Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accidents demand a different legal approach than car crashes. Riders may face bias from insurance companies, lack no-fault coverage, and suffer more severe injuries when negligent drivers fail to share the road safely. Without the automatic medical bill coverage that car accident victims receive, every day you wait to get legal help means mounting expenses and stronger insurance company defenses against your claim.

At Finz & Finz, P.C., our Brooklyn motorcycle accident lawyers understand the unique challenges riders face and have the courtroom experience to overcome prejudices that could diminish your compensation. With over $1 billion recovered for injured New Yorkers, including numerous motorcycle crash victims, we fight to protect your rights when others blame you simply for choosing two wheels over four.

Call (212) 513-1000 today for your free consultation and let us start building your case while evidence is fresh and witnesses remember crucial details. With our “No Win, No Fee” guarantee, you risk nothing by finding out how we can help level the playing field.

Key Takeaways for Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Cases

• Motorcyclists don’t qualify for New York’s no-fault insurance, making immediate legal representation crucial for medical bill coverage and lost wage recovery
• Riders can pursue compensation from at-fault drivers without meeting the “serious injury threshold” that limits car accident claims
• Motorcyclists may be unfairly blamed, requiring attorneys who understand how to counter anti-rider bias
• Evidence like helmet damage, gear tears, and road rash patterns could help prove injury severity in ways unique to motorcycle crashes
• Brooklyn’s streets create specific hazards that can help establish liability against negligent parties

Why Motorcycle Cases Require Different Legal Strategies

The moment you tell an insurance company you were on a motorcycle, their approach to your claim changes. Adjusters who might sympathize with car accident victims suddenly question whether you were speeding, weaving through traffic, or “asking for trouble” by riding. This bias, even when it is unconscious, runs deep.

Beyond bias, motorcycle accidents involve different injury patterns and evidence than car crashes. Road rash tells a story about sliding distance and impact force. Helmet damage proves head trauma severity. Torn riding gear demonstrates the violence of the collision. Lawyers need to understand how to present this unique evidence as compelling proof of traumatic injuries worthy of compensation.

What Sets Finz & Finz Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Apart

While other firms might handle motorcycle cases like standard car accidents, we understand the unique challenges riders face:

• Medical Care Coordination – We help arrange treatment without no-fault coverage through letters of protection and health insurance navigation
• Anti-Rider Bias Defense – Our strategies counter insurance company stereotypes and blame-shifting tactics
• Motorcycle-Specific Evidence – We preserve torn gear, document road rash healing, and analyze impact patterns unique to two-wheel crashes
• Technical Knowledge – Our attorneys understand motorcycle dynamics, braking distances, and visibility factors
• Riding Culture Respect – We present you as a responsible rider exercising legal rights, not a stereotype
• Medical Understanding – We work with doctors who understand motorcycle trauma patterns when needed for complex cases
• Brooklyn Court Experience – Four former judges who know how to select fair juries and present compelling cases

This comprehensive approach, combined with our billion-dollar track record and willingness to try cases before Brooklyn juries, gives riders the powerful advocacy they need when insurance companies refuse to treat motorcycle accidents fairly.

New York’s Motorcycle Insurance Laws: What Riders Must Know

New York’s insurance system treats motorcyclists differently from other motorists in ways that significantly impact your injury claim. While car accident victims receive immediate medical coverage through no-fault insurance, New York Insurance Law explicitly excludes motorcycles from Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This exclusion means:

• No automatic coverage for medical bills
• No immediate lost wage benefits
• No household service reimbursements
• Direct pursuit of at-fault parties from day one

The lack of no-fault coverage creates both challenges and opportunities. You may face immediate financial pressure for medical treatment, but you can also pursue compensation without proving your injuries meet the “serious injury threshold” required for car accident lawsuits.

Mandatory Liability Coverage

New York requires drivers to carry liability insurance, but the minimums remain dangerously low for both. New York only requires drivers to have a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident to cover injuries they cause to others.

These minimums can fall far short of covering catastrophic motorcycle injuries. A single surgery can exceed these limits, leaving you with massive unpaid bills.

