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Buffalo, NY Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Who Gets Results

Your injury wasn't your fault. We can get you justice.

Riding a motorcycle on the open road can be exhilarating, but that joy can turn tragic in an instant. Motorcyclists, even if they take every safety precaution, are some of the most vulnerable people on the road. In the event of an accident, they have very little protection, often resulting in severe injuries. Riders and passengers on motorcycles are three times as likely to be injured as drivers and passengers in cars.

While there is a popular image of bikers as irresponsible thrill-seekers, the reality is most collisions are caused by someone else's negligence. Every day, motorcycles are hit by drunk drivers and motorists who fall asleep at the wheel. Because motorcycles are relatively small, they are easy for texting drivers to overlook. Other times, drivers fail to share the road, forcing bikers off the road.

A law firm that stands up for injured motorcyclists

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your crash, you don't need to face the consequences alone. With an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from the Law Offices of James Morris on your side, you can demand the compensation you need from the negligent motorist who hurt you. Our legal team will thoroughly investigate your case, interview witnesses and review documents to make sure we have all the evidence. Then, we'll stand up to the insurance companies with hard-hitting negotiation and litigation.

For more information about how our attorneys can help motorcyclists, follow the links below:

Collecting compensation after a motorcycle accident can be difficult. Insurance companies often argue that motorcyclists assume the risk of injury when they choose to get on the road. You don't have to accept that answer. Contact our offices for a free case evaluation and get an experienced attorney on your side. Call (800) 477-9044.

How Motorcycle Accidents Happen

Many accidents stem from the relatively-small size of motorcycles compared to other vehicles. Sometimes, drivers mistake the narrow profile of a nearby motorcycle with a more distant object. Other drivers may not allow enough braking distance when driving behind or enough room while passing.

Because of their small size, motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to reckless drivers. Motorcyclists are easily missed by texting or distracted drivers. Drunk drivers often crash into them. Drivers who act recklessly by speeding or fail to turn on their headlights also often cause motorcycle accidents.

Insurance companies often argue that motorcyclists are responsible for their own accidents. But the reality is most accidents involving motorcyclists and other vehicles are caused by the person driving a car. If that's what happened to you, you shouldn't have to suffer because of someone else's reckless behavior. One of our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can help you get the justice you need.

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How Motorcycle Accident Compensation Works in New York

New York is generally a “no-fault” state for car accidents, but motorcycles are an exception. If you were on a motorcycle, either as a rider or passenger, you can’t get no-fault benefits in New York. (Bikers are still required to carry no-fault insurance that covers pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users who may be hit by their motorcycle.)

That means your only route to compensation for a motorcycle crash is generally a liability claim against the driver or another party that caused your accident. Again, this can be difficult because of the bias against motorcyclists. The insurance companies know how high the stakes are, and they will often fight hard to pay you as little as possible – or nothing at all. The right Buffalo motorcycle accident attorney can help you fight back.

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Motorcycle Safety Tips

With thousands of bikes on the road during the spring and summer, it's important to know how to stay safe, both while riding a motorcycle and while driving a car near motorcyclists. Here are a few things riders should do to stay safe on the road:

  • Wear appropriate clothing. Leather guards against road rash and, more importantly, protects your skin in the case of an accident.
  • Inspect your motorcycle. Loose bolts and other visible damage can cause you to lose control of your bike, leading to a collision.
  • Check tire pressure. Adequate tire pressure makes it possible to safely take corners and turns.
  • Wear a helmet. It's the law in New York, and for good reason: Helmets prevent brain injuries and save lives.

Likewise, motorists need to take precautions to stay safe while sharing the road. A motorcycle's small profile can allow it to disappear in blind spots, get hit at intersections or make its speed difficult for motorists to judge. Motorcyclists often have to adjust their speed or position in a lane because of road conditions, so it's important to stay at least three to four seconds behind. Finally, remember that a motorcycle's turn signal may not be self-canceling.

