Every accident has a different set of causative factors. While many collisions are the fault of a reckless driver, some crashes are caused by negligent mechanics, manufacturers, government departments, or motorcyclists.
Your legal rights and options might vary based on who was responsible and how much damage they inflicted. To find out who was at fault in your motorcycle accident, you have the right to hire a Long Island motorcycle accident lawyer to investigate.
In This Article
Reading time: 5 minutes
- Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
- Why Does Fault Matter in a Motorcycle Accident?
- How Do Insurance Companies Determine Who Is at Fault for a Motorcycle Crash?
- What if Someone Tries to Blame You for the Motorcycle Accident?
- How Long Do You Have to Hold the Negligent Party Responsible After a Crash?
- Let Our Lawyers Investigate Your Motorcycle Accident
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Negligent drivers are a very common cause of motorcycle crashes. Any of the following types of careless behaviors could put a motorcyclist at risk:- Not giving motorcyclists enough space
- Not following applicable “rules of the road” with respect to motorcyclists as they would with cars, trucks, and buses (e.g., failing to yield when appropriate, etc.)
- Not keeping an eye out for motorcycles, which are smaller and harder to see than other vehicles
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Driving while distracted
- Ignoring yield signs or red or yellow lights
For a free legal consultation, call (516) 932-0400
Why Does Fault Matter in a Motorcycle Accident?
In New York State, motorcyclists are required to purchase liability coverage, but this only pays for damage that you inflict on someone else. It does not cover your own injuries and losses. To recover the compensation you need and deserve after a collision, you will need to identify the at-fault party and file a personal injury claim. Without determining fault, you will have no way of knowing who to hold responsible for the crash. This could result in at-fault parties getting away with their actions—and in you being left without the funds required to rebuild your life.How Do Insurance Companies Determine Who Is at Fault for a Motorcycle Crash?
After you file a claim with the liable party’s insurer, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster. The adjuster is responsible for completing a thorough and timely investigation into your case. The insurance company’s investigation typically includes a review of documentary evidence (e.g., police reports and medical records), interviews with all involved parties (including you), and a review of the relevant insurance policy. Using these materials, the adjuster will first decide if the core of your claim—that your injuries were caused by their client—is valid. If it is, they might agree to pay what you have asked for, or they might dispute your case’s value and try to offer a much smaller settlement. If they do not think the case is valid, then they will refuse to pay anything at all. Your case’s future hinges on your ability to present strong evidence in your favor. One of our motorcycle accident attorneys will do this work for you. We will address required, technical legal filings, communications with adverse parties and applicable case deadlines so that you can focus on medical treatment, rest, healing and recovery.Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
What if Someone Tries to Blame You for the Motorcycle Accident?
Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common scenario: the liable party might genuinely believe you were at fault, or they might simply want to avoid getting into trouble. Their insurance company wants to reduce the amount of damages they must pay, so they might try to blame you in order to reduce their own liability. You will want to protect your rights by taking each of the following actions as soon as possible:- See a doctor right away: Prompt medical attention shows there is a connection between the accident and your injury, and it makes it harder for the insurer to say that some other event caused your injuries.
- Preserve evidence: Do not throw out anything related to the crash, whether it is a medical bill, a photo of the accident scene, or notes you took during a phone call with the insurance adjuster.
- Hire a personal injury lawyer: We know how insurance companies operate and will manage all communications on your behalf.
- Limit who you talk to: Wait until you have consulted with us before a dialogue is opened with the insurer, and please allow us to be the ones who open that dialogue. We know what to say and what not to say to protect you and assert your rights. If you speak directly with an insurer, they will try to get you to say something that can be misinterpreted so as to serve their goal. That is, to pay you as little as they can, or nothing at all if possible Do not share case details with anyone who does not have a need to know, even friends and family.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
How Long Do You Have to Hold the Negligent Party Responsible After a Crash?
You must act within the applicable statute of limitations to recover damages through a legal action. (It is also very important to note that a shorter statute of limitations may apply to your situation, depending upon the circumstances of your case. It is best to take advantage of a free case review with our firm so that you know exactly what deadlines you are facing and what your best options for legal action are.) The sooner you speak to our motorcycle accident law firm, the sooner we will begin building a strong case against all liable parties.Let Our Lawyers Investigate Your Motorcycle Accident
It is critical that you know who was liable—and how the liable party might try to deflect blame—before you start a legal action for financial compensation. Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., has been investigating and fighting cases like yours since 1991. Call us today to find out who was at fault in your motorcycle accident and what your options are.Call or text (516) 932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form