Motorcycle Accidents

Staten Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Riders Have No Margin for Error. Neither Do We.

Without a frame, airbags, or seatbelts, motorcyclists have nothing between them and the road. Crashes that would leave a car driver shaken can leave a rider with broken bones, severe road rash, catastrophic injuries, or worse. Even moderate speeds can be deadly.

The Chernyy Law Office, P.C. represents motorcyclists injured throughout Staten Island and New York City, including Brooklyn. We understand the specific challenges these cases present. Chief among them is the bias that insurers routinely exploit to shift blame onto riders, regardless of what the evidence shows. We know how to push back, and we’re willing to go to trial to do it.

When you call us, you reach a lawyer directly, not a call center or intake staff. We’re available 24/7, we handle every motorcycle accident case on a contingency fee basis, and there’s no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Injured in a motorcycle accident? Call (888) 342-0810 or contact us online for a free consultation with our Staten Island motorcycle accident attorneys. There is no fee unless we recover money from your case.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents on Staten Island Roads

Left-turn collisions are among the most frequent crash types. A driver turning across traffic fails to see an oncoming rider or misjudges their speed, and the collision happens before either party can react. The rider has the right of way and no time to use it.

Unsafe lane changes are equally dangerous. Drivers who don’t check their blind spots before merging can throw a rider from their bike or trap them between vehicles. A motorcycle’s smaller profile doesn’t reduce the driver’s obligation to look before moving.

Tailgating leaves riders with almost no margin when traffic slows suddenly. When a car follows too closely, a sudden stop can make a collision unavoidable.

Road conditions that barely register for a car driver can be life-threatening for a rider. A deep pothole, loose gravel, or uneven pavement can cause an immediate loss of control. Staten Island’s major corridors, the Staten Island Expressway (I-278), West Shore Expressway, Hylan Boulevard, and Richmond Avenue, as well as the bridge approaches at the Goethals, Bayonne, and Outerbridge Crossing, are settings where these hazards and collision risks concentrate.

Severe Injuries Common in Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle accidents produce injuries far more severe than those in most car accidents. Riders have no protective barrier between themselves and the road or other vehicles, and that absence changes everything about the outcome.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Helmets are essential, but they can’t eliminate the risk of a traumatic brain injury when impact forces are severe or the helmet is displaced during the crash. These injuries can produce permanent cognitive, behavioral, and mobility consequences, and they often leave families facing a long, uncertain recovery with no clear endpoint.

Road Rash & Scarring

Road rash is far more serious than it sounds. In severe cases, sliding across pavement tears through multiple layers of skin and requires skin grafts or months of intensive wound care. Permanent scarring and disfigurement are recognized under New York law as distinct compensable harms in a fault-based claim.

Fractures & Crushing Injuries

Fractures are common, particularly in the arms, legs, wrists, and collarbone. A rider’s instinct to brace for impact can shatter a wrist or shoulder on contact. In other situations, the weight of the bike itself causes crushing injuries to the feet or legs.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries carry the devastating possibility of partial or complete paralysis and a lifetime of care needs. They require thorough documentation from the start and significantly affect the value of any resulting claim.

Internal Bleeding & Organ Damage

Internal bleeding and organ damage are among the most dangerous outcomes because they may not be apparent immediately after the crash. By the time symptoms emerge, the situation can be life-threatening. The severity and permanence of injuries like these directly shape the economic and non-economic damages an injured rider may be entitled to pursue.

No Fee Unless You Recover Compensation from Your Case Call Now For a Free Consultation

There is no fee unless you recover money from your case.

How We Handle Motorcycle Accident Cases

Anti-rider bias isn’t just a social problem. It’s a litigation strategy. Insurance adjusters use stereotypes about motorcyclists to justify low offers, and countering that narrative requires evidence-driven advocacy from day one. We understand how these crashes happen, and we know how to dismantle the arguments insurers use to avoid paying.

Your case gets our full attention. Our lawyers are available seven days a week, and you deal directly with the attorney handling your case, not support staff or rotating contacts. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. That matters when medical bills are mounting and you can’t work. When an insurer won’t offer fair compensation, we take the case to trial.

Who May Be Liable for Your Motorcycle Accident

The at-fault driver is the most common defendant, but liability can extend further. A vehicle owner may be responsible when someone else was driving their car. An employer may share liability when the negligent driver was on the job. Identifying every potentially liable party matters because it determines the total insurance coverage available that may compensate you.

