New York Motorcycle Accidents

If you were injured in a New York motorcycle accident that was someone else's fault, you may be entitled to compensation to pay for:

• Past, present, and future medical bills for treatment related to your motorcycle-accident injuries
• The repair or replacement of your motor vehicle and any property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident
• Lost wages for time off from work (including time spent going to doctor's appointments and physical therapy)
• The cost of hiring someone to do household chores that you're unable to do because of your injury
• Permanent disability and disfigurement stemming from the motorcycle crash
• Emotional distress stemming from the motorcycle accident
• Any other costs you've incurred because of the accident

If anyone was killed in the motorcycle crash or if either driver was intoxicated, the state of New York will prosecute the driver at fault and/or the intoxicated driver. In the case of other motorcycle accidents, you may ultimately have to file an motorcycle accident personal injury lawsuit in New York courts to recover money from the person at fault in the accident, or his or her insurance company.

How Is Fault Determined?

To collect money stemming from an motorcycle crash injury claim, New York law requires you to prove that the other driver was negligent. You must show:

• The driver who caused your injuries had a responsibility not to injure you and failed to live up to that duty
• There is a connection between the other driver's responsibility and your injury
• You suffered damages, or a financial loss

New York law will reduce the total amount you can recover if it's found that your carelessness contributed to your motorcycle accident injuries.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

New York law gives you three years from the date of your motorcycle accident in which to file a claim against the other driver. (This is known as the statute of limitations.) If you and your New York motorcycle accident lawyer are unable to negotiate a settlement with the other driver (or the driver's insurance company), you should consider filing a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out.

New York Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

New York laws require all drivers have mandatory motorcycle insurance coverage that meets the following requirements:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 for bodily injury of one person or $50,000 for injuries resulting in the death of one person; $50,000 for bodily injury of two or more people in a crash or $100,000 for injuries resulting in the death of two or more people in any one crash
• Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident

Additional New York Motorcycle Accident Resources

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles

To obtain a copy of the crash report from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles

New York State Motorcycles, Mopeds & ATVs Information

The American Motorcyclist Association's summary of New York state motorcycle rules