There are 21,561 registered motorcyclists in Orange County, NY, and in 2024, police-reported statistics say that 116 of them were injured in motorcycle crashes, and 12 tragically passed away in crashes. In this blog post, we’re going to dive deeper into what’s actually causing these crashes, and discuss how motorcyclists can protect themselves from crashes.
If you’ve gotten into a crash near Newburgh, Tuxedo, the Town of Wallkill, or Wawayanda, we’re here to help. The first thing to know that is that motorcyclists are not covered under New York’s “no-fault” laws; this means that motorcycle insurance does not have an obligation to pay for lost wages or medical bills. Often, the only way a motorcyclist can be reimbursed for their lost wages, medical expenses and other related losses is to bring a lawsuit against the person or the company that was responsible, and their insurance company.
To get help after a crash, contact Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. and set up a free motorcycle personal injury consultation at our convenient New Windsor, NY office.
1. Unsafe Speeds – 39 crashes
Of the 39 Orange County, NY motorcycle crashes were caused by unsafe speeds, 32 resulted in personal injuries, and seven were fatal.
To reduce your risk: stick to posted speed limits, and adjust based on road and weather conditions. Maintain a safe 2-4 second gap from vehicles ahead, and increase that distance in poor weather or when there is limited visibility. Use progressive braking instead of slamming on them, and avoid speeding in high-risk areas like intersections, near driveways, or around parked cars.
2. Failure to Yield Right-of-Way – 23 crashes
21 of the Orange County, NY motorcycle crashes resulted in personal injuries, and two resulted in fatalities.
To reduce your risk, increase visibility with bright or reflective gear and use headlights during the day. Be extra cautious at intersections by covering your brakes (in case a vehicle pulls out unexpectedly) and slowing down and scanning for hazards. Position yourself for maximum awareness by avoiding blind spots, using lane positioning where you have an escape route, and stay toward the left or right of your lane. Avoid riding in groups at intersections; spread out to improve visibility and reaction time.
3. Passing/Lane Changing/Improper Use – 16 crashes
14 of the Orange County, NY motorcycle crashes resulted in personal injuries, and two were fatal.
To reduce the risk of a crash, always check your blind spots thoroughly before changing lanes, signal well in advance, and pass with confidence and caution. Avoid passing on curves or hills, and watch for oncoming traffic. Be predictable, stay out of drivers’ blind spots, and avoid swerving between lanes.
4. Reaction to Other Uninvolved Vehicle – 8 crashes
Of the eight Orange County, NY motorcycle crashes, seven resulted in personal injury, and one was fatal.
Maintaining situational awareness is key; use the SEE (Search, Evaluate, Execute) strategy to anticipate hazards before they happen. Watch out for signs of unpredictable drivers, and avoid overreacting to sudden moves; if a car lurches into your lane, gradually adjust your speed and lane position instead of making a sharp swerve.
5. Animal’s Action – 8 crashes
Of the eight Animal’s Action-caused motorcycle crashes in Orange County, NY, seven resulted in personal injury, and one was fatal.
Be extra vigilant in high-risk areas; deer are active at dawn and dusk, while dogs, cats or small animals can always dart into the road unexpectedly. Try to ride in the lane’s center or left side, when safe, to increase your visibility, and avoid riding near ditches or tree lines, where animals can emerge suddenly.
6. Following Too Closely – 7 crashes
Seven motorcycle crashes in Orange County, NY caused by following too closely resulted in personal injuries.
Maintaining a safe following distance is key; 2-4 seconds in regular situations, and if there are wet, gravelly, or low-visibility conditions, go above four seconds. Leave even more space behind trucks, buses or SUVs. Keep your brakes covered by keeping your fingers lightly on the brake lever; scan several cars ahead of anticipate slowdowns. If someone is following you too closely, tap your brakes lightly to signal behind you. If you can, change lanes or let them pass rather than engaging in aggressive behavior.
7. Driver Inattention/Distraction – 7 crashes
Seven motorcycle crashes in Orange County, NY resulted in personal injuries.
Always assume that drivers don’t see you, and that drivers will always be distracted. Expect cars to change lanes without signaling, or that they’ll pull out unexpectedly. Try to wear high-visibility gear like bright-colored jackets, helmets or reflective clothing, keep your headlights on, and use strategic lane positioning.
8. Failure to Keep Right – 6 crashes
Failure to Keep Right caused four personal injury motorcycle crashes and two fatal crashes in Orange County, NY.
Always ride in the proper lane, and position yourself for maximum visibility. Only pass on the left, and avoid passing in dangerous areas.