The state of New York requires all motorcycle owners to have a license and insurance covering their liability for any accidents. This is similar to car ownership with one glaring difference. The minimum insurance policy for a car will still carry the no-fault limit of $50,000 for PIP-Personal Injury Protection. Mandatory insurance for a motorcycle does not have personal injury protection available. There is only a medical payment coverage available but it’s limited to $10,000 and should be purchased by the motorcycle owner. But that coverage is not going to be very helpful when the accident they are in is caused by a car or truck colliding with them.
Motorcycle Accident Involvement
In New York City alone thus far this year, motorcycles have been involved in over 280 accidents. Motorcycles; being smaller than cars; are harder for truck drivers, bus operators, and automobile drivers to see. This does put the motorcyclist in a position to be sure that they are careful every time they go out for a ride. But that doesn’t mean that the negligent or distracted driving that leads to these accidents can be ignored. The accidents in New York thus far this year involving distracted/inattentive drivers alone are up to 5,869; and sometimes, it is a motorcycle they collide with.
Additional Dangers for the Motor Cycle Rider
And since the motorcycle is so much smaller and the rider is unprotected except for a helmet, the potential for serious injuries is very prevalent. That is why mandatory helmet laws were enacted. Although that may have helped decrease some injuries, there are still too many times in the past that a motorcyclist has complied with the law and still suffers from a serious injury through no fault of their own.
When all has been done correctly by the motorcycle rider and there is still an accident, the motorcyclist will need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to properly represent them and their fight for compensation from an at-fault driver.
