Nassau County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you are in a collision as a motorcyclist, you can face especially serious injuries and losses – but motorcyclists can frequently face blame for crashes. You don’t have to deal with these challenges to your injury case on your own. If you have been injured in a motorcycle collision, a Nassau County motorcycle accident attorney from our law firm can help get you back on your feet. We can handle all of the legal details of a Nassau wrongful death action so that you don’t have to deal with these matters while grieving your loss.

One of our founding partners, Michael Gluck, has been riding motorcycles for more than three decades. Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. knows how to handle these cases, and how to deal with the frequent perception that the motorcyclist is at fault.  Our team has unique insight into every motorcycle crash that comes to Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P.

Motorcycle Injury Victims Could Recover Compensation in Nassau County, New York

One way to protect the value of your case is to retain a motorcycle accident attorney. We will work hard to build a compelling case and pursue all forms of damages that you may deserve.

You could secure compensation for damages such as:

• Past and future medical costs related to your injury
• The price of property damage repairs or replacements
• Missed wages from staying home to recover
• Lost capacity to earn because of temporary or permanent disability
• Price of a vehicle or home modifications to accommodate a disability
• Lifetime expenses of living with a disability
• Physical and/or chronic pain from your injuries
• Emotional suffering, distress, or anguish
• Mental trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder
• Punitive damages, or additional compensation to punish the defendant

How Non-Economic Damages are Determined in Nassau County

In New York, it is the jury of a civil trial that decides what a motorcycle crash victim’s injuries are worth in non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering). However, harms such as emotional trauma are often difficult to quantify. This means that your attorney’s ability to prove the value of your non-economic damages can be greatly beneficial for your case.

To seek the non-economic damages you may deserve, our motorcycle accident lawyers will go the extra mile. We will:

• Reconstruct your crash
• Hire expert witnesses
• Work to explain the seriousness of your injuries
• Demonstrate the impact of your injuries on your and your loved ones’ lives

How Much Your Case Could Be Worth

In general, the more severe your injuries, the more your case is worth. To learn the potential value of your motorcycle injury case, discuss your individual claim in more detail with our legal team. We offer free case evaluations for just that purpose.

The efforts of our lawyer could help you seek the full, fair value of both your economic and non-economic damages. Working with our litigators can give you confidence that someone is seeking the best possible results possible for your case in Nassau County.

Filing for Wrongful Death Damages in New York

If you lost a loved one to their motorcycle injuries, we offer compassionate representation to family members who qualify for damages. The spouse, parents, representatives of the decedent’s estate, or children of the decedent may be able to seek compensation.

You could seek the following forms of damages:

• Medical costs required by your loved one
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of income or support
• Loss of love, companionship, guidance, and other non-economic losses

Why Work with an Injury Lawyer From Our Team?

Choosing to get legal representation for your case can help you seek the best possible settlement. This is because:

• Legal representation shows you mean business. Retaining a trial-tested lawyer shows the defense that you are not afraid to take your claim to trial if that’s what it takes to receive the compensation you deserve.
• We have a track record of results. Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. has won outstanding outcomes for injury victims in the past and might be able to do the same for you.
• We will handle the toughest cases. Your case could entail multi-party liability, or it may be difficult to demonstrate that the person who caused the crash was responsible. We don’t shy away from challenging motorcycle injury cases.
• Our team will take on unfair insurance tactics. Unfortunately, motorcycle collision victims can be unfairly blamed for their role in the crash – and insurance companies or even juries may wish to deny or challenge your case. We will protect your rights and your best interests when this happens.

Representation at no Upfront Cost to You

Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t have to worry about the costs of hiring a lawyer. Contingency fee-based payment means that:

• We only receive payment when you do, so we get paid on our results only.
• You don’t have to pay hourly rates or retainers.
• You can get started with our case immediately at no financial risk to you.

Start Your Case Early to Protect Your Legal Options

Timeliness after a collision is crucial. Keep in mind that your case will likely be subject to the state’s statute of limitations deadline, per CPLR § 214. This statute limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit for an injury case, which is generally three years after the crash. For wrongful death cases, you have even less time – typically, just two years, though there may be exceptions. Keep in mind that there could be situations, such as when suing a municipality or other governmental entity where your time to act is much shorter.

Early investigations also help us put together an accurate picture that can be used both in and out of the trial. Our motorcycle accident attorneys use a network of trusted advisors and experts to piece together the circumstances surrounding a collision in Nassau County. Not every case goes to trial, but we prepare each case as though it will. This comprehensive approach allows us to prepare for every scenario.

We Will Gather Evidence of Negligence in Your Nassau County Case

Proving that the driver or another party was responsible for your crash is another crucial aspect of any injury case. We will gather any and all evidence of negligence to prove your case, including:

• Lane crowding
• Failure to use appropriate turn signals
• DUI/DWI
• Distracted and tired driving
• Turning into oncoming traffic without noticing a motorcycle
• Rear endings

When motorcycles are involved in small or serious collisions, the risk of injury increases based on the open, two-wheeled construction of the bike. They are also subject to collisions caused by road defects and construction. Something as simple as hitting spilled gravel on the roadway can cause an injurious crash in the blink of an eye.

Some of these forms of negligence may be easier to prove than others. We can seek out evidence from witness statements, police reports, traffic camera footage, black box data, and more.

