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New York Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Call Our Dedicated Team for a Free Consultation Today

Given that motorcyclists do not have much protection on the road, even when they are wearing helmets and other protective gear, riders often suffer serious and life-threatening injuries when they are involved in motorcycle accidents. For those who are hurt, as well as their family members, it is important to pursue necessary compensation with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

At the law firm of Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, our New York motorcycle accident lawyers have years of experience dealing with a wide range of personal injury cases, including those involving motorcycle and other motor vehicle accidents throughout the state. We will work with the insurance company and aggressively go after the maximum compensation that is available for you.

If you or a loved one has been hurt, our firm is ready to hear your story. Request a free case evaluation with us today by calling (212) 684-1880.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Many motorcycle accidents are caused by inattentive drivers of carstrucks, and other vehicles who fail to notice motorcycles. This is often due to a lack of vigilance by the motorist, which makes them at least partially responsible for any resulting injuries.

Frequent causes of motorcycle accidents may also include:

  • Cellphone use
  • Inattention and loss of focus from other drivers
  • Inclement weather
  • Blind spots
  • Dangerous roadways
  • Defective motorcycle parts
  • Lane splitting
  • Traffic law violations
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Speeding

If you believe that any of these factors contributed to your motorcycle accident injury, our legal team is ready to speak with you. We are well-versed in the investigations and diligence needed to win these claims and have time and time again secured results for our clients.

How Likely is It to Get in a Motorcycle Accident?

Everyone who is on a public road is at risk of getting into an accident caused by another motorist. Yet numerous safety reports from groups like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently collect data that proves motorcyclists are at an inordinately higher chance of getting into a crash. Based on recent NHTSA reports, 13 of every 100,000 motorists in passenger vehicles will be in a fatal accident while that number spikes 550% to 72 of every 100,000 motorcyclists will be in a fatal crash. Additionally, the likelihood of a motorcyclist getting into a fatal accident is 3,500% higher than a passenger vehicle when considering the miles traveled per motorcyclist.

The statistics are not just harrowing. They also serve as a clear example that the average motorist does not carefully share the road with a motorcyclist. With an investigation into a motorcycle accident, fatal or nonfatal, it is statistically likely that the liability can be placed on a source other than the rider.

Injuries Suffered in Motorcycle Accidents

Setting aside fatal motorcycle accidents, there is still the real concern of nonfatal accidents that leave thousands of motorcyclists catastrophically injured each year. Motorcycle riders have little protection from injury in a crash due to the design and nature of their vehicles of choice. It is not uncommon for what seems like a minor crash to result in severe injuries.

To name only a few life-changing injuries that are often reported in motorcycle crash reports:

Treatment, Recovery & Cost

The road to recovery for an injured motorcyclist can often be extensive and painful. Initial treatments will usually include emergency medical care followed by surgeries, which leave the survivor in the hospital for weeks or longer. When hospitalization is no longer necessary, physical therapy and other rehabilitative treatments will remain a part of their treatment regimen.

All of the intense treatments will add up to medical costs that can easily range into the tens of thousands of dollars. It is not uncommon for total medical costs to go even further, exceeding six or seven figures. On top of these financial hardships, motorcycle accident survivors will also need to deal with the impact of missing work due as they try to recuperate from their injuries. Ultimately, the economic damages experienced by an injured motorcyclist can be financially crippling.

We have not even mentioned the noneconomic damages, though. The pain, suffering, and hardship suffered by motorcycle accident survivors can be intense, too. When we are your chosen New York motorcycle accident lawyers, we will work diligently to calculate all of your damages to the fullest, including future noneconomic damages.

Motorcycle Laws in New York

There are a few New York State motorcycle laws that will be relevant to your motorcycle accident claim. Namely, all motorcycle riders must wear a helmet that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) while the vehicle is being operated. If you did not have a helmet at the time of your crash, then your liability for your injuries could be increased.

New York also does not allow lane-splitting. A motorcyclist who rides in between lanes to weave through traffic or to get to the front of a stopped intersection is technically violating the law in New York. If you were lane-splitting when hit by another driver who did not see you, then, again, your liability could increase.

Call Us to Make Sense of Your Claim

There are many details that will go into your motorcycle accident claim that can change its outcome and its overall value. Allow our New York motorcycle accident attorneys to manage your claim and sort through the fine points on your behalf. We will fight for your right to fair compensation as if we were fighting for ourselves!

We’re prepared to take an aggressive approach to your injury claim. Call our New York motorcycle accident lawyers at (212) 684-1880 or contact us online today.