In the State of New York, motorcycle accidents often result in severe injury or death.
Unfortunately, this continues to be one of the most difficult public safety challenges in the state.
Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in New York and how negligent drivers may be liable for them.
What Is the Main Cause of Motorcycle Accidents?
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR), the number one cause of motorcycle accidents in 2020 was driving at an unsafe speed.
This contributing factor alone accounted for 657 crashes with injuries and 89 with deaths in the state of New York.
In fact, speeding caused nearly 50% of all motorcycle crashes involving a fatality.
While some of these fatalities happened to passengers and pedestrians, a majority of them happened to the motorcyclist.
Other Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Despite speeding being the top cause of motorcycle crashes in New York, the second and third highest contributing factors come in close.
Distracted driving was the second most common cause of accidents, resulting in a total of 634 crashes. Only 10 of these motorcycle accidents had a reported fatality, but more than 180 involved property damage.
The third most common factor in New York motorcycle accidents was improper lane changes. In 2020, nearly 20% of all motorcycle accidents reported in New York resulted from a bad lane change.
In addition, 40 of these crashes had a reported death, making improper lane changes the third most deadly cause of motorcycle accidents in the state.
Liability in Motorcycle Crashes
It’s important to keep in mind that the motorcyclist is usually the person injured in a motorcycle accident. In many cases, other drivers don’t even make contact with the motorcyclist, yet they still cause an accident by negligently cutting them off.
This usually happens when the driver:
- Violates a traffic law (runs a red light, makes an illegal turn, etc.),
- Operates their vehicle while drunk or intoxicated,
- Becomes inattentive or distracted, or
- Falls asleep at the wheel.
If a motorcycle accident doesn’t involve another driver, there may be other factors at play. For example, if the city leaves a hazard on the road, the government may be liable for an accident caused by that hazard.
In addition, if a defective part on the bike causes the accident, the manufacturer may be liable.
Since there are many possibilities when it comes to motorcycle crashes, it’s important to seek a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney.
Injured in a New York Motorcycle Accident? Call Us Today
Whether you get into an accident due to a negligent driver, government entity, or manufacturer, you don’t have to go through it alone.
At the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, we know how difficult it is to manage a claim during recovery. Our goal is to help you get back on your feet, both physically and financially.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact us online or give us a call at 516-280-7311 to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve clients throughout the state of New York from our offices in Garden City, Queens, and Huntington.
Theodore A. Naima
Theodore A. Naima is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, a Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Firm based in New York. In 2015, Ted was awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the company that has long been recognized as setting the gold standard for lawyer ratings, signifying the highest degree of peer recognition and professional excellence.
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