After a motorcycle crash in Bucks County, you might already sense an unfair bias working against you. It often comes from a baseless stereotype that motorcyclists are reckless. We understand this bias is real, and more to the point, we know how it can be used to undervalue or deny your claim.
This perception stands in the way of the compensation you need to recover. Pennsylvania law protects your right to seek payment when someone else’s negligence causes you harm—no matter what type of vehicle you operate. What matters are the facts, not stereotypes.
Our firm is built on representing injured motorcyclists. We have years of experience with these specific cases and a deep understanding of the challenges you face. If you have questions and are unsure of your next move, we’re available to provide clear answers.
Call Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers for a no-cost case evaluation at (215) 567-7600.
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Key Takeaways for Motorcycle Accident Claims
- The bias against riders can directly reduce your compensation. Insurance adjusters may look for any opportunity to shift blame to you, and Pennsylvania’s negligence laws mean that even a small percentage of fault assigned to you will lower your final award.
- You have a two-year deadline to file a lawsuit. Pennsylvania law sets a strict two-year time limit for most personal injury claims. Missing this window means losing your right to pursue compensation forever.
- Calculating compensation goes far beyond current medical bills. A strong claim accounts for all tangible and intangible losses, including future medical needs, lost earning ability, and the personal cost of pain and suffering.
Why Choose Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers?
A Record of Results for the Injured
Our firm has secured over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We consistently take on high-stakes cases against well-funded opponents and have delivered significant results, including:
- $17 million for catastrophic child abuse injuries
- $14 million for an electrocution accident
- $12.2 million for a wrongful death case
A Different Kind of Legal Team
Leonard Hill founded our firm in 1999 with a focus on personalized, compassionate service. He holds an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University, a distinction earned by less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Before his legal career, Leonard was a respected middle school teacher. That experience shaped our firm’s dedication to clear communication and powerful advocacy for families.
Dedicated to Your Recovery
- Direct and Personalized Attention: Your case will not be handed off. You will have a direct line to our team, ensuring your questions get answered and you stay informed.
- No Win, No Fee Guarantee: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless and until we win your case.
- Free Case Review: We will assess the details of your accident and explain your legal options at no cost to you.
Accessible from Bucks County
Our main office is at 1700 Market Street, Suite 3150, in Philadelphia, just a short drive or train ride from anywhere in Bucks County.
How Is Compensation Calculated for a Motorcycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
The purpose of a personal injury claim is to secure the financial stability to cover every single loss the accident caused.
The value of your claim is not just the sum of your current receipts. It requires a detailed calculation of future costs and an accounting of the non-financial impact on your life. Without this thorough assessment, you could accept an offer that leaves you paying for long-term expenses yourself.
Pennsylvania law allows you to pursue payment for a wide range of damages. Our job is to identify and calculate every loss to ensure the compensation we seek fully reflects what this accident has taken from you. These damages are separated into two main categories.
What are Economic Damages?
These are the tangible, verifiable financial losses you have sustained. Think of them as anything with a clear price tag.
Examples Include:
- Current and Future Medical Bills: This covers everything from the initial emergency room visit and hospital stay to surgeries, physical therapy, and any medical care you will need down the road.
- Lost Wages: The income you have already lost because you cannot work.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or earning the same income, this damage category accounts for that long-term loss.
- Motorcycle Repair or Replacement: The cost to fix or replace your damaged bike and gear.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Costs for prescriptions, transportation to doctor’s appointments, or modifications to your home to accommodate an injury.
What are Non-Economic Damages?
These damages compensate you for the personal, intangible losses that don’t have a simple price tag but have a tremendous impact on your quality of life.
Examples Include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused.
- Emotional Anguish: This addresses conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD that develop as a result of the crash.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries stop you from participating in hobbies or activities you once loved.
- Disfigurement or Scarring: Compensation for permanent changes to your appearance.
How Does Pennsylvania’s Comparative Negligence Rule Affect My Claim?
Pennsylvania follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. Simply put, this means you can still recover damages even if you are found partially at fault for the accident, as long as your share of the blame is 50% or less. The law is written in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 7102.
However, your final compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 10% at fault, your award is reduced by 10%. This is where the unfair bias against motorcyclists becomes expensive, and why a strong advocate is so important.
Where Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen Most in Bucks County?
While a crash can occur anywhere, certain traffic patterns, road designs, and congestion create high-risk areas throughout Bucks County. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and local news reports show that some roads and intersections see a higher number of serious collisions.
Common Bucks County Accident Hotspots
- Intersections: A large portion of motorcycle accidents happen at intersections, typically when other drivers make left turns and fail to see an oncoming bike.
- Street Road (PA-132): This major road is consistently one of the most dangerous in the county. A study based on a decade of federal crash data once identified the intersection of Street Road and Knights Road in Bensalem as the most dangerous in the entire United States.
- Route 611 (Easton Road): This is another major route where serious accidents happen, especially at busy intersections.
- U.S. Route 1 (Lincoln Highway) & U.S. Route 13 (Bristol Pike): These heavily used roads have a high volume of traffic, which increases the risk of collisions.
- Route 202 in Solebury: Accidents are also common near the entrances to commercial areas, where vehicles turning into shopping centers may fail to yield the right-of-way.
