What You Need to Know About Changes in Personal Injury Cases
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If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation to help you cover expenses related to pain and suffering or medical bills.
In 2021, there were 3,582 motorcycle accidents on Pennsylvania roads, a number that has been steadily increasing in recent years. Tragically, these motorcycle accidents led to 226 fatalities, the highest number recorded in Pennsylvania since 2008.
Motorcycle riders are at increased risk of injury and death because they do not have the same protection as drivers of other vehicles. Thankfully, they do have the same protection under the law. If you or your loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney at Solnick Lawyers to find out more about your legal rights.
Motorcycle safety is a top priority for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation due to the increase in motorcycle crashes and deaths.
Before you get out on the road, you should make sure your motorcycle is properly maintained and in good working order. Motorcycle riders should always be licensed and able to safely operate their motorcycle in all conditions. Many motorcycle accidents happen as a result of poor road surfaces, bad weather conditions, or dangerous actions by other drivers, and a motorcycle rider must be capable of handling their motorcycle safely in these situations.
On the road, motorcycle riders should always wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards, and appropriate clothing and footwear. Leather or heavy denim that covers arms and legs offers protection against road rash, and boots can protect your feet and ankles from injury. A helmet can save your life. High-visibility clothing is also recommended. It is very common in a motorcycle accident for the other driver to claim that they just did not see the motorcycle.
As with car accidents, motorcycle accidents are caused by many different factors. One of the most dangerous places for a motorcycle rider is an intersection. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 42% of fatal motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle in 2020 happened when that vehicle was turning left and the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking.
Some other factors in motorcycle crashes are:
Motorcycle riders have an unfair reputation for speeding and reckless driving but very few motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania actually involve speeding. Often this reputation is based on a few fast riders and a lack of understanding of good defensive driving while operating a motorcycle.
Even when both drivers are insured, it is important to determine liability in a motorcycle accident case. If a driver is uninsured, it can be even more important to do so. In Pennsylvania, each insured driver will look first to the PIP benefits under their own insurance policy to cover medical expenses, but, if a driver is uninsured or underinsured, the at-fault driver or their insurer may be liable for some of the injured victim’s costs. In some cases, both drivers are partly to blame for an accident, and this can affect how much compensation an injured party can claim.
Motorcycle accident victims tend to suffer severe injuries due to the lack of head and body protection offered by a motorcycle. Common injuries seen in motorcycle crashes are:
The injuries from a motorcycle accident often require medical care and can lead to hospitalization and a long rehabilitation period. During this time, a motorcycle accident victim may be unable to work and, in some circumstances, the accident victim’s life can be changed forever.
If you are going to operate a motorcycle on the roads in Pennsylvania or elsewhere, you should know what to do if you are involved in a motorcycle accident. If you are in an accident, remember to RIDE:
Relief. Get medical help for your injuries, and call the police to investigate and document
the accident scene.
Information. Exchange insurance information with the other drivers, and gather information using photos or notes about how the accident happened, and who witnessed it.
Do not admit fault. Never admit fault at the scene of an accident or to the insurance company before talking to a motorcycle accident attorney.
Engage an attorney. Get reliable legal advice from an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, like Solnick Lawyers.
The compensation that you are awarded in a motorcycle accident case should cover your monetary losses and non-monetary damage as a result of the motorcycle accident. The three largest components of compensation in a motorcycle accident claim are typically the following:
Pain and suffering is the nonmonetary part of compensation in a personal injury case. It compensates you for the physical discomfort, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your motorcycle accident.
If your injuries in a motorcycle accident cause you to miss work, or render you unable to do the same job that you did before the accident, you should be compensated for the wages and benefits that you lose (both past and future).
Medical bills after a road accident can be huge. From ambulance fees to hospital bills, physician fees, pharmacy costs, and even long term care, the medical expenses caused by a motorcycle accident are a burden for injured victims and should be compensated. Compensation should also cover the cost of future medical care as a result of injuries from the accident.
Our motorcycle accident team provides you with experienced legal representation at a time when everyone else – other drivers, insurance companies, and all of their lawyers – are against you. They are trying to protect themselves and their bottom lines by avoiding blame and minimizing your compensation amount. We negotiate and fight for victims of motorcycle accidents, road accidents, and other personal injuries, to protect them and ensure that they are fairly compensated for all of their losses in a motorcycle accident.
Solnick Lawyers has been representing motorcycle accident victims in the Greater Philadelphia area, and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, for more than 20 years. We are not intimidated by the tactics of aggressive corporations, insurance companies, or government agencies. We face them day after day in negotiations and courtrooms to secure justice for our clients, and we will do the same for you. We are on your side.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident and would like to know more about your legal rights, please contact us today by calling 215-481-9979 or via our website to schedule a free consultation and case review. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain as we never charge a fee until and unless we obtain a settlement or award for you. Solnick Lawyers is on your side. Let us fight for you.
First, call the police. It’s important to get the situation documented soon after it occurs. If you’re injured or the other party is injured, you’ll be able to request medical attention at this time. Despite the emotions involved in a vehicular accident, the health and safety of everyone there is the most important thing to be concerned about at the time.
After this is taken care of, make sure you identify the witnesses who can tell the police what happened. If anyone admits fault, it should be documented by police at the time of the crash. If you have injuries, be sure to have a hospital or doctor document them as well. Make sure someone can stay at the scene for you if you’re unable to remain there.
Finally, call us. We can help you work out your legal rights and whether you’re entitled to compensation. We can help you determine your legal right to compensation in any kind of motorcycle accident, whether it is a small impact or one that has left you severely injured. Families of those who have suffered from a wrongful death may also have legal rights to compensation.
Most accidents are caused by other negligent drivers, although some may be caused by motorcyclists themselves. Like any vehicular accident, a motorcycle accident can happen for many reasons. You might be too tired and swerve into traffic; a driver may lose control; there may be on a mechanical accident or distractions. However, many accidents happen because the driver of another vehicle simply doesn’t see the motorcyclist until it is too late to stop. Motorcyclists can help protect themselves by wearing brightly colored gear, but this doesn’t always work. According to one study, motorcycle accidents occur most often when trying to pass in a blind spot or in the 10, 11, 12, 1, or 2 o’ clock area surrounding a vehicle. These are the most difficult areas for a driver to see you.
In some cases, accidents are caused not by negligent drivers, but by hazardous roadways. If you suffered injury in an accident that was caused by a hazardous or dangerous road, you may be able to recover damages.
All roads, no matter where they are in Pennsylvania, are required to be maintained to a certain level of safety. If you were injured, for example, in a motorcycle accident caused by a hidden pothole in the road, you could file a claim against the party or parties that are responsible for that part of the road.
A motorcycle accident can occur when a defective part of the vehicle malfunctions. Some motorcycles are sold with low quality parts or parts that have been built or inspected by an employee that was not properly trained. If you want to find out if you have a valid defective product claim, you should contact an attorney who is skilled in pursuing defective product claims. Your attorney can investigate the facts of your motorcycle accident and hold either the manufacturer or the designer responsible for the damages and injuries that you sustained.
Because injuries often remain undetected for weeks or even months after a motorcycle accident, it is a good idea to call a motorcycle accident lawyer anytime an accident occurs. Before you call an attorney, though, be sure to seek medical attention from a trusted and qualified physician. Your physician should evaluate your physical state and provide you with appropriate advice and guidance pertaining to your recovery. They can also consult with you about any possible future treatments and complications. After you have been to your physician, you can contact a motorcycle accident attorney who can advise you about your legal options.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, contact an attorney who handles wrongful death lawsuits. Although thinking about a lawsuit can be very difficult in the aftermath of losing a loved one, you could potentially collect all the expenses related to your loved one’s death, including funeral expenses and burial costs, all the medical bills that resulted from the motorcycle accident, and even compensation for emotional damage and lost wages.
If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania, our attorneys can help you pursue the compensation that you are entitled to. Contact us via our website or by calling 215-481-9979 today so we can discuss the details of your case.
Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist rides in the same lane as another car. Typically, this happens when a motorcyclist is trying to pass a passenger car or when vehicles are stopped in a construction zone or at a red light and the motorcyclist continues to ride by, maneuvering between the paused vehicles.
Lane splitting is illegal in every single state of the United States except for California. It is illegal because is it extremely dangerous. If an accident occurs due to a motorcyclist that made the decision to lane split, he or she will most likely be found at fault for the accident. However, there are many factors at play in any accident, so the fault will depend on the combination of all of them.
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