New York City Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle accidents are a frequent cause of serious injury or death on New York roadways.  The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reports there were 5,150 motorcycle accidents in New York in 2009.  Of these accidents, 152 were fatal, and another 4,347 resulted in non-fatal personal injuries.

If you or a family member suffered injury in an accident caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another person, the experienced New York motorcycle accident attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you recover fair compensation for your injuries.

Causes of Crashes

As with all roadway accidents, many factors can contribute to collisions involving motorcycles.  One common cause is motorists who do not see motorcyclists, and cut them off or run into them.  Speed is also a common factor, with the likelihood of injuries increasing at higher rates of speed.  Motorcyclists traveling too fast and losing control can lead to deadly accidents, as can other motorists speeding and being unable to avoid hitting motorcyclists.

Unsafe speed was a factor in 16 percent of 2009 New York motorcycle accidents, while failure to yield right-of-way was a factor in 16.1 percent of accidents.  Driver inattention or distraction is another common cause, and was found to be a factor in 14.4 percent of New York motorcycle accidents in 2009.  Poor road conditions, adverse weather, and poor visibility are also frequent contributing factors to motorcycle accidents.

Many of the factors that lead to crashes involve negligence on the part of one or more operators.  A knowledgeable New York motorcycle accident attorney can help evaluate whether negligence played a role in an accident.

Dangers of motorcycle accidents

Because motorcyclists are more exposed than drivers of other vehicles, they are more vulnerable to serious injury in accidents.  Sadly, 146 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in New York in 2009.  There were no fatalities among the drivers or passengers of the other motor vehicles involved in these accidents.

Wearing a helmet is a very important safety precaution for a motorcyclist (and New York law mandates that all riders wear them), but doing so does not necessarily prevent serious injury or death.   One hundred and thirty-one New York motorcyclists killed in 2009—approximately 90 percent—were wearing helmets.

New York motorcycle accident lawyers

The serious nature of motorcycle accidents requires an experienced lawyer who can represent individuals with severe injuries.  If you were injured, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer in New York to discuss your legal options.  The attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. have the expertise and resources to recover fair compensation for our clients.


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