According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2019, prior to the lockdowns that proceeded from the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 motorcyclists died on US roads.

Now that the emergency declaration in Pennsylvania has ended, COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions across the country are loosening and the roads are once again getting crowded. With commuters, travelers and truckers returning to the roads, it is important to know the risks faced by motorcyclists and what to do if you are involved in a motorcycle accident.

At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, Esq., we have handled cases on behalf of motorcyclists who have been killed, paralyzed, and sustained other serious and life-threatening injuries.

What Are Some of the Risks Unique to Motorcyclists?

Motorcycles pose several risks to riders that drivers of other vehicles, such as cars and trucks, simply do not face. These include:

• Differences in Size: There sheer difference in size between a motorcycle and the other vehicles on the roadway places the motorcyclist at a higher risk of harm, as they are less stable and visible than other vehicles. It is easy for other motorists to simply notice a motorcyclist is near them on the roadway. According to some estimates, two-thirds of multiple vehicle accidents stem from violations of a motorcyclists right-of-way. The smaller size and design of motorcycles also makes them more prone to be thrown off course by changes and defects in the roadway, such as speed bumps, changes in the grade of a road, potholes, and audible lines on the shoulder of a highway.
  
• A Lack of Protection:      Modern cars and trucks have obvious safety advantages over motorcycles, including seatbelts, windshields, airbags, and enclosed cabins. The lack of protection offered to the rider by a motorcycle, which leaves the rider completely exposed, significantly increases the risk of injury to motorcyclists. In fact, the NHTSA estimates that deaths on motorcycles occur 28 times more frequently that in any other vehicle.
  
• More Prone to Rider Error: The difference in size and design of motorcycles leaves them more prone to rider error than other vehicles, such as cars and trucks. These errors, such as under-cornering, excess speed, and over-braking, can easily cause the rider to be thrown from the bike, resulting in significant injuries. Two-thirds of single-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles are caused by such rider errors.
  

What Can I do to Reduce My Risk of Injury in a Motorcycle Accident?

Despite the lack of protection afforded by motorcycles, there are several steps riders can take to decrease the risk of serious or fatal injury:

• Make Sure Your Motorcycle is Roadworthy: You should make a basic check of your motorcycle before every ride. Check the tire pressure and tread depth and make sure all headlights, brake lights, and signal indicators are in working order. By performing this check, you can make sure your motorcycle is better able to handle changes in the roadway. You will also increase the visibility of your motorcycle to others on the roadway.
  
• Practice Riding Your Motorcycle: Cars and trucks are much more forgiving when it comes to inexperienced operators. You should make sure you are completely comfortable with your motorcycle and how it operates, and you should know how to handle your motorcycle in a wide variety of situations (such as potholes, bad weather, and sharp turns).
  
• Keep a Vigilant Lookout: While you should always keep a proper lookout while driving a motorcycle (Indeed, in Pennsylvania, you are legally obligated to do so), you should keep an enhanced lookout when driving a motorcycle. It is much harder to see a motorcycle on the roadway than it is to take notice of a car or truck. You should assume when entering an intersection or passing another vehicle that you have not been seen.
  
• Wear Proper Protective Equipment: According to the US National Library of Medicine of the National Institute of Health, the biggest cause of deaths in motorcycle crashes is head injury. You should make sure you are wearing a helmet, even if your state does not require you to do so. Other protective equipment, such as armored riding boots, protective clothing, and protective eyewear can significantly reduce the risk and severity of injury after an accident.
  

What Should I Do If I am Involved in a Motorcycle Accident?

You need to contact an experienced attorney immediately. DO NOT DELAY!

Like all vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents require urgent and experienced investigation. Your lawyer must conduct an investigation immediately to identify witnesses, to preserve the motorcycle and any other vehicles involved in the accident, and to determine the extent to which any weather or road conditions may have contributed to the accident.

Further, in Pennsylvania, motorcycles are not subject to the same insurance laws as other vehicles on the roadway. For example, while automobile insurance carriers are required to make first-party medical benefits available to those purchasing insurance on a car or truck, they are not required to offer such insurance for a motorcycle policy. You need your attorney to act quickly to identify all available insurance coverages after an accident to make sure you get necessary medical treatment as quickly as possible without worrying about mounting medical bills.

At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, Esq., we have decades of experience handling cases resulting from motorcycle accidents.

We handle cases throughout Pennsylvania: From Philadelphia and the surrounding counties to Centre County, from Central Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh, and from the New York border to the borders of West Virginia and Maryland. If you have suffered an injury or someone died as a result of a motorcycle accident, please call our firm – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 844-777-2529 (Toll Free) or (215) 696-3900 for a consultation. One of our team members will be in immediate contact with you. We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, State College and Bellefonte. We are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.