If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Luzerne County, a Hazleton motorcycle accident lawyer at Munley Law can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your injuries. With more than 250 years of combined legal experience in investigating accidents, working with experts, building cases, negotiating with insurance companies, and fighting for justice in court, we are prepared to guide you through the legal process after a crash.
Our results include significant recoveries for injured clients. Among the multi-million-dollar client victories we’ve secured is a $4.3 million jury award for a motorcycle victim. Our attorneys have also been recognized by organizations such as the American Association for Justice, Super Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Irish Legal 100, Best Lawyers, and other respected legal organizations that continue to honor our attorneys. Clients also regularly show their appreciation for the work we’ve done for them by giving us five-star Google Reviews.
Don’t hesitate to contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free initial case evaluation. We’re available 24/7, and there are no legal fees unless we win your case.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Can a Hazleton Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help You?
When you work with a personal injury lawyer at Munley Law, you can focus on your recovery while an experienced attorney handles the legal aspects of your case.
Some of the ways our Hazleton motorcycle accident attorney can help you include:
- Gathering Evidence: One of the first things we will do for you is work tirelessly to gather all relevant and necessary evidence. This evidence can help establish how the accident occurred and support your claim for compensation. Our investigators will gather evidence that you may not be able to obtain on your own, such as CCTV footage and expert testimony.
- Negotiating a Settlement: We will thoroughly review your case and account for every source of compensation you are owed. Next, we’ll use this to evaluate the worth of your case and will present the number to the defendant and their legal team. In some cases, a claim may resolve through an early settlement offer. In others, additional negotiations may be necessary. However, it’s not uncommon for the defendant to counter with an offer of their own. We will negotiate with their team and advocate for your interests until you reach an agreement.
- Representing You In Court: Most personal injury cases, including motorcycle accidents, settle out of court. However, going to trial is always possible; if that happens, having an attorney with courtroom experience can be valuable. Some personal injury lawyers only have experience negotiating settlements and would have to pass you along to someone else if a trial were necessary.
While you’re not legally required to have a lawyer represent you after a motorcycle accident in Luzerne County, PA, if you’ve been injured, the last thing you want to do is deal with numerous legal and other hurdles. Give yourself the best chance of obtaining justice and fair compensation by letting our Hazleton motorcycle accident lawyer handle your case.
What are the Main Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Hazleton?
Motorcycle accidents, like car accidents, can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- T-bone collisions: T-bone collisions happen when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another. This can be particularly devastating when a truck or passenger vehicle collides with the side of a motorcycle; a motorcycle driver is far less shielded from the impact than the driver of a car would be, and can experience significant injury.
- Head-on collisions: As the name implies, head-on collisions occur when the front ends of two vehicles collide with each other.
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s hands off the wheel, their mind off the road, or their eyes off the road. A distracted driver is far more likely to cause an accident; even if they become aware of an impending collision before it happens, if they’ve been distracted, they may not be able to brake in time to prevent it.
- Car doors opening: It’s not uncommon for motorcycle accidents to occur when a driver of a parked car opens their door without looking, causing the motorcyclist to collide with the door itself.
- Reckless driving: Reckless driving can cause all manner of accidents, including motorcycle accidents. Reckless driving includes things like speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changing, swerving, and more.
- Alcohol use: Drinking and driving are both dangerous and illegal, and operating a car or motorcycle when drunk can have disastrous consequences. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that around 32 people in the US die in drunk-driving crashes everyday.
- Dangerous road conditions: Dangerous road conditions, such as rain, fog, wind, or snow, can limit visibility for all drivers and greatly increase the chance of an accident. Potholes and cracked roads can also cause an accident.
- Sudden stops: If a car driver negligently slams on their brakes, coming to a sudden halt, it could cause the motorcyclist behind them to crash into the rear of the vehicle.
What are the Most Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents in Hazleton?
In the past several decades, motorcycles have become an increasingly popular mode of transport; in fact, data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows the number of on-road motorcycles registered in the US increased from 4.3 million to 8.6 million between 2002 and 2021.
Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are at a particularly high risk of accidents and injuries. In fact, the National Safety Council found that motorcyclists account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 3,298 motorcycle accidents across the Keystone State in 2024, of which 218 were fatal.
Because a motorcyclist lacks some of the physical protection a passenger vehicle driver has, they can be at serious risk of injury in an accident. A wide variety of injuries can occur from a motorcycle accident, but some common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of limb
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
It’s important to remember that helmets are proven to decrease injuries and reduce deaths in motorcycle accidents. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that helmets saved nearly 2,000 lives in 2017; 749 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.
