Motorcycle Accident with a Deer or Dog in NY – Who’s Really at Fault?
When a deer darts out or a dog chases your bike, the crash happens in seconds — but the legal questions can last for years. In this episode of Riding Counsel, Long Island motorcycle injury attorney and rider Richard Jaffe breaks down real-world animal–motorcycle crash cases and what riders in New York need to know about fault, insurance, and proving a claim.
Chapters
- 0:00 – Deer, Dogs and Disaster: Who’s at Fault? (Intro)
- 1:20 – Dog Accidents: Proving Owner Negligence
- 5:15 – Motorcycle vs. Dog: Can the Rider Be Held Liable?
- 12:45 – Man Hits Deer on Motorcycle: Suing the Municipality
- 16:20 – Farm Liability: When Livestock Escapes
- 20:29 – Crash Without Contact: Swerving and Liability Claims
- 24:35 – Helmet Cams vs. Dash Cams: Protecting Your Claim
- 27:40 – Insurance Challenges: Comprehensive Coverage vs. Pain and Suffering
- 33:55 – Free Insurance Review and Legal Call to Action
- Late episode discussion – Warning Signs and Speed Limits: Avoiding Contributory Negligence
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- When a dog’s owner can be held liable for chasing, charging, or running into a motorcycle.
- How fault is analyzed in “motorcycle vs. dog” crashes — and when the rider may be blamed.
- Why you usually can’t “sue a deer”, and when municipalities or agencies might still face claims.
- How farm and livestock escapes can create liability for property owners and farmers.
- What happens if you crash while swerving to avoid an animal — even with no actual contact.
- The pros and cons of helmet cams vs. dash cams in proving what really happened.
- The difference between comprehensive coverage (damage to your bike) and claims for pain and suffering and lost wages.
- How things like speed, warning signs, and road conditions can impact contributory negligence.
Joined by co-host Millian, Rich mixes real cases, rider stories, and legal strategy to clear up myths about “suing animals,” insurance limits, and what NY riders can realistically expect after an animal-related crash.
Question for Riders:
Have you ever had a close call or crash with a deer, dog, or other animal while riding? What happened — and did insurance treat it fairly? Share your story in the comments to help other riders.
Free Legal Help and Insurance Review
Injured in a motorcycle accident or confused about your coverage?
https://www.RidingCounsel.com
516-358-6900
Keep Watching – More from Riding Counsel
Full podcast playlist (motorcycle accident law, rider rights and safety):
Riding Counsel Podcast: Motorcycle Accident Law, Rider Rights and Safety
Connect with Riding Counsel
All social and podcast links:
https://linktr.ee/ridingcounsel
#MotorcycleAccident
#MotorcycleLiability
#RiderRights
#MotorcycleLaw
#MotorcycleSafety
#DeerMotorcycleAccident
#DogMotorcycleAccident
#LongIslandMotorcycleLawyer
#LongIslandMotorcycleAttorney
#NYMotorcycleAccidentLawyer
#LegalPodcast
Attorney Advertising: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No information provided herein creates an attorney-client relationship. Not legal advice.