Disclaimer: *Steve and Rich Barnes have obtained millions in recoveries for their clients and have supervised over $2.5 Billion Dollars in settlements.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
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Rich Barnes
President
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 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.
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:
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
If someone else caused your motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover money for your losses.
This may include ambulance rides, emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment, and future medical care.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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) 800-0000Every 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.
We are always available to discuss your case. Give us a call at (800) 800-0000.
Fill out our form and we will contact you shortly to discuss your case
Our attorneys will come to your home, office or hospital at your convenience.
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