Three generations of trial attorneys protecting injured New Yorkers since 1937.
If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in the Bronx, you may be facing serious injuries, growing medical bills, and pressure from insurance companies that are already looking for reasons to reduce your claim. Motorcycle crashes tend to cause far more physical damage than other traffic collisions, and the recovery period can stretch for months or years. Our Bronx, NY motorcycle accident lawyer at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has been representing injured New Yorkers since 1937, and our firm brings over 85 years of plaintiff-side trial work to every case we handle. Schedule a free consultation to discuss what happened and what your options are.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Bronx, NY
Motorcyclists have almost no structural protection between themselves and the road. According to NHTSA crash data, motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash in 2024.
Because the injuries tend to be more severe, the medical costs are higher, the time away from work is longer, and the compensation at stake is greater. A motorcycle accident attorney in the Bronx understands these dynamics and can build a case that accounts for both your current losses and the long-term effects of your injuries. Insurance companies often try to assign fault to the rider, and they are not shy about using bias against motorcyclists to justify low settlement offers.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in the Bronx
Motorcycle crashes happen in many different ways across the Bronx, and each scenario raises its own questions about liability, evidence, and damages. Our attorneys handle a wide range of motorcycle collision cases, including the following:
- Left-turn collisions. A driver making a left turn at an intersection strikes a motorcyclist traveling straight through with the right of way. These are among the most common motorcycle accidents, and they frequently result in severe or life-altering injuries because the rider has almost no time to react.
- Rear-end crashes. A distracted or tailgating driver hits a motorcycle from behind. Because motorcycles are smaller and can stop more quickly than cars, drivers who follow too closely may not have enough distance to brake in time.
- Lane-change and sideswipe accidents. A driver changes lanes without checking mirrors or blind spots and collides with a motorcyclist. Bronx highways and multi-lane roads like the Cross Bronx Expressway are frequent locations for these crashes.
- Dooring incidents. A parked car’s occupant opens a door into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. In congested Bronx neighborhoods, these collisions are more common than many people realize, and the injuries are often severe.
- Drunk driving collisions. A motorcyclist is struck by an intoxicated driver. These cases may involve both a personal injury claim against the driver and, in some situations, a claim against the establishment that overserved the driver under New York’s Dram Shop Act.
- Road hazard accidents. Potholes, uneven pavement, debris, construction zones, and poorly maintained road surfaces can cause a motorcyclist to lose control. Liability may fall on the city, the state, or a private contractor depending on who was responsible for maintaining the road. Claims against government entities involve shorter filing deadlines and additional procedural requirements.
- Multi-vehicle pileups. A motorcycle caught in a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles. Sorting out fault among several drivers requires thorough investigation, and riders in these scenarios often suffer the worst injuries of anyone involved.
Why Choose Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Bronx, NY?
A Record of Results for Seriously Injured Clients
Our firm has recovered over $131 million in settlements and verdicts for injured New Yorkers, including some of the largest personal injury recoveries in New York State history. That track record includes a $36 million settlement for a catastrophically injured worker, a $22 million settlement for a professional boxer who suffered a brain injury due to medical negligence, and a $9 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a drunk driver. While every case is different, these results reflect our commitment to preparing every matter thoroughly and fighting for the full value of our clients’ losses.
If you need a personal injury lawyer in the Bronx, our firm offers that same level of preparation whether the case involves a motorcycle collision, a truck accident, or any other type of serious-injury matter.
Three Generations of Trial Attorneys
Paul J. Edelstein handles motorcycle accident and personal injury cases at the firm. A graduate of Brooklyn Law School, Paul was admitted to the New York bar in 1995 and has spent his career representing injured plaintiffs. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Paul has also been recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
The Edelstein family’s legal legacy dates back to 1937, when Paul’s grandfather began practicing on Court Street in Brooklyn. Three generations later, the firm still operates on the same principles: thorough preparation, honest communication, and a refusal to back down from insurance companies or opposing counsel when a client’s interests are at stake. We only get paid if we win your case, which means our goals and yours are aligned from the start.
What Is Important to Understand About a Motorcycle Accident Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Cases
Motorcycle accident victims in New York can seek compensation for a broad range of losses. The specific damages available depend on the severity of the injuries and how the accident has affected the injured person’s daily life.
