Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment. Insurance adjusters work quickly to minimize payouts, but you have rights, and a Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyer can protect your ability to seek full compensation.
Call the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 to discuss your case with an attorney who knows Manhattan's streets and courts.
Why Choose Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler for Your Manhattan Motorcycle Accident Case
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler brings local knowledge and personalized attention to every motorcycle injury claim. Our attorneys know the challenges motorcyclists face on crowded streets from Times Square to the FDR Drive.
Deep Roots in Manhattan
Our attorneys regularly appear in the Manhattan Supreme Court and work with local medical providers from Mount Sinai to NYU Langone. We know how to investigate motorcycle crashes at busy intersections like Herald Square and Union Square. Our local experience helps us build stronger cases for our clients.
Clear Communication
When you partner with the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, you’ll get an easy line of communication with your legal team. We explain your options in plain language and answer your questions promptly. We’ll give you updates on your case at every juncture.
Proven Results
Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for riders injured everywhere from the West Side Highway to First Avenue. We handle cases involving lane-splitting accidents, dooring incidents, and left-turn collisions.
Take the first step toward protecting your rights. Call the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 for a free consultation about your motorcycle accident case.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Manhattan
Manhattan's dense traffic creates unique hazards for motorcyclists every day. Cars making sudden lane changes on FDR Drive cause devastating crashes, and delivery trucks double-parked on Broadway force riders into dangerous situations.
Driver Blind Spots and Lane Changes
Motorcycles disappear in vehicle blind spots, especially on multi-lane roads like the West Side Highway. Drivers merge without checking mirrors or using turn signals, and these crashes happen most often during rush hour, when traffic moves unpredictably.
Common blind spot accident scenarios include:
- Merging Collisions: Cars sometimes change lanes directly into motorcycles they never saw.
- Highway On-Ramp Crashes: Vehicles entering from ramps like those near the Lincoln Tunnel may fail to check for motorcycles.
- Multi-Lane Sweeps: Drivers occasionally cross several lanes at once without looking for smaller vehicles.
- Parking Maneuvers: Cars pulling out of parallel parking spots may hit passing motorcycles.
Left-Turn Collisions at Intersections
Drivers turning left at Manhattan intersections often fail to yield to oncoming motorcycles. These crashes happen because drivers misjudge motorcycle speed or don't see the bike at all. The impact usually throws riders from their bikes, causing serious injuries.
Intersections near Central Park see frequent left-turn accidents. Columbus Circle and other major crossings pose similar risks. Even with traffic signals, some drivers rush through turns without checking for motorcycles.
Dooring Incidents on City Streets
Even parked cars pose a threat to bikers; occupants sometimes open doors into bike lanes and traffic. Motorcyclists have no time to react when a door suddenly blocks their path. These dooring accidents cause riders to crash into doors or swerve into traffic.
Streets with heavy parking turnover see more dooring crashes. Areas near Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal have high rates of these accidents. Riders suffer broken bones, head injuries, and road rash from dooring incidents.
Your Rights After a Manhattan Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents fall outside no-fault rules, meaning you need to sue the at-fault driver directly to recover compensation. However, a personal injury claim gives you access to payment for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.
You have the right to refuse the insurance company's first settlement offer. Adjusters often blame motorcyclists unfairly or minimize injury claims. A NYC motorcycle crash attorney protects your rights during these negotiations.
The statute of limitations gives you three years from the crash to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline usually means losing your right to compensation forever. Starting your case early preserves evidence and witness memories.
Gathering Evidence To Support Your Claim
Strong evidence makes the difference between fair compensation and lowball offers. Police reports from the NYPD provide official documentation of the crash. Medical records from hospitals like Bellevue or New York-Presbyterian prove your injuries.
Critical evidence for motorcycle accident cases includes:
- Traffic Camera Footage: Video from DOT cameras at major intersections may show exactly how the accident happened.
- Witness Statements: People who saw the crash may provide independent verification of events.
- Vehicle Damage Photos: Pictures showing impact points and damage severity help reconstruct the collision.
- Medical Documentation: Emergency room records, surgical reports, and therapy notes prove the extent of your injuries.
- Lost Wage Verification: Pay stubs and employer letters confirming missed work establish your economic losses.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters start working against your claim immediately after accidents. They record phone calls, hoping you'll say something that hurts your case. They may even send a quick settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Never give recorded statements without talking to a Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyer first. Similarly, don't sign any documents that the insurance company sends. Let your attorney handle all communication to protect your rights.
Compensation Available for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Manhattan
In New York, motorcycle accident victims can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable losses like medical bills and lost income, while non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Medical Expenses and Future Care Costs
Your compensation needs to cover all accident-related medical treatment, including emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, and medical equipment. Your Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyer calculates your future medical needs based on your doctor's recommendations.
Serious injuries often require ongoing care for years, and physical therapy helps victims regain strength and mobility. Some riders need home modifications or assisted living facilities after severe injuries. Your lawyer accounts for all of these needs when totaling your claim.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Injuries keep many riders out of work for weeks or months. Your claim may seek compensation for all lost income during recovery. Self-employed riders can claim lost business income with proper documentation.
