New York Motorcycle Accident Attorney
New York City is one of the most exhilarating and one of the most dangerous places in the world to ride a motorcycle. Five boroughs, thousands of miles of roads, millions of vehicles, and a traffic environment unlike anywhere else on earth, it is a place where skilled, experienced riders get seriously hurt every day through no fault of their own. When that happens, the decisions made in the hours and days that follow can determine whether a victim recovers everything they are owed or settles for far less than they deserve.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our New York City motorcycle accident attorneys have spent more than 50 years fighting for injured riders and their families across all five boroughs. We know how insurance companies approach these cases, we know the tactics they use to minimize payouts, and we have the experience, the resources, and the trial record to beat them. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt in a motorcycle crash anywhere in New York City, we are ready to go to work for you.
Contact Jacoby & Meyers today for a free, confidential consultation. We handle all motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and nothing owed unless we win.
Motorcycle Accidents in New York City: Understanding the Risk
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable people on New York City’s roads. The sheer density of traffic across the five boroughs, cars, trucks, buses, taxis, rideshares, delivery vehicles, and cyclists all competing for the same limited space, creates a relentless gauntlet of hazards. Distracted drivers, aggressive lane changes, abrupt stops, poorly maintained roads, and a built environment that was never designed with motorcyclists in mind combine to make New York City one of the most statistically dangerous places in the country to ride.
The numbers bear this out. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motorcyclists are approximately 24 times more likely to die in a traffic crash per mile traveled than occupants of passenger vehicles. In New York City, where traffic volumes are extreme and road conditions are often poor, that already-elevated risk is compounded at every intersection and on every expressway.
What makes motorcycle accidents so devastating is not just the frequency; it is the severity. There are no airbags, no crumple zones, no steel frame protecting a rider. When a car, truck, or bus strikes a motorcycle, the rider’s body absorbs the full force of the collision. The injuries that result are frequently catastrophic, life-altering, and permanent.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents Across New York City
Motorcycle crashes in New York City happen for many reasons, but the vast majority share a common thread: another driver’s negligence. The most frequent causes our motorcycle accident attorneys encounter include:
- Left-turn collisions: a driver turns left across the path of an oncoming motorcycle without yielding, the single most common cause of fatal motorcycle crashes nationwide
- Distracted driving: phone use, GPS navigation, and in-vehicle entertainment systems pulling driver attention off the road
- Rear-end collisions: inattentive or tailgating drivers in New York City’s constant stop-and-go traffic
- Unsafe lane changes: drivers merging without checking mirrors or blind spots on multi-lane roads and expressways
- Dooring: a parked vehicle’s occupant opens a door directly into the path of a passing rider
- Commercial and delivery vehicle accidents: box trucks, tractor-trailers, and delivery vans with large blind spots operating on narrow city streets
- Rideshare and taxi hazards: Ubers, Lyfts, and yellow cabs stopping abruptly in traffic lanes and bike lanes without warning
- Road defects: potholes, broken pavement, uneven surfaces, faded lane markings, missing signage, and construction hazards that are manageable for cars but potentially deadly for motorcycles
- Drunk and impaired driving: a persistent danger across all five boroughs, particularly on nights and weekends
- Bus and MTA vehicle accidents: large, heavy vehicles with limited maneuverability and significant blind spots operating throughout the city
Each borough presents its own specific combination of hazards. Manhattan’s density and its mix of commercial and pedestrian traffic. Brooklyn’s congested arterials and residential side streets. Queens’ expressway network and proximity to JFK. The Bronx’s industrial corridors and the Cross Bronx Expressway. Staten Island’s bridge approaches and suburban-style roads invite higher speeds. Our attorneys know each of these environments and know how to investigate crashes that occur within them.
Serious Injuries Our NYC Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Handles
The injuries sustained in New York City motorcycle accidents are frequently among the most severe seen in all of personal injury law. Jacoby & Meyers works with leading medical experts, rehabilitation specialists, life care planners, and forensic economists to ensure that the full and true cost of every client’s injuries, present and future, is captured and pursued in their claim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even with a helmet, the violent deceleration and rotational forces of a motorcycle crash can cause traumatic brain injury. TBI ranges from concussion to severe, permanent neurological damage affecting cognition, memory, emotional regulation, speech, and the fundamental capacity to work and live independently. These are among the most complex and consequential injuries in personal injury law, and our attorneys have the medical expertise and litigation experience to build and present TBI claims at their full value.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Damage to the spinal cord can eliminate mobility, independence, and career in an instant. Partial or complete paralysis requires lifetime medical management, adaptive equipment, home modification, and often continuous personal care. The lifetime financial impact routinely reaches into the millions. Jacoby & Meyers has the resources to pursue the complete value of catastrophic spinal cord injury claims and the experience to do so effectively against well-funded defendants.
Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries
Fractures to the legs, arms, wrists, pelvis, collarbone, and ribs are among the most common motorcycle accident injuries. Many require surgery with implanted hardware, followed by extended physical therapy. Chronic pain, incomplete healing, reduced range of motion, and permanent functional limitations are frequent outcomes that affect a victim’s ability to work and live fully long after the initial injury has healed.