Our attorneys investigate available coverage sources from the at-fault driver including:

• Personal auto policy limits beyond state minimums
• Umbrella policies providing additional coverage
• Commercial insurance if they were driving for work (delivery drivers, rideshare, company vehicles)
• Employer liability if they were on the clock

We also examine your motorcycle policy for Uninsured/Supplemental Underinsured Motorist (UM/SUM) coverage, which protects you when the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough. Many riders don’t realize this coverage becomes crucial after serious motorcycle accidents.

Common Causes of Brooklyn Motorcycle Accidents

Brooklyn’s urban environment creates specific hazards for motorcyclists navigating streets designed without two-wheeled vehicles in mind. Our decades of experience handling Kings County motorcycle cases reveal patterns of driver negligence that repeatedly endanger riders.

Left-Turn Collisions at Intersections

Drivers turning left across traffic can cause devastating motorcycle crashes, claiming they “didn’t see” approaching riders. These collisions at intersections like Flatbush and Atlantic or Fourth Avenue and Union Street result from:

• Drivers misjudging motorcycle approach speeds
• Failure to check blind spots before turning
• Distraction from phones or passengers
• Assumption that motorcycles will yield

Finz & Finz investigates intersection sight lines, traffic signal timing, and whether construction or parked vehicles obscured visibility. We counter the “I didn’t see them” defense by proving drivers have a duty to look carefully before turning across traffic.

Dooring Incidents

Motorcyclists can face “dooring” hazards when riding near parked vehicles. Drivers and passengers exiting vehicles without checking mirrors can suddenly open doors into a rider’s path, causing devastating impacts or forcing riders into oncoming traffic.

We pursue vehicle occupants who opened doors without looking, as well as rideshare companies whose drivers stop suddenly in traffic lanes for pickups. When riders must navigate between stopped cars due to road construction or blocked lanes, the responsibility to check before opening doors remains with vehicle occupants.

Pothole and Road Defect Crashes

Deteriorating road surfaces pose particular dangers for motorcycles. Potholes that cars navigate safely can throw riders or cause loss of control. Common problem areas include:

• Industrial areas in Sunset Park and Red Hook
• Older residential streets in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst
• Construction-damaged roads near Gowanus redevelopment
• Bridge approach ramps with uneven surfaces

Pursuing municipal liability requires strict compliance with notice requirements, and claims against New York City must be filed within 90 days. Finz & Finz documents whether the city knew about dangerous conditions through prior complaints or repairs, working to overcome governmental immunity defenses.

Rear-End Collisions and Sudden Stops

Motorcycles stop faster than cars, but following drivers may not anticipate this difference. Rear-end crashes crush riders between vehicles or throw them forward into traffic. On the BQE, Belt Parkway, and Prospect Expressway, sudden traffic changes create particular risks. We document how following drivers violated safe distance rules and failed to observe traffic conditions ahead.

Catastrophic Injuries Common in Motorcycle Crashes

The lack of protective barriers leaves riders vulnerable to severe injuries, often requiring extensive medical intervention and lifetime care. Finz & Finz works with treating physicians and, when necessary, consults medical professionals who understand motorcycle trauma patterns.

Road Rash and Degloving Injuries

What could be dismissed as “scrapes” may actual be traumatic skin loss requiring:

• Multiple debridement procedures to remove debris
• Skin grafts from donor sites
• Infection management and wound care
• Plastic surgery for scarring
• Physical therapy to prevent contractures

We photograph injuries throughout treatment, documenting the painful reality of recovery. When appropriate for the case, we may work with professionals to calculate costs for scar revision surgeries and psychological counseling for disfigurement.

Orthopedic Trauma

Motorcycle crashes frequently cause complex fractures requiring:

• External fixation devices for shattered bones
• Multiple surgeries with plates and screws
• Joint replacements for destroyed cartilage
• Amputation when limbs can’t be saved
• Extensive rehabilitation to regain function

For severe cases involving permanent disability, we can consult with life care planning professionals to project future surgeries for hardware removal, arthritis treatment, and mobility equipment needs as riders age with compromised joints.

Traumatic Brain and Spinal Injuries

Even helmeted riders suffer severe neurological injuries from violent impacts. We document:

• Cognitive deficits affecting work capacity
• Personality changes straining relationships
• Physical limitations from paralysis
• Chronic pain requiring lifetime management
• Loss of independence requiring caregivers

These injuries can have life-altering consequences beyond medical bills. Our attorneys account for these realities at the negotiation table and when presenting your case to Brooklyn juries.

