Motorcycle Accidents claims in Pennsylvania
Most motorcycle crashes with another vehicle involve a driver turning across or pulling into a rider's path. The rider absorbs the impact, and insurers often lead with an assumption that the motorcyclist was going too fast.
Careful reconstruction, scene evidence and medical documentation are what answer that assumption.
Free case review — tell us what happened and we'll take it from there.Why families bring these cases to Munley Law
Munley Law has represented injured people and their families from its Scranton base since 1959. The attorneys listed below handle this type of case, and the results shown are published matters the firm has reported.
$4.4 Million
Settlement
Settlement reached for car accident case.
$4.3 Million
Award
Jury award for a motorcycle accident victim.
$2.8 Million
Settlement
Settlement for a pedestrian accident case.
$1.9 Million
Verdict
Verdict for family injured by 16-year-old driver.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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Common causes
Left-turn collisions
A driver turns across the rider's lane at an intersection or into a driveway.
Unsafe lane changes
Drivers merging without checking for a motorcycle already alongside them.
Following too closely
Rear-end impacts on a motorcycle rarely stay minor.
Road surface hazards
Gravel, potholes, uneven pavement and poorly marked work zones.
Defective equipment
Tire, brake or fork failures that make a crash unavoidable.
Injuries frequently seen in these cases
- Traumatic brain injury, including with a helmet
- Road rash and degloving injuries
- Fractures of the leg, pelvis, wrist and collarbone
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Amputation and permanent scarring
Who may be responsible
Responsibility depends entirely on the facts, and no one can determine it from a web page. These are the parties whose conduct is typically examined.
Another driver
The most common scenario, particularly at intersections.
A parts or motorcycle manufacturer
Where a mechanical failure contributed to the crash.
A road authority
Design, maintenance or work-zone conditions on the roadway.
Damages that may be recoverable
What a claim may include depends on the injuries, the available insurance and the evidence. Nothing here is a prediction of value.
- Medical treatment already received, from the emergency room through rehabilitation
- Future medical care and therapy a physician expects will be needed
- Wages lost while unable to work, and reduced earning capacity in longer-term cases
- Property damage, out-of-pocket costs and travel to treatment
- Pain, suffering and loss of life's pleasures where the law allows it
Steps that protect a claim
- Get medical attention, even if the injuries seem minor at first
- Report what happened and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles or the hazard, and your visible injuries
- Collect names and phone numbers for anyone who saw what happened
- Keep every bill, record and piece of correspondence in one place
- Be careful giving a recorded statement before you understand your own injuries
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania require a helmet?
Riders over 21 with the required experience or training may ride without a helmet in Pennsylvania. Not wearing one does not bar a claim, though insurers may raise it regarding head injuries.
Do motorcycles have the same insurance rules as cars?
Motorcycle policies work differently — medical benefits are optional rather than standard, and limited tort elections apply differently. Your own policy language matters.
The insurer says I was speeding. Does that end my claim?
No. Comparative negligence allows recovery where the rider is not more at fault than the other party, reduced by their share. Reconstruction evidence often matters more than the initial assumption.
Question not answered here? Ask Robert — Munley's virtual intake assistant answers common motorcycle accidents questions 24/7.
Related guides, tools and pages
Related practice areas
Where we serve
Munley Law represents clients across Pennsylvania. See the areas we serve for local courts, hospitals and roads, or browse the free tools.
This page is general information about this type of case. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Last reviewed 2026-09-01.
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