Although injuries can happen in any kind of vehicle collision, motorcycle accidents consistently result in serious injury. Due to the smaller profile and lack of safety features of motorcycles, the motorcyclist is typically the one who suffers the most serious injuries in the impact.
In New York, motorcycle accident claims are unlike other claims involving vehicle accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to get experienced legal help if you were injured on your bike.
The attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC have over 150 years of combined experience serving clients in accident claims throughout the Hudson Valley. Call us at (845) 303-8777 today for a free consultation. Our law firm has offices in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and Newburgh.
How Are Motorcycle Accident Claims Different?
Motorcycle accidents are excluded from the “no-fault law” in New York. After a car accident or other collision involving a motor vehicle, you first have to file a claim with your own insurance provider for coverage of medical expenses and lost wages. You only pursue compensation for economic losses from the other driver’s insurance company if your injuries meet certain conditions (i.e., qualifying as a “serious injury”) and/or the costs thereof exceed certain thresholds.
Because motorcycles fall outside of New York’s definition of a motor vehicle, you are not required to go through your insurer first or meet certain criteria before you can sue the at-fault driver. You can pursue a claim against the other driver right away after a motorcycle accident.
What Damages Can I Recover in My Motorcycle Accident Claim?
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you can pursue compensation for all of your losses in the crash. You may be able to recover damages for the following:
Medical Bills
Unfortunately, serious personal injury is the rule rather than the exception in motorcycle accidents. You may suffer multiple broken bones, head trauma, burns, and other serious injuries. Your motorcycle accident claim should account for all of the costs of medical treatment, including:
- Ambulance service
- Emergency room care
- Surgical procedures
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Psychiatric counseling
Your lawyer will work with you and your medical team to ensure that all of your present and expected costs are accounted for in your motorcycle accident claim. You may also be entitled to compensation for out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries, from a cane or a wheelchair to modifications of your home and vehicle.
Lost Wages
If the motorcycle accident renders you unable to work and provide for your family, you deserve compensation for all of the income you lose. Again, this includes both your lost earnings to date as well as the wages you are expected to miss out on due to any temporary or permanent disability.
Property Damage
Passenger vehicles can often be repaired after an accident, but even fairly minor collisions can significantly damage a motorcycle. Whether your bike sustained massive damage or is a total loss after the accident, you deserve compensation to repair or replace it. The same is true for any other property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to the financial costs of medical care for your injuries in a motorcycle accident, you can also recover compensation for the impact of these injuries on your life. Pain and suffering damages serve as recompense for the physical and mental pain you experience as a result of the accident.
Emotional Anguish
Victims of motorcycle accidents may suffer depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the crash, the aftermath, and the impact of their injuries. These issues can result in shame or embarrassment, and they can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. You deserve compensation for the short-term and long-term distress you feel as a result of the motorcycle accident.
Loss of Consortium
Damages for loss of consortium compensate you for the ways in which your family relationships are disrupted by the motorcycle accident. This may include the physical and emotional relationship with your spouse, your ability to raise your children, and more.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not awarded in every accident claim. In fact, recovering punitive damages is fairly uncommon. However, you may be awarded punitive damages if the defendant’s actions in your case are determined to be malicious or extremely reckless.
An experienced lawyer can advise you both what kind of damages you may be able to recover in a motorcycle accident claim, as well as how much your claim may be worth.
Why Choose O’Connor & Partners, PLLC
The attorneys at our law firm have more than a century of combined experience handling vehicle accident claims, including cases involving motorcycles. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients in motorcycle accident claims, including a $3.5 million motorcycle accident settlement believed to be the largest vehicle collision settlement in New York’s Sullivan County.
View our results.
At O’Connor & Partners, PLLC, we are focused on you: your recovery, your needs, and the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers aggressively advocate on your behalf, and we never settle unless the offered amount meets your needs.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is in your best interest to contact O’Connor & Partners, PLLC as soon as possible. You may be entitled to significant compensation, and our experienced lawyers will pursue the full amount of damages recoverable in your claim.
Call (845) 303-8777 today for a free case evaluation. Our motorcycle accident attorneys serve clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, throughout the Hudson Valley region, and other areas of New York.