If you have been seriously injured in a lane-splitting motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, Kohan Law Group is here to protect your right to just compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Located in Manhasset, our motorcycle accident attorneys have the comprehensive knowledge of the law and sharp legal skills to fight aggressively for clients in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and the five boroughs of New York City. We have a well-earned reputation for compassionate customer service as well as for successful outcomes.
We know that you are now dealing with more than one level of trauma since you are likely under emotional and financial stress in addition to coping with physical incapacity. Contact us now for a free evaluation of your case. We work on contingency which means that you will owe us nothing until we win your case.
What Is Lane-Splitting?
Lane splitting is the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes or rows of sluggish or stopped traffic. Although illegal in New York State, lane-splitting is permitted in a great many states, and by no means uncommon on Long Island or in the boroughs of New York City. However, because the practice is against the law here, if you were lane-splitting at the time of the collision, you will be considered partially to blame for the accident. This is why you need a strong lawyer at your side to win the damages you deserve.
Comparative Negligence Is Part of Lane-Splitting Motorcycle Accidents
No matter how cautiously you were riding your motorcycle, the fact that you were breaking the law by lane-splitting means that our attorneys will have to prove that, even so, the other driver bears a much higher portion of liability for your injury. Fortunately, New York law follows the principle of pure comparative negligence. This means that injury victims can receive damages even if they were more responsible for the accident than the other driver.
The way it works is that the court will assign a percentage of fault to each party in the accident, and if you win a verdict, you will receive the awarded damages minus your percentage of fault. To clarify, if you are awarded $1 million in damages and found to be 20 percent at fault, you win the award minus 20 percent, or $800,000. Because of the complexity of these cases, it is invaluable to have one of our experienced motorcycle attorneys at your side during litigation and negotiations.
Causes of Lane-Splitting Accidents
All too Often, the motorcycle rider is struck by a driver who:
- Is speeding or otherwise driving recklessly
- Changes lanes without signaling
- Fails to look in the rear-view mirror
- Drifts toward the line between lanes
- Turns suddenly, unaware a motorcycle is near
- Is intoxicated, fatigued, or distracted
The faster the speed of the vehicles, the more damaging the impact, but even slow-speed motorcycle-car collisions can be devastating for the motorcyclist.
Reasons Even Slow-Speed Collisions Can Cause Terrible Injuries to Bikers
Without the metal structure of a car around them, motorcyclists can be severely injured in what would be a “fender bender” if it occurred between two cars. Even with the required helmet and other protective gear, in a collision, a biker’s body will almost certainly make direct contact with the other vehicle or the pavement. In a lane-splitting accident, the situation is even more dire because the biker may be caught between two much larger, heavier vehicles.
Catastrophic Injuries Suffered in Lane-Splitting Accidents
All of the following injuries can be incapacitating. All will require a long recovery and rehabilitation period; some will result in one or more surgeries, permanent disability, or even wrongful death:
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Muscle, ligament, and tendon tears
- Loss of sight, hearing
- Permanent disfigurement
- Amputation
- Brain damage
- Paralysis
Our dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys will work hard to bring you the resources you need to overcome your injuries and restart your life.
Damages We Will Fight to Win for You
Kohan Law Group will work hard to recover both economic and non-economic compensatory damages.
Economic damages provide compensation for:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income, present and future
- Property damage or loss
- Extended nursing care
- Alterations to make your home accessible
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, cover intangible losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If the other driver’s recklessness was especially reprehensible (e.g. driving while impaired, driving while texting, road rage), the court may also award you punitive damages.
Wrongful Death
If you and your family have lost a loved one in a lane-splitting motorcycle accident, our motorcycle accident attorneys will seek substantial damages for final medical costs, funeral costs, and loss of financial and emotional support. Though we know that no amount of money can relieve your grief, we will do all we can to bring you a modicum of justice.
Services Kohan Law Group Will Provide
Our motorcycle accident attorneys will deal with the following potential legal and logistical matters while you relax and recover:
- Investigate the site of your accident, forensic evidence, and surveillance videos
- Subpoena smartphone records to determine whether the defendant was texting
- Check whether the defendant has a record of similar negligence or misconduct
- Negotiate forcefully with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
- Examine police reports and medical records
- Interview witnesses
- Identify all responsible parties
- Consult with medical/technical experts whose testimony will support your case
We will create a negotiation strategy so persuasive that we may be able to resolve your case without ever setting foot in the courtroom.
Contact Our Experienced Lane-Splitting Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
At Kohan Law Group, we are well aware of the pervasive prejudice against motorcyclists as reckless risk-takers and are prepared to defend you against such defenses. Contact us now so we may provide you with the outstanding legal representation you need to receive the meaningful compensation you deserve.
Kohan Law Group represents lane-splitting motorcycle accident victims throughout Nassau County as well as in New York City, including Queens and Brooklyn, from their Manhasset office in North Hempstead.