What to Know About New York Motorcycle Accident Cases

So, you're a motorcyclist and you've been in an accident. Now what? Well, first and perhaps most importantly, you should become familiar with New York's No-fault law. Many motorcyclists falsely believe that the No-fault law is the same for car and motorcycle operators. However, No-fault treats these two groups very differently.

For car drivers, No-fault will cover some of your accident related expenses such as hospital bills and lost wages. Although No-fault will cover car accident victims, the law makes it difficult for these victims to put forth lawsuits for pain and suffering. In order to go forward with one of these lawsuits, any accident related injuries must be "severe." No-fault essentially defines severe"damages" as a fracture, loss or limitation of a body part, the death of a fetus, or a death.

For motorcycle accident victims, the case is extremely different. Because No-fault sees motorcycles as inherently dangerous, No-fault doesn't cover motorcyclists. Therefore, motorcyclists must use their private insurance (if available) in order to pay for any accident related expenses. However, unlike car drivers, motorcyclists can sue without having to meet a "severe" injury threshold. This makes motorcycle accident lawsuits much easier to put forth.

It's important for motorcyclists to truly understand how they are covered, and what steps they should take after an accident has taken place. Our New York and Long Island motorcycle accident attorneys have helped numerous accident victims throughout the area. If you have sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident, please contact our New York or Long Island personal injury law offices.