Road Rash and Permanent Scarring
Severe road rash penetrates deep through layers of skin and tissue, requiring skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement. Visible disfigurement, particularly on the face, neck, and hands, carries serious psychological consequences including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and social withdrawal, all of which deserve full recognition in your claim.
Internal Injuries
Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding and organ damage, to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs, that may not be immediately apparent after a crash. These are life-threatening injuries requiring emergency surgical intervention. Our attorneys ensure all related treatment costs and future medical needs are fully accounted for in every claim.
Wrongful Death
When a motorcycle accident in New York City takes a life, the victim’s family has the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Jacoby & Meyers handles these deeply serious cases with the care, compassion, and absolute determination they deserve, pursuing full compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the profound personal loss of a spouse, parent, or child.
What Compensation Can New York City Motorcycle Accident Victims Recover?
A critical legal advantage for New York motorcycle accident victims: motorcycles are excluded from the state’s no-fault insurance system. This means injured motorcyclists are not subject to the serious injury threshold that limits car accident claims. You can pursue a full tort claim against the at-fault driver from the outset, opening the door to the complete range of damages available under New York law without first clearing a legal hurdle designed for a different category of case.
Economic Damages:
- All past and future medical expenses, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, specialist treatment, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and medical equipment
- Lost wages and income during your recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries affect your long-term ability to work
- In-home care, nursing assistance, and daily living support
- Motorcycle repair or replacement and riding gear
- All other out-of-pocket expenses arising from the accident and your recovery
Non-Economic Damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium, the impact of your injuries on your relationship with your spouse or partner
Where the at-fault driver’s conduct was especially reckless, such as drunk driving, street racing, or deliberately aggressive behavior, punitive damages may also be pursued. Our New York City motorcycle accident attorneys will identify and pursue every available category of compensation on your behalf.
How Insurance Companies Fight Motorcycle Accident Claims in New York
Insurance companies do not approach motorcycle accident claims the same way they approach other personal injury cases. Anti-motorcycle bias is pervasive throughout the industry, and it directly influences how these claims are handled, from the initial contact through every stage of negotiation.
Common tactics used against New York City motorcycle accident victims:
- Portraying riders as inherently reckless to inflate their share of fault and reduce the payout
- Disputing the severity of injuries or attributing them to pre-existing conditions
- Making an early, undervalued settlement offer before the victim understands the full long-term scope of their damages
- Requesting a recorded statement and using the victim’s own words to undermine their claim later
- Deliberately prolonging the process to create financial pressure that pushes victims toward accepting less than they deserve
New York City’s complex traffic environment gives insurers additional ammunition. They will examine lane position, speed, reaction time, and every aspect of how a rider was operating their motorcycle, looking for any factor that can shift responsibility away from their insured.
At Jacoby & Meyers, we anticipate these strategies and counter them with evidence. Accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, traffic engineers, and eyewitness testimony are assembled into a case that leaves the insurance company no credible basis to minimize what happened to you. From the moment you retain us, all communication with insurers runs through our office. You will not receive another call from an adjuster.
New York Laws Every Motorcycle Accident Victim Needs to Know
In most New York motorcycle accident cases, you have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, critical exceptions apply. If a government entity contributed to your accident, a city road in disrepair, a malfunctioning traffic signal, or an MTA bus driver, you may have as few as 90 days to file a formal notice of claim.
Missing that deadline means permanently forfeiting your right to sue. Do not assume you have time. Contact a New York City motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.
Pure Comparative Negligence
New York’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation even if you were partly at fault. Your damages are reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault, if you are 25% at fault and your damages total $800,000, you recover $600,000. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your share of fault to reduce their exposure. Our attorneys fight aggressively to keep that number as low as the evidence supports.
Helmet Requirements
New York requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets. If you were riding without one, the defense will argue that your head and neck injuries are at least partially your own responsibility. Our attorneys are experienced in handling these arguments and ensuring they do not unfairly reduce the compensation you are owed for injuries caused by another party’s negligence.
Government Entity and MTA Claims
New York City has an enormous concentration of MTA infrastructure, city vehicles, and government-maintained roads. If any of these played a role in your crash, specialized procedural rules apply, including the 90-day notice-of-claim requirement and specific filing procedures that vary by agency and entity. Our attorneys know these requirements inside and out, and we handle every procedural step correctly so your claim is never lost on a technicality.
Why Motorcycle Accident Victims Choose the NYC Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers
Jacoby & Meyers has been fighting for injured clients throughout New York City for more than five decades. Our motorcycle accident law firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients across all five boroughs. That depth of experience means we have faced virtually every defense argument and insurance strategy the other side can deploy, and we know how to win.
No Fee Unless We Win
There are no upfront legal fees at Jacoby & Meyers. We advance all costs of investigation and litigation and collect a fee only when we recover compensation for you. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing, period. Our financial interests are directly aligned with yours from the first conversation.
Trial-Ready from Day One
Law firms that rarely take cases to trial get less from insurance companies; insurers know the difference between a firm that settles cheap and one that fights in court. Our reputation as experienced, aggressive trial attorneys means our demands carry real weight at the negotiating table. When a fair offer is not forthcoming, we take the case to trial and let a jury decide.
