Riding season is here for New York’s motorcyclists, and staying protected means taking extra precautions on our roads and knowing what to do in the event of an accident. As you might imagine, motorcycle accident cases present unique challenges due to the public bias against motorcyclists. Everyone’s seen reckless riders weaving in and out of traffic and often assumes that any injury results from their carelessness.
Despite this bias, in New York, the law allows individuals to operate motorcycles so long as they do so within the law. When handling motorcyclist accident cases, the attorney’s role is critical in overcoming bias and obtaining a fair settlement.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in New York, your health is the priority. Contact emergency services immediately after an accident, and once the injured party is stable, you would be well advised to contact a qualified New York motorcycle accident lawyer.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries Are Often Severe
Motorcycles and mopeds represent just 2% of registered vehicles in New York City, yet account for 12%-15% of all traffic fatalities.
Looking at the past 5 years of NYC Department of Transportation [1] data on motorcycle accidents resulting in serious injury or fatality, we see that the past 2 years have seen an overall decline. Despite this decline, the fatal crash rate of 71 per 100,000 registered motorcyclists [2] is still nearly double the statewide rate outside of the city.
Because of the very nature of motorcycles, riders are significantly more vulnerable to serious injuries than those who operate automobiles. The reasons are straightforward:
- 1. Motorcyclists have nothing separating them from the pavement/other vehicles
- 2. Because of their size, motorcycles are often less visible to other vehicles. Other drivers may fail to yield, cut them off, etc.
- 3. Motorcycles are not as stable as automobiles since they have 2 wheels
- 4. Motorcycles are significantly lighter than other vehicles and are more susceptible to impact.
Additionally, motorcycles are significantly more vulnerable to unsafe road conditions. Cracks, obstructions, and irregularities on the roads are much more likely to cause injury to a motorcyclist than to the driver of an automobile.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers’ negligence, not by the rider. An analysis of police-reported crash data [3] reveals the most common contributing factors in motorcycle injury crashes throughout New York City:
Far and away, the largest contributing factor to motorcycle accidents is a distracted driver. The issue is that reckless drivers are more likely to cause serious harm to motorcyclists and other 2-wheelers than other drivers.
How New York Law Pertains to Motorcyclists
The rules governing liability and insurance in New York differ significantly for motorcycles compared to cars. One instance of this is within the application of the “No-Fault” Law [4]. Since motorcycles are not considered motor vehicles under No-Fault, riders are not entitled to the medical and lost wage benefits that automobile drivers are. However, those injured in motorcycle accidents are not subject to the “serious injury” threshold under New York’s No-Fault Law. This means that a person injured on a motorcycle can bring a claim against the offending driver even for minor injuries that would normally not qualify.
If You Were Injured in a Motorcycle Accident – Leav & Steinberg Can Help
The motorcycle accident attorneys at Leav & Steinberg have achieved substantial settlements on behalf of riders and passengers injured on motorcycles in New York City.
One recent case our team settled in May 2026 resulted in $1.6 million recovered on behalf of our client, who was seriously injured while riding as a passenger on a moped. The accident occurred on an early morning of June 2025 after a drunk driver failed to stop at a stop sign and hit our client and the driver off their moped.
Motorcycle cases require attorneys who are deeply experienced in the unique legal landscape and laws that apply to riders within NYC. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact Leav & Steinberg for a free consultation. Call (917) 983-7818 to speak with an attorney deeply experienced in motorcycle cases who can help you understand your options.
Resources 1 – https://www.itsmr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NYS_FactSheet_Motorcycle_Crashes_Published_Dec_2024.pdf 2 – https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2025/vision-zero.shtml 3 – https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/traffic_data/traffic-statistics/ts-en-us-Citywide.pdf 4 – https://www.nyaccidentlawyer.com/how-do-new-yorks-no-fault-laws-impact-your-claim-after-an-accident/