If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Smithtown, NY, motorcycle crash caused by a careless driver, our team can help you hold the at-fault party accountable. You can pursue compensation and get justice based on your injuries, expenses, and losses. Our lawyers are here to help.
A Smithtown personal injury attorney from Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, can assess your case, answer your questions, and offer advice about your next steps during a free consultation with our team. Call us today to get started.
What Damages Will a Smithtown Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Pursue in My Case?
When our motorcycle accident attorneys manage a case after a Long Island motorcycle accident, we aim to build a compelling case to hold the at-fault party responsible and recover fair compensation for our client. However, determining how much the case might be worth is more complex. First, we must investigate and document their damages.
Next, we work with expert witnesses to understand any potential future expenses and losses caused by their collision and injuries. Lastly, we must value their intangible costs, such as the physical pain and emotional distress they experienced. Only after taking these steps can we establish a potential fair settlement range for the crash case.
Some of the recoverable damages we often pursue for clients injured in a motorcycle accident include:
- Medical evaluation, treatment, and care, both current and future
- Ongoing care and support for long-term injuries
- Lost income, current and future
- Diminished earning ability for lasting impairments
- Related expenses with documentation
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic losses
Unfortunately, motorcyclists are at an increased risk of fatal injuries over occupants of vehicles hurt in similar crashes. When an accident victim passes away, their family may recover compensation and hold the at-fault driver accountable through a wrongful death action.
Per EPTL § 5-4.1, only the victim’s personal representative can file a New York state wrongful death lawsuit. Our Smithtown lawyers work with this estate executor to navigate the process and seek fair compensation for surviving family members.
You can learn more during a free consultation with our team.
Why Choose Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, as Your Smithtown Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers?
At Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, we have been fighting for the rights of injured victims since 1938. We understand how important it is to recover fair compensation so you can pay for your medical care, lost income, and future expenses. We also know this process is difficult or impossible to navigate on your own while facing serious or catastrophic injuries.
We Ride, We Understand
Our motorcycle accident lawyers know that a crash can occur at any time and cause significant physical, emotional, and financial disruptions for victims and their loved ones. We treat each case with the respect it deserves and offer each client personalized attention and support. We will not settle for less than you deserve, regardless of the complexity of your case or the challenges we must face to prepare it for trial.
Our attorneys have a long track record of success, including many multi-million dollar
settlements and verdicts recovered for our clients. Some recent examples include:
- $3,000,000 settlement for a family whose loved one died after a left-turning truck failed to yield and struck the motorcyclist
- $1,900,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who was struck by a truck that failed to yield and turned left in front of her, resulting in serious injuries that required several surgeries
- $1,700,000 settlement for a motorcycle passenger who lost her husband and suffered severe injuries when a driver turned left in front of them
- $1,500,000 settlement for a client who suffered serious, long-term injuries when another driver cut them off, causing a motorcycle accident
- $1,250,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who suffered a traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture, and other major injuries when he was struck by a limo that swerved into his lane
We do not charge upfront fees or costs to handle your case. Instead, you will only pay after we settle your case—and win. You can learn more about our experience handling similar cases and the knowledge and resources of our team during a free consultation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Smithtown
As Smithtown car accident lawyers, our attorneys investigate many traffic collisions. We understand the mistakes drivers make behind the wheel and what contributes to serious injury crashes. Some of the most common reasons accidents occur include:
- Distracted Driving: While we often think of texting or cell phone use as the primary cause of distractions, anything that takes the motorist’s full attention from safely driving could cause distracted driving. Even a mental or emotional distraction could mean a driver fails to see an oncoming motorcyclist.
- Drunk or Drugged Driving: Drunk or drugged motorists are more likely to cause collisions because they are not thinking clearly, have slowed reaction times, and could be experiencing other deficits related to their impairment.
- Speeding: When drivers exceed the speed limit, they do not have as much time to react to a problem or stop when they see a motorcyclist. In addition, collisions at higher speeds often cause more severe injuries.
- Driving Too Fast for Conditions: When there is ice, rain, fog, heavy traffic, or road construction, drivers must slow down to a safe speed. Failure to do so could lead to collisions caused by their inability to navigate the conditions safely.
- Carelessness: Many crashes are caused by carelessness. A driver makes a careless mistake behind the wheel, violates a traffic law, and causes an accident. For example, they may not double-check for smaller vehicles in an adjacent lane before moving into it.
The commonality in all of these factors is that they cause drivers to act negligently. Negligence in a motorcycle collision occurs when:
- A driver owes a motorcyclist a duty of care, generally to follow a traffic law
- The driver breaches the duty
- Their violation of the traffic law causes the crash
- The motorcyclist has injuries and financial losses
Some laws drivers often violate to cause motorcycle accidents include:
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic, especially when turning left
- Failure to stop for red lights or stop signs
- Failure to maintain their lane
- Failure to clear an adjacent lane before merging or changing lanes
Our Smithtown personal injury team investigates these cases regularly. We know the types of evidence often available and how to develop a compelling case to hold the at-fault driver accountable. This is crucial to recovering the money our clients need to pay for their current and future treatment, rehabilitation, and care.
Our Motorcycle Collision Lawyers Develop Strong Cases Based on Smithtown Accidents
No matter how closely you follow all the leading motorcycle safety tips, a careless or reckless driver can change your life in an instant. Our Smithtown attorneys believe in holding these drivers legally responsible and getting justice for Long Island accident victims.
We will gather evidence to support your insurance claim or motorcycle accident lawsuit. This evidence could include:
- The police accident report
- Eyewitness statements
- An accident scene survey
- Video of the crash
- Photos from the scene
- Relevant medical records
- Accident reconstruction
- Expert testimony
- Documentation of damages
Using the evidence we gather, we have several options for recovering the money you need and deserve. This could include:
- Demanding fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance provider
- Suing the at-fault driver in civil court
- Using alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation or arbitration to close the case
Generally, we win cases for our clients by negotiating settlements based on insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits. However, we will not settle for less money than the facts show our client deserves. We will proceed to trial if necessary to secure fair compensation.
To build a strong case, we must ensure we have access to as much evidence as possible. For this reason, it is imperative that you contact us as soon as possible after your crash. Evidence is often time sensitive, and we could lose access if we do not act quickly enough to preserve it. In addition, we only have a limited time to sue the at-fault driver under CVP § 214.
Discuss Your Smithtown Motorcycle Accident Injuries With Our Team for Free
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, offers free case consultations for crash victims and their families. We will assess your rights and answer your questions. One of our Smithtown motorcycle accident attorneys can manage your claim and help you seek compensation based on the circumstances of your crash.
We are here for you now. Call us today to get started. Let Our Family, Help Your Family.