No one who takes a ride on a motorcycle ever expects to get into a wreck, and certainly not one with life-threatening consequences. Unfortunately, that exact scenario plays out every day because of negligence by someone other than the motorcyclist who tragically lost their life.
If your family has suffered this kind of loss, money alone can’t possibly make up for the life of someone close to you being unfairly cut short. Seeking civil restitution after fatal motorcycle accidents in Bethlehem can still be vital to protecting your family’s best interests in the short term and the long term, and so can working closely with a motorcycle crash attorney who knows how to handle cases like this effectively.
What Risk Factors Can Lead to Fatal Motorcycle Wrecks?
One of the unfortunate realities of riding a motorcycle is that no matter how responsible a rider is or what kind of safety gear they wear while riding, they’re always going to be at greater risk of suffering a serious or fatal injury in a wreck compared to someone inside a motor vehicle with seatbelts, airbags, a roll cage, and other safety features. Motor vehicle drivers still have a duty of care under Pennsylvania law requiring them to act lawfully and responsibly behind the wheel at all times, specifically so they don’t put anyone else on the road at unreasonable risk of harm.
Anyone who causes a fatal motorcycle crash in Bethlehem by breaching this duty of care can be held liable for resulting losses based on their negligence. What counts as a breach of duty can be anything from an overtly illegal act, like speeding or drinking drunk, to just an innocent mistake, like glancing away from the road at exactly the wrong moment. Either type of negligent behavior can be the basis for a lawsuit if it directly leads to someone else’s premature death.
Holding the Right People Accountable for a Loved One’s Loss of Life
Most of the time, the person primarily at fault for a fatal motorcycle wreck in Bethlehem is someone directly involved in the accident, such as a driver who runs into a motorcyclist while they are both traveling on the same highway. Motorcyclists can be found partially at fault for their own accident if they, too, were negligent in some way. That may lead to a reduction in available compensation even if they pass away as a result of their injuries—an obstacle that legal counsel can provide crucial help avoiding.
Sometimes, fault for this sort of crash lies partially or even mainly with someone who wasn’t at the accident scene at all. Depending on the circumstances, this could mean filing suit against a motorcycle manufacturer that produced a fundamentally unsafe bike, a mechanic who didn’t keep a motorcycle or other car in safe working order, or even local government authorities that didn’t keep roads in a reasonably safe condition.
Seek Help from a Bethlehem Attorney for a Fatal Motorcycle Accident Claim
The purpose of a lawsuit based on a fatal motorcycle accident in Bethlehem is not to pay off you and other family members impacted by the wreck for the unjust death of a loved one. Instead, the idea is to minimize the negative effects of this tragedy as much as possible by reimbursing you for specific damages like funeral costs, lost financial support, lost love and companionship, and emotional distress.
If you want to explore your legal options in the aftermath of an incident like this, you have professional guidance and support available from a skilled lawyer. Call us today to discuss your possible case. You won’t owe us anything until we win the compensation you deserve.
