Representing injured motorcyclists and their families across Queens since 1937.
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident in Queens, a Queens, NY motorcycle accident lawyer at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP can help. Our firm has been representing injured New Yorkers for over 85 years, and we handle every case on a contingency basis. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your options.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Queens, NY
A motorcycle offers no frame, no airbags, no seatbelt, and no crumple zone. When a collision happens, the rider absorbs the full force of the impact. Data from the NHTSA shows that 6,228 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2024 alone, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities despite motorcycles making up only 3 percent of registered vehicles.
A motorcycle accident attorney in Queens has to account for the severity of these injuries when building a claim. That means projecting future medical costs, calculating long-term lost earning capacity, and pushing back against insurance adjusters who try to blame the rider for what happened.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Queens
Queens has some of the heaviest traffic in New York City, and the borough’s mix of highways, residential streets, and commercial corridors creates a wide range of dangerous conditions for motorcyclists. We represent riders injured in many different types of crashes, including:
- Left-turn collisions. A driver turns left across the path of an oncoming motorcyclist who has the right of way. The rider often has no time to brake or swerve, and the resulting impact tends to cause fractures, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
- Rear-end accidents. A driver following too closely strikes a motorcycle from behind. Motorcycles stop faster than most cars, and drivers who are distracted or tailgating may not react in time to avoid a collision.
- Lane-change and merge crashes. Motorcycles sit in the blind spots of larger vehicles more often than cars do. On roads like the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway, drivers changing lanes without checking mirrors cause a significant number of motorcycle collisions each year.
- Intersection accidents. Drivers running red lights or failing to yield at intersections in neighborhoods like Flushing, Jamaica, and Astoria frequently strike motorcyclists who are lawfully proceeding through. A car accident at an intersection is dangerous enough in a passenger vehicle, but for a rider on a motorcycle, the consequences are far worse.
- Drunk and impaired driving collisions. A motorcyclist struck by a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our attorneys investigate whether a bar or restaurant may also share liability for overserving the driver under New York’s Dram Shop Act.
- Road defect accidents. Potholes, cracked pavement, metal plates, loose gravel, and faded lane markings can all send a motorcycle out of control. Depending on who was responsible for maintaining the road, the liable party may be the City of New York, the State, or a private contractor. Claims against government entities require a notice of claim within 90 days, so acting quickly is critical.
- Hit-and-run crashes. When the at-fault driver flees the scene, injured motorcyclists still have options for recovering compensation through their own uninsured motorist coverage, but the process requires prompt investigation and an attorney who knows how to handle these claims effectively.
Why Choose Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Queens, NY?
Three Generations of Plaintiff-Side Trial Work
The firm’s history goes back to 1937, when Paul Edelstein Sr. opened a practice on Court Street in Brooklyn. Three generations later, Paul J. Edelstein continues that legacy. Paul graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1995 and has dedicated his career to representing people injured by negligence. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and he has been recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
What that means in practice is that our firm does not hand cases off to junior associates or outside counsel. The attorneys here prepare every motorcycle accident case as if it is going to trial, because that level of preparation is what produces results at the negotiating table and in the courtroom.
Proven Results for Injured New Yorkers
Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has recovered over $131 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Each case is different, but these results reflect our approach: prepare thoroughly, value the case accurately, and refuse to accept less than our clients deserve.
If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Queens, we bring that same preparation to motorcycle collisions, truck accidents, and every other serious-injury case we take on. We only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you.
What Is Important to Understand About a Motorcycle Accident Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Cases
New York law allows motorcycle accident victims to pursue compensation for both the immediate and long-term consequences of their injuries.
- Medical costs, from emergency room treatment and surgery through ongoing rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future procedures your doctors anticipate
- Lost income, including wages you have already missed and any reduction in your future earning capacity caused by permanent injuries or disabilities
- Pain and suffering, which covers physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and the ways the injuries have changed your day-to-day existence
- Property damage, including the cost of repairing or replacing the motorcycle itself, along with helmets, protective gear, and personal belongings
When a motorcycle accident results in death, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
New York applies a pure comparative negligence standard under CPLR Section 1411. In practical terms, this means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the crash. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Queens knows how to counter those arguments with evidence.
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 when the injuries are severe or 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 attorney in Queens 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 Queens, 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 a complete file ready before you call. But if you have any of the following, bringing it to the meeting helps your attorney evaluate your situation more efficiently:
- The police report or the report number so we can request a copy
- Any photographs you took at the scene, of the motorcycle, the other vehicle, your injuries, or the road conditions
- Medical records and bills from treatment you have received so far
- Names and contact information for anyone who witnessed the crash
We will go through the details with you, explain how New York law applies, and give you a straightforward assessment of whether 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 government entity, you face 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 Queens, we are ready to sit down with you and review the facts at no cost. Our firm handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Queens motorcycle accident lawyer today.