NYC Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in New York City

Are you dealing with motorcycle accident injuries? If another driver’s negligence caused your harm, don’t face the aftermath alone. Talk to a New York City motorcycle accident lawyer to help you pursue the maximum compensation you need for your losses.

At The Perecman Firm, our personal injury lawyers have been fighting for injured victims for more than four decades. We do everything we can to help clients rebuild their lives following a traumatic accident. We have worked hard to earn the respect of the legal community in New York. Our successes have earned us recognition from The Best Lawyers in America®, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, Super Lawyers®, and others.

Contact our law firm to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer about securing the financial recovery and justice you need.

Why is a Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Claim More Complicated?

Motorcycle riders often face difficulties and obstacles in recovering compensation after an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness or wrongful acts. Some of the reasons why a motorcycle accident claim is more complicated than other kinds of auto accidents include:

Motorcycle crash victims frequently suffer catastrophic injuries. These serious injuries can make settlement negotiations or lawsuits more complicated because compensation may need to include future anticipated losses.
More compensation is often on the line in these cases because motorcycle accident victims tend to sustain severe injuries. At-fault parties or insurers will likely fight to reduce their liability and settlement payment.
At-fault drivers and insurers often try to avoid liability in motorcycle accident cases by relying on stereotypes about motorcyclists as reckless or dangerous to try to blame them. As a result, these personal injury cases often require additional evidence to prove that the other party is to blame for the accident.

Why Partner with an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Our Personal Injury Law Firm?

When deciding who to handle your motorcycle accident case, there are some key factors to consider. You should focus on selecting a legal team whose experience demonstrates its skill in recovering maximum compensation for victims of catastrophic injuries.

At Perecman Firm PLLC, we believe we stand out from other personal injury firms because:

We have a long track record of securing positive results for our clients and have recovered more than half a billion dollars in compensation.
We have over 40 years of experience in catastrophic injury cases, including some that have led to changes in the law that better protect the rights of accident victims.
Our attorneys have substantial courtroom and litigation experience and are backed by industry-leading experts in their respective fields.
Many attorneys throughout NYC and New York State turn to our firm for help with their most difficult catastrophic injury cases.
Our full-service firm takes care of preparing and pursuing your legal case so you can focus on your recovery.

New York Motorcycle Laws and Regulations

Understanding New York’s motorcycle laws helps riders protect their rights. Here’s an overview of key regulations that all motorists should be aware of:

Helmet Requirements: New York law requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear DOT-approved helmets at all times while riding.
Eye Protection: All motorcycle operators must wear eye protection, such as goggles or a face shield, unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen.
Lane Splitting: Lane splitting, or riding between lanes of traffic, is illegal in New York State.
Licensing: Operators must have a valid motorcycle license or endorsement on their driver’s license to legally ride a motorcycle in New York.
Insurance Requirements: Motorcyclists must carry minimum liability insurance coverage of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage.
Passenger Restrictions: Motorcycles must be equipped with passenger footrests and a separate seat for a passenger to ride legally.
Headlight Use: Motorcycles must have the headlight on at all times, day or night, while in operation.
Handlebar Height: Handlebars must not be positioned higher than the operator’s shoulders when seated on the motorcycle.
Turn Signals: All motorcycles manufactured after 1985 are required to have turn signals.

These laws are designed to promote safety for all road users and protect the rights of motorcyclists. However, even when following all regulations, motorcyclists can still be victims of accidents caused by other drivers’ negligence or failure to properly share the road.

Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Proving Fault After a New York City Motorcycle Accident

Proving that the at fault driver was responsible for causing the motorcycle accident isn’t easy. Drivers may try to argue that a motorcycle rider was riding recklessly or speeding in the moments leading up to a crash.

This makes it especially important to collect all available evidence from a New York motorcycle accident to firmly prove the other driver’s fault.

Evidence that our NYC motorcycle accident attorneys frequently use in motorcycle accident claims includes:

Accident scene photos and videos, including those of vehicle damage or skid marks on the road
Dashcam or helmet cam footage
Surveillance or traffic camera footage
Witness statements
Vehicle data recorder logs, if available
Cell phone logs of the motorists involved in the accident
Police accident reports
Post-accident vehicle inspection reports
Expert accident reconstruction reports

SEEKING FULL COMPENSATION FOR A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN NYC

At The Perecman Firm, we work tirelessly to seek full compensation for the injuries and losses you suffer because of a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Motorcycle accident compensation in your case can provide you with financial recovery for:

Expenses for medical treatment and rehabilitation
Costs of long-term care needed for permanent disabilities that result from your injuries
Lost wages or future earning capacity and employment benefits
Pain and suffering
Visible disfigurement and scarring
Reduced life expectancy from injuries and disabilities
Repair bills or replacement costs if your motorcycle was damaged in the accident

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash

After a motorcycle crash, remember to take these 6 steps to help preserve your right to recover fair compensation for the losses you incur because of the accident:

See a doctor as soon as possible after the accident to get examined for injuries you may have suffered in the crash.
Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and advice. Attend all recommended follow-up appointments.
Keep medical bills, invoices, and receipts for expenses you incur due to the accident.
Make sure to obtain copies of medical records detailing the treatment of your motorcycle accident injuries.
Keep a journal to document the difficulties in your daily life you experience due to your injuries, medical treatments, or resulting disabilities.
Do not post updates on social media while your case is in progress, and do not mention anything about the accident or your injuries.

