Do injured motorcycle riders receive New York no-fault benefits?

Motorcycle operators and passengers are generally excluded from New York's no-fault benefits. This means an injured rider's medical expenses, lost income, health insurance, and liability claim may need to be handled differently from those of a person injured inside a passenger vehicle. A pedestrian struck by a motorcycle is treated differently and may submit a no-fault claim to the motorcycle's insurer.

What happens if the insurer raises a helmet or protective-equipment issue?

New York requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear approved helmets, and it also imposes eye-protection requirements for operators. An equipment issue may become relevant to whether a particular injury was caused or worsened, but it does not by itself decide every question of fault or eliminate every potential claim.

What does a motorcycle accident lawyer cost?

We work on a contingency fee with no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Clients may be responsible for case-related expenses.

How long do I have to file in New York?

New York generally allows three years from the date of the accident for a personal injury claim, with shorter deadlines in some situations.

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Motorcycle Accidents

Long Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Q: What evidence can help overcome assumptions about motorcycle riders?

It varies — some resolve in months, others take longer when liability is disputed. Several factors affect the timeline, including how strongly liability is contested and the number of parties involved.

Trial-ready representation for riders injured in motorcycle crashes across Nassau County and Long Island — from a firm that counters the bias riders too often face.

Serving Nassau County & Long Island · Office in Great Neck

Free Consultation · No Fee Unless We Win Call (516) 687-9763

$40M+

Recovered for clients*

15+ yrs

Trial litigation focus

360°

Litigation approach

Riders Face an Uphill Fight

Motorcycle crashes often cause severe injuries, and riders face an added obstacle: insurers and juries who assume the rider was at fault. Overcoming that bias takes evidence and a lawyer prepared to prove what really happened.

Marks Law Group represents injured riders across Nassau County, Great Neck, and Long Island. Led by trial attorney Harris Marks, we build every case for trial and fight to hold the at-fault driver accountable. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.

Cases We Handle

Long Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Cases We Handle

Left-Turn & Intersection Crashes

Drivers who fail to yield or don’t see a rider — a leading cause of motorcycle collisions.

Lane-Change & Blind-Spot Crashes

Drivers merging into a rider they never checked for.

Rear-End Collisions

Riders struck from behind, often at stops.

Road-Hazard & Defect Crashes

Potholes, debris, and poor road conditions.

Dooring Accidents

Riders struck by a suddenly opened car door.

Catastrophic-Injury Crashes

Severe injuries requiring long-term care — see our catastrophic injury page.

Countering Rider Bias

Proving the Driver — Not the Rider — Was at Fault

Insurers often assume a motorcyclist was speeding or reckless. We counter that with hard evidence — scene reconstruction, witness accounts, and vehicle data — to show the at-fault driver caused the crash. Documenting the full extent of a rider’s injuries is just as important, since motorcycle injuries are frequently severe.

Scene reconstruction · Witnesses · Vehicle data

Why Marks Law Group

Representation That Fights for Riders

Harris Marks personally leads each case through every phase — investigation, pleadings, depositions, discovery, and trial — using a 360° litigation approach built to negotiate from a position of strength.

Over his career, Harris Marks has recovered more than $40 million for injured clients.

*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

We counter rider bias — with evidence, not assumptions.

Direct access — you work with the attorney handling your case.

No fee unless we win — free consultation and contingency representation.

Serving Nassau County, Great Neck & Long Island.

Common Questions

Motorcycle Accidents FAQ

Are motorcycle accident cases harder to win?

They can be, because of bias against riders — but strong evidence overcomes it. We reconstruct the crash and gather witness accounts to prove the driver was at fault.

What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?

New York requires helmets, and not wearing one can affect a claim, but it doesn’t necessarily bar recovery — especially for injuries a helmet wouldn’t have prevented. Discuss the specifics with an attorney.

What evidence can help overcome assumptions about motorcycle riders?

Useful evidence may include surveillance or dashboard video, witness accounts, vehicle damage, scene measurements, traffic-signal data, phone records, motorcycle inspection results, visibility evidence, protective gear, and the positions of the vehicles before impact. The case should be developed from objective evidence rather than stereotypes about riders.

Does a driver’s statement that they ‘never saw the motorcycle’ decide fault?

No. That statement is one fact to investigate, not a complete explanation of the collision. The investigation should examine whether the driver kept a proper lookout, checked mirrors and blind spots, yielded before turning, signaled a lane change, or was distracted.

Injured While Riding? Let’s Talk Today.

Get a free, no-obligation case review with a trial-ready attorney serving Nassau County and Long Island.

Request a Free Case Review Call (516) 687-9763