Rapid, Comprehensive Investigation
Speed matters enormously in New York City motorcycle accident cases. Surveillance and traffic camera footage gets overwritten within days, witnesses move on, and physical evidence is cleared from the scene. The moment you retain us, our team moves to secure footage, retain accident reconstruction experts, identify and interview witnesses, and lock in evidence before it disappears.
Direct Attorney Access and Honest Communication
Your case will be handled by experienced attorneys, not passed off to paralegals or junior staff. You will have direct access to the lawyer working your claim, receive clear and honest updates throughout the process, and never be left uncertain about where things stand.
Local Knowledge Across All Five Boroughs
Not every law firm has genuine experience litigating motorcycle accident cases across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Jacoby & Meyers does. We know the roads, the traffic patterns, the local courts, and the specific hazards of each borough, knowledge that translates directly into more effective case investigation and stronger results for our clients.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in New York City
What you do in the immediate aftermath of a crash can directly affect the strength and value of your claim. Whenever you are physically able, take these steps:
- Call 911 immediately. Report the accident and request medical assistance. A police report is foundational evidence in any motorcycle accident case and must be created at the scene.
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel relatively okay. Adrenaline suppresses pain after trauma. TBI, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries can present with minimal symptoms in the immediate aftermath of a crash. A prompt medical evaluation protects your health and creates a documented record linking your injuries to the accident.
- Document the scene. Photograph your injuries, your motorcycle, the other vehicle or vehicles, the road surface, skid marks, traffic signals, lane markings, construction signage, and the surrounding environment. The more visual documentation you have from the scene, the better.
- Collect information. Get the other driver’s full name, license plate, driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. Note any nearby businesses, residential buildings, or traffic infrastructure that may have cameras.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company. Not the other driver’s insurer, and not your own until you have legal representation. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize your claim. Direct them to contact your attorney.
- Stay off social media. Defense attorneys and insurance investigators actively monitor accident victims’ accounts. Even an innocuous photo or comment can be taken out of context and used against your case. Avoid all social platforms until your claim is fully resolved.
- Contact Jacoby & Meyers as soon as possible. The earlier we get involved, the more we can do to preserve evidence and protect your rights from the start.
New York City Motorcycle Accident FAQ
What if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured or Fled the Scene?
New York requires motorcycle insurance policies to include uninsured motorist coverage, which can compensate you when the at-fault driver is uninsured or cannot be identified. Our attorneys will also investigate every other potentially liable party, vehicle manufacturers, road maintenance contractors, the MTA, and the City of New York, to pursue every available source of compensation on your behalf.
Can I Still Recover if I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
Yes. Under New York’s pure comparative negligence rule, partial fault does not bar your recovery; your damages are simply reduced in proportion to your share of fault. Our job is to make sure that the share is accurately and fairly assessed, not inflated by an insurer looking to pay less.
How Long Will My Case Take?
It depends on the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, and whether it resolves through settlement or goes to trial. Cases with clear liability and well-documented injuries may settle in months. Cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed fault, multiple defendants, or government entities can take a year or more. We always prioritize the maximum recovery over the fastest one.
What Is My New York City Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Every case is different. The value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, your lost income, the long-term impact on your life, and the strength of the evidence against the at-fault party. We will give you an honest, detailed assessment during your free consultation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a New York City Personal Injury Lawyer?
Nothing upfront. Jacoby & Meyers works on a pure contingency fee basis; we advance all litigation costs, and our fee is a percentage of what we recover. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.
New York Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, Andrew Finkelstein
Our New York Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Represent Injured Motorcycle Riders Across All Five Boroughs
Jacoby & Meyers represents injured riders throughout New York City, in every neighborhood, on every road, across every borough. Whether your accident happened in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island, our attorneys have the local knowledge and the litigation experience to handle your case effectively.
We represent clients injured on the city’s major expressways, the BQE, the FDR, the Cross Bronx, the Van Wyck, the Staten Island Expressway, and the West Side Highway, as well as on borough arterials, neighborhood streets, bridges, tunnels, and every other roadway in the five boroughs. We handle cases involving private vehicles, commercial vehicles, rideshare and taxi drivers, MTA buses, city vehicles, and road defects on city-maintained infrastructure.
Wherever in New York City your accident happened, Jacoby & Meyers is ready to help.
Contact the Legal Team at Jacoby & Meyers for a Free Case Review
You have been through enough. Let our team take the legal fight off your plate so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery. Our New York City motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to listen, evaluate your case, and fight for every dollar of compensation you are owed.
Call us now or complete our online contact form to schedule your free, confidential consultation. There are no costs, no obligations, and no attorney fees of any kind unless we recover for you.
Client Testimonials
“If it were not for the integral legal team of experts at Jacoby & Meyers I would not be where I am today with my recovery. I highly recommend hiring Jacoby & Meyers should you ever find yourself injured in an accident, and an individual or company needs to be held accountable for their negligence.” -C.J.
★★★★★
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Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
39 Broadway Suite 1910,
New York, NY 10006
(212)-445-7000