Common Motorcycle Collision Injuries

Motorcycle collisions might not happen more often than other motor vehicle collisions, but they result in fatalities nearly 29 times more frequently, according to the NHTSA. Injuries in motorcycle collisions can easily be life-threatening due to the vulnerability of the riders to external elements. Serious-to-catastrophic injuries, such as broken bones, brain injuries, and spinal cord damage, are all common outcomes of motorcycle collisions in Nassau County.

Five of the injuries our motorcycle accident attorneys have seen most often are as follows:

• Road rash. Although protective gear can help prevent road rash, the skin can still suffer significant scrapes and abrasions when the forces of a crash cause the rider to skid or slide on the asphalt at high speed. Road rash can result in permanent scars and traumatic tattooing from debris embedding in the skin.
• Broken bones. Bones in the limbs and extremities might not be able to withstand the forces a motorcycle crash exerts. Striking the motorcycle, the other vehicle, another object, or the roadway can result in a bone fracture across the body. Skull and spine fractures are some of the most serious broken bone injuries possible.
• Head and brain injuries. Studies show that motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69% but do not guarantee riders’ safety. If an object or the roadway strikes the head, it can cause traumatic brain injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, survivors could suffer temporary or permanent brain damage.
• Spinal cord injuries. If a crash impacts the spine, fractures a vertebra or severs the spinal cord, the damage can be catastrophic. Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent loss of movement and sensation below the point of injury. There is currently no cure for spinal cord injuries, although victims might regain some function with rehabilitation.
• Internal bleeding or organ trauma. Motorcycle crashes can cause internal trauma to motorcyclists, such as hemorrhaging, punctured lungs, or internal bleeding. This is especially true if the rider ends up beneath the tires of the other motor vehicle or if the weight of the motorcycle crushes the fallen rider.

The more serious the injury, the more exorbitant the costs. If a serious motorcycle crash injury had a major impact on your life, health, happiness, family, or finances, talk to our team right away. You could be eligible for significant compensation, and a Nassau County personal injury lawyer at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. can help. A personal injury claim could result in restitution for past and future medical expenses relating to your collision injuries, on top of many other forms of damage recovery.

New York Motorcycle Laws That Could Affect Your Case

According to the New York State Department of Health, several laws apply specifically to motorcycles, including:

• Special operator’s license. To operate a motorcycle in New York, you must carry a Class M or Class MJ license or learner’s permit. To get this license, you must pass a special written and driving test at the local Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Motorcyclists must inspect their vehicles at least once per year. This involves taking the vehicle to a licensed station for an official safety inspection.
• Helmet laws. All motorcycle operators and passengers/riders must wear motorcycle helmets at all times. Helmets must comply with federal safety standards under the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Eye protection. Operators and riders must use eye protection that, at a minimum, abides by federal safety standards. Motorcyclists must use eye protection, even if their vehicles have windshields.
• Lights and lamps. Daytime running lights must stay on at all times. The law permits headlight modulators. All motorcycles must possess a headlight, taillight, license plate lamp, and brake lamp.
• Motorcycle equipment. In order to operate on a New York street, a motorcycle must fulfill the required equipment standards. This includes brakes, turn signals, horn/warning device, rearview mirror, muffler, handlebars, and at least one red rear reflector.

Aside from motorcycle-specific laws, operators must also obey New York’s general rules of the road.

For the most part, New York laws treat motorcycles like any other vehicle. Motorcyclists must travel in the same direction as traffic, obey all traffic lights and signals, signal their intent to turn, yield the right-of-way when applicable, obey speed limits, and follow all other traffic laws. Two motorcyclists can ride abreast of one another in a single lane, but a motorcycle cannot ride next to a motor vehicle. Motorcycles cannot lane-split in New York.

Contributory Negligence Laws in New York

If you were violating these or other laws at the time of the crash, keep in mind that you could still be able to seek compensation from a negligent driver. As long as the other party was more responsible for the crash, you can seek compensation – however, your compensation could be reduced according to your percentage of fault. We will work to show that the other party was primarily responsible for the crash.

Protecting Yourself as a Motorcyclist

The rate of injury and death in motorcycle collisions is on the decline now, but motorcyclists still face a much higher risk of injury than drivers of any other type of vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

One of the best ways to avoid motorcycle collisions is to be predictable to motor vehicle drivers around you. Obeying traffic laws can make it easier for other drivers to understand what you’re doing, where you’re going, and where your vehicle will be next. Following New York’s motorcycle laws can also minimize your liability for a crash. The defense will have a harder time convincing a judge or jury that you were at fault for the crash when no laws have been broken.

What You Can Learn with Your Free Motorcycle Collision Consultation

We encourage any motorcycle crash victim who is considering legal representation to call our office and get a free consultation. Your call comes with no obligation, and you can ask us any questions you have about your case and how our services work.

You can also ask us more about:

• What we can do to seek damages for you
• How New York’s statute of limitations deadline could affect your case
• How we communicate with our clients through the process of an injury case
• Our experience with motorcycle injury cases
• And more

Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Nassau County Can Work for You

You can get in touch with the team at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. as soon as possible after a motorcycle crash in Nassau County. Trying to find the right path for recovery after a crash may be overwhelming, but our lawyers can guide you, helping to determine whether to pursue a claim for compensation.

If another driver or factor caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation under the law. Let us help you navigate the complicated aftermath of a collision involving insurance companies and legal proceedings, and we’ll help you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation at (516) 451-7900. We can also assist clients in Spanish if needed.