Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Nassau County
Helping Clients Seek Justice and Get Compensated in Full
Few experiences can rival the freedom and exhilaration of a motorcycle ride, especially in scenic Nassau County. However, what starts as a normal outing can soon turn into a nightmare if you or a loved one experiences a crash on a motorcycle. Motorcycle accidents can result in catastrophic injuries or even death, wreaking havoc on the lives of victims and their families.
If you have been in a motorcycle crash, please act quickly to get medical attention and notify the authorities. Once you are safe and recovering, you should consider protecting yourself legally by speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer. New York’s statute of limitations requires victims to take action within three years. This means that you may forfeit your right to compensation if you wait too long to recover damages for your serious injuries. What’s more, you probably can’t rely on the insurance company to give you a fair settlement that covers your current and future expenses.
However, there is hope when you contact trusted motorcycle accident lawyers like those at The Rizzuto Law Firm. Our attorneys have decades of experience in negotiating and litigating. We know what it takes to recover fair compensation for victims of motorcycle accident injuries, and we will apply all of our know-how and dedication to your motorcycle accident case. Don’t wait a moment longer! Give us a call at 516-604-5496 to schedule your initial consultation.
Who Is At Fault in a Motorcycle Accident?
Like other motor vehicle accidents, proving negligence is crucial when seeking compensation for motorcycle accident injuries. Demonstrating that you are not liable for the accident can make or break your case, especially in a comparative negligence state like New York. Proving liability in motorcycle accident claims is extremely important but can be complicated. Working with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney is one of the best ways to determine liability and win your case.
Some factors that determine whether someone is at fault in a Long Island motorcycle accident are:
- Whether the other person owed you a duty of care, such as a driver who should follow traffic laws
- Whether the accident occurred because the person failed to fulfill their duty of care
- Whether the accident caused your injuries
- Whether your injuries are serious enough to merit legal action
Motorcycle accident attorneys like those at The Rizzuto Law Firm are excellent allies when pursuing a motorcycle accident claim. Your motorcycle accident lawyers can help gather evidence to prove you were not responsible for the crash, including a police report, surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and help from accident reconstruction experts. A skilled motorcycle accident attorney will also present medical records and evidence to show how your serious injuries have impacted your life.
Contact our law office right away to speak with professionals who will defend your legal rights and ensure you make a full and complete recovery.
What Are the Top Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Nassau County?
Motorcycle accidents happen all too often in New York State. While some motorcycle crashes are simply accidents, many incidents occur because of driver error. If you have been injured in a collision caused by a reckless driver, you may be eligible for compensation.
Some of the top causes of motorcycle collisions include:
- Distracted driving – Distracted driving includes texting, eating, drinking, putting on make-up, or engaging in other distracting behaviors while behind the wheel. Distracted drivers often cause devastating accidents because they are not aware that an accident is about to occur. These crashes may occur at high speeds and are sometimes head-on collisions, resulting in severe pain and suffering.
- Drunk driving – Driving while intoxicated violates Nassau County law because of the inherent danger of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Traffic error – Ignoring traffic patterns and making errors in intersections are among the leading causes of motorcycle crashes in Nassau County. You can hold the negligent party accountable and recover compensation for your injuries if you were the victim of someone else’s traffic error.
- Speeding – Speeding is another common cause of injury in crashes involving motorcycle riders. Driving above the speed limit reduces the driver’s reaction time and may lead to devastating injuries or death. Contact our law firm for help holding a speeding driver liable for damages.
- Weather conditions – Weather conditions, including rain, ice, snow, and fog, greatly impact motorcycle riders. When other drivers fail to drive safely in dangerous conditions, this can lead to serious crashes.
- Driver fatigue – Finally, driving while tired is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents. Fatigue is common among commercial drivers, like rideshare drivers and truck drivers. Call our law firm to learn more about your rights following an accident with a fatigued driver.
What Injuries Do Motorcycle Accident Victims Experience?
Motorcycle riders have the same rights as any other driver on the road. However, bikers are more at risk of severe injuries in a crash because they lack the protection of a vehicle around their bodies to shield them from the impact. Even when using proper safety equipment, many motorcycle accidents involve serious injuries from riders being ejected from the vehicle, dragged on the pavement, or crushed.
Some injuries commonly seen in Nassau County motorcycle wrecks are:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) – Damage to the brain can be severe and permanent, leading to memory loss, learning disabilities, mood disorders, and other injuries. TBIs include concussions, closed head wounds, and open head wounds. Please get immediate care to avoid permanent damage and speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer right away.
