A motorcycle crash can mean severe injuries that put your life on hold while you recover. You could require weeks or months of medical care, and you may not be able to work and earn a paycheck. Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, you and your family may suffer.
New York drivers are legally required to exercise care when out on the road. If they neglect that duty by speeding, driving distracted, or otherwise acting negligently, they can be financially liable for your injuries. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in the Bronx can hold them accountable for your hardships.
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered more than $100 million in settlements and awards on behalf of injured accident victims in New York. Call now for your free and confidential consultation and find out how our Bronx personal injury lawyers will help.
No-Fault Insurance and Motorcycle Accidents
New York follows a No-Fault insurance system for car accidents, meaning each driver files a claim with their own insurer, no matter who caused the crash. However, motorcycle accidents differ from car crashes in significant ways.
New York’s No-Fault system does not apply to motorcycle crashes. The downside is that motorcycle accident victims do not receive No-Fault benefits through their insurer and may need to rely on other sources for initial medical expenses.
On the other hand, because No-Fault does not apply, motorcyclists are not subject to New York’s serious injury threshold that limits car accident lawsuits. You may pursue a claim against negligent drivers under standard negligence rules without meeting that requirement.
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How Our Legal Team Can Help
It’s always a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer when you are hurt in an accident. Insurance laws in New York can get complicated, and this isn’t a legal challenge you want to handle alone.
Some things our motorcycle accident attorneys in the Bronx can do to help include:
- Explain your rights after a motorcycle accident in New York
- Investigate the accident to determine how it happened
- Identify all responsible parties who played a role in causing your injuries
- Assess your damages to understand the maximum compensation you are entitled to
- File your claim and handle all interactions with the insurer
- Negotiate for a fair settlement that fully accounts for your damages
- Represent you in court when the insurers refuse a reasonable settlement
Our motorcycle accident law firm works on contingency fee arrangements. That means there is never an upfront fee when we take your case. We’ll recover our fee as a percentage of your award or settlement once we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay our fee.
Comparative Negligence in New York
New York follows a pure comparative negligence system to determine how fault is shared in an accident and how that affects compensation. In other words, you may still recover damages even if you were partly at fault.
Your recovery is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. Insurance companies may use this to estimate compensation during settlement discussions, but a jury or court makes the final determination of fault if the case goes to trial.
Our Bronx motorcycle accident lawyers will negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement that accurately reflects your involvement in the crash. If insurers refuse to do the right thing, we will not be intimidated. Our Bronx motorcycle crash lawyers will take your fight to the courtroom.
Time Limits for Motorcycle Accident Claims
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your motorcycle crash. New York’s CPLR § 214 sets the deadline for filing personal injury claims. In most cases, you have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit.
In some situations, the statute of limitations may be extended, such as when the injured person is a minor. In other cases, the deadline may be shorter, including claims involving government entities, which are subject to special notice requirements and reduced filing timeframes.
Our motorcycle crash attorneys in the Bronx will communicate with insurers, keep your claim on track, and help you avoid mistakes that could harm your legal standing.
Consult With Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in the Bronx
You may need some help to bounce back after a serious motorcycle crash. Unfortunately, insurance companies are often more concerned with saving money so their bottom lines look good. They may seek ways to underpay you or to deny your claim altogether.
You need an advocate on your side who can manage your claim while you focus on your recovery. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in the Bronx will investigate your accident, identify all liable parties, and fight for the full damages you can recover in a personal injury claim.
Our team at Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers has more than five decades of combined legal experience. With our firm, you’ll come in as a client and leave as a friend. Call now for your free and confidential case evaluation and tell us what happened.