Motorcycle Accident Attorney in New York

There is no shortage of motorcycle accidents - certainly not in New York. The New York Department of Health found that from 2012-2014, New York saw an average of 141 deaths per year involving traffic-related motorcyclist injuries, as well as 1,558 hospitalizations.

For any of these New Yorkers or their loved ones to file a personal injury lawsuit, they’ll have to prove negligence on the part of the other party in the accident.

There must be definitive evidence that the other party acted in a way that was careless or unreasonable compared to how other drivers in the same situation would have acted. For example, was the other driver in the accident texting while driving and not fully focused on the road when the accident occurred? If so, that was a negligent act, and you may be able to file a lawsuit against that person.

This example, and far more, are the types of motorcycle accident cases that Morgan & Morgan lawyers are experienced in and equipped to handle. Other examples include:

• Cutting off a motorcyclist at an intersection;
• Failure to recognize or yield to a motorcycle in traffic;
• Distracted driving;
• Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol;
• Violating the right of way of a motorcyclist;
• Speeding;
• Motorcycle defects such as malfunctioning tires or faulty brakes; and
• Road defects – potholes, gashes in the road, etc.

Motorcycle accidents can take a long time to fully heal from. You shouldn’t have to deal with recovery and the stress of handling a lawsuit at the same time. Morgan & Morgan attorneys have the experience necessary to handle your claim while you focus on recovery. In addition, our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win, so you aren’t burdened by upfront legal fees.

While handling your case, your attorney will work to collect the evidence needed to bolster your case. Some of the things a motorcycle accident attorney can do for you include:

Investigate the Accident: Investigating the details and figuring out the cause of your accident involves a lot of work to gather evidence. This can mean getting photographs of the accident scene, obtaining traffic camera footage of the accident, and interviewing witnesses. Records can be subpoenaed in certain circumstances – we may acquire phone records, for example, if we suspect the other driver was on their phone at the time of the crash. In some cases, it’s also possible we can work with accident reconstruction experts to get a better sense of the accident.

Work With Experts: Medical experts can come in handy for all personal injury cases, but especially in motorcycle accident cases, where injuries may be more severe and debilitating. Dealing with experts, we can get an idea of the full extent of your injuries, your current condition, how you will be impacted in the future, and what medical treatment you’ll need to make a full recovery. These reports and testimonies can be submitted to defendants or, if need be, a jury.

Communicate with Insurance Companies: We deal directly with insurance companies to make sure they don’t offer you less than you are entitled to, and can help you with paperwork to avoid errors.

Negotiate Settlements: Many motorcycle accidents never go to trial. If the defendant’s insurance company offers you a settlement, your attorney will thoroughly evaluate this offer to make sure it’s an amount that is reasonable for your injuries and treatment. If they feel that the offer is too low, they may negotiate with the insurance company for a higher settlement. The previously mentioned medical expert reports can come into play during these settlements.

Prepare and Take Your Case to Trial: If settlements stall and the settlement offer remains low, our New York attorneys are experienced trial lawyers, and we will prepare to take your case to trial. The evidence gathered in the investigation will be presented to a jury to determine what you may receive.

Several different factors will determine how much compensation you could potentially get. These factors, like your specific injuries and how they impact your ability to work, will be presented in a case as damages that you are owed for. These damages can include:

Medical expenses. This includes both past and future expenses, ranging from hospital bills and doctor’s visits to in-home rehabilitation expenses.

Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. Lost wage damages can be awarded if you missed an extended period of time at work. If your injury has negatively impacted your ability to work or find work, compensation can be awarded to reflect that as well.

Pain and suffering. This counts both physical pain and emotional pain endured from the accident and in the aftermath.

Wrongful death. In the event of a death in the accident, the victim’s family may be compensated for medical bills and funeral expenses, in addition to compensation for loss of income.

Punitive damages. In cases that involve accidents caused by recklessness and extreme negligence (such as drunk driving), punitive damages may be awarded to discourage the defendant and other drivers from acting in a similar manner.

Don’t wait. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in New York, contact us and learn what your options are and how much you could be owed in compensation. For more information, fill out our free, no-obligation case evaluation form.