Did you know that motorcyclists have a 35-fold higher risk of getting injured or dying in traffic accidents and that traffic accidents involving motorcyclists are among the most devastating of all accidents? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the motorcycle fatality rate is 73 per 100,000 registered motorcycles. Just for comparison, the automobile fatality rate is 14 per 100,000 registered vehicles.
Additionally, over 50% of motorcycle-related deaths involved at least one other vehicle. 53% of those deaths were a result of head injuries, followed by chest or abdominal injuries (25%). While passenger vehicle accidents are on a decrease, the motorcycle ones have been on the up in the last few years. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 5,190 motorcycle crashes in 2013 with 171 people (157 motorcycle riders) killed and 5,017 injured in the state of New York.
The injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash are often more horrific than those sustained in motor vehicle accidents because riders are more exposed to the impact, motorbikes are smaller and lighter than cars and some of the riders do not adhere to the recommended safety measures (mainly wearing a proper helmet and protective gear). Injuries to the motorcyclist’s head, torso, arms, and legs cannot only severely impair the quality of life, but can also pose a substantial financial strain to the riders or their families. It has been estimated that the economic burden, as a result of motorcycle-related injuries and deaths, amounts to $12 billion per year in the United States. This economic burden is mainly associated with medical / hospitalization costs, higher insurance premiums, and taxes, and lost income. There are also other equally serious consequences of motorcycle accidents like mental anguish and physical pain and suffering.
Contrary to popular opinion, the primary cause of motorcycle accidents is negligence on the part of motor vehicle drivers and NOT motorcycle riders. Most motorcycle accidents usually occur because motor vehicle drivers are not alert or attentive enough to notice riders sharing the road. Other causes include:
- Alcohol consumption
- Speeding
- Motor vehicles making sudden left-hand turns
- Lane splitting (motorcyclists riding between two lanes between cars that are stopped or moving slowly)
- Collisions with fixed objects
- Road hazards (potholes, dead animals on the road, slippery surfaces, uneven heights between lanes etc.)
- Sudden-stop collisions/riders involved in rear-end accidents
- Skidding, sliding, toppling
- Inappropriate overtaking
- Motorcycle defects due to poor maintenance
Expert Motorcycle Lawyers If You Have Injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Both blunt-force head trauma and concussions fall into this category;
- Spinal cord injuries. The spinal column is damaged many of these injuries may be permanent – resulting in paralysis. Recovery periods are very lengthy, require physical rehabilitation, and may result in chronic pain.
- Facial injuries. These can be quite extensive some prevention may be offered by wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet, Broken bones, and fractures; Wear a helmet properly fit for good visibility.
- Road rash. Many motorcycle accident victims wind up requiring extensive skin grafts. Protective Clothing can help.
- Torn ligaments;
Obviously, many factors play a role in every crash – including the various types of negligence caused by other drivers. However, as noted below, there are many precautions that experienced riders can take to increase their safety.
SUING FOR MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK / LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN NEW YORK
If you or your family member, spouse or partner have been injured or died in a motorcycle accident due to the negligent actions by other drivers on the road, you might be entitled to compensation. Bear in mind that cases involving motorcycle accidents can be quite complicated and difficult to prove which is why you we highly recommended that you consult an experienced New York motorcycle accident lawyer to protect your legal rights, provide you with proper legal representation and help you in getting the deserved compensation.
Many lawyers in New York are unwilling to take on motorcycle accident cases because of their complexity and the common belief that motorcyclists are usually the ones to cause accidents. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Gurfein Douglas in New York are not afraid of a challenge. A seasoned motorcycle accident lawyer has to be able to carry out a very meticulous reconstruction of the accident and have the ability to explain detailed technical findings to a jury.
Lawyers with an Edge Expertise in Motorcycle Accidents in New York City
We, at Gurfein Douglas, pride ourselves in being experienced, fastidious and not stopping until our clients get the justice and the compensation they deserve. Apart from law degrees, our firm’s principals Richard Gurfein and Preston Douglas also have degrees in engineering and biochemistry which gives them an edge over other motor vehicle accident attorneys in New York.
At Gurfein Douglas you can rely on the scientific training of our two partners to uncover the often hidden technical details of your motorcycle accident lawsuit that the untrained eye might miss. Our motorcycle accident attorneys know what insurance companies look for in evaluating claims, how to make the most beneficial settlement offers and how to best prepare your case.