Syracuse, New York, Motorcycle Accidents

Syracuse is nestled at the very center of one of the most beautiful regions in the United States. Each summer, adventurous Salt City residents and out-of-town visitors make the best of Syracuse’s scenic location by revving their engines and exploring the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks atop two wheels.

Even within city limits, motorcycling has obvious advantages. Riding can, for instance, transform an everyday commute from a mundane task to a genuinely enjoyable journey. It can also help budget-conscious workers save money on gas and insurance, while better protecting the environment from exhaust emissions.

However, while motorcycling through Syracuse may be one of the best ways to explore the city, it is not without risk. While most experienced motorcyclists ride defensively, no amount of preparation can avert every accident. Unfortunately, deprived of the protection afforded by metal frames, seatbelts, and airbags, motorcycle accident victims almost always suffer injuries. These injuries can range in severity from road rash to organ damage, often taking a significant toll on survivors’ physical health and financial well-being.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. understands that fighting for your rights in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident is not always easy. Insurance adjusters—even judges and juries—can be incredibly and unfairly biased against motorcyclists, who are sometimes typecast as unreasonable adrenaline junkies with an inclination toward risk-taking. Fortunately, you do not have to accept prejudice in place of a fair recovery.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients across the region secure more than $175 million in compensation from reckless motorists, negligent truck drivers, and multibillion-dollar insurance companies. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at 866-529-5334 to speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation.

Motorcycle accidents are a longstanding problem, both in Syracuse and across the Empire State.

According to a recent press release by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, New York law enforcement reported at least 198 fatal collisions involving motorcyclists over the course of a single year. With pillion riders also included in these somber statistics, an estimated 204 people died in motorcycle-related accidents, with thousands more injured.

Compared to other types of automobile accidents, motorcycle crashes are much more likely to entail some measure of operator error. A disproportionate number of motorcycle accidents are, for instance, single-vehicle collisions—meaning that, in most cases, the rider’s injuries cannot be attributed to any third party. Causes vary, but they often relate to rider intoxication or inexperience.

However, even the most experienced motorcyclists face a higher-than-average risk whenever they hit the open road. Despite New York’s recognition of “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month” every May, many drivers seem to forget that they share the road with smaller vehicles.

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

1. Driver Inattention: Motorcycles have a very small profile compared to cars and trucks. They can be easily masked by a vehicle’s blind spot or by stationary objects on or near the road. However, since motorcyclists are still entitled to their right-of-way, simply “not seeing” an approaching motorcycle does not absolve at-fault drivers of liability.
2. Distracted Driving: Distractions are typically categorized as manual, visual, or cognitive. Some types of distractions, like sending a text message while driving, can involve elements of all three. Unfortunately, any distraction—no matter how momentary—could pose a significant risk to a motorcyclist’s safety and well-being.
3. Intoxication: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 31% of all fatal crashes in the United States involve drunk drivers. Motorcyclists are uniquely vulnerable, insofar as they could be seriously injured even in a low-speed rear-end accident or side-swipe-type collision. Furthermore, most drunk driving-related crashes happen at night, when it may be borderline impossible for an intoxicated driver to see or respond to an approaching motorcycle.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should be forced to pay the price for an accident that was not their fault. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a New York motorcycle accident, our experienced team of attorneys could help you collect the evidence needed to begin building a robust, evidence-based claim for compensation. Please call us at 866-529-5334 to speak to a motorcycle crash lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Motorcycle crashes are, in general, much more likely to result in serious and potentially life-threatening injuries than accidents involving other types of automobiles. However, an individual motorcyclist’s risk for injury could be dependent on a confluence of factors. These factors include the following:

1. Motorcyclist Characteristics: Motorcyclist characteristics relate to the victim’s actions and apparel at the time of the accident. Speed and helmet usage are, for instance, both critical determinants of collision severity.
2. Road Characteristics: Roadway characteristics play an integral role in increasing, or limiting, the risks of collision. Under most circumstances, motorcyclists injured in intersection-related crashes are less likely to be found at fault than those hurt in rural, non-intersection locations.
3. Crash Characteristics: Certain types of crashes are more likely to end in injury or death. Researchers have found that run-off-road crashes contribute heavily to both fatal and minor injuries in motorcycle accidents.
4. Environmental Characteristics: Environmental factors, including weather conditions, can also contribute to risk and adverse outcomes. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, motorcyclists are more likely to die or be seriously injured on sunny days than on rainy days. However, this can likely be explained by the fact that most motorcyclists will ride more carefully and more defensively in inclement weather conditions.

Many of these factors are outside of a motorcyclist’s control. In the event of any substantive collision, injuries are all but guaranteed. However, injuries can vary in their severity.

Common motorcycle accident-related injuries include the following:

1. Road rash;
2. Cuts and other lacerating injuries;
3. Broken or fractured bones;
4. Traumatic head injuries;
5. Internal organ damage;
6. Disfigurement; and
7. Death.

Even seemingly mild injuries, like road rash, can have long-lasting implications—implications that could range from acute financial distress to the prospect of chronic pain and permanent disfigurement.

New York is a no-fault state. After an accident, survivors typically expect their insurance company to reimburse their medical expenses, irrespective of who was found at fault for the crash.

However, this no-fault system carves out several important exceptions. Under existing state law, for instance, motorcycles are specifically excluded from coverage, leaving victims with far fewer opportunities to recover damages without first filing a formal complaint against the at-fault driver.

While accident victims are still entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person, or party, who caused their injuries, motorcyclists sometimes face unexpected challenges in insurance negotiations and litigation. These challenges could include any of the following:

1. Bad-Faith Offers of Settlement: Insurance companies are sometimes proactive in negotiations, taking the lead and offering compensation even before the victim has had a chance to contact a Syracuse motorcycle crash lawyer. This initial offer of settlement might cover the victim’s existing medical expenses but otherwise fail to account for their other losses, which could range from lost income from work to payment for extensive mental anguish.
2. Deceptive Negotiation Strategies: Since insurance companies are for-profit businesses, it is rarely—if ever—in their best interest to offer a fair settlement without first seeking to minimize their financial liability. In motorcycle accident claims, adjusters will sometimes try to cast blame onto the victim, whether by demanding
3. Jury Bias: The legal system is supposed to be impartial, but everyone from insurance adjusters to judges and juries can be swayed by unconscious biases against motorcycles and motorcyclists. At trial, for instance, a jury may be more inclined to believe that an injured motorcyclist was speeding or otherwise reckless, potentially denying an award or attributing a greater share of fault to the victim than they might otherwise.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. understands that pushing through bad-faith negotiations and overcoming unreasonable jury bias can be difficult for anyone, let alone somebody still struggling to come to terms with an unexpected accident and life-changing injuries. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you beat the odds, fight for your rights, and help you obtain a better settlement than an insurance adjuster might otherwise be willing to offer. Please send us a message online or call us at 866-529-5334 to schedule your free consultation and begin exploring your options for rapid legal relief.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 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!