Long Island Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Why Choose Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys?

The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP is a New York-based personal injury law firm that knows Long Island well. We are positioned to handle your case from start to finish while you direct your attention toward recovery. You may want to choose us for your case because:

• We are very familiar with Long Island, including the laws and courts.
• We handle personal injury cases as the core of our practice, including motorcycle accidents.
• We are dedicated to our clients and will show your case undivided attention. Our team of experienced motorcycle accident lawyers is passionate about assisting motorcycle accident victims in seeking justice and navigating the challenges after an accident.

During your free consultation, our Long Island motorcycle accident attorneys will explain how we’ve helped other victims of motorcycle accidents. When you hire us, expect constant dedication to client service. We’ll respond as quickly as possible to your calls and emails, answering any questions that you have for our team.

Client Testimonials for Our Firm

We believe that clients know best. Our clients have high praise for our team:

• “I have been working with this firm for over three years. They have outstanding and consistent reliability, service, results & promptness. I highly recommend them.” – Albert, client
• “The attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP did a fine job representing me. I was totally impressed with their professional manner of handling my cases. They exhibited the self-confidence a client looks for. I highly recommend them.” – Michael, former client
• “I’m very happy I chose this law firm to handle my case. Everyone I dealt with was great. They were always in contact with me when needed. Very helpful with any questions about my care and referred me to really good doctors. I have not one complaint. I would not hesitate to use them again if needed in the future. I also will refer friends and family here. Thank you for all your help.” – Frank, former client

We work hard to make such experiences the rule, not the exception. Our case results can give you confidence in our ability to fight for you.

Motorcycle Injuries Can Be Severe and Costly

Motorcycle injuries or fatalities can become quite costly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2019, over 5,000 motorcyclists died in accidents. Further, the Insurance Information Institute (III) notes that 84,000 motorcyclists were injured in collisions in the United States that year.

Some examples of motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Loss of limbs
• Scarring and lacerations
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Hemorrhaging
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Hip injuries
• Blindness

Your injuries may require surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation. If you suffered a permanent disability, you may not be able to return to work. If you lost a loved one, you may be facing mounting expenses due to their unexpected absence. It’s our job to fight for coverage of such losses, including the significant costs associated with both present and future medical bills resulting from motorcycle accidents, to ensure you are properly compensated.

T-Bone Accidents Can Cause Even More Severe Injuries

A broadside accident is commonly referred to as a T-bone crash. It involves the front end of one vehicle striking the side of another. Any broadside motorcycle accident is likely to involve serious injuries to the rider.

Motorcyclists have very limited protection. As such, a collision in which the motorcycle is struck on the side by another vehicle puts the motorcyclist at risk of severe harm. Even when a motorcycle strikes another vehicle, the motorcyclist may be thrown from the bike into the side of the vehicle or onto the pavement.

If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one has been killed in a T-bone motorcycle accident on Long Island, our motorcycle accident attorneys can seek justice for you.

Potential Forms of Compensation

Our firm offers free consultations to discuss the specifics of your motorcycle accident case. We can assess your damages and assign a value to your case. You may receive coverage for:

• Current medical expenses, such as emergency room care, surgeries, medication, and doctor’s appointments
• Future medical expenses, such as ongoing treatments, therapy, and home modifications
• Lost wages for the income you sacrificed while recovering
• Reduced earning capacity if your injuries keep you from returning to work or earning as much income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life if your injuries prevent you from engaging in the same activities you once did
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Permanent disability

Filing a motorcycle accident claim involves understanding the legal process and the various factors that determine its worth, including insurance coverage, medical treatment, and the specific circumstances of your accident. If you choose our firm, we will leave no stone unturned when assessing your losses. We will gather the evidence necessary to negotiate a fair settlement for you.

Proving Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident

An insurance company may assume that the blame lies with the motorcycle rider. Accurately or not, the insurer may claim that they were speeding, driving recklessly, or driving intoxicated.

The Long Island motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP know how to counter the anti-motorcycle bias and stand up for your rights.

A Negligent Driver May Be Liable for Your Losses

Motorcycles appear smaller in the side and rearview mirrors than cars or trucks do. This may prevent inattentive motor vehicle drivers from noticing oncoming motorcycles.

Alternatively, motorists may inaccurately estimate the speed of oncoming motorcycles,  leading to accidents. Some drivers also cause motorcycle accidents when they fail to check their blind spots before merging into an adjacent lane.

New York Motorcycle Laws

According to the New York State Department of Health, the law requires that all motorcyclists wear helmets that comply with federal Department of Transportation requirements. Research also shows that helmets are responsible for preventing hundreds of motorcyclist fatalities each year.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that helmets reduce the risk of death in a motorcycle crash by 37% and reduce the risk of potentially life-altering head injuries by 69%.

Other Motorcycle Laws

New York law also requires that motorcyclists protect their vision when riding by wearing protective eyewear or a helmet with a visor. Other helmet features that improve safety include:

• Helmets with thermoplastic or reinforced composite shells: These materials bolster helmets with a strong outer shell, providing a robust first line of defense against head injuries in collisions.
• Full-face helmets: Full-face helmets offer riders the most protection for the face, head, and chin. Riders still have enough visibility to keep them safe when wearing even full-face helmets.
• Snell Memorial Foundation certification: This organization conducts thorough safety testing on motorcycle helmets, including tests of the shell, chin bar, and face shield.