Permanent injuries may prevent you from returning to your previous job. Vocational experts calculate the difference between what you earned before and what you can earn now. This lost earning capacity becomes part of your compensation.
Types of income losses we recover include:
- Regular Wages: Your Manhattan motorcycle injury attorney calculates your hourly pay or salary missed during recovery based on your regular work schedule.
- Overtime and Bonuses: Your claim may include payment for the additional income you would have earned based on your work history.
- Benefits Value: Health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits that have monetary value.
- Future Promotions: Your claim may address career advancement opportunities lost due to disabilities.
Pain and Suffering Damages
Physical pain from injuries deserves compensation beyond medical bills. Emotional trauma from the accident affects your daily life and relationships. New York law recognizes these non-economic damages as real losses.
Insurance companies use formulas to minimize pain and suffering payments. Your NYC motorcycle accident lawyer fights for compensation that reflects your actual experience. Severe injuries and permanent disabilities increase these damage awards.
How a Manhattan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Builds Your Case
Winning a motorcycle accident case requires thorough investigation and preparation. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler starts building your case immediately. We gather evidence before it disappears.
The Investigation
Our team investigates accident scenes to document road conditions and sight lines. We record skid marks and analyze vehicle damage to pinpoint fault.
Security camera footage from nearby businesses often captures accidents, so we request video from stores and parking garages before it gets deleted.
We also photograph debris patterns, examine both vehicles for mechanical problems or recalls, and obtain traffic light timing records.
Proving Negligence
Proving negligence requires showing the other driver violated traffic laws or failed to exercise reasonable care. We match physical evidence to specific violations like speeding, running red lights, or illegal lane changes.
Witness statements combined with accident reconstruction demonstrate precisely how the driver's actions caused your injuries. Documentation makes the difference between proving and just claiming negligence.
Working With Medical Professionals
Your doctors provide crucial evidence about injury severity and prognosis. We work with treating physicians to document all accident-related problems. Specialists may examine you to identify injuries the emergency room missed.
Medical experts explain complex injuries to insurance companies and juries. They connect your current symptoms to the motorcycle accident. Their testimony supports claims for future medical expenses and ongoing care needs.
Negotiating Maximum Settlements
Most motorcycle accident cases settle without going to trial. Skilled negotiation gets you compensation faster than lengthy court battles. We prepare every case for trial, which strengthens our negotiating position.
Insurance companies know which law firms are actually ready to try cases. Our Manhattan office location lets us file in local courts quickly if negotiations fail.
FAQ for Manhattan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
How Long Do I Have To File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Manhattan?
New York's statute of limitations gives you three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to any compensation.
Some situations change this timeline. Claims against New York City require filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Accidents involving MTA buses or city vehicles have different procedures and deadlines.
The three-year limit seems long, but evidence disappears quickly after accidents. Surveillance footage from businesses gets deleted, and witnesses forget details or become hard to locate as time passes. Contact a Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyer to protect your claim.
What if I Wasn't Wearing a Helmet During My Manhattan Motorcycle Accident?
New York requires all motorcycle riders to wear approved helmets, but not wearing one doesn't eliminate your right to compensation. You can still recover damages for injuries unrelated to helmet use. Helmet laws don't affect broken legs, internal injuries, or other damages.
The lack of a helmet might reduce compensation for a head injury specifically. New York's comparative negligence law allows recovery even when you're partially at fault.
Can I Sue if the Other Driver Doesn't Have Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage on your own policy provides protection when at-fault drivers lack insurance. This coverage pays for injuries and damages up to your policy limits. Many riders don't realize their own insurance can help after accidents with uninsured drivers.
You can also sue uninsured drivers personally for damages; however, getting money from someone without insurance presents challenges. We investigate whether defendants have assets worth pursuing through lawsuits.
If no insurance exists, your case may qualify for the state's Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation assistance.
What Damages Can I Recover After a NYC Motorcycle Crash?
New York law allows motorcycle accident victims to recover comprehensive damages. Medical expenses include everything from ambulance rides to long-term rehabilitation. Lost wages cover both past income and future earning capacity.
Property damage compensation pays for motorcycle repairs or replacement. Gear like helmets, jackets, and boots gets included in property claims. Custom parts and modifications add to your bike's value for insurance purposes.
Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and life disruption. You may also pursue payment for the loss of the enjoyment of life and scarring and disfigurement from road rash.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Manhattan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Insurance companies have adjusters and attorneys working to minimize your claim from day one. They know unrepresented victims accept settlements worth far less than their cases deserve. A Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyer fights for your rights and compensation.
Attorneys handle the complex legal procedures while you focus on recovering from your injuries. We meet filing deadlines, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies. This prevents costly mistakes that could reduce or eliminate your compensation.
Take Action Today
Your motorcycle crash doesn’t have to define your future when you have strong legal representation. Don't let insurance companies dictate what your injuries are worth. Call the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 today for your free consultation about your motorcycle accident case.