Many people enjoy riding motorcycles for recreation and transportation. While motorcycle riding can be a fun pastime, it can also be dangerous under certain circumstances. There are a variety of reasons motorcycle accidents can occur and serious injuries result — including the recklessness and carelessness of other drivers on the road. If you were hurt while riding a motorcycle due to someone else’s negligence, it’s important to understand that you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury action to recover your damages.
Leading Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcyclists face a variety of hazards on the highways and streets. Since they share the road with vehicles much larger than theirs, motorcycles can be difficult to see — this puts them at high risk of collisions leading to severe injuries. Although some accidents may occur due to a motorcyclist’s failure to use reasonable care, many are caused by the negligent actions of other motorists.
Motorcycle accidents commonly occur due to the following reasons:
- Another driver’s inattention or distraction
- Recklessness and speeding
- Car doors opening in front of oncoming motorcycles
- Hazardous road conditions
- Another motorist’s failure to observe
- Left-hand turns
- Another driver’s impairment by drugs or alcohol
Unlike the drivers of cars and other larger vehicles, motorcyclists are not protected by a steel frame, airbags, or seatbelts. Accordingly, accidents involving motorcycles are often tragic, resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatality. Motorcycle accident victims may sustain a wide range of injuries, including broken bones, road burn, nerve damage, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, permanent disfigurement, and lifelong disability. If your injuries were caused by the careless actions of another party, they may be held liable for your damages.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents
A motorcycle accident can take a significant toll — physically, emotionally, and financially. Accident victims may be required to undergo extensive medical treatment and lose time from work. While no-fault coverage does not apply to medical costs and lost wages in cases involving motorcycle accident injuries, you may be able to recover these monetary damages and more in a personal injury action.
By commencing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party, you may be entitled to compensation for both your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages in a motorcycle accident case can include unreimbursed medical expenses, lost wages, future lost earnings, and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the accident. Non-economic damages are also referred to as “pain and suffering” damages. This category of damages is meant to compensate a victim for the physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life a victim experienced due to their injuries.
In some cases, a New York court might also award a motorcycle accident victim punitive damages. These damages are awarded in limited situations where it can be shown that the defendant acted with reckless disregard for the victim’s safety. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate a victim, but rather to punish the defendant for their egregious actions and serve as a deterrent to others from acting in a similar manner.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. A personal injury attorney can fight to ensure you receive the maximum monetary recovery to which you are entitled. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has extensive experience representing motorcycle accident victims and strives to obtain the best possible outcome in every client’s unique case.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a consultation.