Motorcycle, E-Bike & Scooter Accidents

If you were hurt riding a motorcycle, an e-bike, a Fly bike, or a scooter in Brooklyn or anywhere in New York City, call us. We have represented injured people since 1993, and there is no fee unless we recover.

The type of bike or scooter you were riding can affect what insurance is available to you. Call us quickly so we can sort out your coverage and protect everything you are entitled to.

Why these crashes are different

Riders have almost no protection, so a crash a driver would walk away from can mean broken bones, a head injury, or worse. The causes repeat: a driver who says "I never saw him," a car turning left across your path, a door opened into you, a driver merging into your lane.

Riders also face a bias drivers do not. Insurance companies, and sometimes juries, start from the assumption that the rider was speeding or riding recklessly. Your case has to be built against that assumption from the first day.

Bike lanes

Some of the worst crashes we see happen in the bike lane. Someone parked alongside it opens a door without looking, and the rider has nowhere to go. Cars stopped or double-parked in the lane, and drivers cutting across it to turn, cause many of the rest.

Cases we handle

• Motorcycle crashes with cars, trucks, and buses

• E-bike, Fly bike, and electric scooter accidents

• Dooring accidents in and alongside bike lanes

• Riders hit by a turning vehicle

• Delivery riders hurt on the job

• Crashes caused by potholes and broken pavement

• Hit-and-run crashes involving riders

• Crashes with rideshare and delivery vehicles

What we have to prove, and why we have to move fast

To win your case we generally have to show that the other driver did something careless, and that it caused your injuries. Where a pothole or broken pavement in a bike lane caused the crash, the City may be responsible — but we usually have to show the City knew about the defect, and records like 311 complaints and earlier repair work are how that gets proven.

Every one of those proofs lives in evidence that disappears. Store and traffic video is often erased within days. Witnesses move. The road gets repaved. Your bike gets repaired or scrapped. Nothing we do later recovers what was lost in the first weeks.

What to do after a crash

Get medical care first, even if you feel all right. Some injuries take hours or days to show.

Then, if you can:

• Photograph the vehicles, the road, and your injuries

• Keep your helmet, gear, and the bike or scooter exactly as they are

• Get the names and numbers of any witnesses

• Note any cameras nearby

• Do not give a statement to the other driver's insurance company before you talk to us

Even if you were partly at fault, you may still have a claim.

How long do I have?

Most accident claims in New York must be brought within three years. If your claim is against the City or another public agency, the deadline is far shorter — usually a notice of claim within 90 days. How long do I have to sue?

Why calling early matters

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we recover for you.

The Law Offices of Kaplan & Kaplan is a Brooklyn personal injury and civil rights law firm representing people injured throughout New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. To speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer about your case, call us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to hire you?

The Law Offices of Kaplan & Kaplan only gets paid if we successfully recover on your case. We advance all disbursements (costs and expenses) necessary to prosecute your case and only recover the disbursements if we are successful. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case.

How long do I have to sue?

Three years for most accidents — but only 90 days if the City or another government agency is responsible. More about the deadlines.

What if I was partly at fault?

Even if you were partly at fault, you may still have a claim. That makes how fault is investigated and proven more important than ever. The sooner we are involved, the sooner we can secure the evidence.

Should I talk to the insurance company?

Do not give a recorded statement before you have spoken with a lawyer, and do not sign anything. Refer anyone who contacts you about the case to your lawyer. Call us before you talk to them. What to do after an accident.