Top Rated Erie, Pennsylvania, Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers

Almost everyone who has ever taken a motorcycle ride from Lake Erie to Presque Isle Bay knows that two wheels can provide an unparalleled sense of freedom and adventure. While the Keystone State might not have the right climate for year-round motorcycling, Pennsylvania’s scenic roads, storied history, and rugged hills attract automobile enthusiasts from across the entire country. Despite its notoriously long winters, Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of motorcycle ownership in America and more registered motorcycles than any other state in the Northeast.

However, the prevalence of motorcycles across Pennsylvania has done little to curb the inherent risks of riding. In a single recent year, nearly 3,500 motorcyclists were injured on Pennsylvania roads, while another 189 lost their lives. Even for accident victims who might feel lucky to have simply survived, the costs of recovery can be immense, potentially jeopardizing their ability to provide for their families and keep a roof over their heads.

Since founding the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005, Jed Dietrich, Esq., and his experienced team of attorneys have obtained more than $175 million in damages—money that our clients have used to eradicate their medical debt, enroll in high-quality physical therapy programs, and begin the difficult task of reclaiming their independence after a tragic accident. Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Since motorcycles lack the protective body and frame of larger automobiles, riders are significantly more likely to be injured in even low-speed accidents than other motorists. While motorcycles account for only 3% of registered vehicles in the United States, motorcyclists constitute an estimated 14% of annual traffic deaths. Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that many motorcycle riders exacerbate their risk of being involved in traffic accidents by driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or riding without a helmet, many collisions are caused by other motorists—motorists who, in many cases, negligently violate riders’ right-of-way by speeding through intersections and merging into other lanes without checking for smaller vehicles. The most common types of motorcycle accidents include, but are not limited to:

1. Left-Turn Collisions: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that left-turn collisions are among the leading causes of motorcycle accidents nationwide. In many cases, left-turn collisions are caused by motorists who initiate turns without checking for oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, even with these crashes occurring at low speeds, motorcyclists face a significant risk of serious injury and even death.
2. Merging Crashes: Since motorcycles have relatively small profiles compared to passenger and commercial vehicles, negligent drivers may fail to notice a motorcycle when they are merging into traffic or changing lanes.
3. Head-On Crashes: Head-on collisions are a considerable hazard in Pennsylvania, with its abundance of mountain roads and winding highways. While head-on collisions could occur anywhere and at any time, these crashes typically involve intoxicated motorists and inappropriate passing maneuvers. Head-on motorcycle accidents tend to have catastrophic outcomes for riders.
4. Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions frequently occur in slow-moving city traffic and in proximity to traffic control signs and signals. If the driver of a larger automobile is inattentive, distracted, or intoxicated, they could rear-end a motorcyclist at a traffic light or stop sign, potentially trapping the rider underneath their vehicle.
5. Road Hazard Accidents: Some motorcycle accidents are not necessarily the rider’s or another motorist’s fault. The federal government has identified poor road design as an overlooked but critical contributing factor in many motorcycle accidents. Potholes, high pavement ridges, and uncleared debris can all cause a motorcyclist to lose control of their vehicle, culminating in an accident and serious injury.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an Erie, Pennsylvania, motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you take legal action against the at-fault motorist, commercial transportation company, or government agency that caused or contributed to your crash. Please call us at 814-839-3939 to speak to a legal professional and discuss your options for rapid legal relief.

The severity of motorcycle crash-related injuries is dependent on the following factors:

1. The speed of the involved vehicles;
2. The angle of impact;
3. The road surface and its characteristics;
4. Whether the motorcyclist was wearing protective equipment; and
5. Whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.

While the severity of a motorcycle accident-related injury may depend on several factors’ confluence, motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in automobile accidents and sustain serious injuries than other motorists.

The most common types of injuries observed in motorcycle crash victims include:

1. Cuts and lacerations;
2. Bruises and contusions;
3. Road rash;
4. Fractured bones;
5. Hand and wrist injuries;
6. Lower extremity injuries;
7. Neck and back injuries;
8. Traumatic head injuries;
9. Partial or total amputation;
10. Internal organ damage;
11. Facial disfigurement; and
12. Wrongful death.

Other drivers’ negligence often injures motorcycle riders. However, securing a fair accident settlement is often an uphill battle for motorcyclists, who must overcome challenges such as:

1. Liability: Every personal injury plaintiff seeking to file a lawsuit against another motorist must first prove that the other driver owed them a legal duty of care. In a motorcycle accident claim, the duty of care is a legal theory that requires that motorists operate their vehicles safely and reasonably. Establishing that another motorist should be held liable for an accident can prove difficult, especially in the absence of clear-cut evidence of fault.
2. Jury Bias: Insurance adjusters, judges, and juries are sometimes biased against motorcycle riders, believing that they are more likely to speed, take unreasonable risks, and violate the law. Consequently, motorcycle crash survivors may struggle to demonstrate that their own actions did not cause or contribute to the accident.
3. Insurance Negotiations: Insurance companies are fundamentally for-profit enterprises. Since the insurance company is accountable to its shareholders, it will almost always try to protect its profit margins by driving down the value of a settlement. When accident victims try to negotiate settlements without an attorney’s assistance, they could be coerced into accepting a poor offer of compensation. In a worst-case scenario, accident victims could even inadvertently provide evidence against themselves, jeopardizing their rights to recompense.

Fortunately, you do not have to put yourself at the mercy of profiteering companies and biased juries. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to upholding the rights of Erie, Pennsylvania, motorcycle accident survivors. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you collect, assess, and analyze the evidence needed to clearly demonstrate the other driver’s fault, aggressively fighting for the compensation you need and the justice you deserve. Please send us a message online or call us today at 814-839-3939 to schedule your initial consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 814-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!