Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries, long recoveries, mounting medical bills, and time off from work. When another driver or negligent party causes your crash, you may be eligible for compensation to help pay your current bills, improve your future financial outlook, and get compensation for the crash’s effects on your life.
The skilled Brooklyn motorcycle accident lawyers at Shulman & Hill can assess your damages, identify liable parties, and seek fair compensation in settlement negotiations or court. We have over a decade of experience assisting people in Brooklyn and around New York City when others’ negligence caused their injuries.
Why Choose the Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Shulman & Hill
Over 10 years ago, we started our firm right here in Brooklyn. We are New Yorkers helping fellow New Yorkers pursue justice and compensation for personal injuries. We have significant experience handling all aspects of personal injury claims, such as accident reconstruction and finding local experts whose testimony bolsters claims.
Our firm has strong ties to the community and takes pride in being a client-focused law firm with solid communication skills. We have satellite offices throughout New York City, and our attorneys are available via video call for clients who are too injured to travel to the office. Our large, diverse, multicultural staff assists clients in languages such as Spanish and Russian.
We have recovered over $700 million in compensation for our clients. Our client service and success have won us recognition from several respected legal organizations and publications, including the following:
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- American Academy of Attorneys Top 40 Under 40
- American Institute of Legal Counsel Top 10 Best Law Firm
- The National Trial Lawyer
- Attorney and Practice Magazine Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney
26 Court Street! I love the experience that this firm provided me with. They are loyal, trustworthy, and true to their word with the service they provide. The staff are very friendly and helpful in every way. Their door has always been open during business hours, and they always do their best to resolve any problem you may have. For me, the phone has always been answered and transferred when able, and all voicemails left were returned in a timely manner.
John T.
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In addition to motorcycle accidents, our personal injury attorneys have a long track record of success representing victims of car accidents, truck accidents, and pedestrian accidents in Brooklyn. We use that collective knowledge to investigate your case, negotiate with insurance companies, and navigate the complex New York legal system.
What Compensation Can I Receive After a Brooklyn Motorcycle Wreck?
Motorcyclists have little protection from the dangers of the road. A crash can result in serious harm, such as spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, broken bones, severe cuts, lacerations, and road rash. These injuries can lead to prolonged hospitalizations, recovery times, and missed work.
In a motorcycle accident claim, you can seek recovery of your economic damages, which compensate for your financial losses stemming from the accident, and your non-economic damages, which compensate for the more subjective impacts of your life. Our Brooklyn motorcycle accident attorneys can seek to recover damages for your financial, physical, and psychological harm, including the following:
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Medical bills and future medical and rehabilitation costs
- Home nursing care or other home aides
- Pain and suffering and other trauma
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Property damage
- Funeral expenses and other damages in motorcycle accidents leading to wrongful death
How NY Motorcycle Laws May Affect Compensation
New York’s no-fault insurance laws do not apply to riders and passengers in motorcycle accident cases. Unlike occupants of car accidents, motorcyclists are not covered by their own no-fault insurance policy. Instead, you must file a claim against the other driver or party at fault for your crash. Under these circumstances, insurance adjusters have little incentive to offer you a fair settlement.
Other NY motorcycle laws can also affect your potential compensation. Motorcyclists must follow all rules of the road, as well as these specific requirements:
- Helmets are mandatory for drivers and passengers.
- Eye protection is mandatory, even if you have a windshield.
- Lane-splitting, or driving between two lanes of traffic, is prohibited.
- Lane-sharing with a vehicle other than one other motorcycle is prohibited.
- Front and rear lights must be on at all times while riding.
- Insurance requirements include $10,000 in property damage per accident, $25,000 in bodily injury, $50,000 per death for one person in an accident, $50,000 in bodily injury, and $100,000 for the death of two or more people.
If you break the law and are in an accident, insurance adjusters and defendants’ attorneys can use your contribution to the crash and other evidence to reduce your settlement. New York’s pure comparative negligence law allows you to collect compensation even if you were mostly to blame for the accident. However, your potential compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the fault.
For example, if you have $1,000,000 in damages but are 50 percent at fault, your recovery will be reduced to $500,000. Insurance companies may try to falsely accuse you of negligence to justify reducing payouts further.
Our Brooklyn motorcycle accident lawyers have experience negotiating with insurance companies. We know their tactics and what evidence you need to argue that the other party is responsible for your damages.
How a Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Brooklyn Can Help
According to recent NYC Police Department statistics, Brooklyn had more motorcycle accidents than any other borough. Our personal injury attorneys have a long history of working in Brooklyn and can assist you in finding the best local doctors and specialists. Our primary focus is taking care of all of the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on recovery. To that end, your attorney will deal with specific aspects of your claim, such as:
- A thorough accident investigation
- Analysis of your case and determination of liability
- Evidence collection
- Consultation with experts to bolster your case
- Evaluation and calculation of your damages
- Filing all necessary paperwork on time
- Negotiation with insurance companies
- Litigating your case in court when necessary
We know how to work with your doctors to get a full assessment of your injuries and your current and future medical costs. Knowing the appropriate compensation lets us fight insurance companies’ lowball offers.
Who May Be Liable in a Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident?
In motorcycle accident cases, multiple parties may be liable, including:
- Other drivers involved in your crash
- A third driver who caused another vehicle to hit you
- Government agencies, if poor road maintenance was a factor or your accident was with a city vehicle
- Manufacturers of defective parts
- A rideshare company, if the other driver was picking up a passenger or had one in their car
- Private employers of negligent drivers who were working at the time of your crash or who failed to maintain their vehicles
Our skilled motorcycle accident lawyers in Brooklyn work to identify all parties responsible for your crash. This liability assignment is critical to pursuing full compensation, as each party is assigned a level of fault and resulting damages.
How Soon Do I Need To File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
New York has a three-year statute of limitations for motorcycle accident lawsuits. If your accident was with a NYC transit vehicle or poorly maintained roads caused it, and you want to take action against the city, you have only 90 days to file an initial claim.
Act quickly before evidence is lost on New York City’s busy streets or witness memories fade. Partnering with our motorcycle accident attorneys in Brooklyn immediately gives us more time to build your case. This will allow us to approach settlement negotiations or court proceedings from a stronger position based on thorough evidence and a well-crafted legal strategy.