Finally, speak with a New York motorcycle accident lawyer to go over steps that can help you seek financial recovery from the driver or other party responsible for causing your injuries.

Dealing With Insurance Companies Following a Motorcycle Accident

Insurance companies will be focused on doing whatever it takes to pay you as little money as possible for the injuries you have suffered in a motorcycle accident.

To best protect your interests, keep in mind:

Remember that the insurance company, even your own insurer, is not on your side. Insurance adjusters are incentivized to minimize payouts to save the insurance company money and will do whatever it takes to deny an accident victim’s claims.
Never accept the first settlement offer from the insurance company. Not only can you potentially get far more compensation if you negotiate, but in the days or weeks after a motorcycle accident, you likely do not have a complete understanding of your injuries and losses. So you won’t know how much money is needed for a fair settlement.
Don’t sign any documents from the insurance company unless a NYC motorcycle accident lawyer has reviewed them.
If you are contacted by an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company, you don’t have to give them a statement. Instead, you should look to retain counsel as soon as you can so you can direct insurers to your attorney.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Unlike occupants of other motor vehicles, motorcycle riders have virtually no protection in a motorcycle wreck. As a result, these accidents tend to cause serious injuries to riders. Motorcycle riders and their passengers often sustain serious injuries, such as:

Traumatic brain injuries: These can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, potentially leading to long-term cognitive impairment, personality changes, and physical disabilities.
Amputations: The force of impact or severe crushing injuries may necessitate the surgical removal of limbs, dramatically altering a victim’s life and requiring extensive rehabilitation.
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and sensation below the injury site.
Crush injuries: When a rider is pinned between their motorcycle and another object, it can lead to severe tissue damage, internal injuries, and potential limb loss.
Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs: These can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and may require surgical intervention.
Internal injuries and bleeding: The impact of a crash can damage organs and blood vessels, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding that may not be immediately apparent.
Head and facial injuries: Even with a helmet, riders can suffer facial fractures, dental injuries, and eye damage, which may require reconstructive surgery.
Broken bones: Fractures are common in motorcycle accidents, particularly in the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis, often requiring lengthy recovery periods.
Road rash, abrasions, and avulsions: When skin contacts the road at high speeds, it can lead to severe skin loss, scarring, and potential infection.
Thermal burns from contact with hot engine surfaces: In addition to impact injuries, riders may suffer burns from exposed hot parts of the motorcycle during or after the crash.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

While motorcyclists are often stereotyped as reckless, many accidents result from the negligence of other drivers who fail to properly share the road with motorcycles.

It’s important to note that motorcycles’ smaller size and maneuverability, while advantageous in some situations, can also make them more vulnerable to certain hazards and less visible to other drivers.

Frequent causes of motorcycle crashes in New York City include:

Speeding
Tailgating
Reckless driving
Distracted driving, especially using a cell phone while driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Drowsy or fatigued driving
Failure to yield the right of way
Running red lights or stop signs or disregarding other traffic controls
Failing to use turn signals and mirrors before turning or changing lanes
Inexperienced drivers
Adverse weather
Low lighting or nighttime driving
Poor road conditions, including debris, broken pavement, and potholes

How Can an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Help with Your Motorcycle Accident Case?

When you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, our New York City motorcycle accident attorneys at The Perecman Firm can help you pursue financial compensation for your losses.

We help motorcycle accident victims by:

Investigating the accident and recovering relevant evidence we can use to build your personal injury case
Working with our roster of on-call experts in accident reconstruction, medicine, vocational rehabilitation, and finance to help us build a persuasive argument on how the accident occurred and what injuries and losses you have sustained and will incur in the future
Identifying liable parties and applicable insurance coverages
Filing insurance claims and demands for compensation to begin vigorously pursuing financial recovery from liable parties and insurers through a negotiated settlement
Pursuing your rights in court in a motorcycle accident lawsuit, if needed, to give you the best chance of seeking maximum financial recovery

Time Limit for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in New York

You have limited time after a motorcycle accident to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash or another responsible party. New York’s statute of limitations generally gives you three years from the date of a motorcycle crash to file suit to demand compensation.

If you wait until after the statute of limitations period expires on your claim, you run the risk that your case will end up being permanently dismissed by the court. You should speak to a New York City motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that you give your attorney the maximum amount of time to investigate and prepare your case before it needs to be filed as a lawsuit.

Talk to a New York Motorcycle Accident Lawyer About Your Case Today

Don’t wait another day to begin the process of pursuing motorcycle accident compensation. Reach out to motorcycle accident law firm The Perecman Firm today for a free, no-obligation case review with a New York City personal injury lawyer.

Learn about your legal options for pursuing financial recovery and accountability from the driver or other party responsible for the crash and your injuries.