“There’s two kinds of riders: Those who have crashed and those who will.” No doubt there’s an unnerving tone to this quote from an anonymous author. However, what if it does happen to you? Who would be to blame for your motorcycle crash?
Take this more than common scenario. You decide to take the bike out on the road on the first sunny day of the new year. You’re following every safety precaution possible. Although it’s not required by Pennsylvania law, you even have a helmet on to protect you against head injury.
Out of the corner of your eye, you notice a young guy chatting on his cellphone as he passes you on the right. However, the unexpected happens as the car darts in front of you.
You have absolutely no means of stopping or moving to either side of traffic. As you are your bike are flung into the air, you are unnerved. Fortunately, you survive the accident.
However, the truth is that you’re one of the lucky ones. A motorcycle crash last month in Bucks County resulted in the deaths of two bikers. According to new reports, a teenage pickup driver rammed into them head-on.
For non-motorcyclists, there’s a huge misconception. Many think of bikers as reckless speed demons who cause their own accidents. That said, you may personally follow every safety precaution to avoid a collision.
In the meantime, the truth is that drivers of passenger cars cause the most collisions with motorcycles. As a biker, that may not come as a surprise at all.
MOTORCYCLE CRASH CAUSATION
A couple of months ago, the Department of Transportation came out with a report after studying motorcycle crash causation. Here are some interesting facts their research showed:
- Motorcycle crash fatalities have almost doubled in the last 20 years
- Drivers, not bikers, making left turns caused the majority of bike accidents
- 76.2% of motorcycle crashes involved multi-vehicles.
- Most accidents occurred in daylight and where speed limits were under 45mph.
- 62% of collisions involving motorcycles happened where there was no traffic signal.
Meanwhile, it’s a rare exception that mechanical malfunctions contribute to motorcycle crashes. However, driving while under the influence accounts for at least 50% of all fatal accidents involving motorcyclists.
PURSUING A CLAIM FOR A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
Injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are often devastating. More than likely, your medical bills could quickly accumulate. You’ll also have concerns about your quality of life going forward. Under Pennsylvania law, you have the right to make a claim for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the collision.
If you lost a loved one as a result of a motorcycle crash and someone else was responsible, you may also be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
Contact Our Experienced Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton Motorcycle Crash Attorneys
Were you or a family member involved in a motorcycle crash? Fellerman & Ciarimboli offer experienced legal advice when it comes to pursuing personal injury lawsuits involving motorcycle accidents. Contact us for a complimentary appointment to discuss how we can help you.
