Motorcycle accidents often happen on busy Rochester roads including I-490, I-590, I-390, Route 104, Lake Avenue, East Avenue, and streets throughout downtown. A motorcycle crash can change your life in seconds. You may be in pain, missing work, and getting calls from insurance companies while trying to heal.
A Rochester motorcycle accident lawyer at The Barnes Firm can help you understand your rights and take the pressure off you. If someone else caused your accident to happen, our team can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and other damages. If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash, call The Barnes Firm at (800) 800-0000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Rochester
What you do after a motorcycle crash can make a big difference. Your health comes first, but it is also important to protect your legal rights.
- Call 911. Ask for medical help and make sure the crash is reported. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should still get checked by a doctor. Some injuries, like concussions, internal injuries, and soft tissue injuries, may not feel appear right away.
- If you can do so safely, take photos. Try to get pictures of your motorcycle, the other vehicle, the road, traffic signs, skid marks, your injuries, and anything else that may help show what happened.
- Get the other driver’s name, insurance information, and contact information. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers too.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. The insurance company may try to use your words against you later. It is best to speak with a lawyer first.
- Contact a Rochester motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you can. The Barnes Firm offers a free consultation, and our team can help you understand what steps to take next.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Rochester
Motorcycle crashes are often caused by drivers who are not paying enough attention or who fail to safely share the road. Some of the most common causes include:
Drivers Who Fail to Yield
Many crashes happen when a driver turns left in front of a motorcycle, pulls out of a driveway, or enters an intersection without seeing the rider. Drivers are required to watch for motorcycles, just like they watch for cars and trucks.
Distracted Driving
Texting, checking a phone, using GPS, eating, or looking away from the road can lead to a serious crash. A driver only needs to look away for a moment to cause major harm to a motorcyclist.
Speeding
Speeding gives drivers less time to stop. It also makes crashes more dangerous. When a speeding car hits a motorcycle, the rider can suffer serious or life-changing injuries.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Drivers sometimes change lanes without checking their mirrors or blind spots. This can be very dangerous for motorcyclists, especially on busy roads like I-490 or I-590.
Poor Road Conditions
Potholes, loose gravel, broken pavement, debris, and construction zones can be dangerous for riders. A hazard that may be small for a car can cause a motorcycle rider to lose control.
Drunk or Drugged Driving
Impaired drivers may swerve, speed, run red lights, or fail to yield. If a drunk or drugged driver caused your motorcycle crash, you may have the right to bring a civil injury claim.
Common Injuries and Their Impact
Motorcycle riders do not have the same protection as people inside cars. Even when a rider wears a helmet and protective gear, the injuries can be serious. Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Burns
- Cuts and scarring
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Internal injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
These injuries can affect every part of your life. You may need surgery, physical therapy, medication, follow-up care, or long-term treatment. You may also be unable to work or take care of daily tasks the way you did before the crash. Some injuries heal over time. Others can cause lasting pain, disability, or emotional stress. A motorcycle accident claim should consider both your current losses and the future impact of your injuries.
Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident in Rochester?
The person or company that caused the crash may be legally responsible for your injuries. In many cases, the at-fault party is another driver. Another driver may be liable if they:
- Failed to yield
- Turned in front of your motorcycle
- Followed too closely
- Changed lanes without looking
- Ran a red light or stop sign
- Drove while distracted
- Drove while drunk or high
- Sped or drove aggressively
New York uses comparative fault rules. This means you may still recover money even if you are found partly at fault. However, your compensation may be reduced by your share of fault. Insurance companies may try to blame the rider, even when the driver caused the crash. That is why evidence is so important. A Rochester motorcycle accident lawyer can review the crash, gather evidence, and push back if the insurance company unfairly blames you.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If someone else caused your motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover money for your losses.
Medical Bills
This may include ambulance rides, emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment, and future medical care.
Lost Wages
If your injuries kept you from working, you may be able to recover lost income. If you cannot return to the same job or cannot work in the future, your claim may also include loss of future earning ability.
Pain and Suffering
Motorcycle accidents often cause pain, stress, fear, and major changes to daily life. You may be able to seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, scarring, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one died in a motorcycle accident, your family may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. These cases can include funeral costs, financial losses, and other damages allowed under New York law.
In New York, the general deadline for personal injury cases is three years from the date of injury. Some cases have shorter deadlines, especially claims involving a city, county, state agency, or other public entity. It is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash to assure these deadlines are not missed.
How The Barnes Firm Can Help
After a crash, you should not have to deal with the insurance company alone. Our team at The Barnes Firm will handle the legal work while you focus on getting better by:
- Investigating the crash
- Collecting police reports, photos, and witness statements
- Reviewing your medical records
- Finding out who may be responsible
- Speaking with the insurance companies for you
- Calculating your damages
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Preparing your case for court if needed
Motorcycle accident cases can be difficult because insurance companies may make unfair assumptions about riders. We focus on the facts: how the crash happened, who caused it, and how your injuries have affected your life.
Contact a Rochester Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash, The Barnes Firm is here to help. A Rochester motorcycle accident lawyer can explain your rights, deal with the insurance company, and help you seek the compensation you may deserve.
Call (800) 800-0000 today for a free consultation. The Barnes Firm is available 24/7, and we can meet you at home, at the office, or in the hospital if needed.
Our team of attorneys want to hear from you.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
Free Case Evaluation or call us: (800) 800-0000Frequently Asked Questions
Every case is different. The value depends on your injuries, medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, future care needs, and who was at fault. A case involving surgery or long-term disability may be worth more than a case with minor injuries. A lawyer can review your case and explain what damages may apply.
You should speak with a lawyer if you were injured, missed work, or the insurance company is blaming you. Motorcycle accident claims can be complicated. A lawyer can deal with the insurance company, gather evidence, and help protect your right to compensation.
A driver can still be responsible even if they say they did not see you. Drivers must look carefully and share the road with motorcycles. Your lawyer can review evidence such as photos, witness statements, police reports, and crash details to show what really happened.
You may still have a claim. Under New York law, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not automatically blocked from recovering money. Because insurance companies may try to blame riders unfairly, it is important to have a lawyer review the facts.
In most New York personal injury cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Some cases have shorter deadlines. If a government agency may be involved, you may need to act much faster. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
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