Are you looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Manhattan, NY?
At The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we provide motorcycle accident representation grounded in more than 85 years of work on behalf of clients in Manhattan.
If you were hurt riding a motorcycle in Manhattan, you may be dealing with serious injuries, a totaled bike, and an adjuster who has already decided the crash was your fault. Riders get treated differently, and we know it. At Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we hae represented injured New Yorkers since 1937. Our Manhattan, NY motorcycle accident lawyer takes on drivers, insurers, and manufacturers when a rider is hurt through no fault of their own. Contact us for a free consultation before you speak with any insurance company.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Manhattan, NY
Part of our work involves proving how a crash happened, who caused it, and what the injuries have cost, then recovers that amount from the responsible party. For a rider in Manhattan, NY, that work starts with the physical evidence, because insurers rarely accept a motorcyclist’s account on its own.
Manhattan recorded 39 traffic deaths in 2025, and motorcycle rider deaths citywide fell 32 percent that year. Nationally, riders remain badly overrepresented: NHTSA reports motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely than car occupants to die per mile traveled in 2024. A Manhattan motorcycle accident attorney turns those odds into a claim built on proof rather than assumption.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Manhattan
Most motorcycle crashes in Manhattan come down to a driver who did not look, did not yield, or did not slow down. Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Manhattan handle claims arising from all of them, and a few that involve no other driver at all.
- Car accidents. A car turning left across a rider’s path is the most common way a motorcyclist gets hurt. We reconstruct the collision with scene photographs, vehicle damage, and any available camera footage. The damage pattern usually contradicts the driver’s story.
- Truck accidents. Box trucks and delivery vehicles crowd Manhattan’s avenues, and their blind spots swallow motorcycles whole. We pursue the driver, the carrier, and anyone who maintained or loaded the truck. Carrier records can be destroyed on a schedule, so we send preservation demands early.
- Intersection crashes. Suing for an intersection accident may involve factors such as failure to yield, red-light running, and improper turns cause a large share of rider injuries at signalized intersections. Signal timing records and NYPD collision reports help establish who had the right of way.
- Hit-and-run crashes. Drivers who strike a motorcycle and flee leave the rider with no one to claim against. We work to identify the vehicle and driver during the hit and run accident. If that fails, pursue uninsured motorist coverage on the rider’s own policy.
- Road hazard crashes. A pothole, a steel plate, or a gap in a bridge grating can throw a rider without any contact with another vehicle. Claims against the City of New York carry short notice deadlines, so these cases move fast from the first day.
- Defective motorcycle parts. Brakes that fail, tires that separate, and frames that crack are manufacturer problems, not rider error. We have taken a product defect case against a major motorcycle manufacturer through trial.
- Traumatic brain injuries. Even a helmeted rider can suffer a concussion or worse when thrown from the bike. We document the full course of treatment because the symptoms are often invisible to everyone but the patient.
- Wrongful death. When a crash takes a rider’s life, the family may bring a claim for their loss. We handle these cases with the care they demand and pursue every responsible party.
Why Choose The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP as My Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Manhattan, NY?
Trial Experience Against Drivers and Manufacturers
Paul J. Edelstein has been admitted in New York since 1995, the same year he graduated from Brooklyn Law School. He tried our client’s product liability case against Harley-Davidson over a defective trike and motorcycle accident cases are part of his practice. Glenn K. Faegenburg was admitted in 1992, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Brooklyn Law School. He has obtained multi-million-dollar results in car and pedestrian crash cases and is recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. Both belong to the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. Our personal injury lawyer in Manhattan, NY has the depth of experience required when the insurer refuses to pay.
Results in Motor Vehicle Cases
Our firm has recovered more than $131 million for injured clients. Vehicle collision results include:
- $9,000,000 for a pedestrian struck on the sidewalk by a drunk driver
- $5,500,000 for a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in a crosswalk
- $4,350,000 for a driver hit head-on by an intoxicated driver
- $3,250,000 for motorcyclists struck by a garbage truck
- $2,850,000 for a bicyclist struck by a police vehicle
What Is Important To Understand About Motorcycle Accident Cases?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Cases
A motorcycle claim in New York has different rules than a car claim, and the differences matter from day one.
