Were you or a loved one hurt in a motorcycle accident in Harrisburg, PA? Did someone else’s negligence cause the accident? An experienced Harrisburg motorcycle accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We’ve been protecting accident victims like you since 2008. Our hard work has paid off — we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for injured parties over the years.
You probably have many questions. We have the answers. Call (717) 231-1640 at our law offices in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Harrisburg
The cost of an injury can add up quickly. If someone else caused your crash, they might owe you money to cover your medical costs and other damages. However, fighting a legal battle can be overwhelming.
Insurance companies often blame motorcyclists for getting hurt. Alternatively, they may accuse you of failing to mitigate damages after an accident. Our experienced Harrisburg injury lawyers can protect your legal rights and maximize your financial recovery.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we have been helping to protect your legal rights since 2008. Our lawyers have been recognized as Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America. We appreciate how important your settlement is to your future.
Hiring us means you’ll have a lawyer to:
- Determine the cause of your crash
- Identify all at-fault parties who contributed to the accident
- Stand up for you if you’re blamed for the accident
- Consult experts and specialists to build your case
- Handle all negotiations and communications with the insurance company
Every injury claim is different. You can rest assured that we’ll give your case the personal attention you need and deserve. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Harrisburg?
Statewide, 3,503 motorcyclists were involved in motor vehicle accidents during 2020. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) also reported 217 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2020. Approximately 2,960 motorcycle crashes caused injuries.
Unfortunately, alcohol was a factor in motorcycle accidents more often than any other type of car accident.
Motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania and Dauphin County are also becoming more serious. The total number of motorcycle wrecks increased by 14.1% between 2019 and 2020. However, the total number of fatal crashes increased by 22.9% during the same period.
Overall, about 6.2% of all Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents are fatal–yet nearly 85% of all motorcycle crashes cause reportable injuries.
What is My Harrisburg Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Most accident victims don’t know what their case is worth in the beginning. That’s understandable. After all, if you’re lucky, you’ve never suffered a serious injury before.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often use that to their advantage. They might pressure you into accepting a settlement before you can speak with an experienced attorney. If that happens, you could end up with less than you deserve.
Calculating the value of a personal injury claim is complex. A number of factors are relevant, including:
- Your financial losses, including the cost of medical treatment and your lost wages
- Whether you’ll need future or ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- Your age and health prior to the crash
- Your general prognosis
- The impact of the injury on your quality of life
Often, we’ll use expert witness testimony to offer insight into your future needs and non-economic losses.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates we’ll thoroughly investigate to make sure we’re demanding the maximum compensation possible from the insurance companies.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?
After a motorcycle accident, injured riders are entitled to seek compensation from all responsible parties. Those compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to reimburse you for out-of-pocket costs. Those financial losses often include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, and follow-up visits
- Medications
- Medical devices
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial costs in fatal crash cases
Non-economic damages compensate for more subjective losses. Examples of these losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
In rare cases, punitive damages may be available. However, these damages are only available if the defendant’s actions were grossly negligent or particularly shocking.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
Motorcycle accident claims can be complicated. The victim isn’t always entirely blameless. Whether you can recover damages if you’re partly responsible depends on how much of the blame you’re assigned.
In the state of Pennsylvania, a modified comparative negligence rule applies. Injured parties can recover compensation as long as their share of fault doesn’t exceed 50%. If you’re allocated 51% or more of the blame, you’ll be barred from seeking compensation.
When you’re only slightly responsible for the accident, your damages award can be adjusted to account for your own share of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 25% liable, you can take home 75% of your settlement or verdict.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle riders don’t enjoy the same protections as occupants in passenger vehicles and trucks. Even with a helmet and protective gear, bikers are much more likely to sustain injuries in an accident.
Some common examples of motorcycle injuries include:
- Road rash and burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Chest injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Pennsylvania law doesn’t require riders to wear a helmet. However, wearing a helmet can reduce your chances of sustaining a serious brain injury by 69%. CDC research also shows that helmet use reduces the risk of death by 37%.
Our Harrisburg motorcycle accident attorneys can help you fight for fair compensation regardless of whether you were wearing a helmet. If you or a family member were injured, give us a quick call for a free consultation today.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Motorcycle accidents are often caused by some type of negligent behavior.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Harrisburg include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Passing too closely
- Tailgating
- Unsafe turns
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous lane changes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Hazardous road conditions
- Defective vehicle components
Have you been injured in a motorcycle wreck in Harrisburg? Our attorneys have been fighting to protect motorcyclists’ legal rights since 2008. To get the legal advice you deserve, call our law firm for a free case review today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
It’s tough to conduct an investigation on your own after a motorcycle accident. You’re likely dealing with painful injuries and treatment–so you have enough to worry about. However, you’ll have to offer proof about who was responsible for the accident to recover compensation.
Let our experienced team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates take the lead in building your case.
Most motorcycle accidents occur because of negligence. The four elements of negligence include:
- A duty of care
- Breach of duty (some type of mistake or omission)
- Causation (the breach directly caused your accident)
- Damages (financial, physical, or emotional losses)
If you were injured, don’t wait to take legal action. Call our Harrisburg motorcycle accident attorneys today to visit the accident scene and start gathering evidence right away.
We’ll locate and analyze the evidence you’ll need when filing a claim, including:
- Police reports
- Toxicology reports
- Hard evidence from the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Video surveillance footage
We can also bring in accident reconstruction experts who can offer guidance and help us understand what happened.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases is two years. That means most injured motorcyclists must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of their accident.
Failure to take legal action before the deadline can have serious consequences. You’ll lose your right to seek damages entirely if you wait too long.
If you’re reading this, the clock may already be ticking. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our lawyers in Harrisburg for a free case evaluation today. We’d be happy to walk you through your legal options and take action to preserve your legal right to compensation.
Contact a Harrisburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Are you struggling after a motorcycle accident? You don’t have to handle your personal injury claim alone. Call a trusted Harrisburg motorcycle accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free initial consultation today. We’ll fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Harrisburg, PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates
945 E Park Dr Suite 103, Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640
Our personal injury law firm in Harrisburg, PA also provides:
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- Child Injury Attorney in Harrisburg, PA
- Harrisburg workers’ compensation lawyers
- Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Harrisburg, PA
- Product Liability Lawyer in Harrisburg, PA
- Social security disability cases
- Taxi Accident Lawyers in Harrisburg, PA
- Truck Accident Attorney in Harrisburg, PA