Motorcycle Accident Lawyer NYC
NYC motorcycle accident lawyers. Motorcyclists are excluded from New York no-fault — here is how medical bills get paid and how bias defences are beaten.
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Motorcyclists are excluded from New York no-fault
This is the most important and least known fact in New York motorcycle law: riders do not receive no-fault (PIP) benefits. Your medical bills go to your health insurance and to any optional medical payments coverage you bought, and the liability claim against the at-fault driver becomes far more important than in a car case. The upside is that motorcyclists are not restricted by the serious injury threshold, so pain and suffering is recoverable without meeting that test.
Beating the bias defence
Insurers begin with the assumption that the rider was speeding or lane-splitting. Lawyers typically rebut it with physical evidence: helmet and gear condition, scrape and gouge marks, EDR data from the striking vehicle, and reconstruction of the driver's left-turn or lane-change movement. Left-turn-across-path collisions — the most common serious motorcycle crash in New York City — are almost always the driver's failure to yield.
Common crashes
- Left-turning vehicles crossing a rider's path at intersections.
- Unsafe lane changes and door-zone collisions on avenues.
- Potholes, sunken plates and grating on bridges and roadways — with a notice of claim deadline against the City.
- Car doors opened into traffic and double-parked vehicle pull-outs.
- Uninsured and hit and run drivers, where your uninsured motorist coverage or MVAIC applies.
Injuries and damages
Without a vehicle frame, motorcycle impacts produce fractures, degloving and road rash, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage. Because health insurance rather than no-fault pays the bills, lien negotiation strongly affects what you actually keep — it is a core part of the work, not an afterthought.
Helmet and gear questions
New York requires helmets. Not wearing one does not bar a claim, but it can reduce recovery for head injuries under comparative fault. Wearing one strengthens your case considerably.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about this topic.
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To ask about your situation, use the free enquiry form on this page or book a call. Personal Injury NYC is not a law firm, and an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. Many New York injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, but the percentage and case costs vary, so ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
Sources and editorial review
Last reviewed: . Written and checked by the Personal Injury NYC editorial team against the official New York sources listed. This page has not been reviewed by an attorney. Time limits vary by claim — many personal injury lawsuits must be started within three years (CPLR 214), claims against a city or other public body can require a notice of claim in as little as 90 days, and medical malpractice and wrongful death have different limits. Check the official sources below and confirm your deadline with a New York-licensed attorney.
- NY Courts — Statute of limitations timetable
- NY Courts — What is a statute of limitations?
- NY Senate — CPLR 214 (three-year actions)
- NY Department of Financial Services — Auto insurance resource center
Personal Injury NYC is a legal-information and case-enquiry website operated by Pearl Lemon Group. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. Information on this page is general and is not legal advice. About this website · How enquiries are handled
Related pages
Motorcycle Accident by borough
Send an enquiry about your injury
Tell the Personal Injury NYC team what happened and how to reach you. Your enquiry goes to the Pearl Lemon Group team that runs this website, not to a law firm. Sending it does not create an attorney-client relationship, hire a lawyer or stop a legal deadline.