Rochester Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Proudly Serving Buffalo & the Surrounding Counties

​At Faraci Lange, LLP, we have been handling motorcycle accident cases since our inception in 1968. Our past experience handling these cases, as well as our medical resources and litigation background, uniquely qualifies us to effectively represent those who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. If you have questions related to a recent motorcycle accident in which you or a loved one was injured, we encourage you to reach out to our motorcycle accident attorneys in Rochester as soon as possible for a free and confidential consultation.

Need help filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit? Call us at (888) 997-4110 or fill out our online contact form to receive a call from our intake coordinator within 24 hours.

On This Page:

• Motorcycle Crash Stats
• Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
• Commonly Sustained Injuries
• New York Statute of Limitations
• Can I Still Receive Compensation If I Wasn't Wearing a Helmet?
• How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth In a Motorcycle Accident?
• Motorcyclists Are Not Covered By No-Fault Laws
• How to Win A Motorcycle Accident Case
• Recommended Reading

Did You Know?

• Motorcycles make up nearly 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States
• Motorcycles account for 0.7% of all vehicle miles traveled
• 5% of all traffic fatalities involve either drivers or riders of motorcycles
• Motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash

The lack of protection and separation of the rider from the motorcycle can lead to severe, if not fatal, injuries when motorcycle collisions occur.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

Far too often, when a motorcycle is involved in an accident, the general perception is that the motorcyclist was traveling too fast or driving in a dangerous manner. Although each case is different, that perception is not always correct and is, in fact, often wrong.

In 2008, there were 2,387 two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and another vehicle. In 41% of these crashes, the other vehicle was turning left when the motorcycle was traveling straight. This is your typical motorcycle accident; the driver of a car does not see or perceive the motorcycle and turns left in front of or into the motorcycle.

Other common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Traffic violations
• Failure to yield the right-of-way
• Failure to obey traffic control devices
• Unsafe road conditions
• Defective construction
• Improper signage
• General motorist negligence

What Injuries are Most Commonly Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents?

Similar to trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents often result in fairly catastrophic injuries. This is because motorcycles offer less protection for riders than the typical passenger vehicle does. Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Head injuries (especially if the rider was not wearing a helmet)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken or shattered limbs
• Internal organ damage
• Severe road rash
• Burn injuries
• Accidental amputations

What is the Statute of Limitations on Motorcycle Accident Claims?

In Rochester, New York, there is a strict time limit on filing a motorcycle accident claim. Motorcyclists have three years to file a claim after the motorcycle crash. There are nuances to this rule, however. If the accident resulted in a fatality, the plaintiff will have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our team can work to build a strong claim in a timely manner to ensure that you have the best opportunity possible of receiving maximum compensation.

Can I Still Receive Compensation If I Wasn't Wearing a Helmet?

In most cases, yes, you may still be eligible for compensation even if you weren't wearing a helmet at the time of your crash. However, there is a chance that the other driver may cite your lack of safety gear as a contributing factor to your injuries. For example, they may argue that if you had been wearing a helmet, you wouldn't have suffered a brain injury. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you navigate this type of situation and help fight to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.

How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth In a Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accidents can lead to pain and suffering in many different ways:

• Scarring or disfigurement that leads to insecurity or emotional distress
• PTSD resulting from your motorcycle accident
• Mental anguish or loss of enjoyment of life
• Insomnia or night terrors resulting from your motorcycle accident

Calculating the value of pain and suffering is difficult because unlike economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) there is no set monetary value. In general pain and suffering can be calculated using one of two methods: the Multiplier Method or the Per Diem Method. For more information about calculating damages for pain and suffering after a motorcycle accident you can speak to our attorneys in a free, no-obligation consultation.

If you would like to consult with a Rochester motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm about your recent crash, please fill out a contact form and our intake coordinator will get in touch with you to get more information.

Motorcyclists Are NOT Covered Under New York State’s No-Fault Law

Unfortunately, New York State no-fault benefits do not apply to motorcyclists. Therefore, medical benefits and lost wage benefits will not be paid by no-fault insurance. Instead, medical bills must be paid by the injured party's HMO or the victim personally. You may seek compensation/reimbursement for your medical bills if the other involved motorist was at fault for the accident, but to do so, you will need to bring a third-party claim against their insurance provider or file a personal injury lawsuit.

How Do You Win a Motorcycle Case?

In order to prevail in a motorcycle case, we must prove that the operator of the other vehicle was negligent and that this negligence caused the accident and your injuries. We must then go on to prove the practical significance of your injuries, meaning what economic and non-economic losses they have caused you to suffer (medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, motorcycle damage repairs, etc.).

Our emphasis on trial preparation helps us to develop each case so that we can overcome juror bias against motorcyclists. With the help of our on-staff nurses and our past experience in representing people who have been severely injured, we are often able to effectively communicate the injuries and their practical significance to the insurance carrier and to the jury. This helps us in achieving our goal of obtaining the best potential outcome for our motorcycle accident clients.

At Faraci Lange, LLP, we have been representing motorcycle accident victims successfully for nearly 40 years. We have the resources and skill to analyze and prosecute these types of cases.

If you or somebody you care about was injured in a motorcycle accident please call us at or fill out an online contact form to request a free initial consultation with our motorcycle accident lawyers in Rochester.

Recommended Reading:

• How Long Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Take?
• How Can We Prevent Motorcycle Accidents?
• What is the Average Payout for a Motorcycle Accident?