- Broken bones – Broken, sprained, or crushed bones can be extremely painful. Recovery could include multiple surgeries, months of pain and suffering, and missed time at work. Whether your broken bones are in your limbs, neck, or spinal column, you deserve help recovering damages for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
- Road rash – Another injury associated with motorcycle accident victims is road rash. This painful burn occurs when the rider is dragged along the pavement, shredding their skin and resulting in lesions that take a long time to heal.
- Internal organ damage – Internal injuries are among the most dangerous in any motor vehicle accident. Accident victims may not seek medical treatment because they don’t know they’re injured, only to find out they have permanent damage because of untreated internal injuries. If you were in a wreck, please get immediate medical care to treat any injuries, including internal bleeding or damage to organs.
What Compensation Can I Receive in My Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Under New York law, injured people can seek compensation from negligent drivers when collisions happen. These personal injury cases vary in worth, depending on the liability of the negligent driver and the extent of damages suffered by the injured person. Meeting with a motorcycle accident attorney is one of the best ways to get an accurate estimate of your claim’s worth. However, you can expect to recover compensation for economic, non-economic, and sometimes even punitive damages in a successful motorcycle accident claim.
Economic Damages for a Motorcycle Accident
Individuals involved in accidents often focus on economic damages when seeking compensation. These include costs that are easily calculated, such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Long-term medical care
- Property damage
- Lost wages, salaries, bonuses, and vacation time
- Decreased income-earning capacity
- Surgical costs
- Fees for emergency transportation
- Rehabilitation costs, including chiropractic care and physical therapy
- Home renovations to accommodate disabilities from accident-related injuries
- Funeral and burial expenses, to a certain degree
Non-Economic Damages in a Motorcycle Crash
Many people forget about non-economic damages in motorcycle accident cases. These costs are not easily calculated but are significant because they have a lasting impact on the person’s well-being.
Some non-economic costs that can be recovered following a Long Island motorcycle accident are:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Catastrophic injuries
- Disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Punitive Damages in Personal Injury Cases
In some cases, accident victims may be eligible for punitive damages. These are awarded when the liable party engages in criminal behavior, such as intoxicated driving. To get maximum compensation for your injuries, don’t rely on the insurance company. Insurance adjusters often fail to recognize key aspects of your suffering and offer a lowball settlement, hoping you’ll take the money and walk away. Contact experienced motorcycle accident lawyers like those at our law firm to make a full financial recovery.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident?
Experiencing a New York motorcycle accident can be terrifying. Many victims are confused about how to respond and what they should do. The good news is that if you follow a few simple steps, you can get on the road to recovery, both physically and financially.
If you have been in a motorcycle accident in Nassau County, please do the following right away:
- Seek immediate medical attention, even if you think your injuries aren’t severe. Internal injuries are often masked by the adrenaline rush of the crash and may result in more damage if left untreated.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers.
- Call the police, who will file a police report. This information is often critical in establishing liability later in a legal case.
- Speak with personal injury attorneys as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and seek compensation.
Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney to Recover Damages for My Injuries?
Hiring a trusted group of motorcycle accident attorneys is almost always worth it to injured motorcycle riders. When you are hurt, the last thing you need is the added burden of seeking compensation from the negligent party or the insurance company. What’s more, many motorcycle accidents leave victims unable to work, and the stress of medical bills can be more than a person can bear.
With an attorney on your side, you can rest assured that you will be protected legally. Your lawyer can help you seek compensation by proving the other driver was responsible for the crash. They can also gather evidence to support your story and show that your injuries are severe enough to merit legal action.
If you were injured in a New York motorcycle accident, you don’t need to go through this challenging situation alone. You can get help, protection, and support as you recover compensation for your injuries. Contact our New York law firm right away to get fair compensation and for help dealing with insurance agents who may not have your best interests at heart.
Should You Hire Our Nassau County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
If you or a loved one was in a motorcycle accident in Nassau County, you need immediate legal assistance to protect your rights and help you make a full recovery. The legal team at The Rizzuto Law Firm is ready to stand by your side and get you back to normalcy.
We recognize that many accident victims suffer damages far beyond what the insurance company is willing to admit. We will use our honed negotiation skills to get you fair compensation for damages incurred in your motorcycle wreck. We will leave no stone unturned as we investigate to establish liability and prove that you deserve compensation in full.
You can rely on The Rizzuto Law Firm. With our decades of combined experience and proven track record, we are the allies you want when seeking compensation for damages. We will utilize every tool available, including police reports, surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, accident reconstruction experts, and more, to establish your case and get you the results you need.
Don’t waste any more time. Call our caring, capable legal team today to schedule your initial consultation. You can reach us at 516-604-5496.