• Class 3: This class of e-bikes provides pedal-assist only up to 28 mph. These higher-speed bikes are often used for commuting and may face more restrictions in certain areas due to their speed capabilities.

Classification matters because it influences where and how each type of e-bike can be used. In general, riders must be at least 15 years old to operate an e-bike. Helmet use is required for younger riders and strongly encouraged for all users, particularly those operating faster Class 3 models.

E-bikes are allowed on most roadways where traditional bicycles are permitted, including bike lanes and many shared-use paths. However, local governments may restrict their use on sidewalks or in heavily trafficked pedestrian zones. Riders must follow standard traffic laws, including obeying signals, yielding when appropriate and maintaining control of their speed.

It is also important to note that New Jersey has updated legislation that will take effect on July 1, 2026. These upcoming changes are expected to clarify definitions, refine classifications and potentially introduce additional safety standards for riders. As micromobility continues to evolve, updates aim to address safety concerns and provide clearer guidance for both riders and motorists.

Questions about where an e-bike was ridden, how fast it was traveling and whether it complied with legal requirements can all affect liability. Staying informed about current regulations and upcoming changes can help protect your rights and reduce the risk of serious injury on New Jersey roads.

Free Consultations

We offer free initial consultations. To discuss your legal options after a pedestrian or bicycle injury, please call 732-348-3439. We are also available via email. Our law firm is located in Brick, New Jersey and Toms River, New Jersey.