Xi Zheng, 48, was hit and killed by the driver of a pickup truck in Queens the morning of Jan. 20. According to a report on Streetsblog.org, NYPD officials said the fatal bicycle accident occurred when 23-year-old male driver of the pickup truck who was making a right turn from 160th Street onto Sanford Avenue, struck the bicyclist who was going westbound on Sanford. Streetsblog reports that Xi had the right of way and the driver had a stop sign.
The driver remained at the scene and no charges were filed. Paramedics transported Xi to New York Presbyterian Queens where he died from his injuries. He reportedly lived a few blocks away from the crash site and is the first traditional bicyclist to be killed in 2026, according the city’s Department of Transportation. We offer our deepest condolences to his family members.
Dangers Faced by Bicyclists
Since 2012, there have been 116 reported crashes injuring 39 people including three bicyclists and seven pedestrians in the blocks around the crash site, according to NYPD’s statistics. Sanford Avenue and 160th Street is a “difficult intersection,” Streetsblog reports, with no signals. Also, 160th Street turns from a southbound one-way street to a two-way street just south of Sanford.
While there are markings for bicyclists, they are few and far between — limited to a one-way westbound unprotected bike lane on Sanford and sharrows on the southbound lane of 160th Street south of Sanford. Overall, crashes are down from last year. However, NYPD reports, that just in the first 11 days of 2026, 193 bicyclists and e-cyclists have suffered injuries in crashes.
Rights of Bicyclists in New York City
Bicyclists in New York City have specific legal rights when they are involved in traffic accidents, and these rights are designed to protect them as vulnerable road users. Under New York law, bicyclists are generally granted the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles. This means they have the right to use the roadway and are entitled to expect that drivers will follow traffic laws and operate vehicles safely.
When a bicyclist is injured in an accident, they have the right to seek compensation if another party’s negligence (carelessness) contributed to the crash. This may include negligence by the driver of another vehicle such as speeding, distracted driving, failure to yield or opening a car door into a bicyclist’s path. In some cases, responsibility may also lie with the city or a property owner/manager if dangerous road conditions, poor signage or defective infrastructure, etc. played a role.
New York’s bicyclists are also protected by local laws such as the “door zone” rules and bike lane regulations, which impose specific duties on drivers. Understanding these rights is crucial for bicyclists seeking accountability and fair treatment after an accident. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help guide victims and families seeking justice.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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