Suffolk County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Skilled Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Serving Suffolk County, NY

For those of us who live in Suffolk County there’s a lot to love. It remains an incredibly vibrant and energetic part of Long Island – lending its signature flair and style to the north east. However, one of the downsides of the county being so attractive is that our roadways struggle to manage with all the congestion. With so many people and poor roads, you’re inevitably going to have your fair share of accidents. This is especially the case when it comes to motorcyclists, who are often ignored by motorists. Suffolk County has unfortunately found itself at the heart of a great many motorcycle accidents in recent years. And when these happen, the resulting damage can be very serious. If you’ve found yourself involved in a motorcycle accident in Suffolk County, contact a Suffolk County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. We might be able to help you.

When Should You Consult With a Lawyer?

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident in Suffolk County and you have suffered any form of injury as a result, then it’s a good idea to consult an attorney sooner rather than later. In every case, regardless of how serious your injuries are, hiring a lawyer early is going to work in your favor. When a professional is on your side from the beginning, they can ensure that the entire process works as smoothly as possible while obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.

This includes the protection of your legal rights, making sure that your medical bills are paid, and securing those lost wages that you might incur due to the injuries. In addition, having a good attorney at your side will be a significant advantage when you start building a legal claim for your personal injuries. For example, just having someone to investigate the case while it’s fresh and to preserve key evidence is worth its weight in gold.

How Much is My Case Worth?

This is a difficult question to answer without context because every case is going to be different. But to give you a general guideline, here are some of the key components that will be considered when valuing your specific claim:

The cost of the damage to your cycle;
Accident-related expenses such as lost wages and medical bills; and
Non-economic expenses such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish.

Here at Palermo Law, we’ve worked on hundreds of these cases and so we’ve seen it all. We’ll be able to accurately assess the value of your claim so that you can get fair value – whether it’s through a settlement or the jury.

It’s also worth noting that if your injuries are long-term in nature, our Suffolk County personal injury lawyers will work with the relevant medical experts to ensure that your compensation takes into account the future cost, including inflation – so that you are covered for the duration of your recovery.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Suffolk County

It doesn’t matter how safe a rider you are, you are always at the risk from the cars around you – which often tend to cause collisions. Some of the common causes include the following:

A car doesn’t yield the right of way to the motorcyclist.
A car makes an unexpected left turn.
A car sideswipes a motorcyclist.
A car doesn’t see a motorcyclist in its blind spot and changes lanes unknowingly.

Of course, those are just a few ways that crashes can happen, but as you can see – they are vast in scope. The unfortunate statistic here is that a staggering 98% of motorcycle accidents result in injury because riders simply don’t have the safety mechanisms that cars do. There are no airbags, seat belts, or crumple zones to protect a rider.

Some of the common injuries that we see from motorcycle crashes include the following:

Fractures
Road rash.
Torn ligaments.
Sprains and strains.
Head injuries.

What To Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident?

If you’re involved in a collision, it’s crucial that you follow the right steps in the immediate aftermath to ensure that your claim can be preserved. While you might be experiencing shock and other extreme emotions in the moment, try to compose yourself and work through the following:

Seek medical attention. Your first step should always be to seek medical assistance for any injuries that you have suffered. It doesn’t matter how small you might perceive them to be, it’s crucial that you have them seen to. Often injuries can worsen in the days following the incident so it’s always recommended that you seek professional medical advice. Caution is paramount here.
Obtain a police accident report. The foundation of any legal case is always going to rest on the initial police report. Call the Suffolk County police department and ask them to come to the scene of the incident as quickly as possible. You can also request a police report at a later time, but that’s not recommended. Try to get it done immediately at the scene whenever possible.
Contact your insurance company. Call the insurance company that handles your insurance to report the incident so that they can start the process of processing any claims that will be required.
Don’t give any statements to the other party’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. You don’t want to inadvertently weaken your claim because you didn’t have legal advisors at your side.

How Do You Get Your Medical Bills Paid After an Accident?

Unfortunately, victims of motorcycle accidents in Suffolk County are not eligible for New York No-Fault Benefits. As a result, you would need to put all your medical bills through your private health insurance in order to have them covered. If you don’t have private health insurance, then you would need to make use of Medicaid or Medicare.

Additional Factors that Contribute to Motorcycle Accidents

Some of the other factors that tend to contribute to crashes in Suffolk County include the following:

Driver Negligence. Sadly, driver negligence seems to be at an all-time high thanks to smartphones, a disregard for traffic laws, and a variety of other factors. Riders need to keep this in mind as they ride. Being aware of how common negligence is will go a long way to avoiding motorcycle crashes. It’s important to note that the motor vehicle will always be at fault in an incident as long as the motorcyclist was safely operating their vehicle safely.
Blind Spots. All vehicles have blind spots which can easily hide motorcycles if you’re not careful. If you are a motorcyclist, it’s important to keep this fact in mind and try to steer clear of any possible blind spots wherever you can.
Lane Splitting. Here is one factor where motorcyclists are often at fault. Lane splitting is a maneuver where riders go between lanes in order to get through traffic. This is not only a dangerous thing to do but it’s illegal in Suffolk County and the rest of the state. You should avoid doing this and rather remain patient in the lane that you are in because it’s much safer when you do so.
Speeding. This should go without saying but excessive speed is also a very common factor in most incidents. Because of the fact that a motorcycle only has two wheels, it makes it much more difficult to control and slowdown in moments where you need to perform a defensive move. These can include sharp turns, potholes, and quick stops – all of which are made that much more difficult when you’re traveling at high speeds.
Dangerous Roads. Suffolk County has some rather dangerous roads and liability can sometimes be claimed against the municipality if it’s found that the road conditions caused the crash. However, you shouldn’t bank on this because these sorts of claims tend to have a very short statute of limitations and are very difficult to win.

Reach Out to a Suffolk County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Over the last two decades, we have litigated hundreds of accident cases and as a result – we have a highly streamlined and proficient process when it comes to litigation. We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to litigation and are well-positioned to help ensure that receive full compensation for your injuries. We handle all our Suffolk County motorcycle accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning that you will never be charged unless we win your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Suffolk County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer.