Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Motorcycle riders have far less protection than drivers in enclosed vehicles, and when a crash happens, the consequences are often severe. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Yonkers can help you understand your rights, deal with insurers who may already be looking for reasons to minimize your claim, and pursue the full compensation you may be owed.
At Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers, we’ve served 26,000–plus clients across New York and know what it takes to stand up for injured riders. Connect with a personal injury lawyer in Yonkers today for a free review of your case.
How Insurers Approach Motorcycle Accident Claims
When a motorcycle accident claim comes in, the first thing many insurers do is look for a way to blame the rider. Motorcyclists are often unfairly characterized as reckless, and insurers use that perception as a tool to reduce or deny valid claims.
They may argue the rider was speeding, lane splitting, or in some other way contributing to the crash, even without solid evidence. New York follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if the insurer successfully assigns a percentage of fault to you.
We push back on these tactics directly. Our team gathers the evidence needed to show what actually happened and who was at fault.
Why Motorcycle Accident Injuries Are Different
Riders don’t have a frame, airbags, or a seatbelt standing between them and the road. When a motorcycle goes down, the rider absorbs the impact directly. This is why motorcycle accidents produce a disproportionate share of catastrophic injuries compared to other vehicle collisions.
Injuries we frequently see in motorcycle accident cases include road rash requiring skin grafting, broken bones in the arms, legs, and pelvis, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and crush injuries.
Even with a helmet, head and neck injuries are common. Many clients face extended recovery periods, permanent limitations, or the need for ongoing rehabilitation long after the initial accident.
Evidence That Matters in a Yonkers Motorcycle Accident Case
Proving what happened in a motorcycle crash requires pulling together evidence from multiple sources quickly. Witnesses move on, camera footage gets overwritten, and physical evidence at the scene disappears.
Some of the key evidence we work to secure includes:
- Police accident reports and any citations issued at the scene
- Witness statements from people who saw the crash
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage from the area
- Photos of your injuries, your motorcycle, and the other vehicle
- Medical records documenting your injuries from the time of the crash forward
- Data from the other driver’s vehicle, including event data recorder information
The strength of your case depends heavily on what evidence is preserved and how quickly it is gathered.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Yonkers
Many motorcycle crashes are caused by other drivers who fail to see or yield to riders. Yonkers has a mix of high-volume arterials and tighter urban streets where visibility and driver attention are constant issues.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents we see include:
- Drivers making left turns into the path of an oncoming motorcycle
- Vehicles changing lanes without checking for motorcycles in blind spots
- Rear-end collisions at intersections and traffic stops
- Dooring incidents near parked cars on residential streets
- Drivers running red lights or stop signs
- Distracted driving, particularly on commuter routes
Identifying the cause of the crash is the foundation of any motorcycle accident claim. Our Yonkers motorcycle accident lawyers will trace the facts back to where the responsibility lies.
What Compensation May Be Available to Injured Riders
Injured motorcyclists in Yonkers may be able to recover compensation across several categories. Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and future treatment, are the most immediate. Lost income, both what you’ve already missed and what you may miss going forward, is also recoverable.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. In cases involving particularly serious or permanent injuries, these damages can be substantial. We assess the full impact of your injuries, not just the current bills, when evaluating what your case may be worth.
New York’s No-Fault Rules and Motorcycle Riders
New York’s no-fault insurance system applies differently to motorcyclists than it does to drivers of standard vehicles. Motorcycles are excluded from the state’s no-fault PIP coverage, which means injured riders typically cannot rely on their own insurer for automatic medical and wage loss benefits the way a car driver can.
This makes it especially important for motorcycle accident victims to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. If the other driver was at fault, their liability coverage is the primary source of compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. We walk you through exactly how this works for your specific situation.
Why Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers
Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers was founded in 2013 and has recovered $1 billion-plus for clients across New York. Our team carries 200-plus years of combined legal experience, and our in-house investigators get to work immediately after you hire us.
We’ve stood up for working New Yorkers against insurance companies for over a decade. Our law firm works on contingency, so there are no upfront costs and no fees unless we win your case. Our offices serve clients across all five boroughs and the greater New York area, including Yonkers.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Yonkers Today
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Yonkers, you don’t have to deal with the insurance company on your own. A motorcycle accident attorney in Yonkers at Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers is ready to take your case seriously.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us fight for what you’re owed.