When rider bias and insurer tactics threaten to reduce what you may be eligible to recover, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP work to make sure the evidence — not stereotypes — drives your claim for the maximum compensation you may be eligible for under New York law.
Our Long Island motorcycle accident lawyers handle the insurance process, document the full scope of your injuries and future treatment needs, and make sure your claim reflects what your recovery actually costs.
If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident on Long Island, you're likely facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and a claims process that feels stacked against you. This is not something you have to handle alone.
Contact our New York personal jury law firm to discuss your case for free with our experienced attorneys. We are available 24/7 to assist you in English or Spanish.
Justice for riders starts with the right legal team.
Long Island Motorcycle Accident Guide
- Why Choose Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP?
- Motorcycle Accident Compensation We Pursue at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP
- How We Establish Liability in Motorcycle Claims
- Why You Should Not Speak to the Adjuster Alone
- Why Long Island Motorcycle Accident Claims Are So Difficult
- Steps to Protect Your Claim While Recovering
- FAQs for Long Island Motorcycle Accidents
- We Don’t Let Anti-Biker Bias Dictate Your Settlement
Why Choose Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP?
Our History & Team
Our firm was founded in 1996 in Holtsville, New York. Our founders, Ted Rosenberg and Michael Gluck, have been practicing law in New York since the early 1980s. We have spent decades learning how local courts operate and how local defense firms strategize.
What We Do For You
- We handle the paperwork and communication with the insurers.
- We file the necessary legal forms, gather medical records, and answer the phone when the adjuster calls.
- We conduct independent investigations to pursue the full scope of compensation your case may support.
- We visit the crash scene, pull camera footage from nearby businesses, and analyze the physical evidence.
- We negotiate directly with adjusters to counter the reckless rider narrative with documented evidence.
Proven Track Record
We prepare every case as if it is going to trial. Defense attorneys know this, and that reputation typically changes how they approach settlement negotiations. Our history includes significant recoveries for our clients:
- $9.5 Million: We secured this wrongful death settlement after a hard-fought six-week trial.
- $25.4 Million: We recovered this amount for a client involved in a catastrophic collision with a drunk driver on a defective roadway.
While past results do not guarantee a specific outcome for your claim, they demonstrate our ability to handle high-stakes, difficult litigation.
No Win, No Fee
Our personal injury law firms in Suffolk and Nassau County operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing out of pocket. We only receive a fee if we secure a settlement or verdict for you.
Motorcycle Accident Compensation We Pursue at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the tangible financial losses you have suffered. We calculate these using bills, receipts, and employment records. These include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers emergency room visits, surgeries, hospitalization, and medication. It also includes future costs like physical therapy or long-term care if your injuries are permanent.
- Lost Wages: If you are unable to work while recovering, you can claim the income you lost.
- Lost Earning Capacity: If your injury prevents you from returning to your trade, such as a construction worker who suffers a back injury, you can claim the difference between what you used to earn and what you can earn now.
- Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and riding gear.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages are subjective and compensate you for the human cost of the injury. They include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the crash.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If you can no longer ride, play sports with your children, or engage in hobbies you loved, the law recognizes this as a compensable loss.
- Disfigurement: Road rash usually leaves permanent scarring. In severe cases, riders may suffer amputations. These permanent changes to your appearance and function are factored into the settlement.
What If I Am Partially At Fault?
Many NY motorcycle riders worry that if they were speeding slightly or made a minor error, they have no case. This is not always the case. New York operates under a rule of pure comparative negligence.
This legal standard allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially to blame for the accident. Our goal as your Long Island motorcycle accident lawyer is to ensure the insurance adjuster does not unfairly inflate your percentage of fault to lower what they owe you.
How We Establish Liability in Motorcycle Claims
The Investigation Process
Police reports are useful, but they are not the final word. In many motorcycle accidents, the rider is rushed to the hospital and cannot give a statement at the scene. The officer only hears the driver's version of events ("He came out of nowhere!"), which leads to a biased report.
Our Long Island motorcycle accident attorneys dig deeper, using Event Data Recorders (black boxes) to prove speed and braking patterns. We also partner with professionals who may be able to analyze skid marks and debris fields to reconstruct the angle of impact. This scientific approach helps us build a narrative based on physics rather than hearsay.
Common Accident Scenarios We Handle
We have seen almost every type of collision on Long Island roads. Some of the most frequent include:
- The Left-Turn Accident: This is perhaps the most common danger. A car turns left at an intersection and cuts directly across the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Drivers frequently claim they didn't see the bike due to inattentional blindness.
- Blind Spot/Lane Change: A driver merges into your lane without looking twice or signaling.
- Dooring: In town centers with street parking, a driver opens their door into the path of a rider.
- Rear-End Collisions: These are catastrophic for riders and result in delays when a distracted driver fails to stop in time at a stoplight.
Whether you see your accident in the list above or not, know that you don't have to fight the insurance company alone. Our motorcycle crash injury attorneys in Long Island are ready to help you fight for the recovery you may be eligible for under the law. Schedule a free case evaluation with our NY personal injury law firm to learn how we may be able to assist.
Common Injuries
Without the protective steel cage of a car, riders absorb the full force of impact. We frequently help clients recovering from:
- Road Rash: Severe abrasion that is evidence of the crash severity and carries a high risk of infection.
