What a lovely Saturday morning, you are cruising along Sunrise Highway. You have the wind in your face, the traffic is flowing nicely, and you are already thinking about that great breakfast place in Montauk. Suddenly – SHOCK. Some fool in an SUV hits your bike without waiting and goes off as if nothing had happened.
That is the nightmare that is the hit and run accident for every motorcyclist.
If you have experienced this situation, then you know how impotent it feels. You are only a moment off from taking your ride, and then there you are lying on the road with your hands full of gravel and the fleeing vehicles’ taillights vanishing into the traffic, but here is the catch- you might not be as powerless as you think.
Article Breakdown
How a Long Island Attorney Changes the Game
This is where having a good Long Island motorcycle accident attorney in your corner makes all the difference. Think of them as your personal pit crew – they know the track, they know the rules, and they definitely know how to win.
They Know Where to Look for Evidence
A skilled attorney doesn’t just accept “we can’t find the other driver” as the end of the story. They’ll hunt down security cameras from nearby businesses, check traffic cams, and track down witnesses you didn’t even know existed.
That bodega on the corner of your accident? Might have caught everything on their parking lot camera. The construction crew working down the road? One of those guys probably saw the whole thing happen. Your lawyer knows how to find these golden nuggets of evidence before they disappear forever.
Why Hit and Run Cases Hit Motorcyclists Harder
Let’s be real about something. When a car hits another car and takes off, it’s bad. When a car hits a motorcycle and bolts? That’s a whole different level of awful.
Motorcyclists don’t have that protective metal cage around them. No airbags, no crumple zones – just you, your gear, and whatever luck you can scrape together. This means injuries are usually more serious, medical bills pile up faster, and recovery takes way longer.
The worst part? The person responsible for the disaster had gone. The person did not stay to assist, did not dial 911, and furthermore, did not verify your condition. Such events, besides that they affect your brain as much as they affect your body, really can mess with your head.
What Makes These Cases So Tricky
Here’s where it gets complicated. Regular car accidents are tough enough to handle, but hit and run cases throw in a bunch of extra curveballs that can knock you off balance.
First off, there’s no driver to point to. You can’t exactly call up the guy who hit you and ask for his details. Sometimes you didn’t even get a good look at the car – everything happened too fast, or you were too busy trying not to become roadkill.
Then there’s the evidence problem. Without another driver around, proving what actually happened becomes a real headache. Did you swerve into traffic? Was there road debris? Were you speeding? Suddenly, everyone’s playing detective, and you’re the one who has to prove your case.
Compensation companies love this stuff – and not in a good way. They’ll use every trick in the book to minimize what they have to pay out. “Well, if we can’t find the other driver, maybe our client was partially at fault…” You get the picture.
They Can Tap Into Special Resources
Here’s something most people don’t know: New York has something called the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). It’s basically a safety net for hit and run victims who can’t recover damages from the fleeing driver.
But – and this is a big but – getting money from MVAIC isn’t automatic. The process is governed by very detailed schedules, with required procedures and official documentation that should be done correctly. Not meeting one deadline or completing one form incorrectly, and you will be without any assistance.
A good attorney handles all this behind-the-scenes stuff while you focus on getting better.
What to Do Right After a Hit and Run
In the event that you are caught in this terrifying situation, these are the steps that you must take – and these things are very important:
Stay where you are and make an emergency call to 911 without delay. Trying to track the other vehicle is definitely not a good option. You may be more injured than you think and it is highly likely that you will end up getting into more trouble if you try to follow someone in a car that is already damaged.
Recall as many details as you can. License plate number, make and model of the car, color, and any damage to the vehicle – no matter how small. Before the shock fades away and your memory gets foggy, write it down or make a voice recording of it on your phone.
Look for witnesses. Anyone who saw what happened could be the key to your entire case. Get names and phone numbers. Don’t assume the cops will handle this part; they’re dealing with traffic and medical stuff.
Take photos of everything. Your bike, your injuries, the accident scene, skid marks, debris, document it all. Your phone camera is one of your most powerful tools right now.
The Clock is Ticking
Here’s something that might surprise you: New York gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but MVAIC claims have much tighter deadlines. You’ve got 90 days to give them notice of your claim, and two years to actually file it.
If you fail to meet those deadlines, no matter how solid your case will be, the result is that you have no case. That is the very reason why it is not only wise but also a must to get in touch with a lawyer soon after your accident. The lawyer will take care of all the necessary deadlines while you concentrate on your recovery.
