Motorcycle Accident Attorney in New York City

What to Do After an Accident

Here are a few tips to remember after any accident, including a motorcycle accident:

• See a Doctor: If you are in a motorcycle accident, you should immediately seek proper medical attention. Obtaining prompt medical care not only ensures your health but also helps in documenting the injuries you sustained as a result of an accident. This documentation will likely play a critical role in your case and may affect the ultimate outcome.
• Exchange Contact Information: If police officers are not dispatched to the scene of the accident, you should try to obtain the license plate numbers of all vehicles involved in the accident, the name and address of the driver, and the name of their insurance company, including the policy number.
• Avoid Admitting Fault: It is wise to refrain from entering into any conversation with the other driver. Statements you make may be used against you. DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING OR ADMIT ANY FAULT.
• Document Evidence: Following an accident, you should take photographs of any damage to your vehicle and other property, your physical injuries (if they are apparent), and the accident scene. Take notes on how the accident occurred and any statements the other parties made.
• Contact a Lawyer: Before speaking to any adjusters from the liable person’s insurance company, and as soon as possible after the accident, contact an experienced attorney who can protect your rights and help you determine what to do next.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Even if motorcyclists are driving carefully, accidents can still occur at any time due to a variety of factors. All too often, these accidents occur not because the motorcycle operator did anything wrong but because another driver was negligent.

A motorcycle accident can occur as the result of:

• Inattentive Drivers: Careless, inattentive motorists may fail to see a motorcyclist or may make a mistake that results in a disastrous crash
• Traffic Law Violations: If a motorist is speeding, texting while driving, driving while drunk, or engaging in any other unlawful behavior, he or she can cause a serious accident
• Poor Communication: Motorcyclists sometimes travel in groups, but they must communicate clearly to avoid colliding or moving into other lanes of travel
• Road Hazards: Motorcyclists may sometimes run into potholes or loose gravel or asphalt, which can cause them to lose control of their vehicles and crash

These are just some examples of how motorcycle accidents can occur. In many cases, injured bikers have the right to seek fair financial compensation for their damages by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault person or party, whether that’s another motorist, a construction company, or the manufacturer of a defective automobile part.

Tips for Surviving a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle enthusiasts dread thinking about the possibility of a wreck on their bikes, but the reality is that many motorcyclists are killed each year riding the roads. Goingbeyond the obvious steps of wearing an approved helmet and boots and leather gear for protection, here are some tips to increase your survival chances in a crash:

• Cars have blind spots and many drivers are oblivious to motorcyclists, so avoid positioning your motorcycle where it can’t be seen.
• Be alert for road hazards like spilled oil and dead animals.
• Brake prior to entering turns and accelerate or coast through them to remain balanced.
• Align your motorcycle with the outer tires of the car ahead. If they swerve to miss debris, you might be able to avoid it too.
• When a wreck is inevitable, your best bet is to slow your speed and then lay the bike down. You want to be as far away from moving projectile as possible while staying out of the way of traffic.
• Release the bike and kick or push it away.
• Try to relax during the fall and attempt to not not stiffen your limbs before impact.
• Try to remain immobile after the crash until help arrives in order to keep from worsening your injuries.

Surviving the initial crash is just the first step in what may be a long road to recovery. Medical and therapy bills can mount up, and injured riders might not be able to work for an extended time. In order to make ends meet, it may be necessary to file suit against the at-fault driver.

Do Not Delay—Contact Us Now for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been injured, it’s important that you seek legal representation. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, which means your best interests aren’t their priority—money is. Our New York motorcycle accident attorney puts our clients and their needs first, no matter what.

It’s also important that you act quickly as the statute of limitations on motorcycle accident claims in New York is three years from the date of the accident. If you wait longer than three years to file a claim, your case will almost assuredly be thrown out.