WESTCHESTER COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

Who pays your medical bills when you are involved in a motorcycle accident?

When you are involved in a car accident in the State of New York, your own insurance carrier is legally obligated to pay for your medical bills and lost earnings. This is because of the NY No-Fault Insurance Law. However, when you are involved in a motorcycle accident as either the driver or passenger of that motorcycle, your insurance company does not have a legal obligation to pay for your medical bills and lost earnings. This is why it absolutely crucial that if you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Westchester County or White Plains due to the negligence of another driver, you need to contact Curan & Ahlers, LLP. We have been able to obtain compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance company for our motorcycle accident victims and help to ensure their accident-related medical bills are paid.  

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How can I recover compensation from the driver who struck my motorcycle and caused me to be injured?

In New York State, when a person is involved in a car accident, they must prove that they have sustained a "serious injury" prior to being able to obtain any compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance company. This is not the case for motorcycle drivers or passengers who are injured when struck by another motor vehicle. A person injured on a motorcycle is able to bring a claim against the at-fault driver and potentially obtain compensation for even minor injuries that would normally not pass the serious injury threshold for a person injured as a driver or passenger of a car. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we specialize in efficiently handling bodily injury claims in Westchester County for our clients who have been injured as a motorcycle driver or passenger. We also handle White Plains motorcycle accident claims. 

What are some common injuries in motorcycle accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts studies regarding the injuries that are reported by people injured in motorcycle accidents. In one such study, the NHTSA conducted a study of approximately 105,000 people that were injured in motorcycle accidents and found that 15 percent of riders that were wearing helmets still suffered a traumatic brain injury. This same study found that the most common injury in motorcycle accidents is usually lower-extremity injuries such as fractures of the bones in the leg. The study also found that many motorcycle riders involved in an accident suffer from internal injuries such as damage to the internal organs because of blunt-force trauma.

 

What do I do when my loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 5,014 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2019. The NHTSA concluded that motorcyclists are 29 times more likely than a passenger car occupant to die when involved in a motor vehicle accident. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we have handled several motorcycle fatality cases against the at-fault driver for the families that have lost loved ones in motorcycle accidents. We specialize in helping the family through the Surrogate's Court process in which a family member is appointed to handle the estate of their deceased loved one. We are able to guide this representative through the legal action against the at-fault driver and obtain compensation for families that have lost the breadwinner of their homes in motorcycle accidents. These legal actions can be complicated and often require experts to analyze the family member's loss of future income and support from their deceased loved one.

 

What are common causes of motorcycle accidents?

The number one cause of motorcycle accident is driver negligence. It is very common for car drivers to report that they did not see the motorcycle prior to the accident due to the glare from the sun on their windshield. A shocking statistic is that 70 percent of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections and the drivers of the cars that strike these motorcycles often claim that they did not see the motorcycle. Another major leading cause of motorcycle accidents is inclement weather. Motorcycle riders must be extremely careful of gravel or debris on the roadway, potholes, and bumps in the road. Any of these obstructions in the road can cause a motorcycle driver to lose control of his or her motorcycle. 

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If you’ve been injured in any way in White Plains, NY or surrounding areas of Westchester County call us at (914) 428-3313 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We also handle bicycle accident and scooter accident claims.