Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable in traffic collisions because they lack the protection that occupants of passenger vehicles have. As a result, motorcycle accidents often lead to serious or catastrophic injuries, including those that cause permanent disability, long-term impairment, and significant physical pain, emotional distress, and other non-economic losses that affect a victim’s quality of life. In general, the severity and lasting impact of an injury are key factors in determining the amount of compensation available in a motorcycle accident claim.
Our injury lawyers in NYC at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley have a long track record of successful verdicts and settlements. We have won millions of dollars in awards for injured clients to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and rehabilitative care. Schedule a free consultation today.
How a Serious Motorcycle Accident Can Change Your Life
A serious motorcycle accident can have lasting consequences that extend far beyond the initial injuries. Victims may experience impacts such as:
- Long-term or permanent disability: Some injuries limit mobility or physical function, making it difficult or impossible to perform everyday activities independently.
- Extensive medical treatment and expenses: Hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care can create significant financial strain.
- Need for assistive devices or home modifications: Some victims require wheelchairs, mobility aids, or changes to their home environment, such as ramps or accessible bathrooms, to accommodate new physical limitations.
- Emotional and psychological effects: Anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress are common after a serious accident, particularly when injuries significantly alter a person’s lifestyle or independence.
These long-term physical, financial, and emotional impacts are important factors when determining the compensation that may be available after a serious motorcycle accident.
Types of Compensation Available After a Serious Motorcycle Accident Claim
In New York personal injury claims, compensation is generally divided into economic damages, which compensate for measurable financial losses, and non-economic damages, which address the more subjective, personal effects of the injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the financial losses directly caused by the motorcycle accident. These damages are typically supported by objective evidence such as medical bills, employment records, tax returns, and other financial documentation. One of the most significant components of economic damages is lost income.
Employment-Related Financial Losses After a Motorcycle Accident
Lost income may also include bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, accrued vacation or personal days, and other employment benefits that would have been earned had the accident not occurred. In more severe cases, injuries may permanently affect a person’s ability to work, giving rise to a claim for loss of future earning capacity, which considers how the injuries may reduce long-term earning potential.
The goal of economic damages in a serious motorcycle accident is to restore the injured person, as much as possible, to the financial position they would have been in if the accident had not occurred. For severe injuries, the amount of compensation may be significantly higher because the financial losses often extend far into the future.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the personal impact of a serious motorcycle accident, losses that do not have a precise financial value but significantly affect a victim’s quality of life.
How Serious Injuries Affect Quality of Life
Non-economic damages may include physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways serious injuries alter a person’s daily life and relationships. After a severe motorcycle accident, victims may find they can no longer participate in activities they once enjoyed, such as playing sports, traveling, or spending active time with family and friends. Injuries may also limit independence, making routine tasks more difficult and changing how a person engages with work, hobbies, and social life.
These damages are intended to recognize the human cost of a serious accident — how injuries affect a person’s independence, well-being, and ability to live life as they did before the crash. Courts and juries may consider the nature and severity of the injuries, the length of recovery, and the long-term effects on the victim’s life when evaluating these damages.
How New York’s No-Fault Law Applies to Motorcycle Accidents
New York generally follows a no-fault insurance system for car accidents, meaning drivers typically seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages through their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, regardless of who caused the crash. However, motorcycles are excluded from New York’s no-fault law under state insurance statutes.
Because of this exclusion, injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are typically handled through liability claims against the at-fault driver rather than through no-fault benefits.
This means injured motorcyclists may pursue compensation for their damages directly from the responsible party without needing to meet the “serious injury” threshold that applies to many car accident claims.
How Insurance Limits May Affect Your Compensation
In practice, the amount of compensation available in a motorcycle accident claim may depend in part on the insurance coverage carried by the at-fault driver and any other available sources of recovery. Attorneys often review all applicable policies and potential sources of coverage when evaluating a claim.
Contact a New York Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, you need the services of an experienced New York motorcycle accident lawyer at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today. As we work on a contingency basis, you pay no fee unless you receive compensation. Most motorcycle accident claims are resolved through settlement, but if a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and pursue litigation on your behalf.
