GARDEN CITY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

Motorcycle accident involvement, even a mild motorcycle accident, can be a traumatic situation. Sometimes, it can even turn out to be deadly. After getting injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to exercise your right to seek compensation to help ensure financial security and an effective recovery. Our Garden City, NY motorcycle accident lawyer is here to help build a case that reflects the full scope of damages you've endured in an effort to maximize your settlement.

If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident in New York or on Long Island, reach out to us at the Law Office of Steven R. Smith. We will defend your rights and hold responsible parties accountable for their negligent/reckless actions. Call or message our firm today to request your free consultation!

Your Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Garden City, NY

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, you will first have to go through your own insurance per New York's no-fault auto insurance laws. But if your policy limits don't cover everything you need after your accident, it's possible to bring a personal injury case against the negligent individual.

If you are considering filing a claim regarding injuries from a motorcycle accident, you should know that to do so, you will need evidence of your injuries and evidence of who was at fault for causing the crash. This evidence might include witness interviews conducted with people who witnessed the incident or video surveillance footage from nearby cameras or businesses.

Legal Experience Matters in Motorcycle Accident Cases

It is important to discuss your case with a seasoned personal injury lawyer. Our attorney can help guide you through the process of filing your claim and make sure that all required paperwork is properly filed and all deadlines are met so that you are in the best possible position to recover after being injured in a crash.

What to Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, there are some critical steps you can and should take to protect your legal rights.

Call 911

First and foremost, after an accident, dial 911 to report the crash. This will alert the police and medical authorities to the accident. It is also a record of such an event and could be used for the legal procedures that might follow.

Seek medical help

If anyone sustained injuries in the accident, you must seek medical help right away, even if you believe the injury to be minor. This not only facilitates them getting the medical care they need, but it also proves their injuries were caused by the accident.

Gather evidence

Be proactive in gathering evidence about the sugaring incident, particularly any photos or video footage, from witnesses, if available, as well as surveillance cameras. If there are other forms of evidence related to the incident (for example, skid marks on the road), this information should be recorded as soon as possible, while it is still fresh or before it disappears.

Also, when speaking with witnesses, if any are available who may not have stopped or come forward at the scene of the accident, be sure to obtain their contact information so that there is evidence of who was involved for future potential litigation.

Report the accident to your insurance, but don't accept any initial settlement offers

It is important to speak with an attorney before talking to an insurance adjuster with either driver’s insurance company, as they are better equipped to inform you of what statements should and should not be made. Your attorney can also guarantee that your rights are being upheld throughout this process and make certain that you get the compensation for any damages done to you because of this event.

Contact a lawyer

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash because another driver was careless or reckless, get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible to make sure someone is on your side, guiding you through this process and protecting your legal rights. A knowledgeable lawyer like Steven R. Smith can evaluate your case and help you submit claims against those who are liable.

How to Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident

In legal definition, negligence is a breach of duty that, while unintentional, is foreseeable and causes harm or damage to another. To show negligent liability because of a motorcycle accident, you illustrate that the other driver was partially or entirely liable for causing the collision due to not having acted with reasonable care.

You’ll also need to show that this duty was breached, and the breach was connected to damages (physical injury and/or property damage). For instance, the other driver who ran a stoplight and hit you on your motorcycle would probably be found negligent for not exercising reasonable care when driving their car.

New York has a pure comparative negligence law, so depending on how much fault each party bears in the accident, they can be assigned different percentages of liability. Under this statute, a person can still collect money even if they are partially at fault for causing the accident if their share of fault is less than 50%.

How to File a Claim for a Family Member

If your loved one has been hurt or killed in a motorcycle crash because of somebody else’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim on their behalf.

In wrongful death claims, compensation may be awarded to cover medical expenses that were made before the victim died (this is not always the case), along with loss of income experienced by surviving family members because of their loved one’s death, and pain and suffering victims encountered before they passed away–such as emotional anguish and distress over the death. Compensatory damages may also be combined with punitive damages according to the defendant’s actions.