- No-Fault does not cover riders. New York’s no-fault system excludes motorcycles, so a rider cannot collect first-party benefits for medical bills and lost wages the way a car occupant can. The claim goes directly against the at-fault driver.
- Negligence. The rider must show the driver owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused the injury. Traffic violations, phone records, and witness accounts carry that burden.
- Comparative fault. Since May 2026, a claimant in a motor vehicle injury action covered by the no-fault article who is found more at fault than the defendant recovers nothing. In every other case, a rider’s own share of fault reduces the award in proportion. Either way, insurers push hard to shift blame onto the rider.
- Damages. Recoverable losses include past and future medical care, lost earnings, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the other forms of compensation the law allows for permanent harm.
- Multiple defendants. A driver, a vehicle owner, an employer, a bar, a parts manufacturer, and the City can each hold a share of responsibility in the same crash.
Important Aspects of a Motorcycle Accident Case
Rider bias is real, and it shows up in police reports, adjuster notes, and jury boxes. A Manhattan, NY motorcycle accident attorney counters it with evidence that does not depend on anyone’s opinion of motorcyclists.
- Photographs of both vehicles before repairs, showing point of impact and direction of force
- Helmet and gear, preserved unwashed and unrepaired
- Dashcam, storefront, and traffic camera footage, which is often overwritten within days
- Prompt and consistent medical treatment, since delayed symptoms and gaps in care are the first things a defense attorney looks for
- A short list of practical steps taken before any recorded statement is given
What Is The Motorcycle Accident Case Timeline?
Most motorcycle injury claims in Manhattan, NY resolve within one to three years, though a disputed liability case or a catastrophic injury can run longer. The stages generally look like this:
- Investigation and evidence preservation in the first weeks
- Medical treatment until your doctors can project future needs
- Demand to the insurer once the injury picture is clear
- Lawsuit filed in New York County Supreme Court if the offer falls short
- Discovery, depositions, and mediation, followed by trial when necessary
New York gives an injured rider three years from the crash to file suit in most cases. Claims involving a city vehicle or a city-maintained road carry a much shorter notice requirement measured in months, not years. The real timeline of a case depends on how quickly the evidence is locked down.
What to Bring to Your Motorcycle Accident Consultation
Bring what you have to your consultation. If needed, we can obtain the rest of the information we need at a later time.
- The police collision report or the precinct and report number
- Photos of the scene, the bike, the other vehicle, and your injuries
- Medical records, discharge papers, and bills to date
- Your motorcycle insurance declarations page
- Any letter, email, or voicemail from an insurer
The consultation is free and confidential. Our Manhattan motorcycle accident lawyers will tell you whether the claim is worth pursuing, and the reasons a rider benefits from counsel before the first adjuster call, usually within the same meeting.
Most Dangerous Locations for Motorcycle Accidents in Manhattan
Certain Manhattan corridors produce a disproportionate share of serious crashes, and riders should treat them accordingly. NYC DOT’s Vision Zero plan for the borough identified Houston Street among its priority corridors, and the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway, Canal Street, Second Avenue near the Queensboro Bridge, and the approaches to the Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Brooklyn Bridges see heavy merging traffic and frequent lane changes. Midtown cross streets around 42nd Street add taxi and rideshare pickups to the mix.
After a crash anywhere in the borough, the NYPD’s collision report portal provides a copy of the police report, and certified copies are available through the New York State DMV. Lawsuits arising from Manhattan crashes are filed in the New York County Supreme Court, Civil Term, at 60 Centre Street.
Reach Out to The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation
We will review how the crash happened, give you an honest assessment on what the claim is worth, and begin preserving evidence as soon as you retain us. You pay no fee unless we win. Consultations are available by phone or in person, with no obligation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Manhattan.