- Fractures: The lower extremities (legs, ankles) and wrists are common fracture points as riders instinctively brace for a fall.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a quality helmet, the force of impact can cause concussions or severe brain trauma.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine results in partial or total paralysis and requires lifetime care.
Quick settlement offers rarely reflect the full financial impact of the accident. Catastrophic injuries can cost millions over a lifetime in economic and non-economic damages. For assistance understanding how much your case could be worth, contact our motorcycle accident attorneys on Long Island today to discuss your case for free.
Long Island Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for personal injury negligence in New York is three years from the date of the accident. For motorcycle accident wrongful death claims, New York shortens the filing deadline to two years from the date of death.
If your accident involved a government entity, such as being hit by a county bus, or crashing due to a pothole on a town road, you may have as little as 90 days to file a Notice of Claim under General Municipal Law. Failing to meet this strict deadline can permanently bar you from receiving compensation. This is why involving a lawyer early is beneficial.
Why You Should Not Speak to the Adjuster Alone
After an accident, the at-fault driver's insurance company will likely contact you. They may sound polite and concerned, asking how you are feeling. Remember that they are professionals representing a business interest.
The Business Model
Insurance carriers aim to close files quickly and for the lowest possible amount. Adjusters handle hundreds of claims a year. For most riders, this is their first major accident claim. This creates a significant information gap.
Watch Out for These Tactics
- The Bias Trap: Adjusters may ask leading questions designed to get you to admit to aggressive riding or speeding.
- Recorded Statements: Do not give a recorded statement without legal counsel. Anything you say can be used later to argue you were partially at fault.
- Quick Settlement Offers: An adjuster might offer a check within days of the crash. This is usually an attempt to settle the claim before you realize you need surgery or that you will be out of work for months. Once you sign a release, you generally cannot ask for more money later.
We handle all communication with the insurance company, preventing them from twisting your words and ensuring they receive only the necessary facts.
Don’t let bias define your motorcycle accident claim.
Why Long Island Motorcycle Accident Claims Are So Difficult
Congestion and Aggression
The Long Island Expressway (LIE), Sunrise Highway, and Nicolls Road are known for high speeds and heavy congestion. In stop-and-go traffic, the risk of rear-end collisions increases significantly for motorcycles.
Seasonal Drivers
During the summer months, traffic swells with visitors heading to the Hamptons and the East End. These drivers are typically unfamiliar with local roads and may be distracted by GPS navigation, increasing the likelihood that they will miss seeing a motorcyclist in their blind spot.
Road Conditions
Potholes and loose gravel, like leftovers from winter sanding, are mere annoyances to cars but can be lethal to motorcycles. If a significant road defect caused your crash, we investigate the municipality responsible for maintenance to see if they had prior notice of the danger and failed to fix it.
Steps to Protect Your Claim While Recovering
Once you are home from the hospital, follow these steps to safeguard your rights and position your claim for the maximum compensation allowable based on your specific circumstances.
Preserve Evidence
Speak with our legal team before you make attempts to repair or replace your damaged motorcycle. It could be strong evidence supporting your claim.
Similarly, keep your helmet and riding gear exactly as they were after the crash. Do not wash your torn jacket or throw away scuffed boots. These items demonstrate the violence of the collision and validate your injuries.
Digital Hygiene
Be cautious of social media use, especially as it relates to the accident. Adjusters regularly monitor the social media accounts of claimants. If you post a photo of yourself smiling at a family birthday party, they may argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. Keep your recovery private, ask your family and friends to do the same, and reach out to your lawyer if you are unsure how a post may be construed.
FAQs for Long Island Motorcycle Accidents
What If I Wasn't Wearing a Helmet? Can I Still Sue?
New York's universal helmet law under VTL § 381 requires all riders and passengers to wear a DOT-approved helmet. This does not bar you from suing, but it can complicate the damage calculations. The defense will likely argue that your injuries, especially head or neck injuries, were exacerbated by the lack of a helmet. If this is a factor in your case, don't hesitate to reach out to our Long Island accident injury law firm for legal support
Lane Splitting Is Illegal in New York, but What If I Was Doing It When I Got Hit?
Lane splitting is currently illegal in New York. If you were splitting lanes, you will likely be assigned a percentage of fault. However, if the other driver was more reckless, such as if they swerved intentionally or changed lanes without signaling, you may still have a viable case. We can help evaluate the specific facts.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Doesn't Have Enough Insurance?
This is a common issue. If your damages exceed the other driver's insurance limits, we can look to your own policy for Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (SUM) coverage. This coverage kicks in to make up the difference, provided you purchased it on your policy.
Who Pays My Medical Bills Since Motorcycles Don't Get No-Fault Coverage?
Because New York's no-fault law generally excludes motorcycles, your primary payer will usually be your private health insurance. If you do not have health insurance, the situation becomes more complex, and we may need to negotiate with providers to hold bills until the settlement is finalized. This is a primary reason to speak with a Long Island motorcycle accident lawyer immediately.
We Don’t Let Anti-Biker Bias Dictate Your Settlement
Riding a motorcycle on Long Island should not put you at a disadvantage when it comes to your legal rights. You are entitled to the same protection and the same chance at a fair recovery as any other road user under New York law.
If a crash has left you facing medical treatment, time away from work, or questions about insurance, you don’t have to face it alone. Contact the Long Island personal injury lawyers from Rosenberg & Gluck for a free consultation in English or Spanish.