$50,000 cases can be won or lost on this point: in New York, you prove fault by showing the driver had a clear opportunity to see you and failed to yield, keep a safe distance, or use reasonable care.

Save proof that locks in visibility, timing, and distraction before it disappears. That means:

• Photos and video taken immediately: your bike, the car, skid marks, debris, lane position, crosswalk or bike-lane markings, traffic lights, parked cars blocking sightlines, and the driver's view looking back from their seat
• Witness names, phone numbers, and short recorded statements
• The Syracuse Police Department report number and the officer's name
• Any dashcam, doorbell, store, gas station, or bus footage nearby
• Your helmet, clothing, damaged glasses, lights, reflectors, and bike computer
• Your phone records only to show you were not using your phone, if the insurer tries that trap
• The driver's statements like "I didn't see you" or "you came out of nowhere"

In New York, a crash report can matter fast. If there was injury or over $1,000 in property damage, a DMV MV-104 report is generally due within 10 days. If a motor vehicle hit you, no-fault benefits may also require an application within 30 days. Surveillance footage often gets erased in days, not months.

Example: a retired rider is hit near Westcott Street on a bright June afternoon. The driver claims the cyclist "appeared suddenly." But photos show an unobstructed lane, a witness records that the rider had a front light on, a corner deli saves video before overwrite, and the driver's phone records show a text sent at the crash time. That combination is much stronger than a police report alone.

Do not hand over your original bike, helmet, or phone for "inspection" without preserving copies of everything first. Insurers love gaps in proof and missing timestamps.