Pittsburgh Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Injured in a Motorcycle Crash In Western Pennsylvania? A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Ronald J. Bua & Associates Can Help You Win Your Case!

Motorcycles are tremendously enjoyable to ride, but it’s important to recognize that they are also inherently dangerous. Motorcycles are smaller and lighter than typical passenger vehicles. Additionally, motorcycle riders are more exposed than drivers of cars. It’s vital to understand the safety hazards inherent in motorcycles and have a working knowledge of what you should do if you’re involved in an accident. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Western Pennsylvania, a personal injury attorney in Pittsburgh can help you understand your rights and get you the compensation you need for your recovery.

Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle Accident Data

Motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania have seen steady numbers since 2011 according the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This means the roads are just as dangerous for motorcycle drivers today as they were 6  years ago. With advances in vehicle safety technology, these numbers should be going down. As a motorcycle driver, it’s important to not only know how to stay safe on the road, but also what steps to take if you are injured due to another drivers negligence.

Unique Accident and Injury Risks of Motorcycles

Proper safety equipment, such as helmets and road leathers, are crucial for motorcycling. However, Pennsylvania does not have a strict motorcycle helmet law. Some riders operate their motorcycles without wearing helmets. Motorcycle helmets save thousands of lives each year. Motorcycle accidents typically involve serious, sometimes fatal, injuries, including:

• spinal cord damage
• broken bones
• traumatic brain injuries
• lacerations
• road rash
• Fatal motorcycle accidents
• Road burn

Due to their size, motorcycles are far less visible to other drivers than typical passenger vehicles. Drivers may not be able to spot them in time to avoid a collision. Additionally, many road hazards, including snow, ice and debris, pose more serious hazards to motorcyclists than other drivers. Motorcycles also are less stable than other vehicles because they only have two points of contact with the road on which to balance, while other vehicles have four or more.

Along with a heightened susceptibility to road hazards and an inherently precarious nature, motorcycles tend to encourage speeding. Though not all motorcyclists do this, there are riders with powerful motorcycles who engage in high-risk acts, such as speeding, quick acceleration and sharp or sudden maneuvers. Motorcycles require a certain degree of skill to operate safely and effectively, so inexperienced or distracted riders are at a higher risk of injury than passenger vehicle drivers.

Damages and Compensation for Motorcycle Wrecks in Pittsburgh

If a motorcycle accident leaves you with injuries due to the actions of another driver, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses. Although motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than other vehicles, drivers owe motorcyclists the same duty of care as any other vehicle – and negligent drivers are liable for the damage they cause.

Additionally, Pennsylvania operates under a comparative negligence law, meaning that even if you were partially at fault for an accident, you can still seek compensation for your losses. The court will assign you a fault percentage, depending on the evidence of the case. For example, if you are 20 percent at fault for a $100,000 personal injury claim, the court would reduce your compensation by 20 percent and you would receive $80,000.

Personal injury law operates under the principle of negligence. You must prove that the other driver violated his or her duty to act with reasonable care on the road in some fashion and that his or her breach of duty directly resulted in your injuries. Due to the nature of motorcycle accidents, the potential injuries and damages can be staggering:

• Property damage. Insurance companies are likely to total a motorcycle in a serious accident. You can sue for any of your other belongings destroyed by the crash.
• Medical expenses. Motorcycle accidents are often fatal or very serious. You can sue not only for your direct medical expenses, such as hospital bills and emergency services, but also for the costs of prescriptions, rehabilitation, physical therapy and any permanent disabilities.
• Pain and suffering. Though “pain and suffering” is difficult to assign a dollar figure, your attorney will rely upon expert witness testimony to provide the court with accurate summations of the pain you may have experienced due to your injuries and any psychological trauma resulting from the accident or permanent disabilities.

It’s important to contact a reliable legal team to represent your case. Ronald J. Bua & Associates has represented clients as Pittsburgh motorcycle accident attorney for more than 30 years in all manner of personal injury cases. We offer free, no-obligation initial consultations, so contact our team of attorneys and we’ll review your case with you. We also have a team of Pittsburgh wrongful death attorneys who can help you file a claim on the behalf of a loved one.