Long Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

About 350,000 people own motorcycles in New York, and it’s no wonder why. Motorcycles have a tremendous edge in New York’s congested traffic scene, able to weave in and out of traffic and cut valuable time off a lengthy and frustrating daily commute. On the downside, motorcyclists take risks every time they get out on the road. Even when riding with skill, experience, attention and care, motorcycle riders can still fall victim to negligent, aggressive or distracted drivers. In this age where distracted driving is increasingly common, bikers are especially at risk due to being smaller and less visible to drivers, even in the best of times. Their lack of protection also makes riders especially vulnerable in a crash.

Safety experts have revealed that motorcyclists are nine times more likely to be injured and 36 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of a passenger vehicle. In the case of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney is needed to help victims and their families recover the proper amount of compensation from the negligent driver who caused the crash. New York insurance laws are stacked against the biker, but attorney John Giuffré knows how to build a strong case and fight for full and fair compensation after a crash. John has successfully obtained significant six-figure compensation for bikers injured in accidents with cars. Call the Long Island motorcycle accident lawyers at Giuffré Law Offices for help after a motorcycle accident in Nassau County, Long Island or New York City. We’ll work to see that you are taken care of and treated well while we seek compensation for your injuries.

Dangerous driving behaviors cause motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle crashes happen everywhere – on the expressways, city streets and intersections. Often, negligent drivers cause these accidents through driver inattention or unsafe, risky moves. Leading causes of New York motorcycle accidents include:

Drivers making left turns at intersections into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Drivers commonly misjudge the speed or distance of an oncoming bike, and the biker doesn’t have time to avoid a wreck. Dangerous U-turns at intersections and elsewhere are a similar source of motorcycle accidents.

Drivers crowd motorcyclists out of their lane, sending them into a barrier, another vehicle or a dangerous lane departure accident. This can be done negligently due to distraction and inattention, or sometimes because drivers act aggressively toward motorcycles in their way.

Drivers fail to signal or check their blind spots before turning or changing lanes. Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see than other vehicles, and they often come up faster than cars. Also, there are fewer motorcycles on the road than other vehicles, and drivers don’t often think about checking for the presence of a bike before executing a maneuver.

Single-bike accidents can occur when a biker encounters an object or debris in the road, but they can also happen in “phantom” car accidents where a car cuts them off and sends them into a crash without physically striking them.

Unsafe motorcycle riding can lead to a crash

Motorcycle riders know the dangers they face on the road, and most take extra care to ride safely. However, the freedom, speed and maneuverability of a bike might make some motorcyclists drive more aggressively or recklessly than they should. Speeding, white lining and other dangerous behaviors increase the risk of a crash that can injure the biker as well as others on the road.

Safe riding includes more than just being experienced and capable. The following practices can help reduce the chance of a crash or severe injury:

• Wear a helmet approved by the US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Doing this dramatically enhances rider safety, and it’s the law in the state of New York.
• Wear protective clothing, such as riding leathers. Wear reflective clothing at night, as well as dawn or dusk.
• Ride defensively and predictably. Signal turns in advance and leave extra distance between yourself and other vehicles. Watch out for other drivers, and continuously scan the road for changes in traffic patterns.
• Ride with your headlamp on, even in daylight hours.
• Inexperienced riders can benefit from the basic riding course offered by the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program.

New York motorcycle riders don’t get Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is no-fault insurance coverage that pays for up to $50,000 in medical expenses and lost wages to persons injured in a crash. PIP is the first recourse for most injured crash victims, who don’t have to prove that the other driver was negligent or that they were not negligent in order to access this compensation.

Unfortunately, PIP is not available for motorcyclists in New York. It is not required by New York law as it is for other vehicles, and most insurance companies will not offer it to cover motorcycles. This leaves injured bikers with the sole choice of suing the at-fault driver, which requires them to find the driver, prove they were negligent, prove their negligence caused the crash, and prove the nature and extent of their injuries and other legal damages. Establishing all of these facts requires the knowledge and skill of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who can build a strong case and negotiate an adequate settlement with the insurance company or take them to court if necessary.

An advantage of not having PIP coverage is that motorcyclists do not have to prove an injury that crosses the “serious injury” threshold in New York law before suing the negligent driver. Instead, they can bring a claim for the full amount of their damages. Giuffré Law Offices can help.

Help is Available After Motorcycle Accidents in New York and Long Island

For help getting medical care and compensation after a severe motorcycle accident injury in Nassau County, Long Island or New York, call Giuffré Law Offices at 516-802-9912 for a free consultation. We maintain offices in Stewart Manor, Brooklyn and Queens, but if you can’t get to us, we’ll come to you. There’s no fee until after our Long Island motorcycle accident lawyers recover for you.