Westchester Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After a motorcycle accident in Westchester County, contact Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. to discuss your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to compensation, and our Westchester motorcycle accident attorneys can help you fight to maximize your recovery. We’ve been helping crash victims in New York for more than 40 years, and if you’ve been hurt, we’ll be here to help you, too.
Simply give our Westchester County law office a call to arrange a time for your free initial consultation. Our compassionate team is always available to take your call – 24/7/365.
Why Should I Call Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. After a Motorcycle Accident in Westchester County?
A motorcycle accident can put a rider like you at risk for some extremely serious injuries. Even a relatively minor accident can have a tremendous effect on your life. You might struggle with painful injuries, be unable to work, and suffer from the trauma of the collision for the rest of your life. If someone else is responsible for your motorcycle accident, they need to be held accountable.
At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., we understand what you’re going through and know how important a financial recovery can be. That’s why we’ll go above and beyond to secure a meaningful settlement or award on your behalf. Our team of skilled Westchester personal injury lawyers have more than 200 years of combined legal experience. In sum, we’ve recovered more than $1 Billion for our clients, including motorcycle crash victims like you. So, you can rest assured that your case is in the very best hands when you call us for help.
In our pursuit of compensation for you, our team will:
- Investigate the circumstances leading up to and surrounding your motorcycle accident
- Determine why the accident happened and identify all potentially liable parties
- Identify your role – if any – in the accident and work to minimize its impact on your ability to recover compensation
- Work with motorcycle accident and injury experts as we assess the value of your case
- Stand up to insurance companies and at-fault parties as we negotiate a settlement on your behalf, and
- Have our accomplished NYC trial lawyers take your case to a jury, if need be.
Our goal is to give you time to focus on getting better while we handle the ins-and-outs of your legal case. We’ll work hard on recovering the compensation you need and deserve so you don’t have to worry about it. Just give us a call today to arrange a free initial case assessment and learn more.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Westchester?
Westchester County roads see motorcycle accidents just about every other day. In 2014, there were 177 reported motorcycle crashes in the area. Unlike car accidents, where only a fraction cause injuries, motorcycle crashes in Westchester County tend to be fairly harmful.
- 40 percent of motorcyclists involved in a crash in Westchester are transported to the emergency room for treatment.
- Roughly 20 percent of motorcyclists injured in a collision are hospitalized due to the extent of their injuries.
- Motorcycle accidents account for 9 percent of all traumatic brain injuries caused by traffic accidents in Westchester County.
Motorcyclists tend to suffer the worst injuries of all traffic accident victims. At least, motorcyclists rack up the highest charges at the hospital. In 2014, the average hospital bill for a motorcycle crash victim was $211,572. That’s 75 percent more than the cost of treatment for the average car accident victim.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Westchester County, NY
Motorcycle accidents aren’t uncommon in Westchester. Why? Motorcycle crashes can happen for a lot of different reasons. However, there are certain factors at play more often than not. These include:
- Speeding
- Riding too fast for road and weather conditions
- Distracted driving
- Hazardous road conditions
- Inclement weather
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Failure to leave an adequate cushion of space while passing, and
- Mechanical defects.
It’s important to work with a law firm that is invested in getting to the bottom of things and figuring out what caused your motorcycle accident to happen. At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., we’ll dig deep to identify every possible cause. This will be critical because we have to know why your accident happened before we can know who’s to blame.
We’ll Seek Compensation From Anyone Who Caused Your Westchester Motorcycle Crash
No one is off-limits. If we’ve determined that someone might have contributed to your motorcycle accident and resulting injuries, we’ll work hard to hold them accountable. This might include:
- Drivers of cars and other passenger vehicles
- Truck drivers
- Other motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Transit companies
- Government agencies or workers
- Employers, and
- Companies responsible for defective or dangerous products, including vehicles and safety equipment.
We want to be able to identify everyone who might share fault for your accident. Casting a wide net, so to speak, can help us position you to maximize your recovery.
What If I Wasn’t Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet?
Under New York State law, you have to wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle. Specifically, you have to wear a helmet that meets the minimum specifications outlined by the Department of Transportation. That’s because wearing a helmet is correlated with a much lower risk of death and serious injury.
If you weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of your motorcycle accident, be prepared for that to be used as a defense when you file a personal injury claim. At-fault parties and insurance companies will argue that the fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet – as required by law – removes their responsibility to pay you for your injuries.
Is this true? As a general rule, not wearing a helmet is negligent. If you are negligent and contribute to your injuries, that can be factored into the equation when discussing fault and liability. In New York, that negligence can limit or bar your ability to recover compensation. It all depends on how much fault is allocated to you.
Under the state’s comparative negligence rules, fault is apportioned between everyone who contributes to an accident and injury. This includes victims. The percentage allocated to you will directly affect your financial award. If you’re allocated 50 percent of the blame because you weren’t wearing a helmet, you’ll only be able to recover 50 percent of your damages.
When you turn to Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. for help after your Westchester motorcycle accident, our attorneys will work hard to downplay your role in your accident and injuries. We’ll search for ways to shift blame to others and limit the degree of fault that’s ultimately assigned to you. We’ve been handling cases like yours for decades and getting results for our clients. We’ll work just as hard to get results for you, too.
What Damages Can I Get If I’m Injured in a Westchester Motorcycle Accident?
After a motorcycle accident in Westchester County, you may have a legitimate claim for compensatory damages. Damages commonly awarded in these types of cases include money for:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
In order to make sure that we know what your damages are worth, our Westchester personal injury lawyers will work closely with accident experts from across the tri-state area. Doctors, surgeons, mental health experts, and vocational authorities can help us understand your injuries and how they might impact your life – today and in the future. This information will be invaluable as we craft a demand for compensation on your behalf.
We Handle All Motorcycle Accident Cases in Westchester County
Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. represents clients who, after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Westchester, have suffered injuries including, but not limited to:
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Chest injury
- Eye injury
- Head injury, including concussion
- Lost limbs
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury, and
- Wrongful death.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our award-winning motorcycle accident lawyers in Westchester if you need help. We offer a free consultation and would be happy to schedule a time to discuss your case in detail.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in New York?
For claims based on negligence, you’ll have up to three years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do nothing and allow the statute of limitations to expire, you’ll be prohibited from getting the money you need and deserve. That’s why it can be crucial to discuss your legal options with a qualified Westchester County personal injury lawyer as soon as you can after you get hurt.
Call Our Westchester Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Have you been hurt or lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident in Westchester County? Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. can help you fight to assert your rights and demand the compensation you deserve. We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to call our Westchester law office to schedule yours today.