Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Motorcycle crashes leave riders exposed in ways most accident victims never face, and the injuries that follow are rarely minor. While you focus on treatment, the at-fault driver’s insurer is already working to limit what they pay.
Shulman & Hill has over 200 years of combined experience handling serious injury cases for New Yorkers across every borough and beyond. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Huntington from our firm handles collisions with cars, trucks, defective parts, and unsafe road conditions across Suffolk County.
When you are ready to talk, a Huntington personal injury lawyer at our firm is available for a free consultation. Reach out today.
What New York Law Means for Riders and How Fault Is Calculated
New York’s no-fault system does not cover motorcyclists. That means you can pursue pain and suffering without meeting the serious injury threshold, but you typically do not receive PIP benefits for medical bills or lost wages. You can still access medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and health insurance.
New York follows pure comparative negligence, so if you are found partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. A $100,000 verdict, for example, becomes $70,000 if you are 30% at fault.
We investigate quickly to establish how the crash happened and who bears responsibility before the other side has a chance to shift blame onto the rider.
Common Motorcycle Accident Causes in Huntington
Local roads like Route 110, Jericho Turnpike, and Northern State Parkway see heavy traffic and frequent lane changes. Common crash factors include left-turn violations, unsafe lane shifts, speeding, and following too closely.
Dooring in village centers, failure to yield at intersections, and distracted driving at rush hour are patterns we see regularly. Weather and road defects, including gravel, potholes, and poor signage, also contribute to serious crashes across Suffolk County.
If a defective component contributed to your injuries, we may pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer in addition to the negligent driver.
Building a Strong Injury Claim and the Evidence That Drives It
A strong claim is grounded in evidence. We gather the police report, scene photos, helmet camera footage, dashcam or surveillance video, black box data from involved vehicles, and cellphone records when distracted driving is a factor.
We send preservation letters quickly to prevent businesses and homeowners from deleting camera footage. When needed, we retain reconstruction experts to build a timeline using physics, vehicle dynamics, and scene mapping to rebut driver excuses.
Preserving your motorcycle in post-crash condition matters too. It can help prove impact forces, points of contact, and whether a component failed before or during the collision.
What Your Case May Be Worth and the Injuries We See
Motorcycle crashes can cause fractures, road rash, traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, and joint damage, many of which require multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation. We work with your treating doctors and independent specialists to document future care needs, equipment costs, and work restrictions.
Compensation may include hospital and surgical costs, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage including aftermarket upgrades on a custom bike. Non-economic damages cover pain, mental distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In wrongful death cases, recoverable damages may include funeral expenses, final medical costs, and the financial losses the family depended on. The personal representative brings the claim on behalf of the estate.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurers often request recorded statements early. You are not required to provide one to the other side, and doing so can harm your claim if your words are later misinterpreted or taken out of context.
We handle all communications, present evidence in a structured way, and push back when an insurer undervalues a motorcycle claim or disputes liability. If negotiations stall, we file suit and move into discovery, depositions, and motion practice.
Property damage on a custom bike can be contentious. We document aftermarket upgrades and fair market value so your repair or total-loss payment reflects the true condition of your motorcycle.
Deadlines and Time Limits Under New York Law
Most personal injury actions in New York must be filed within three years of the accident. Wrongful death actions generally carry a two-year deadline. If a public entity is involved, a notice of claim may be due within 90 days.
There are also deadlines for uninsured and underinsured motorist claims and insurance notifications. Missing any of these windows can bar recovery entirely.
Our Huntington motorcycle accident attorneys track every deadline from evidence preservation through litigation milestones to keep your case on schedule.
What To Do After a Wreck
Your health comes first. Get medical care, follow your treatment plan, and keep copies of every bill, referral, and prescription. Report the crash to law enforcement and request the MV-104A report.
Then take these steps to protect your claim:
- Preserve your motorcycle and gear as evidence
- Photograph your injuries and the crash scene
- Keep names and contact information for all witnesses
- Avoid social media posts about the crash
- Save all repair estimates and insurance correspondence
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer in Huntington as soon as you can. Early case work improves evidence quality and claim value.
Reach Out to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Huntington Today
Riders are vulnerable on the road, and they are often just as vulnerable in the claims process. Insurers know that motorcycle cases can be complicated by bias, partial fault arguments, and gaps in no-fault coverage, and they use all of it.
Shulman & Hill has served over 26,000 injured New Yorkers and know exactly how to counter those tactics. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Huntington from our firm will build the strongest possible case and fight for every dollar your injuries demand.
Reach out today for a free consultation. New York, we got you.