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical care related to the injuries
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity, covering both the income missed during recovery and any long-term reduction in the injured person’s ability to earn
- Pain and suffering, which compensates for physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the psychological impact of a serious injury
- Property damage, including repair or replacement of the motorcycle and any riding gear or personal property damaged in the crash
In cases involving fatal motorcycle accidents, the victim’s family may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
New York follows a pure comparative negligence standard under CPLR Section 1411. That means even if the motorcyclist bears partial responsibility for the accident, they can still recover compensation. The total award is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured rider. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate the rider’s share of fault to lower the payout, which is one of the reasons having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney matters.
What Are Important Aspects of a Motorcycle Accident Case?
The cases that tend to produce the strongest results are the ones where evidence is collected early and preserved carefully. Waiting too long to document what happened can weaken even a straightforward claim.
- Police reports and accident reconstruction establish the basic facts of the crash, including who was where, what the road conditions looked like, and whether any citations were issued at the scene
- Medical documentation matters more than most people expect. The insurance company will look for any gap between the accident date and the first doctor visit, and they will use it to argue that the injuries were not that serious. Connecting your damages claimed to the collision itself requires consistent, well-documented treatment
- Witness statements from people who saw the accident happen add credibility, particularly when the other driver disputes what occurred
- Helmet and protective gear usage, because New York requires motorcycle helmets by law, and while wearing one does not prevent a claim, failing to wear one gives the defense an argument that the rider’s own choices made the injuries worse
What Is the Motorcycle Accident Case Timeline?
There is no single answer to how long a motorcycle accident case takes. Some resolve in a matter of months. Others take years, especially if the injuries are severe and the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable amount. But the general progression looks something like this:
- Immediate aftermath (days to weeks): Get medical treatment, file a police report if one has not been filed already, and speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in the Bronx before the insurance company contacts you
- Investigation and evidence gathering (weeks to months): Your attorney investigates the crash, collects records, takes witness statements, and begins building the file
- Medical treatment and maximum recovery (months to over a year): Most attorneys will advise against settling too early, because you do not yet know what your medical expenses will total or whether the injuries will leave permanent limitations
- Demand and negotiation (weeks to months): Your attorney puts together a demand package and sends it to the insurer. Negotiation can take weeks or months depending on how far apart the two sides are
- Litigation and trial (if necessary): If no fair offer comes, the case goes to court. In the Bronx, that can add another one to three years depending on the court’s schedule
What Should You Bring to Your Motorcycle Accident Consultation?
You do not need to have everything perfectly organized before you call. But if you have any of the following available, bringing it along will help your attorney get a clearer picture faster:
- A copy of the police report, or at least the report number so we can pull it
- Photographs of the accident scene, the motorcycle, your injuries, and any road conditions you captured at the time
- Medical records and bills you have received so far
- Contact information for anyone who saw what happened
We will walk through the facts with you, explain what New York law says about your situation, and tell you straight whether we think you have a case worth pursuing.
What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Motorcycle Accident Cases?
New York law governs everything from how long you have to file a claim to how fault gets divided between the parties. These are the statutes and state agencies most relevant to a motorcycle accident case:
- Under CPLR Section 214, most personal injury lawsuits in New York must be filed within three years of the accident. But if your claim involves a city bus, a pothole, or any other government entity, you are looking at a 90-day notice-of-claim deadline, which is a fraction of that window
- CPLR Section 1411 sets out New York’s pure comparative negligence rule. Even if a jury decides you were partly at fault for the crash, you can still recover. Your award gets reduced by your share of the blame, but you are not barred from compensation entirely
- The New York DMV maintains motorcycle safety awareness materials and publishes crash data broken down by region
- The NYS Department of Health tracks motorcycle injury statistics at the county level and provides prevention resources
- The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee runs statewide motorcycle safety campaigns and reports on annual fatality trends
Reach Out to Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation
If you or someone in your family was hurt in a motorcycle crash in the Bronx, we are available to review your case at no charge. Our firm takes motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to set up a free consultation with a Bronx motorcycle accident attorney.