Tully, NY (July 15, 2026) – Jacob P. Lyman, 26, of Homer, was killed after an SUV turned into his path on State Highway 281 in the town of Tully, the New York State Police reported.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m. near the intersection of Meeting House Road, in Onondaga County. According to state police, Robert M. Brhel, 73, of Fabius, was turning left from a parking lot onto State Highway 281 when his SUV struck Lyman’s motorcycle, which was traveling on the highway. Lyman was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Brhel was not injured, state police said.
The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and is assisting with the investigation. Members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation also responded. State police said the investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
When a motorcyclist loses his life after another driver turns into his path on a state highway, the family left behind faces grief and legal questions arriving at the same moment.
What to Do After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident in New York
Left-turn collisions are among the most common causes of fatal motorcycle crashes. When a driver exits a parking lot and turns across oncoming traffic on a state highway, the resulting civil case raises questions that a surviving family should not have to work through alone. Here is what New York law provides.
Can the family pursue a wrongful death claim before the state police investigation closes?
Yes. A civil wrongful death action runs independently of the state police investigation and independently of any criminal review. Families do not need to wait for the Collision Reconstruction Unit to complete its report before consulting an attorney. The two processes operate on separate tracks, and the civil case does not pause while the administrative investigation continues. Starting the legal conversation early also protects the family’s access to physical evidence and official records before those materials become harder to obtain.
Who may be held liable in a left-turn crash?
Under New York law, a driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic before completing the turn. When a vehicle exits a parking lot and crosses a lane of travel, the same duty to yield applies. A preliminary investigation by state police determined that the SUV was executing a left turn from a parking lot onto State Highway 281 at the time of the collision. That established sequence is the starting point for a civil negligence claim. Liability analysis in these cases typically examines driver conduct, sight lines at the intersection, and any contributing road or traffic conditions at Meeting House Road.
What can a wrongful death claim cover?
- Lost income the deceased would have earned over a working lifetime
- Medical costs incurred between the collision and the time of death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of guidance, care, and companionship for surviving family members
- Conscious pain and suffering experienced before death, where the record supports it
What does the ongoing investigation mean for the family?
The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit uses physical measurements, vehicle data, skid marks, and scene analysis to document exactly how a crash unfolded. Their report can establish the speed and direction of both vehicles, the position of Lyman’s motorcycle on the highway, and the point of impact. That reconstruction, along with any security or traffic camera footage from the area near Meeting House Road, can form the evidentiary core of a civil case. Preserving access to those records now, while the investigation is active and the scene data is current, is a step that matters for the family’s legal options going forward.
What is the filing deadline for a New York wrongful death claim?
New York’s wrongful death statute gives families two years from the date of death to file a claim (EPTL § 5-4.1). For this crash, that deadline falls on July 15, 2028. Missing it permanently forfeits the family’s right to seek compensation through the civil courts, regardless of what the investigation ultimately determines about the cause of the collision.
Contact Our Upstate New York Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Losing a 26-year-old in a collision that the facts suggest was preventable leaves a family with grief and no clear sense of what the next steps look like. Working through a legal claim should not add to that weight.
Stanley Law Offices has represented motorcycle crash victims and their families across Upstate New York for decades. Our Upstate NY motorcycle accident lawyers understand how left-turn collisions are investigated, what the Collision Reconstruction Unit report contains, and what it takes to hold a driver accountable when they turn across oncoming traffic. We handle these cases from the initial evidence review through resolution, and we know what questions to ask while the physical record is still accessible.
For families also considering a claim for the loss of Jacob, our Upstate New York wrongful death attorneys can walk you through what New York law allows a family to recover, what the process involves, and what your rights look like before the investigation closes. That first conversation costs nothing.
The CRU reconstruction report, crash scene evidence, and any surveillance footage from the area near Meeting House Road are all records worth securing now. Evidence from an active investigation can change, and the window for preserving certain records does not stay open indefinitely.
Stanley Law Offices works on contingency. There are no upfront costs and no fees owed unless we recover compensation for your family.
Why Upstate New York families trust Stanley Law Offices:
- 90+ years of combined legal experience
- Joe Stanley is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA)
- 18 consecutive years selected to Super Lawyers
- BBB A+ rating
- Google 4.7-star rating
- No fee unless we win
- Home and hospital visits available
- Available 24/7
- Spanish-language service available
- No settlement without your consent
Speak With an Upstate NY Wrongful Death Lawyer – 1-800-608-3333
