Lancaster Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
For the freedom of the open road, winding hills and spectacular countryside, Pennsylvania roads simply can’t be beat. These roads call out to motorcyclists from all over, who spend hours exploring the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside on their bikes. Whether riding for pleasure or as your primary means of transportation, experienced riders know that with the pleasure and excitement of riding also comes the constant danger of an encounter with a negligent or distracted car or truck driver, which most often spells disaster for the motorcyclist. As a Board-Certified Civil Trial Specialist with 25 years of experience handling personal injury cases in Pennsylvania courtrooms, Lancaster motorcycle accident lawyer John P. Stengel is familiar with the serious nature of motorcycle accident cases and knows what it takes to secure the maximum in compensation for injury victims.
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Facts
It is indisputable that motorcycle riders are at much greater risk of serious injury or death in a traffic accident than other drivers on the road. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation statistics for 2015 show that there were 3,508 motorcycle accidents that year resulting in 179 deaths. This means that motorcycle accidents resulted in a fatality 5.1% of the time, compared to fatalities occurring in only .4% of car-on-car auto accidents. In other words, motorcycle riders were killed 12 times more often other vehicle drivers in crashes.
Motorcycle riders simply do not have the protection and safety features that a passenger vehicle affords, but instead are directly exposed to serious or deadly impact from a car or truck. In addition to their vulnerability, motorcyclists face special dangers because of their smaller size. These dangers include:
- Drivers fail to check blind spots for the presence of motorcycles before changing lanes
- Drivers turn left into the path of an oncoming bike, misjudging the motorcycle’s speed
- Drivers drive aggressively around motorcycles, crowding them, cutting them off, or forcing them off the road
What can Motorcyclists do?
Safe, defensive riding involves a whole host of safety practices. Being a well-trained and experienced biker is key to safety, but other measures a motorcyclist can take include:
- Wearing a helmet
- Wearing leathers, gloves or other protective clothing
- Riding visibly in the center of the lane
- Keeping headlamp on day and night
- Keeping bike well-maintained
- Riding predictably at a steady speed and without weaving
- Adjusting riding according to traffic, weather and road conditions
- Scanning the road ahead and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles
Many of these tips are exercised by safe and prudent riders, but unfortunately all the care in the world cannot always protect you from a driver who makes a dangerous or unpredictable maneuver. Motorcycle accident claims are often difficult because many members of the public have a bias against motorcycles and think of motorcyclists as dangerous or reckless. This can lead insurance companies or juries to blame the biker for an accident that he or she did not cause or contribute to. Unfortunately, this can greatly reduce the amount of compensation the injury victim may receive, or even prevent the success of a claim altogether. Having a skilled, experienced trial attorney on your side is essential to presenting a compelling case that establishes the other driver’s negligence and demonstrates your own safe riding.
Lancaster attorney John P. Stengel is an expert in civil trial law, certified as a specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. With 25 years of courtroom experience in personal injury and wrongful death cases, Mr. Stengel knows exactly how to investigate a motorcycle accident, determine the facts, and build and present a persuasive case to get injured riders the maximum compensation available to them. Put decades of knowledge, skill and experience on your side by calling John P. Stengel to represent you in negotiations with the insurance company, or in court.
Call the Expert after a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident
If you have been the victim of a motorcycle accident in southeastern Pennsylvania, or if you lost a loved one in a crash caused by the negligence of another, contact Lancaster motorcycle accident lawyer John P. Stengel at 717-290-7971 for a no-cost consultation. There is no charge unless and until we obtain a recovery for you.
