You may be entitled to compensation if you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Carbondale, PA. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates to discuss your legal rights and options. Our Carbondale motorcycle accident lawyers can help you fight to recover maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our award-winning attorneys have more than 120 years of combined experience. We’ve won tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, our team is here to fight for you, too.
Contact us at (717) 995-8810 to get started by scheduling your free, no-obligation case evaluation. We’re available to take your call 24 hours a day.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After Your Motorcycle Crash in Carbondale
Getting compensation after a motorcycle accident can be more challenging than it should be. At-fault parties won’t want to accept responsibility. Insurance companies (even your own) will try to blame you. You’ll face an uphill battle as you try to recover the money that you rightfully deserve.
Level the playing field by hiring our personal injury lawyers in Carbondale to represent you.
Our team includes top-rated attorneys who’ve gained national recognition for their ability to take on tough cases and win. We know that every dollar counts when you’re trying to recover from catastrophic motorcycle accident injuries, and our goal is to make sure that you get all of the money you need.
When you choose Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Carbondale motorcycle accident attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your motorcycle collision to determine the cause(s) and identify who’s at fault
- Gather evidence from the scene, speak with witnesses, obtain medical records and police reports, and take other steps to build support for your injury claim
- Consult with experts as we build and value your case
- Defend you against efforts to blame you for the motorcycle wreck
- Negotiate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf
If you’re not offered a fair deal, our Pennsylvania trial attorneys will be more than ready to take your case to a jury.
A motorcycle crash can turn your world upside down. Let our personal injury law firm help you fight to make things right. Contact us to get started today.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Pennsylvania?
In recent years, Pennsylvania saw a drop in the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities on its roads. However, that changed in 2020 when the state saw the highest number of motorcycle crashes since 2016.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 3,398 statewide motorcycle accidents in 2020. That reflected about a 14 percent increase from the year prior when there were 2,977 crashes with motorcycles.
It’s not just the number of motorcycle accidents that’s increased in recent years. Fatalities are at a five-year high. In 2020, there were 215 fatal motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania. That’s a nearly 23 percent increase over the year prior when there were 175 fatal wrecks with motorcycles.
So, based on these figures, there are roughly 9 to 10 accidents involving motorcycles in Pennsylvania every day.
What’s My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
You’re filing a personal injury claim because you want compensation for the trauma of your motorcycle accident. So, it’s understandable that you’ll want to know how much your case is worth. It’s difficult to give you a precise answer without knowing the specific facts of your case.
However, certain factors will always play a role in the valuation of your case:
- How severe are your injuries?
- Will you be permanently disabled or impaired?
- Are you able to return to work?
- Has your earning capacity been affected?
- What are your out-of-pocket costs?
- What steps did you take to mitigate your injuries?
- Did your own negligence contribute to the motorcycle wreck?
- What will it cost to replace or repair damage to your motorcycle?
- How have you been affected by the trauma of the collision?
The more serious your crash-related injuries, and the bigger the accident’s impact on your life, the more your case is likely worth.
However, every situation is different. Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Carbondale, PA to learn about your specific case. Marzzacco Niven & Associates is here to help you understand everything you need to know. Give us a call to get started now.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Carbondale?
Most motorcycle accidents are avoidable. In Pennsylvania, riders must be at least 16 years old, pass a motorcycle knowledge test, and obtain a special license to operate a motorcycle. Vehicles and equipment have to meet certain safety requirements. Other motorists on the road have an obligation to drive safely around them.
Unfortunately, crashes involving motorcycles are still all too common. Typically, this is because someone – either the motorcyclist or another party – is negligent.
Some of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Lane splitting
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe lane changes
- Unsafe turns
- Driving under the influence
- Driver distraction
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Inexperienced operator
Sometimes crashes happen even when a rider or motorist isn’t negligent. Some other causes of motorcycle wrecks include road defects, inclement weather, and vehicle malfunction.
What Compensation Can I Get After a Motorcycle Accident in Carbondale?
You can recover compensation for your financial losses and the pain and suffering you experience due to a motorcycle crash.
Economic damages are paid to make up for the verifiable financial costs and expenses of your auto accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Lost income and benefits
- Disability
Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate for injuries that don’t have a standard financial value, including:
- Emotional distress
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Mental anguish
- PTSD
If you were hurt because someone else displayed a reckless disregard for your safety or hurt you intentionally, punitive damages might also be available.
Riders Can Suffer Catastrophic Injuries Even if They’re Wearing a Helmet
Riders under the age of 21 have to wear a motorcycle helmet. Adults 21 and over can opt to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. While wearing a helmet means that a rider is statistically less likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury or die in a crash, they can still get seriously injured.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our motorcycle accident lawyers help crash victims fight to get compensation for:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Lost limbs
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Concussions
- Joint injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal trauma
If a family member was killed in a fatal motorcycle crash in Carbondale, our law firm can help you file a wrongful death action for compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Motorcycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
A two-year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury cases in Pennsylvania. This means that you’ll have just two years from the date of your crash to file a claim for damages.
While there could be situations when the statute of limitations is different, it’s not usually the case. And, if you miss the deadline that applies to your case because you waited too long, you’ll give up the right to get any money at all.
Protect your right to compensation by calling Marzzacco Niven & Associates immediately after your motorcycle accident in Carbondale.
Can I Still Get Money If I’m Blamed For My Motorcycle Accident?
As long as you’re not mostly to blame, you can still recover some damages. Pennsylvania has modified comparative negligence rules with a 51% bar to recovery. You can get compensation unless you’re assigned 51% or more fault.
While sharing some of the blame won’t prevent you from getting money, it will impact how much you can get. Your financial award will be reduced to reflect your own negligence. For example, a monetary award of $100,000 will be reduced to $80,000 if you’re assigned 20% fault.
Other parties will probably try to blame you for the crash. If they’re successful, then you could watch well-deserved compensation disappear. Don’t let that happen. Call our Carbondale motorcycle accident attorneys for help. We’ll work hard to protect you against these (and other) tactics and get you all of the money you deserve under Pennsylvania state law.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Carbondale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Don’t hesitate to call Marzzacco Niven & Associates after getting into a motorcycle wreck in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. You may be entitled to compensation, and our Carbondale motorcycle accident lawyers are here to help you maximize your recovery.
Our award-winning legal team is ready to put more than 120 years of collective experience behind your fight for compensation. We’ve won tens of millions of dollars for crash victims like you – and now it’s your turn to get the money you deserve.
Give our Carbondale law office a call to get started. Your first consultation is free, so call now.