There are many different modes of transportation that people in Queens and the surrounding areas of New York utilize to get from one place to another.
From cars to buses, subways to bicycles, and everything in between, there are so many types of vehicles on the road. It is an unfortunate reality, though, that some of these vehicles are involved in serious, sometimes fatal, accidents on the road.
Another common vehicle type that is often involved in accidents while traveling on the road is a motorcycle.
As any motorcyclist is aware, riding a motorcycle requires a great deal of attention to your surroundings and other drivers as well as protection.
Motorcycle helmets, at the very least, should be worn just in case the motorcyclist is involved in an accident with a car or other type of vehicle.
If you or a family member has been involved in a motorcycle crash and sustained serious or fatal injuries as a result of another driver’s negligence or carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
A motorcyclist has just as much right to be on the road as any other vehicle driver, yet they often end up in very serious accidents with even worse injuries.
One of the best reasons to ride a motorcycle rather than traveling by car or bus is to feel the wind in your hair and the road beneath you.
There is very little separating your body from the surrounding environment, and this often gives motorcycle drivers the thrill they are looking for.
However, this lack of protection around you also increases the risk of serious or fatal injury if you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident.
Some of the most common injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes include:
If you or a loved one has become an unwilling participant in a motorcycle accident and sustained serious injuries (or your loved one died) as a result of another driver’s carelessness on the road, you need the legal advice and representation of an experienced New York personal injury attorney such as ours at Gregory Spektor & Associates.
NYC motorcycle accidents are not caused by only the drivers riding the motorcycles. But various causes may lead to such crashes. Some of them are:
It is vital to know the exact cause of motorcycle collisions as it will help when you hold someone responsible for the injuries and damages. It may be helpful in those cases where the accident victims may not be able to compensate for their complete loss through their insurance policy.
When it comes to motorcyclists, there tends to be a terrible stigma, especially among other drivers, that motorcyclists are thrill-seeking and reckless when on their motorcycles.
Rather than being seen as a law-abiding citizen who is simply making his or her way from point A to point B by means of the motorcycle, the motorcyclist is often portrayed in a negative light.
These awful stereotypes often pervade a personal injury case brought by the motorcyclist when he or she sustained serious injuries during a crash with another driver.
During these situations, it can be difficult for the motorcyclist to convince the judge that he or she deserves compensation for the injuries. It takes the skill and expertise of an experienced attorney to demonstrate why the motorcycle rider is not at fault for the crash and deserves to be compensated.
At Gregory Spektor & Associates, we have vast experience in the personal injury legal field, and we are dedicated to helping injured motorcycle riders like you fight for the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
We will work tirelessly to illustrate why you should be compensated for such expenses and damages as:
If your motorcycle accident claim also involves the wrongful death of a loved one, your personal injury lawyer may include other types of compensation such as funeral expenses and burial expenses.
According to data from the NHTSA, in 2022, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed nationwide in crashes and 82,687 were injured. Motorcyclists are at a disadvantage when it comes to severity and losses suffered due to their exposure during a crash. Over the past 3 decades, the number of people injured “outside of the vehicle,” including motorcyclists has steadily increased, while the number of fatalities for people “inside of a vehicle” has steadily decreased.
When loved ones are killed in motorcycle crashes, the heavy burden of financial issues should not be lumped on the shoulders of the grieving family. They should be able to grieve their loss as a family and begin the recovery and healing process.
When it comes to motorcycle accidents and the injuries they may cause, it is always in your best interest as the victim to invest in the legal advice and representation of an experienced attorney for motorcycle accidents in New York.
In New York City, the fatality rate of motorcycle accidents is almost double in comparison to outside the city. According to the NYPD, 55 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2023. As of the date of the report, motorcyclist injuries had increased 33% for 2024.
Motorist and pedestrian fatalities involving motorcycles by borough show that Queens is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods for motorcycle accidents. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers:
| Borough Name | No. of fatalities |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 13 |
| Queens | 20 |
| Manhattan | 6 |
| Bronx | 14 |
| Staten Island | 4 |
To avoid such motorcycle accidents, the NYC Department of Transportation study has shown that the presence of protected bike lanes will help to reduce the risk of injury or death by approximately 60% in high-risk areas.
When drivers are on the road, they should be 100% focused on the task at hand – driving. Any kind of distraction can cause a driver to lose control and cause a serious, possibly fatal accident involving another car, a pedestrian, or a motorcyclist.
When these crashes occur, the resulting injuries have the potential to be catastrophic and have long-lasting effects on those involved.
At Gregory Spektor & Associates, our team of attorneys are here to represent motorcyclists who have sustained injuries and other losses as a result of the recklessness, negligence, or carelessness of another driver on the road.
Whether the victim was the motorcyclist or a passenger, the party at fault for the accident should be held accountable for their negligence.
Our Queens-based law firm uses all of our experience and knowledge of the legal community to represent accident victims. We work diligently to ensure that your case gets the best possible outcome.
When you hire our attorneys, you can rest assured that you will be getting the highest quality legal representation with a specialty in the personal injury field.
Our professional legal team understands the challenges that accident victims must endure, and our goal is to allow you to focus on healing rather than dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, or mechanic’s bills. We want to take the stress away from accident victims and their families.
Call us today for a free consultation to discuss the circumstances of your motorcycle crash and to determine if you may be eligible to file a claim against the negligent party that caused the accident.
1. What is the time limit to file a motorcycle accident claim in NYC?
To file a personal injury claim such as a motorcycle accident claim in New York, you have 3 years to file a lawsuit from the date of the accident. If in certain specific cases, some exception applies, your lawyer needs to begin with the lawsuit as soon as possible.
2. WHO IS FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT INJURIES?
In most cases, it is the at-fault driver who is responsible for the motorcycle accident. Sometimes, other parties who may be responsible are NYC transportation authorities, truck drivers, government agencies, bus drivers, property owners who may obstruct the road, and the manufacturer of the defective vehicle component.
3. WHAT IF THE OTHER DRIVER BLAMES ME FOR THE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT?
If the other driver blames you for the motorcycle crash, the New York modified contributory negligence rule may apply. The rule says the damages will be reduced according to the proportion of your fault. For example, in a case with a $100,000 damages award where you have a 30% fault, your overall damages would be reduced to $70,000.
Contributory negligence laws might come into play if you were not wearing safety devices such as a helmet and the reason for your injuries may be attributed to that reason.
