Bronx Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Driving a motorcycle is a popular and often fun way to get from one place to the next. It can truly become a way of life for motorcyclists, most of whom take pride in the safe operation of their bike. More than other types of drivers, motorcyclists usually have a keen awareness of the added risk of death or serious injury when driving in and around New York City. 

While motorcyclists take extra precautions to keep themselves, their passengers, and others sharing the road safe, they don't always receive the same consideration. Unfortunately, failing to look for bikers or disregarding safety rules on public roads can easily lead to a motorcycle crash. If you are worried about paying your bills after your Bronx motorcycle accident or recently lost a loved one to wrongful death due to another party's negligence, our law firm is here to help. Our Personal Injury lawyers are ready to discuss your case free, contact our law firm today 212-268-3222 for your free consultation. 

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me After a Bronx Motorcycle Accident?

Determining who bears responsibility for causing your motorcycle crash can be challenging. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Raphaelson & Levine understand the complexity of assigning blame and use their years of experience and investigative skills to determine who you can legally sue for causing a wrongful death or serious injuries. Some examples of parties that could potentially face accountability for your Bronx motorcycle accident include motor vehicle drivers, the manufacturer of the motorcycle, and government officials in the New York City metropolitan area if proven that they failed to warn drivers about potential road hazards in advance. This is just the first step of the personal injury lawsuit process.

Securing a Bronx motorcycle accident attorney from Raphaelson & Levine ensures that you have an experienced legal team on your side when it comes time to negotiate with insurance companies or attend a court trial. Without our representation, you're likely to face pressure from the insurance company or attorney for the other party to settle for an offer much lower than you deserve. These parties could also challenge your claim that the negligent actions of the defendant caused your serious injuries or the death of your loved one. Turning the narrative around and placing blame on the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit is a common defense tactic. 

Here are some other things your motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with besides determining liability:

• Gather evidence from your motorcycle crash in a timely manner before it becomes lost or the other party deliberately destroys it.
• Assist you in obtaining proper medical care for your brain injury, broken bones, or other type of serious injury.
• Analyze your medical records associated with treatment you received after the accident.
• Consult with expert medical witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists to secure proof that your serious injuries affect you the way you claim.
• Determine all financial and non-financial losses you have suffered due to the negligent actions of other bikers or motor vehicle drivers.
• Aggressively negotiate with the defendant's insurance company or represent you in a personal injury court case if we can't reach an acceptable settlement offer.

Our Bronx motorcycle accident lawyers do not intimidate easily and will aggressively pursue financial compensation for your motorcycle crash. Once an insurance company or judge settles your motorcycle accident case, you could potentially receive payment for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and several other categories of compensation. To learn more about the process, please contact our law firm at 212-268-3222 to request a free consultation and case review.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are five times more likely to sustain serious injuries in an accident compared to drivers and passengers of other motor vehicles. Here are some top reasons why these types of accidents occur:

• Collision with a car door when another driver opens his or her door just as the motorcyclist approaches.
• Driving after consuming unsafe levels of alcohol or other mind-altering drugs, whether prescription or not.
• Driving between two traffic lanes, also known as lane splitting.
• Improper lane changes when the driver of a motor vehicle changes lanes without checking his or her blind spot or fails to use their turn signals.
• Improper left turn caused by a motorist who misjudged distance or made an error in determining which motor vehicle driver should have the right of way.
• Manufacturing defects of either the motorcycle or the other motor vehicle involved in the crash.
• Poor road conditions including potholes, debris on the road, missing or limited signs indicating road construction, and crumbling pavement.
• Rear-end collision caused by the driver ahead of the motorcyclist making a sudden stop that causes the biker to collide with the back side of a motor vehicle.
• Speeding by either party in the motorcycle or car accident.

Keep in mind that a motorcycle crash can happen for a number of reasons, many which we have not listed here. Regardless of how you sustained your motorcycle accident injuries, you have the right to work with a Bronx personal injury lawyer to initiate a claim against the negligent driver who caused them. As the well-respected voice of the injured in the New York City metropolitan area, the law firm of Raphaelson & Levine is available now to research and file your personal injury claim. 

Common Types of Motorcycle Crash Injuries

The lack of a physical barrier around the bike to protect motorcycle riders and drivers can result in much more serious injuries than would occur in a crash between two or more motor vehicles. These injuries are often so severe that they change the quality of life for motorcycle accident victims forever. Here are five of the most common types:

Broken bones

A motorcyclist is likely to suffer broken bones when the bike lands on top of him or her or a motor vehicle strikes his or her body with extreme force. While broken bones eventually heal, they can have a permanent impact on mobility and cause long-lasting pain.

Amputation

Amputation injuries to the arms or legs in a motorcycle accident may require the motorcycle rider or driver to undergo amputation surgery to remove a limb and replace it with a prosthetic. This can either be immediate or delayed depending on how blood flows to the affected limb. Amputation of individual fingers and toes are also common after an auto accident involving a motorcycle. 

Road Rash

When the force of the crash knocks a motorcyclist off the bike, he or she can receive serious cuts and abrasions from dragging on the ground. If dirt and debris becomes embedded in the skin, it can lead to a serious infection later. Road rash sometimes results in such extensive scarring that the motorcycle crash victim requires skin grafting surgery.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury near the neck can cause quadriplegia, the loss of movement and sensation in all four limbs. Paraplegia occurs when the force of the impact strikes the lower back and affects movement in sensation in the legs. A motorcycle accident victim with an incomplete spinal cord injury may recover some mobility but this is not true for those with a complete spinal cord injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

The force of the motorcycle accident victim's head striking the pavement or the motor vehicle that crashed with him or her can cause significant long-term consequences like memory loss, depression, anxiety, concentration and cognitive difficulties, persistent dizziness, balance problems, and more. 

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims and Comparative Negligence in New York

New York State provides injured people with three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. The statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years. 

New York is also a comparative negligence state. This means that an insurance company or judge can reduce the amount of your successful personal injury claim by the percentage for which either finds you liable for contributing to your own injuries. Your Raphaelson & Levine motorcycle accident attorney will argue aggressively to reduce or eliminate any blame the opposing party attempt to assign you. 

Getting Compensation After an Accident

As a motorcycle accident victim, you're entitled to sue for both compensatory and non-compensatory damages. The first category reimburses you for actual financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. The purpose of non-compensatory damages is to reimburse you for the types of losses that you cannot measure in dollars. Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, and loss of companionship are three common examples. Because these categories are highly subjective, you need legal representation from an experienced Bronx motorcycle accident attorney representing our law office.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a Bronx Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Raphaelson & Levine has secured over $500 million dollars in settlement funds for motorcycle accident victims and other victims of recklessness or negligence since 1992. We proudly serve people with serious injuries and those who have experienced the wrongful death of a loved one. Located in New York City, Raphaelson & Levine works with clients in Long Island, Staten Island, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all of Nassau County and Suffolk County extending into New Jersey. Please contact us to request a free consultation today at 212-268-3222.