Motorcycle Passenger Injuries In Syracuse, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Motorcycle Accident Victims Across Syracuse. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in an Onondaga County Motorcycle Crash That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and an Attorney Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

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Motorcycles may not have seatbelts or airbags, but taking a ride on two wheels does not have to be dangerous. As long as a motorcycle is treated with respect and handled with care, it will almost always stay upright. But a rider’s experience can only ensure safety to a certain extent, motorcyclists and their passengers can avoid injury only when other drivers play their part in abiding by the rules of the road.

If a motorcyclist makes a mistake or another driver fails to cede the right-of-way when changing lanes, pillion riders can pay a steep price. Serious injuries are common and can easily effect disability disfigurement, or death. Even if victims feel fortunate to have simply escaped an accident with their lives intact, the costs of recovery can quickly accumulate to the point of unaffordability.

If you have been injured in an Onondaga County accident that was not your fault, you deserve better than an uphill battle against skeptical insurance adjusters and biased juries. For 20 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of motorcyclists and their passengers. Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys knows what it takes to overcome even the most vigorous defense and we have the results to prove it.

Please send us a message online, or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a motorcycle passenger accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation.

The Most Common Causes Of New York Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists and pillion riders face unique risks on the highway and in traffic.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

Left Turn Collisions

Left turn collisions most often occur when a driver tries to cross a busy road or intersection without ensuring that they have the right-of-way.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 50% of all motorcycle-related accidents involve other vehicles turning or attempting to turn left. These collisions often involve significant speed differentials and are a leading cause of passenger injury and death.

Blind Spot Accidents

People driving cars do not always have motorcyclists in mind.

Since motorcycles are much smaller than most passenger cars, they can easily fit into another vehicle’s blind spot. If a driver is not paying attention or does not take the time to check they could violate a motorcyclist’s right-of-way, potentially causing a collision or forcing the biker to make a split-second decision about how to best react.

Rear-End Crashes

Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of motorcycle-related collisions reported nationwide. Their causes could include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Speed, especially if another driver is following a motorcycle too closely;
2. Distracted driving, or any other action that takes a motorist’s attention away from the road;
3. Inclement weather conditions and low visibility;
4. Failure to adhere to traffic signs and signals; and
5. Drunk driving.

Although rear-end motorcycle crashes are far less likely to end in death than head-on collisions or left-turn accidents, they still pose a greater risk of injury to pillion passengers than they do to the occupants of larger and better-protected vehicles.

Drunk Driving

Alcohol abuse and intoxication is a leading cause of two distinct categories of collisions:

1. Single vehicle accidents, in which the motorcycle operator is intoxicated and exits the roadway in the absence of any apparent environmental risk factor; and
2. Multi vehicle accidents, in which a motorcycle is struck by an intoxicated driver.

Drunk driving accidents of either type can be catastrophic for passengers, both because intoxicated motorists are more inclined to take risks and because they may not recognize an obstacle in time to brake.

Dooring

A door accident is any accident in which the occupant of a sedan, pick-up truck, or other vehicle opens their door and strikes an oncoming motorcyclist. Most dooring accidents are unintentional but still involve an element of negligence.

The Potential Defendants In A Pillion Rider Claim

Motorcycle passengers have a right to recover their losses, whether through intensive negotiations with an insurance company or by taking legal action against a negligent driver.

However, filing and winning a personal injury lawsuit necessitates obtaining evidence of liability. And establishing liability in a motorcycle accident is not always an easy or straightforward undertaking. In many cases, more than one party could bear responsibility.

Depending on the circumstances of your crash, any one or more of the following parties could be named as a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit:

A Motorcycle Operator

Motorcyclists have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely and in a way that is unlikely to risk the well-being of their passengers.

If a motorcyclist causes a collision by speeding, weaving between lanes, or consuming alcohol, their passenger could be entitled to the costs of any resulting collision.

A Motorcycle Manufacturer

Modern motorcycle manufacturers are held to a high standard, but automotive defects remain a common source of concern. Defects can affect a single vehicle or an entire line of products, and can compromise inbuilt safety features if the manufacturer does not issue a recall or make a good faith effort to warn owners of a potential problem.

A Motorcycle Parts Maker

Motorcycle parts have a shorter lifespan than automobile parts, and are frequently swapped out for purposes including:

1. Routine maintenance;
2. Performance modification; and
3. Visual improvement.

Manufacturer authorized replacement parts, as well as after-market accessories, are typically held to the same standards as original components. However, poorly designed parts and poorly installed accessories can alter a bike’s performance in unexpected ways and, potentially, compromise its safety.

Another Driver

People are often biased against motorcyclists to the point that even police officers, judges, and juries will often extend the benefit of the doubt to at fault drivers. But statistics show what most bikers already know: driver negligence is the sole factor in many motorcycle related collisions, especially those involving left turns and other right-of-way violations.

Determining Damages In A Motorcycle Crash Claim (And Why You Can Not Always Count On Insurance)

New York has a no-fault insurance system, but its protections are anything but universal: most motorcycles are exempt from the Empire State’s no-fault laws and are only required to carry basic Personal Injury Coverage in its place.

If a motorcycle has an active Personal Injury Coverage policy, its benefits extend to passengers. However, most PIP policies have low limits and cannot cover the costs of a serious accident. Injured pillion riders may be able to obtain repayment for their medical bills, but could be forced to shoulder other expenses, expenses that could include high-cost physical rehabilitation, or weeks, worth of lost income from work.

You do not have to accept financial uncertainty in place of a fair recovery.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you file a claim against the person or party who caused your accident. Depending on the circumstances of your Syracuse motorcycle crash, you could be entitled to compensation for damages, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Your outstanding medical expenses;
2. Your anticipated care needs;
3. The costs of physical rehabilitation;
4. Reimbursement for paid co-pays and deductibles;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Diminished earning potential;
7. Loss of enjoyment
8. Emotional pain and suffering;
9. Physical pain and suffering; and
10. Disfigurement.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients in Syracuse and across the state secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a motorcycle passenger injury lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no obligation consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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