From Crash Scene to Courtroom: How Finz & Finz Builds Motorcycle Cases

Every motorcycle accident leaves behind critical evidence through skid marks, damaged gear, and vehicle positions. But that evidence disappears quickly. So, while you’re in the hospital dealing with severe injuries, proof of the driver’s fault starts vanishing.

Why the First 48 Hours Matter

Salvage yards can crush motorcycles within days. Rain may wash away tire marks. Surveillance footage could be overwritten. And the driver who caused your crash may have already called their insurance company.

Finz & Finz moves immediately. We dispatch investigators to photograph the scene, measure skid patterns, and interview witnesses who saw what happened. We send preservation letters that legally prevent the other side from destroying evidence. Most importantly, we start documenting your injuries in ways that combat the bias you’ll face for riding a motorcycle.

Medical Records as Powerful Evidence

Without no-fault coverage, your medical documentation becomes essential to compensation. Our Brooklyn lawyers work with your doctors to create detailed narratives that connect each injury to the crash mechanics, showing how the impact angle caused specific fractures, what road rash patterns reveal about the collision, and how helmet damage correlates to head trauma.

We also address motorcycle injuries that less experienced attorneys might overlook. The psychological impact of severe scarring. The loss of riding as part of your lifestyle. The complications from road rash requiring months of wound care. These details matter because they represent your actual losses, not just your medical bills.

Presenting Your Case to Brooklyn Juries

Kings County juries bring varying perspectives on motorcyclists. Some view riders negatively. Others understand that motorcycles provide practical transportation in Brooklyn’s congested streets. Finz & Finz knows how to identify jurors who will evaluate your case based on facts, not bias.

We present evidence that keeps focus on the driver’s negligent acts rather than your choice to ride. If the defense is reinforcing negative stereotypes, we demonstrate:

• Your proper licensing and safety equipment
• The driver’s traffic violations or distracted behavior
• How the crash would have been avoided with basic caution
• The severe consequences of their negligence

Our four former judges are familiar with Brooklyn courtrooms. They know when to use technical evidence and when to focus on human impact. This strategic approach has delivered significant verdicts for injured riders. 

Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Claims FAQs

Do I Need a Lawyer Even for Seemingly Minor Motorcycle Accidents?

Because motorcyclists lack no-fault coverage and face insurance company bias, even “minor” accidents can result in significant uncovered expenses. Early legal representation protects your rights and interests. 

How Do I Pay for Medical Treatment without No-Fault Insurance?

Finz & Finz coordinates coverage through your health insurance, arranges letters of protection with providers when possible, and identifies liable parties to pursue compensation for your losses. We help you receive necessary treatment while building your case for a fair recovery from at-fault parties.

What if the Police Report Seems to Blame Me for the Accident?

Police reports aren’t final determinations of fault, and officers may not understand motorcycle dynamics. We conduct independent investigations and, if needed, work with professionals who can reconstruct accidents to challenge initial fault assessments, particularly when officer bias affected their conclusions.

Can I Recover Compensation if I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet?

Yes, though New York requires helmets for all riders, failure to wear one doesn’t bar recovery, particularly for non-head injuries. For head injuries, we present medical evidence about whether a helmet would have prevented your specific trauma, limiting any reduction in compensation.

What if I Was a Passenger on a Motorcycle That Crashed?

Passengers have the same rights to compensation as riders, and may be able to pursue claims against both the motorcycle operator (if they were negligent) and any other at-fault drivers, giving you multiple sources of potential recovery.

Finz & Finz: Strong Advocates for Brooklyn’s Riders

Stuart L. Finz, Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Finz & Finz, P.C. brings four former judges and 40 years of experience to your corner. We understand what you’re facing and it’s not just the physical trauma, but the financial pressure and frustration of being blamed for someone else’s negligence. Our billion-dollar recovery record includes numerous motorcycle cases where our team of personal injury lawyers secured compensation for our clients’ devastating losses.

From our Manhattan office, we serve riders throughout Brooklyn and all five boroughs. Call (212) 513-1000 today for your free consultation. We’ll explain your options, coordinate immediate medical care if needed, and start protecting your rights while the evidence is fresh. 

With our “No Win, No Fee” guarantee, you pay nothing unless we deliver results. Don’t face insurance companies alone. Let attorneys who understand both motorcycle culture and Brooklyn courts fight for fair compensation.