Contributing Factors to Bucks County Crashes
- Left-Turn Collisions: A driver turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle is one of the most frequent causes of serious motorcycle accidents.
- Seasonal Riding: Better weather in the spring and summer brings more motorcycles onto the road, which can correspond with a rise in accidents as other drivers readjust to sharing the road.
- Road Conditions: Potholes, loose gravel, and poorly maintained roads are especially dangerous for motorcyclists, who don’t have the stability of a four-wheeled vehicle.
The Bias Is Real: How Insurers Use Rider Stereotypes Against You
You may feel like you have to prove you weren’t being reckless. That feeling is grounded in reality. Insurance companies are businesses, which means they must balance paying fair claims with making a profit. Their adjusters are trained to conduct a thorough investigation, looking for any evidence to argue you were at fault.
Here’s how that plays out in a motorcycle claim:
- Misinterpreting the Police Report: The officer’s report might contain subjective notes about “high speed” or “weaving,” even if no ticket was issued. An adjuster will seize on these words to build a narrative of a reckless rider, even if your actions were perfectly legal and safe for the conditions.
- Using Your Bike Against You: Does your motorcycle have performance modifications? Is it a sport bike? Some adjusters will use the appearance of your bike to imply you were riding aggressively, regardless of the actual facts of the crash.
- Taking Statements Out of Context: Soon after the crash, an adjuster might call and ask for a recorded statement. They may ask friendly-sounding questions like, “Were you familiar with the road?” or “How fast were you going?” An innocent answer can be twisted. For example, saying you were going the speed limit could be used to argue you were going too fast for the traffic conditions.
Our role is to keep them accountable. We manage all communication and present a case based on evidence, not stereotypes, to ensure no amount of blame is unjustly put on you.
Common Injuries from a Motorcycle Crash
Even with protective gear, a rider’s body absorbs the full force of a collision. This can lead to severe and life-altering injuries.
- Road Rash: Abrasions caused by sliding on pavement can be severe, sometimes requiring skin grafts to treat and leaving behind permanent scars and infections.
- Broken Bones: Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis are common.
- Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a helmet, a rider may suffer a concussion or a more severe brain injury, affecting cognitive function, memory, and personality.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Internal Injuries: The impact can cause damage to organs that may not be immediately apparent.
What if the Other Driver Has Little or No Insurance?
This is a legitimate fear. What happens if the person who hit you has minimum insurance, or worse, no insurance at all? This is where your own insurance policy comes into play, specifically your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
In Pennsylvania, insurance companies must offer you this coverage, and it protects you in two scenarios:
- Uninsured Motorist (UM): This applies if the at-fault driver has no insurance or if it was a hit-and-run and the driver cannot be found.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM): This applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits are too low to cover the full extent of your damages. Your UIM coverage can make up the difference, up to the limits of your own policy.
We will thoroughly review your own insurance policy to identify all available sources of compensation. Dealing with your own insurance company for a UM/UIM claim can still be an adversarial process, and we manage it for you just as we would a claim against another driver.
What Pennsylvania Laws Might Affect Your Claim?
- Helmet Law: Pennsylvania law requires helmets for all riders and passengers under 21. Riders over 21 may ride without a helmet if they have completed a motorcycle safety course or have at least two years of riding experience. However, if you weren’t wearing a helmet, an insurance company will argue your injuries are more severe than they would have been otherwise.
- Statute of Limitations: As mentioned earlier, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania, according to 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your right to pursue compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bucks County Motorcycle Accidents
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet? Can I still file a claim?
Yes. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you have the right to file a claim. However, expect the insurance company to argue that your head injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. We work to focus the case on the cause of the crash itself, not on your gear.
The police report says I was partially at fault. Does that kill my case?
Not at all. A police report is an officer’s initial assessment; it is not the final word. We frequently conduct our own investigations that uncover evidence to paint a more complete picture of what happened. As long as your percentage of fault is determined to be 50% or less, you can still recover damages under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule.
What if a road hazard like a pothole caused my crash?
If a dangerous road condition was the cause, you might have a claim against the government body responsible for maintaining that road, like a city or the state. These cases have very different rules and much shorter deadlines. In most cases, you must provide official notice of your intent to sue a government entity in just six months.
How long will my motorcycle accident case take to resolve?
The timeline depends on your injuries’ severity and the insurance company’s stance. A straightforward case with clear liability might settle efficiently. A case involving a dispute over fault or requiring long-term medical care calculations will take time, particularly if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Do I really need a lawyer if the insurance company already made an offer?
An early settlement offer is usually a sign that the insurance company knows its insured driver was at fault. It is almost always lower than the full value of your claim because it’s made before the long-term consequences of your injuries are known. Speaking with a lawyer allows you to understand what a fair offer should look like before you sign away your rights.
Your Path Forward Starts with Clear Advice.
Don’t let the unfair stereotype of a “reckless rider” dictate the outcome of your claim. The time after a Bucks County motorcycle accident is disorienting, but your next step can be clear.
You need an advocate who sees the facts, understands the bias you’re up against, and has the experience to make sure your side of the story is told accurately and powerfully.
We are here to be that voice. Let our team handle the legal process so you can focus on the one thing that matters: your health. For a straightforward conversation about your options, call Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers today at (215) 567-7600.