Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Who Protect the Rights of Motorcyclists

Why motorcyclists need legal protection

As a motorcyclist, you share the same responsibilities on the road — such as signaling and following traffic laws — as any other motorist. You also are as entitled as other motorists to the same rights, such as a full lane of the roadway and acceptable road conditions.

Many crashes occur because other drivers fail to respect the rights of motorcyclists. A motorcycle accident attorney serving Harrisburg from Graham & Mauer, P.C. can investigate your case, and knows how to determine whether your rights have been breached. Furthermore, in Pennsylvania, motorcycle riders involved in highway collisions are not subject to limited tort restrictions. A trained lawyer can make sure to do everything necessary so you can obtain the highest possible compensation.

Causes of motorcycle accidents

The inherent danger of motorcycle riding is no secret. Of course, for many riders, the thrill is part of the fun. Traffic regulations are meant to protect all drivers on the road — and while these laws are sufficient for most other motorists, as a motorcyclist you are clearly at an increased risk of injury should an accident occur.

Motorcycles are more difficult to see than other vehicles, they require a high level of skill to operate and they provide their drivers with no barrier of protection. And the numbers do not lie. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of fatal motorcycle accidents is more than five times the rate of fatal car accidents. Furthermore, most crashes result from negligence, and could have been prevented. Consider the following common causes of motorcycle accidents:

• Poor visibility — Motorcycles are small vehicles that can easily disappear into a blind spot. If a driver is inattentive or distracted, he or she could easily fail to notice a motorcyclist on the road. Even those who check their mirrors regularly but fail to check blind spots could hit a motorcyclist when changing lanes or turning, if they are not careful.
• Speeding — While the ability of a motorcycle to travel at high speeds may be what you like most about it, the failure to follow speeding laws while riding one heightens your risk of accident and injury. Cars and trucks that exceed speed limits leave themselves less reaction time and have a higher risk of collision with a motorcycle or other vehicle.
• Road conditions — While poor road conditions have little or no effect on car and truck drivers, motorcyclists can suffer serious injury on a poorly maintained roadway. In fact, the NHTSA reports that 26 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involve objects on the road such as debris, ridges in the pavement or fluid spills.

Call Graham & Mauer today — speak directly with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Harrisburg and Valley Forge, PA

When a motorcycle accident leaves you unjustly injured, the attorneys of Graham & Mauer, P.C. are prepared to help you seek compensation. With offices in both Valley Forge and Harrisburg, personal injury attorneys from our firm are accessible to clients throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania. Call us toll-free today at 1.800.218.0808 for a free phone consultation, or contact us online.