New York City Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Fighting for victims injured in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island

Motorcycle accidents are a frequent cause of serious injury or death on New York roadways. The Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research reported there were 4,525 motorcycle accidents in New York State resulting in personal injuries, of which 188 resulted in fatalities, in 2023. 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 Motorcycle Crashes

Although motorcycle riding carries certain risks, a great many accidents result from the negligence of other drivers on the road. Common causes are:

• A car turning left at an intersection may fail to see or may misjudge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle.
• A driver may not check blind spots, cutting off motorcyclists who are harder to see.
• A care abruptly braking can cause a rear-end collision by a motorcycle.
• A parked driver opening their door into traffic can knock a motorcyclist off their bike.
• Distracted driving cause drivers to overlook motorcycles entirely.
• Driving under the influence can Impair judgment and slow reaction times, increasing the risk of failing to notice or yield to motorcycles.

Poor road conditions, adverse weather and poor visibility are also frequent contributing factors. A knowledgeable New York motorcycle accident attorney can help evaluate whether another driver’s negligence played a role in an accident.

Dangers of motorcycle accidents

Because motorcyclists are more exposed than drivers and occupants of other vehicles, they are more vulnerable to serious injury in 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.

Liability for motorcycle accidents

The standard of liability in any auto accident is negligence, which is defined as a failure to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. If another motorist’s negligence causes an accident that injures a motorcyclist, they may be liable to compensate the biker for any medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering and loss of the enjoyment of life that they suffer as a result.

Sometimes, someone other than a driver may be liable for a motorcycle accident. For instance, if a road defect caused or contributed to causing the accident, the government agency responsible for maintaining the road might be liable for their own negligence. If the accident was caused by a vehicle defect, the manufacturer, owner or a repair shop might also be liable.

The defendant is likely to claim that the injured motorcyclist’s own negligence contributed to causing the accident. However, under New York’s comparative negligence rule, even if a jury does find the latter partially liable, it will not prevent a verdict for the plaintiff, although their damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the plaintiff.

How a New York motorcycle accident attorney can help

Our skilled personal injury lawyers will carefully investigate the causes of your motorcycle accident and who might be liable. We will pursue insurance claims, negotiate with defense counsel and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against all parties who may be responsible. During the litigation, we use the discovery process to obtain relevant documents and information to strengthen the case that other parties were primarily at fault. We also gather evidence to maximize the amount of compensation you can obtain. 

New York motorcycle accident lawyers

The serious nature of motorcycle accidents and the serious injuries that result require advocacy by an experienced lawyer. The attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. have the skill and resources necessary to win you fair compensation. Call 917-746-3358 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation.