North Huntingdon, PA Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Pennsylvania is known for its stunning motorcycle routes, from the Clarion Countryside to the Groundhog Loop and Lincoln Highway. While our weather may not always be the best for motorcycle rides, when the weather is right, it can’t be matched. But motorcycle riding comes with unavoidable risks. Drivers have the upper hand when it comes to built-in safety, and motorcyclists often bear the worst outcomes when they are involved in a collision.

As a rider, you must be ready to advocate for yourself if you’re hurt in a crash caused by someone else. The team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman is here to help. Give us a call at 866-565-4949 to get started.

Motorcyclists Are Vulnerable on Pennsylvania Roads

When you look at the vehicle accident statistics, it’s clear that motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable when riding in Pennsylvania. People riding in cars have a 0.4% chance of being killed when they are involved in an accident; for motorcyclists, that risk jumps to 6.2%.

This is backed up by motorcycle accident trends in the last few years. In recent history, 2018 was the safest year for Pennsylvania motorcyclists. There were just over 2,700 crashes and 159 fatalities that year. The numbers jumped dramatically each year, peaking at almost 3,600 collisions and 223 deaths in 2021. There was a slight decrease to 3,369 and 213 in 2022, but even those numbers are still significantly higher than they were in 2018.

Types of Motorcycle Collisions

There are several types of motorcycle accidents, each of which poses different dangers to riders and others in the area. As a rider, watch out for these collisions and know how to protect yourself by taking evasive action:

• Left-turning car accidents: This is one of the most common types of motorcycle accidents you’ll see across the country. A motorcyclist is going straight through an intersection, and a car is waiting to turn left. They think they have room, perhaps because they misjudge the motorcycle’s speed and distance. When they turn, they strike the motorcycle directly.

• Lane-switching accidents: These collisions are often the result of drivers who simply aren’t used to sharing the road with motorcyclists. Drivers are used to looking for large, bulky cars and SUVs when they are switching lanes. They aren’t quite as good at checking for motorcycles and bikes. When they begin to switch lanes, they can sideswipe a motorcycle and knock them over, potentially pushing them into other lanes of traffic.

• Impaired driving or riding collisions: Unfortunately, impaired riding is fairly common. Across all drivers and operators, motorcyclists were most likely to be impaired while operating a vehicle. When either a rider or driver is impaired, the likelihood of a collision rises dramatically—and the motorcyclist often has the worse outcome.
• Crashes caused by taking a corner: Motorcycles are inherently less stable than other vehicles. The things that are a mere inconvenience for a car or SUV can be fatal for motorcyclists. For example, turning corners can be incredibly dangerous for a motorcyclist who is traveling faster than they think. This can lead to the bike flipping over and the motorcyclist being thrown from it.

Common Types of Injuries

Injuries are common in motorcycle collisions, and many riders spend weeks or months recovering from a multitude of injuries after a crash. Depending on the type of crash you’re in, you may experience:

• Broken bones: Many motorcyclists are unlucky enough to have multiple broken bones in the wake of a crash. The lower legs are likely to suffer fractures, as they may be crushed when a rider falls off their bike or when the feet get tangled up in the footrests. However, riders also experience broken ribs and even a broken pelvis, which can leave them bed-bound for months on end.

• Face and head injuries: Facial injuries are far more common in motorcycle accidents than in any other type of vehicle crash. Unfortunately, these injuries can be disabling and disfiguring, forever impacting a rider’s quality of life. Traumatic brain injuries are also often reported, sometimes resulting in permanent physical or mental limitations.

• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries can forever impact a rider’s independence, particularly when they occur high on the spine. When the spinal cord is severed or damaged, communication between the brain and the body is either limited or completely nonexistent. The higher on the spine the damage occurs, the less mobility the victim retains. Outcomes also depend on whether a spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete.

• Road rash: Road rash is not only incredibly painful and often permanently scarring, it can put your health in grave danger. Deep scrapes let every pathogen on the road into your body, and if an infection begins growing, it can quickly become systemic and lead to death.

• Bruising: Deep bruising is often noticed after a motorcycle accident, to the point that the rider may be unable to move or use the affected area.

How Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman Can Help You Fight for Full and Fair Compensation

At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, we have seen firsthand how motorcyclists are treated by society and the justice system. When a motorcyclist is injured by another person’s negligence, too often they are treated as the liable party. People assume that a rider must be to blame, even when it’s clear that a driver was operating negligently or recklessly. We advocate on behalf of our North Huntingdon motorcycle accident victims to fight for the compensation they deserve. Your accident may have left you with thousands of dollars in medical bills, a totaled bike, and a significant loss of income. Without the right legal support, you risk handling all of those financial losses yourself. We’re here to demand compensation from the liable party.

Contact Us Today to Schedule a Consultation

The sooner you connect with us to set up your consultation, the quicker we can begin working on your case. Set up a time to talk now by calling us at 866-565-4949 or reaching out to our team online.