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Motorcyclists in or near Philadelphia face unique dangers on the road every time they pull their bikes out of the driveway. No other motorist is at more risk of severe injury and more vulnerable to mistakes by other drivers than a rider. The hazards come from every angle, but often a distracted driver is to blame when a rider is placed in jeopardy. Motorcyclists are often overlooked by these careless motorists and left in dangerous situations.
Car, truck, and SUV drivers can make a turn or switch lanes without properly checking to see if there’s a rider nearby. The unprotected biker is left with quickly shrinking space and a scant, few seconds to figure out how to avoid a devastating collision.
Our team at The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers P.C. can help you with your motorcycle accident lawsuit in Philadelphia. Don’t struggle to negotiate with multiple insurance companies on your own get help from one of our Philadelphia motorcycle lawyers!
On This Page: We Can Defend You Against Careless Drivers, Motorcycle Hazards, Common Accident Types, Frequently Asked Questions, Motorcycle Crash Back & Spine Injuries, Let Us Help, Client Testimonial
Allow a Local Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Defend You
Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyer Edith Pearce and The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers P.C. want safe lanes for all motorcyclists. Riders have the same rights to the road as any car or truck and Edith Pearce wants to make sure these rights are observed by all motorists. The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers P.C. also wants to protect riders who are forced into unfortunate accidents with careless drivers.
Insurance companies like to find reasons to blame motorcyclists for their own accidents and pay them as little as possible in an accident claim. Edith Pearce believes injured victims shouldn’t have to face insurance agents and adjusters alone.
If you are injured as the result of a mistake by a negligent driver, you should receive compensation for every dollar lost to medical bills and missed time at work and even emotional hardships you and your family have faced. Edith Pearce will fight to get the compensation that is due to any victim and is personally involved in every case that her firm represents. You will not be treated like just another file or case number.
Motorcycle Hazards In Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s historic atmosphere and bustling downtown make it much more fun to ride a bike than drive a car. Anyone who rides here should be able to safely navigate the roads.
If other drivers on the road would give proper attention to motorcyclists then more safe rides would be possible. But wherever distracted drivers use the lanes, motorcyclists will always be at risk. Drivers who cause accidents often say they couldn’t see the lower profile motorcycle in front of them or beside them. This is often an excuse for not checking mirrors and blind spots properly. Many won’t admit when they weren’t paying attention and veered into the path of an oncoming motorcycle.
The results can be catastrophic for riders who only have a helmet and clothing to protect them in an impact. The Insurance Information Institute found that motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation released its latest numbers that show the tragic incidents that happen every day on state roads. In 2019, they reported 2,860 motorcyclists were injured in accidents and another 174 were tragically killed.
Common Motorcycle Accidents in Philadelphia
Motorcyclists often must monitor all other drivers on the road just to steer clear of obvious accident-prone situations. Some of the most common set-ups for devastating accidents will be recognizable to many experienced riders. A few are listed below:
- Left-Turn Accidents – A driver turning left across the path of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Lane-Splitting Accidents – When a motorcyclist pulls between slow-moving or stopped traffic and shares a lane with another vehicle. A maneuver that is currently illegal in Pennsylvania.
- Lane Changing Accidents – Usually a failure to check a blind spot leads to a motorist veering over on a motorcycle traveling right beside them.
- Rear-End Accidents – Motorists will somehow misjudge the distance between them and a motorcycle ahead, running right into them.
- Intersection Accidents – Motorcyclists can take off quicker than many cars, but sometimes that’s a danger when a rider jumps out on a green light and doesn’t notice someone blowing through a red light.
- Dooring – When someone inside a stopped or parked car opens a door quickly without seeing a motorcycle coming up alongside.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim for damages?
The state of Pennsylvania statute of limitations is two years for filing a claim for damages after an accident. You must file your claim within 24 months of the date of the collision. The attorneys with The Pearce Law Firm do not recommend waiting months or years to file your claim. The sooner you file the easier it will be to gather evidence and locate documents and witnesses to prepare your argument against an insurance company.
If I get injured in Pennsylvania while not wearing my helmet, can I still get compensation?
If you are injured and not wearing your helmet, you can still get compensation for your injuries so long as the other driver was negligent. If you sustained a head injury, the jury might assign some of the blame on you for not wearing a helmet which would reduce the amount of compensation the jury will award in the case. You would still receive compensation based on the at-fault driver’s percentage of the blame.
If I’m a passenger on a motorcycle, and the at-fault driver was the operator of the bike I was on, can I sue him or her for compensation?
If the bike operator was negligent in driving the motorcycle and you were injured as a result, then you can make a claim against him or her for compensation. As a passenger, you can sue anyone responsible for an accident you were hurt in. If the at-fault driver is a friend or family member you may feel conflicted filing a civil lawsuit against them. You shouldn’t look at it as “targeting” a driver you know. Your case will seek to get compensation from the motorcyclist’s insurance company and generally won’t target him or her directly. This is why people pay insurance premiums, to assist victims in their time of need.
What type of damages can I claim in a motorcycle accident?