Even if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, we can still work to hold the driver who hit you accountable for your losses. If an insurer tries to undervalue or deny your claim, we will fight for fair compensation.

How New York’s No-Fault Insurance Laws Can Affect Your Case

New York is a no-fault state when it comes to insurance coverage for passenger vehicle drivers, but motorcyclists are excluded from no-fault laws. So, motorcycle riders aren’t generally guaranteed the same coverage that passenger vehicles are entitled to receive.

However, you may still have coverage through insurance. Our motorcycle crash attorneys will review applicable policies and determine which coverage you may be entitled to.

Minimum Insurance Requirements May Not Cover Your Losses

New York imposes certain minimum amounts of insurance that motorcycle riders must carry. Motorcyclists must carry coverage of at least $25,000 to cover another individual’s injuries in a crash, $50,000 in bodily injury costs per motorcycle accident, and $10,000 in coverage for damage to other people’s property. Riders must also carry equivalent amounts of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Carrying the bare minimum amount of insurance coverage may come with risks. Motorcyclists are more likely to be seriously hurt when they’re involved in a crash. Serious accident victims often incur exorbitant expenses, leaving them with huge amounts of medical debt as they try to get back on their feet after an accident. Insurance coverage limits may not cover their losses fairly.

A Lawsuit Can Allow You to Pursue Fair Compensation

If you do not have enough coverage under your policy, we can take legal action on your behalf and file a lawsuit against negligent parties. Lawsuits usually allow victims to pursue additional damages that no-fault insurance may not cover, such as pain and suffering.

How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help You

As a dedicated motorcycle accident law firm, we possess the expertise necessary to handle cases for motorcycle accident victims, ensuring they receive the comprehensive legal support they need.

When we take you on as a client, we assume all the responsibilities of the legal process so you can focus on healing and spending time with your loved ones. Our experience with serious motorcycle accidents has taught us the importance of addressing the financial implications, including medical bills and compensation, ensuring you are not held responsible for costs if not at fault.

We will serve you by:

Investigating Your Case

We can use accident reconstructionists and eyewitness testimony to determine how negligence may have played a role in your accident. We may gather other forms of evidence, such as police reports and traffic camera footage, to prove a negligent party liable for your losses.

Filing an Insurance Claim

Depending on the coverage you carry, we can seek compensation through your own insurance policy. If an insurer tries to undervalue or deny your claim, we can counter their claims.

We can also use the evidence of your losses to negotiate for a fair settlement. When we handle your claim, you will not have to worry about what to say to insurance adjusters since we will handle all communications for you.

Filing a Lawsuit

If circumstances warrant, we can file a lawsuit against the liable parties. When we take legal action on your behalf, we handle all the paperwork required. We can even take your case to trial and seek a favorable judgment.

Proving Negligence of Liable Parties

Our firm will work to prove the negligence of the defendants in your case. There is a common way to prove negligence, which includes:

1. Showing that the defendant owed you a duty of care: A duty of care requires someone to act reasonably and avoid causing accidents when at all possible.
2. Showing that the defendant breached their duty of care: A breach of duty of care can take many different forms. A motorist may breach their duty of care by acting in any way that leads to an accident.
3. Showing that the defendant’s actions caused your accident: We will work to prove “causation,” which is key to establishing negligence.
4. Showing the damages that have resulted from your motorcycle accident: Once we show that the liable party caused your accident, we’ll show the damages they’ve caused you to suffer.

This is the general process of proving negligence. We form this general framework to fit each client’s case.

Keeping You Updated on Your Case’s Progress

We won’t leave you guessing about what will happen in your case. We give all of our clients personal attention, and we make ourselves available to answer questions and give you updates on the progress of your case.

Handling Your Case on a Contingency-Fee Basis

We do not want you to worry about how you are going to afford a lawyer from our firm. We handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we never charge upfront fees to begin working for you.

We only take our fee if we win compensation for you. This fee structure helps alleviate your financial burden and lets you know that we will work hard on your case.

You do Not Have an Unlimited Amount of Time to File a Lawsuit

If you choose to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, you must generally do so within New York’s statute of limitations. These deadlines can affect your ability to pursue compensation through the courts.

CVP § 214, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under EPT § 5-4.1, the deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit is even shorter: two years from the passing of your loved one.

While two or three years may seem like ample time, a lawyer with our firm must have enough time to investigate your accident, collect evidence, and negotiate with insurers. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get started on your case.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If you fail to abide by state-imposed deadlines, you run the risk of seeing your case dismissed from court. A civil suit may be your last avenue to pursue fair compensation, so act quickly. Do not let a negligent driver get away with causing your injuries without a fight.

Pursuing Justice With the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Long Island motorcycle accident lawyers at the  offer you dedicated legal help after a motorcycle accident on Long Island. Even experienced and attentive drivers are at risk of causing a motorcycle accident on Long Island and may incur thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage costs.

Our lawyers will fight for fair compensation for your suffering and financial hardships. Our firm has a successful track record handling all types of auto accidents. Call us today at (516) 358-6900 for help.