New York City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle And Moped Accidents

“It is ironic that the very reason riding a motorcycle or moped can be so exhilarating is also the reason motorcycle and moped accidents can be so disastrous. It is your freedom from a car’s “cage” that makes you so vulnerable in an accident.”
– Glenn A. Herman Manhattan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

How Motorcycle Accidents Happen

According to studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 75% of all motorcycle accidents and 50% of fatal accidents involve two vehicles. The second is usually a car, and the motorcyclist almost always fares worse. The most common factors in motorcycle accidents include:

Inexperienced riders or drivers
Speeding
Alcohol & drugs
Distractions (texting, talking on a cell phone, eating)
Weaving in and out of traffic
Not using a turn signal
Driving on the wrong side of the road
Tailgating
Lane splitting
Poor weather conditions
Unexpected obstacles
Under-cornering
Over braking
Vehicle defects
Road defects (potholes, broken asphalt)
Harassment and road rage
Failing to wear protective gear (helmet, leather)

Moped Accidents in NYC

In New York, the safety and insurance requirements for mopeds depends on which Department of Motor Vehicle class your moped falls into. The chart below shows which mopeds or electric bikes need to be registered. All Class A, Class B and Class C Mopeds require that you have a license to drive and must be registered with the DMV and have license plates and insurance.

If you are involved in an accident, you should seek necessary medical treatment immediately. Even if you are not injured, it is important that you call the police and file a formal police report which can later assist with insurance claims and any lawsuits which may follow.

During this time, you will be required to show your driver’s license and documentation of your insurance coverage. It is important that you obtain this information from the other driver as well. If you have a camera, you should take a photo of the scene, your injuries and any damage to your vehicle and the other vehicles involved. You should also contact your insurance carrier as soon as possible so they can instruct you on the necessary steps to file your claim.

In New York, when you are a driver or passenger involved in a car accident or you are a pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a car, you are entitled to New York State No Fault Insurance benefits. No-Fault Insurance usually pays most of your hospital and doctor bills and lost wages if you cannot return to work. If you are operating a Moped or a Motorcycle, however, New York State No Fault Insurance will not apply in most cases. Your medical and hospital bills will need to be paid by your private health insurance.

Payment for damage to your Moped or Motorcycle will depend upon whether you carried collision coverage or you could be paid by the insurance company of the vehicle that caused the damage. This will depend on whether the other vehicle is at fault or responsible for causing the collision.

Nyc Motorcycle Accident Stats

The New York City Department of Transportation Office of Research, Implementation & Safety (NYCDOT) conducted a comprehensive study 1 that examined the state of Motorcycle safety in the five boroughs. A review of motorcycle crash data in New York City revealed the following:

Motorcyclists in New York City are at disproportionate risk of death

Who

When

Motorcycle injury crashes are more likely to occur during afternoon or evening hours, and on weekends.
The number of motorcycle injury crashes increases dramatically during summer months.
Excessive alcohol use was less prevalent in motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes than in most motor vehicle driver fatalities in New York City, or in national motorcycle rider fatalities.

Where

How

Motorcyclists face similar safety challenges across the U.S. In 2014, there were 4,586 motorcycle fatalities in the United States, accounting for 14 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities.

Location and Roadway Type

In order to determine if there was a geographic concentration of motorcycle crashes, NYCDOT mapped motorcycle fatalities using GIS software. This method has proven useful in determining crash prone intersections or corridors for other modes in New York City, especially for pedestrians. However, an analysis of motorcycle fatal and severe injury crash data revealed that these crashes tend to be fairly evenly distributed across the City. Unlike fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes, a hotspot analysis does not provide much insight into how to increase safety for motorcyclists.

An analysis was also conducted of the number of motorcycle fatalities in each borough based on the total number of motorcycle registrations per borough. The Bronx and Brooklyn had the highest rate of motorcycle fatalities based on the number of registrations. Queens and Staten Island had the highest rate of fatalities by population.

HOW A LAWYER CAN HELP AFTER AN NYC MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

The High Cost Of Motorcycle and Moped Accidents

In most cases it is the front of the motorcycle or moped that is hit. This is also the point of impact that results in the most incapacitating and fatal injuries. If you have been in a motorcycle or moped accident, you may already have a good idea of its cost, including physical and emotional pain, expensive medical bills, lost wages and property damage.

Identifying every potential factor in an accident is important in determining who is at fault or what percent each is at fault and who is financially responsible. Fault can be a complex question on which you, the other driver, police and emergency responders, and insurance companies do not agree. It is even further complicated if there were equipment failures, poor road conditions, public vehicles, or obstacles involved.

An experienced motorcycle or moped accident attorney can help you:

Understand your legal options
Conduct an investigation into the accident
Challenge the police report’s findings
Help prevent insurance companies from settling too soon
Ensure that your long-term medical, psychological and financial needs are identified
Fight for compensation

Recovering from a motorcycle or moped accident can be a long, hard road. And it is a road you should not head down alone.

Speak With An Experienced New York City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

We Fight For Your Maximum Injury Compensation

Our New York City motorcycle accident lawyers take the time to learn every aspect of your case during our initial meeting in order to properly evaluate the full extent of the damages you or a loved one have suffered.

Our personal injury law firm in NYC, NY also provides:

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