According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,600 motorcycle riders were killed in traffic accidents in 2020 alone, representing a significant increase in fatalities compared to prior years. Motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all the traffic deaths recorded by the NHTSA in 2020, even though only 3% of registered vehicles were motorcycles.
Fatal motorcycle accidents in Bensalem are tragic incidents with resounding effects on the victim’s family and friends. Although no amount of compensation can make up for the immense loss, a civil claim can be vital to protecting the motorcyclist’s family members and helping them move forward with their lives. Talk to a dedicated attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers about your options for seeking justice.
Who Can File Suit Over a Fatal Motorcycle Crash?
When someone’s reckless or careless behavior on the road leads to someone else getting injured in a traffic accident, the injured person is typically the only one to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, if a motorcycle accident has fatal consequences, the right to pursue this sort of claim and demand compensation passes to the deceased person’s “personal representative.” This is the person nominated in their will to manage their affairs after their death.
The personal representative’s exclusive right to file a “wrongful death” claim does not last forever. If they do not take any action within six months of the person’s death, any of that deceased person’s “beneficiaries”—their spouse, children, or parents—can take the lead on filing a lawsuit. After a fatal motorcycle accident, your Bensalem lawyer can explain your rights in filing a claim for compensation.
Damages in a Motorcycle Death Claim
If the deceased victim of a motorcycle crash suffered losses between when the accident happened and when they passed away, their personal representative could seek compensation for those losses through a “survival action.” Wrongful death claims, on the other hand, are meant to reimburse surviving family members for specific losses they will experience because of their loved one’s premature death, such as:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Any medical or estate administration expenses paid on behalf of the deceased victim
- Lost future financial support the deceased victim would have provided, including things like health insurance from work
- Lost future value of inheritance, in some situations
- Loss of help around the house
- Lost comfort, support, guidance, and companionship
Importantly, though, Pennsylvania law sets a time limit of two years after a person’s death for filing a wrongful death suit. Contacting an experienced Bensalem lawyer as soon as possible is crucial to protecting your family’s rights after a fatal motorcycle crash.
Contact a Bensalem Attorney After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
Losing a loved one is tragic, especially due to a preventable accident caused by someone else’s misconduct. If you lose a family member because of a motorcycle crash, you deserve compensation for the harm you and your family will suffer through this unimaginable tragedy.
Filing a lawsuit over a fatal motorcycle accident in Bensalem is much easier with dedicated support from the lawyers at our firm. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will work tirelessly to pursue justice on your behalf. Call us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with a caring member of our team.
