Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. is a dedicated legal team with decades of experience advocating for individuals injured in motorcycle accidents caused by others. The expenses from emergency medical care, extended rehabilitation, counseling, lost wages, and more can quickly add up, regardless of whether you have health insurance. We are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Mainetti & Mainetti P.C.’s Poughkeepsie personal injury law office is located at 9 Mansion St #224, Poughkeepsie 12601.
845-404-1700
Injured? Contact us today for a free personal injury consultation.
ContactHurt on a bike? Call Alex and Mike!
Dutchess County Motorcycle Injuries: By the Numbers
In Dutchess County, our research shows that about a third of motorcycle crashes are due to excessive speeds, while a quarter are the result of failure to yield or right-of-way errors.
According to the statistics for 2022, some towns in Dutchess County are notorious for motorcycle accidents:
- Wappingers Falls: 8 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- LaGrange: 7 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Fishkill: 7 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- City of Poughkeepsie: 6 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- East Fishkill: 5 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Hyde Park: 4 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Dover: 4 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Pawling: 3 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Washington: 3 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
- Clinton: 3 Personal Injury Motorcycle Crashes
If you’re a Dutchess County or Poughkeepsie resident who found themselves in an accident or crash, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident Occurs
- Document conditions of the Scene
- Seek Medical Care
- Don’t Post on Social Media
- Don’t Speak with the OTHER Insurance Company
- Set Up a Claim with YOUR Insurance Company
- Call Us
Motorcycle accidents can often be caused by:
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
These accidents occur when a car or truck driver fails to yield to a motorcyclist who has the right of way, leading to a collision. Often, drivers fail to notice motorcyclists due to their smaller size, resulting in this dangerous oversight. Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to severe injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, because their vehicles offer little protection.
Unsafe Speeds
Many crashes happen when motorcyclists travel at unsafe speeds, whether to keep up with traffic or simply because they are driving too fast. High speeds reduce reaction time to changing traffic or road conditions, increasing the risk of losing control. Even when another driver is at fault, motorcyclists are often blamed for accidents involving excessive speed.
Driver Inattention or Distraction
With the rise of cell phone use and other electronic devices, distracted driving has become widespread. Distracted drivers may not notice motorcyclists in time to avoid a collision, fail to yield the right of way, or disregard traffic signals. Inattention can also contribute to motorcycle accidents, as drivers may not be fully focused on the road or their surroundings, making it harder to see motorcyclists.
How Motorcyclists Can Reduce Their Risk
Motorcyclists can take several precautions to minimize their accident risk. Wearing helmets and protective gear—such as jackets, pants, and gloves—can reduce the severity of injuries in an accident. Riders should stay alert, drive defensively, and anticipate the actions of other drivers. It’s also important for motorcyclists to know their limits and avoid riding at speeds beyond their abilities or their bike’s capabilities.
Dutchess County Motorcycle Injury Results
In 2024 police preliminaries show 53 motorcyclists hurt and 4 involved in fatal wrecks county-wide. With roughly 18,769 registered riders, that’s 1 injury for every 350 bikes on local roads this year.
2023 data put the Town of Poughkeepsie at #1 (13 injury + 2 fatal crashes), followed by Fishkill (7) and Wappinger (7). If you ride the Route 9 corridor, extra vigilance pays off.
2024 crash reports list: Unsafe speed – 18 crashes (2 fatal), Improper passing/lane use – 13, Failure to yield – 8 (1 fatal), Driver inexperience – 7, Driver distraction – 6.
Knowing these patterns helps you ride defensively.
Unfortunately no – motorcycles are excluded from NY’s no-fault rule. That means your own PIP benefits don’t kick in, but we can pursue the at-fault driver’s liability policy and your UM/SUM coverage for medical bills, lost wages and pain-and-suffering.
Typical damages include all medical expenses, lost earnings (past & future), rehab costs, bike replacement, and noneconomic losses like pain, loss of enjoyment, and scarring. Families may also seek wrongful-death damages.
You generally have 3 years from the crash date. Municipal defendants? A Notice of Claim may be due in 90 days, so call us ASAP.
New York uses pure comparative negligence. You can still recover compensation, reduced only by your percentage of fault. Our investigation often shifts much of the blame back where it belongs.
We work on a contingency fee. You owe nothing unless we win, then our fee is a set percentage of the recovery approved by NY law.
Recent motorcycle case highlights: $5,000,025 leg-amputation verdict, $3,500,000 crash recovery, $1,100,000 lumbar-injury settlement, all for Dutchess County or Hudson Valley clients.
1) Call 911 and get medical help. 2) Document the scene (photos, GoPro, witnesses). 3) Don’t post about the wreck, and don’t talk to the other insurer. 4) Notify your carrier. 5) Call us for a free consult – we’ll handle the rest while you heal.