Most motorcyclists know what precautions they need to take to keep themselves safe on the road. Often, the driver of a car is the one at fault. Many drivers claim they didn't see a biker before causing an accident. Our Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyers can make sure that driver is held accountable for your injuries.

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Rider Injuries

While anyone involved in an accident can suffer serious injuries, riders are much more vulnerable than people riding in cars or trucks. Motorcyclists are exposed to impact with a vehicle or the road since they have nothing more than the gear they're wearing to protect them in an accident. It's no wonder that motorcyclists are five times more likely to be injured than drivers or passengers in cars in the event of an accident.

Some of the most common injuries motorcyclists sustain include:

  • Road Rash: This commonly used term refers to skin injuries suffered when the motorcyclist's exposed skin skids along the pavement. Road rash can lead to scarring and disfigurement, requiring reconstructive surgery or skin grafts. Complications can also ensue when dirt or gravel from the road enters the wound, causing infection.
  • Broken Bones: Accidents often involve direct contact between the motorcyclist's body and another vehicle or a stationary object. Shoulder and pelvis breaks are the most common, but any bone can be broken. Broken bones can lead to major reconstructive surgery and months of missed work.
  • Head Injuries: Helmets are mandatory in New York, but even with a helmet, major head injuries are always a threat. Landing on the head can cause concussions, skull fractures, amnesia, dizziness, chronic headaches and permanent brain damage. These injuries can be truly life-altering.
  • Biker's Arm: This is a severe injury caused when the motorcyclist lands on his or her arm during an accident, as when the bike falls on its side. Such accidents can result in permanent nerve damage, causing the victim to lose some or all function in the limb.
  • Internal Injuries: Bleeding or damage inside the body can be especially dangerous because it's not always readily apparent after an accident. Internal injuries can include liver damage, damage to the spleen, stomach injury and pancreas injury. Blood loss and loss of crucial organ function can quickly turn these injuries grave.
  • Neck, Back and Spine: Motorcyclists who land on their backs during accidents may suffer serious injuries to the back or spinal cord, ranging from slipped discs to paralysis. Injured victims may face chronic pain, reduced mobility and lifelong dependence on pain medications, leading to significant medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

All of these injuries can linger for months or years after an accident and many are life-threatening. Even motorcyclists who survive their accidents may suffer permanent, life-altering changes such as amputation, blindness, hearing loss or chronic pain. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we're committed to getting injury victims the compensation they need to move on in spite of those changes.

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Passenger Injuries

Because of the small size of the vehicle, motorcycle passengers do have a responsibility to conduct themselves safely while riding. A passenger may be held liable for an accident if he or she distracts the driver, unbalances the motorcycle or otherwise behaves recklessly. Still, the vast majority of injured motorcycle passengers are hurt through no fault of their own.

Passengers can suffer all of the same injuries as riders, ranging from road rash to broken bones to serious head injuries. They're often left to deal with life-threatening or life-altering wounds that are entirely the result of someone else's negligence.

If you were hurt as a passenger in a motorcycle accident, you have legal rights. Contact the Law Offices of James Morris to see how we can help you get the justice you deserve.

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Motorcycle Fatalities

Motorcycles can be fun, economical and practical, but for some riders, they can prove exceptionally dangerous. A motorcycle doesn't give the same protection as the enclosed interior of a car. When a vehicle crashes directly into a motorcyclist's body or the cyclist crashes into an object at high speed, fatal injuries can occur.

Most riders who are killed in accidents are involved in two-vehicle crashes. In many cases, the driver of the car is at fault for not seeing the motorcycle or not taking appropriate steps to drive safely around the bike. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to distracted, drunk or reckless drivers. Sometimes, motorists even become more aggressive in the vicinity of a motorcyclist, leading to tragedy.

Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident can change your life forever. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we're here to help you. We'll work relentlessly to pursue compensation in a wrongful death claim and bring you the justice your family deserves.

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