The law allows you to be compensated for all injuries and both economic and non-economic damages so long as the other driver was negligent. Economic damages are those that can easily have a dollar value assigned like medical bills and lost time from work. This can include future treatment costs and future lost paychecks from your job. Non-economic damages are things like mental anguish and pain and suffering where it’s much more difficult to put a value on. The cost of psychological counseling may be something included in an award.
Motorcycle Crash Back and Spine Injuries
Some of the many back injuries associated with motorcycle crashes are as follows:
- Herniated Discs – During a crash, the discs of the spinal column could bear the brunt of the impact, damaging them extensively. Your range of motion may be compromised and pain or numbness can result.
- Spondylolisthesis – When a disc is knocked out of position, it can decrease the amount of space inside the spine and cause nerve pressure. This can result in loss of bladder control or pain and numbness in the legs. Unfortunately, the results of this trauma can go undetected at first, with the symptoms manifesting at a later date.
- Spinal Cord Injury – These injuries impact the spinal cord, which works with the brain to control all body parts and functions. Spinal injuries include inhibited voluntary and involuntary movement and paralysis, numbness, compromised breathing, loss of sexual function, and more.
- Soft-Tissue Damage – Muscles, nerves, cartilage, and ligaments can all be damaged in an accident. These injuries can be harder to prove, but your Philadelphia motorcycle accident back injury lawyer will know how to prove you’re in pain.
Source: iii.org
Ongoing Care, Ongoing Expenses
A painful, damaged back can make it impossible to work and carry on life as you used to. You may have to rely on others or retrain yourself to avoid aggravating your condition.
Surgery and extended hospitalization may be necessary with back injuries. You may need treatment and rehabilitation for years. You may also have to resort to pain medication just to get through the day. It’s essential that you make sure you have the best care so that you can improve as much as possible.
The best-case scenario would be for the insurance companies to pick up the bill for all of your current and future damages. However, they often stall, trying to pay you as little as they can get away with.
After a motorcycle accident, reimbursement for the following is possible:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Physical therapy
- Rails, ramps, and home equipment
- Walkers, canes, and wheelchairs
- Loss of past and future wages
Help from Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Near You
Sometimes back injuries are hard to prove as many people have some degeneration in their back—whether they know it or not—from past injuries and wear and tear. Insurance companies and defendants know this and will try to say that your back trouble is a pre-existing condition.
In Pennsylvania, it is possible to prove that a pre-existing condition was worsened in a crash. A Philadelphia motorcycle accident back injury lawyer from our office will know how to do this.
For you to get the maximum settlement, you need to know how to deal with the insurance companies. If the settlement offered is inadequate, it may be necessary to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Philadelphia. The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers P.C. can look into your case and hire experts to testify on your behalf if a court date becomes necessary. Call us today at 215-791-8127 for free with no commitments, or complete the form below.
Edith Pearce is a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer whose years in the insurance industry have taught her how to get the compensation her clients are entitled to. This includes recovering expenses, replacing income, vehicle replacement, and making sure that medical bills, and suffering, are fairly compensated. The firm will thoroughly investigate your motorcycle accident and work diligently to arrive at a timely settlement or proceed to trial to obtain compensation to cover your entire recovery.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact us and speak to a Philadelphia motorcycle lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your legal options. We also have car accident lawyers in Bucks County, PA and Cherry Hill, NJ.
What A Happy Client Says About Us On Google:
If there were 10 Stars, Edith would get them from this Client, right here! I can’t even begin to start to tell you how amazing, kind , conscientious, non-scheister-y and, well….how non–lawyer-y, this Attorney is.
I was really scared when I got hit by a car and my ankle was broken. Also, I felt super bad about the thought of “suing” someone. I thought that was something that people who were trying to get away something. Thank goodness my boyfriend said “you’ve got to get a lawyer and another good friend–reccommended Edith highly.Thank God I didn’t go to one of those awful companies (you know the one on the tv ad) as a friend had an awful, impersonal experience with them.
From the start, Edith made me feel comfortable, attended to, and like I was literally–her only priority. She got me into her office immediately, got me to doctors and specialists within days, re-directed all of my medical bills (which were sizeable) to be deferred until my case was settled. After that she went to work doing her magick.
What I was so struck by –was the thorough and dilligent follow up–let’s be honest, how many businesses–let alone lawyers–hold themselves so accountable–that they follow up with YOU first. I never had to call Edith once to see how my case was coming along. She always called me to give me periodic updates on how my case was proceeding and what she might need from me next–and also what were the next steps.
Then finally, once everything was compiled and submitted, within months, honestly even more quickly than I expected, I got a phone call from her. I never in my wildest imagination thought that I would get a settlement, but Edith got the max paid out from both the other insurance company—and also from my own for personal injuries–which I had no idea I was even entitled to. I could not believe it–truly awestruck and I feel eternally grateful and blessed to have found her.
Once payment was received, again she called to have me into her office promptly and once again–much quicker than I expected–
I cannot stress enough–how amazing her services are. Her “bedside manner ” is also incredibly sensitive, kind, considerate and –dare I say it–gentle! When does that happen???
I actually hugged her on my way out of the office. I would highly recommend this incredible attorney for any personal injury case, or any other case besides. She went above and beyond, as did everyone else in her office. They don’t make professionals like this any more.
Jennnifer N.
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