When a defective tire, brake system, or other component contributed to the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may also be liable under product liability law. Road conditions are another avenue. When a neglected pothole or deteriorating pavement caused the accident, the city agency responsible for maintenance may be a defendant. One critical deadline applies: Under New York General Municipal Law, a Notice of Claim must be filed against any government entity within 90 days of the accident. Missing that window can forfeit your right to sue that defendant entirely.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Staten Island

The steps you take immediately after a crash affect both your health and your claim. Acting quickly on each of these protects both.

Steps to take after a motorcycle accident:

Call 911. A police report is foundational evidence for any motorcycle accident claim and documents the scene while facts are fresh.
Seek medical attention promptly. Serious injuries including internal bleeding and traumatic brain injury may not present symptoms right away. A medical record ties your injuries to the crash.
Document the scene if able. Photograph vehicle positions, road conditions, damage, and any visible injuries before the scene is cleared.
Don’t give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters are trained to use those statements to minimize payouts. Speak with an attorney before giving any statement to any insurer.
Contact a motorcycle accident attorney early. Evidence fades and witnesses become harder to locate quickly after a crash. Early involvement gives us the best opportunity to preserve what matters.

Don’t let bias stand between you and fair compensation. Call The Chernyy Law Office, P.C. at (888) 342-0810 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our Staten Island motorcycle accident attorneys. There is no fee unless we recover money from your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does My Car’s No-Fault Coverage Apply When I’m Riding My Motorcycle?

No. Your car’s no-fault policy doesn’t follow you onto a motorcycle. New York law explicitly excludes motorcyclists from Personal Injury Protection benefits under Article 51 of the Insurance Law, regardless of what other coverage you carry. As an injured rider, you must pursue a fault-based claim against the driver who caused the accident.

Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault?

Yes. New York follows pure comparative negligence, which means partial fault doesn’t bar you from recovering damages. Your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you’re found 25% at fault, you may recover 75% of your total damages. Insurers will argue for a higher fault percentage to reduce what they owe, which is one reason legal representation matters from the start.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Motorcycle Accident?

Generally, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. There’s one critical exception: If a government entity such as a city agency responsible for road maintenance is involved, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident. Missing that deadline can forfeit your right to sue that defendant entirely.

Do I Have to Prove a “Serious Injury” to Sue for Pain & Suffering?

No. Unlike car accident victims, motorcyclists aren’t subject to the serious injury threshold under New York’s no-fault law. Because motorcycles are excluded from the PIP system, injured riders can pursue pain-and-suffering damages without satisfying that requirement, regardless of how their injury is classified.

What If the Driver Who Hit Me Had No Insurance?

New York law requires uninsured motorist coverage on motorcycle policies. If the at-fault driver had no insurance or insufficient coverage to compensate you fully, your own policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide a path to recovery. We review all available coverage sources when evaluating a claim so no available source is overlooked.

Why Clients Trust Our Firm

The Right Firm Makes a Difference

We Take an Individual Approach to Every Case We Handle

We give every client our full attention, urgency, and care from start to finish, ensuring no detail is overlooked and no question goes unanswered.
Accessible & Responsive
Our firm is available seven days a week, often providing direct access to your attorney, so you’re never left wondering about your case.
Relentless Advocacy Against Insurance Companies
We fight insurance companies to the very end and are fully prepared to go to trial if they refuse to offer fair compensation.
Decades of Combined Experience
With over 50 years of combined experience and millions recovered for clients, we know how to secure the compensation you deserve.
Free Consultations

We offer free consultations to review your case and explain your options, so you can get started with confidence and no upfront costs. You pay nothing unless we recover money from your case.
Extensive Courtroom Experience
Our attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial whenever necessary, using their courtroom experience to fight for the best possible outcome.

Take the First Step

Reach Out for a Free Consultation

At The Chernyy Law Office, P.C., we're always ready to take your call! Give us a call at (888) 342-0810 or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members.

First Name
Last Name
Phone
Email
Are you a new client?
How can we help you?
By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from The Chernyy Law Office, P.C. at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy

Contact 888-342-0810

Address

171 Westwood Ave
Staten Island, NY 10314

Map & Directions

Follow Us