Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
People hurt in motorcycle accidents often face severe injuries, resulting in mounting financial problems and long-term health concerns. In New York, people on motorcycles do not have the same no-fault insurance benefits as those in other vehicles. It is essential to have an experienced Queens motorcycle accident lawyer pursue compensation for you through other means.
Our award-winning attorneys possess in-depth knowledge of New York motorcycle, insurance, and personal injury laws. We have experience handling insurance companies that don’t want to pay claims, and no case is too complex or challenging for us to tackle.
Rely on the Queens Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Shulman & Hill
We pride ourselves on being a community-centered, client-first personal injury law firm. We give every case personalized attention and communicate openly with our clients to keep them abreast of their cases.
We serve clients across Queens, including Woodhaven, Jackson Heights, and Corona. Accessibility is important to us, so we offer satellite offices throughout the city and video calls if you are too injured to travel to an office. Our large and diverse multilingual staff members are happy to assist people in languages including Russian and Spanish.
We have obtained $1 Billion+ in case results for clients hurt by others’ reckless or negligent actions. Our award-winning attorneys received recognition from respected legal organizations and publications, including:
- Super Lawyers
- National Trial Lawyers Association
- Attorney and Practice Magazine
- American Academy of Attorneys
- American Institute of Legal Counsel
When you partner with us, you get our decades of combined experience, proven legal skills, attention to detail, and vigorous representation throughout your case. Our experience in personal injury law includes handling motorcycle accident claims, car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and truck accidents.
Understanding Queens Motorcycle Laws
There are several laws you must follow when riding a motorcycle in Queens and other parts of New York, including:
- Helmets: Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.
- Eye protection: You must wear approved eye protection, even if you have a windshield.
- Lane splitting: You cannot ride between traffic lanes, next to a car in the same lane, or between traffic and parked cars. Two motorcycles can share a lane.
- Insurance requirements: You must carry the following minimum coverage:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 total for bodily injuries to multiple parties
- $50,000 for death per person
- $100,000 total for multiple fatalities
- $10,000 for property damage
- Lights: When on the road, you must always have your front and rear lights on.
Unlike other motor vehicle accidents, your no-fault personal insurance does not cover you in a New York motorcycle accident. It only covers pedestrians or people in other vehicles. This exception in New York insurance law makes having an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Queens essential.
When you have a car accident, the vehicle you’re an occupant of will pay your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident. That is our no-fault law here in New York. The problem is, that law does not apply to a motorcycle accident. So, if you are the driver of a motorcycle involved in an accident, we have to look elsewhere to make sure your medical bill is going to be covered because there won’t be insurance coverage. In that situation, it’s very difficult for us, but we always find a way to make sure that the client is going to get the proper medical care, even without insurance.
Seth MacArthur
Managing Partner, Personal Injury
Do not try to pursue compensation after a motorcycle accident alone. Let our skilled attorneys put their 10+ years of experience to work for you.
Damages Available in Queens Motorcycle Accidents
People in motorcycle accidents face severe injuries because they lack the protection offered by other vehicles. These injuries can cause long-term pain, trauma, and financial concerns. Your Queens motorcycle accident lawyer can seek damages to compensate you for your economic and non-economic losses, including:
- Medical bills and future medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and lost future earnings
- Pain and suffering and other psychological trauma
- Property damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Funeral expenses and other damages in wrongful death motorcycle accident claims
The other party’s insurance company may try to blame you for the accident to reduce your damages or deny your claim. New York’s comparative negligence law reduces the amount of damages you can recover in proportion to your blame for the accident. Under this law, you can collect even if you were 99 percent responsible for your accident. However, the percentage of your liability reduces your compensation. For example, if you had $1 million in damages but were 25 percent at fault, you can collect $750,000.
Our Queens accident attorneys know the tactics insurance companies use through our vast experience in car accident, pedestrian accident, and truck accident cases. We are skilled negotiators and, when necessary, tenacious fighters in court.
How an Experienced Motorcycle Crash Attorney Can Help
Our primary concern is our clients’ current and future well-being. We emphasize getting you proper medical care and filing paperwork so you can focus on healing. When it is time to tackle the specific circumstances of your case, our attorneys get to work for you by:
- Investigating your accident: We have experience investigating complex motorcycle accidents that may involve multiple liable parties and unique circumstances.
- Collecting evidence: Your attorney will collect police reports, witness statements, videos, and other evidence critical to your claim.
- Determining your damages: Calculating damages can be difficult as you may face significant medical bills and other considerations well after your accident. Our attorneys will calculate the value of your damages and pursue the maximum compensation available.
- Ascertaining who was at fault for your accident: You may have a case against more than one party, such as if a speeding driver with defective brakes caused your accident. We will vigorously oppose unfounded claims about your part in the crash.
- Negotiating with the other party’s insurance company: Insurance companies aim to make a profit and are not on your side. You need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Queens to counter when insurers refuse to settle or offer low amounts.
- Fighting in court: We aim to settle your case fairly and with as little stress as possible for you and your family. However, we also are fully prepared to argue your case before a judge or jury.
We have the resources to take on complex cases that require specialized tactics, such as accident scene reconstruction and road analysis. For example, we helped obtain a $1 million settlement for a client who was in a car accident but lost consciousness and couldn’t remember the details. We showed, through skid marks and other evidence, that she deserved compensation for her brain bleeding and other serious injuries.
How Much Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Queens Cost?
We offer free consultations, so you can reach out even if you aren’t sure you have a case. If you choose to work with us, we will set up a contingency agreement with clear terms. That means we pay the costs of investigating your case and taking it through the legal process, and you only pay us an agreed-upon percentage if we secure compensation. Whether it’s a $1,000 case or a $1,000,000 case, our lawyers work hard to pursue justice for every client while treating them with the compassion and respect they need during a difficult time.
Call us for a free consultation today so we can recommend your next steps. Compensation can relieve your current burdens and create a safety net for the future if your injuries worsen and you face new medical expenses.
