Thousands of traffic accidents involving motorcycles happen across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania each year, causing devastating and preventable injuries. Unfortunately, even if you are sure someone else is to blame for causing a wreck like this, holding them financially liable for the losses you suffered can be a complicated process.
If you have found yourself in this situation, talking to a Bethlehem motorcycle accident lawyer about your legal options can be an important first step toward protecting your future prospects. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we are no strangers to cases like these. We have helped hundreds of clients recover after motorcycle wrecks, including one individual who suffered a lung injury, broken ribs, and a broken leg in a crash. In just four months, we recovered $250,000 on their behalf. You need a skilled attorney like Founding Partner Jon Ostroff in your corner–call today to get started on your case.
What Damages Might Be Available?
In Pennsylvania, it is not always necessary to file a lawsuit against a person who causes a traffic accident in order to recover compensation for accident-related losses. In most situations, the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that you have through your motorcycle insurance policy should reimburse you for emergency medical bills and certain other out-of-pocket expenses, so long as the amount of money you need does not surpass your policy limit.
However, motorcycle wrecks commonly cause very serious injuries with long-term consequences, and insurance payouts are not always enough. In this kind of scenario, it may be necessary to pursue a lawsuit or private settlement from the at-fault person that includes compensation for losses like:
- Future medical bills, including costs of physical therapy
- Lost wages from work
- Lost ability to work due to long-term disability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional/psychological trauma
- Loss of life’s pleasures
A Bethlehem motorcycle crash attorney can explain on a case-by-case basis what damages you might be able to work into your specific claim.
Proving Fault for a Motorcycle Wreck
PIP insurance coverage works on a “no-fault” basis, so it is not necessary to prove that someone else was at fault—or even that you were not at fault as the injured person—to get compensation through this type of coverage. In a personal injury lawsuit, though, you must prove that your accident would not have happened at all if not for the other person’s careless or reckless actions.
On top of that, you might need to prove that you did not cause or contribute to causing your own losses by acting negligently, since a court might otherwise limit the amount of compensation you are allowed to receive. As a motorcycle accident lawyer in Bethlehem can explain, not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle sometimes counts as this kind of “comparative fault,” even if you were not required by law to wear a helmet. Your lawyer can fight back against unfair accusations of fault, helping you get the full compensation amount you deserve.
Get in Touch with a Bethlehem Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Getting into a wreck while riding a motorcycle has a very high potential to cause life-altering injuries, especially if it involves being hit by another vehicle. If the person driving the other vehicle is the one to blame for your accident, seeking financial compensation from them could be crucial to making sure you have a high quality of life moving forward despite the physical harm you experienced.
A Bethlehem motorcycle accident lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers is prepared to fight for you, seeking out the payments you need to make things right. Your initial case review is free, so contact us today to get started.