PennDOT reports that, in 2024, 53.9% of motorcyclists who were involved in accidents but weren’t injured were wearing helmets, compared to the 34.3% of motorcyclists who weren’t wearing helmets and weren’t injured when they were involved in crashes. Although no rider can eliminate every risk on the road, wearing a helmet can reduce the likelihood of serious injury in a crash.
What Compensation is Available Following a Motorcycle Accident in Hazleton, PA?
It’s difficult to give any estimate of how much you’re eligible to receive in damages after a motorcycle accident in the Hazleton area, as this depends greatly on the details of your accident and your case. In more general terms, you may be able to receive compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic losses are those that have a clear and distinct monetary value, such as those associated with injuries and wrongful deaths. Some examples of these losses are medical bills and expenses, lost wages, and future lost wages.
However, when a severe injury occurs, the cost goes beyond economic losses. You’re likely to be impacted mentally and emotionally, and you may not be able to immediately return to the life you lived before. This is where non-economic losses come into play. These losses account for the more abstract losses an accident victim experiences, such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Your attorney will carefully evaluate your losses to pursue compensation for both your economic and non-economic damages.
That said, there are two very important factors to remember, namely Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations and comparative negligence rule.
Under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2), most motorcycle accident lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. However, different deadlines may apply in certain situations. For example, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5533(b), the statute of limitations is generally tolled for injured minors until they reach age 18. Because filing deadlines can vary depending on the circumstances, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102, the comparative negligence rule allows you to pursue compensation if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident, and any compensation you receive will be reduced by your share of fault. For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but are 20% responsible for the accident, you will only receive $80,000. If you’re more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages.
Why Work With Our Hazleton Accident Attorneys at Munley Law?
We understand that if you or a loved one has experienced a motorcycle accident in Hazleton, you have many options for who you trust to handle the legal aspect of your case. It’s not a decision that should be taken lightly, and that’s why with Munley Law, you are always entitled to a free initial case evaluation before making any commitment. You can call at any time to speak to one of our dedicated and experienced Hazleton personal injury lawyers, and learn how we can explain your legal options and advocate on your behalf throughout your claim.
At Munley Law, we work to give every motorcycle accident client the attention and care they deserve. We have a strong record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts, including multi-million-dollar recoveries. Over the years, we’ve recovered more than $1 billion in damages for injured Pennsylvanians.
Beyond this, we have the knowledge, experience, and professional resources to conduct thorough investigations and build strong cases. Our attorneys are members of the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Four of our attorneys, Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey, are board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Attorneys at Munley Law have also been recognized by respected legal organizations, including Lawdragon, which has named attorneys from the firm to its 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, Irish Legal 100, and The National Trial Lawyers, which has recognized attorneys from the firm among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Best Lawyers named Marion Munley its Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation.
We pride ourselves not just on our successes but on the relationships that we form with our clients. Our firm was founded as a family business in 1959, and although we offer national-level service, we are still guided by our founder’s ethos. When you work with us, you won’t be just another number or one in a stack of cases; you’ll be treated like family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hazleton Motorcycle Accident Cases
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident in Hazleton, PA?
While you are not legally required to hire a lawyer, having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can significantly improve your chances of recovering fair compensation. A Hazleton motorcycle accident lawyer can handle the collection of evidence, negotiations with insurance companies, and legal filings on your behalf. This allows you to focus on your recovery while your case is managed professionally.
How Much is My Hazleton Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
How much your Hazleton motorcycle accident case is worth depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and the impact on your quality of life. Every case is unique, so there is no fixed settlement amount. An attorney can evaluate your specific situation and provide a clearer estimate based on the details of your claim.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident in Luzerne County?
Immediately after a motorcycle accident, your priority should be to seek medical attention, even if your injuries don’t appear to be serious. You should also report the accident to the police, gather evidence (if possible), collect witness contact details, and avoid speaking with insurance companies before consulting a Hazleton motorcycle accident attorney at Munley Law. Taking these steps helps protect your health and your legal rights.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2). However, there are exceptions. For example, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5533(b), the filing deadline is generally suspended for injured minors until they turn 18. Other circumstances may also affect the applicable deadline, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, provided your share of fault is less than 50%. Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. An attorney can help determine liability and work to minimize your share of responsibility.
Contact Munley Law to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Munley Law to discuss your situation during a free consultation. We’ll explain your legal options and answer your questions so you can decide how you’d like to move forward. We are ready and waiting to take your call.
James Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is a highly successful and driven motorcycle accident lawyer. Chris has spent years fighting for injured victims of all kinds, including motorcycle accidents. His accomplishments have earned him numerous awards, including multiple instances of recognition by both Best Lawyers and Lawdragon, and the title of “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” from Super Lawyers. In terms of case results, Chris has assisted in the recovery of millions of dollars for motorcycle accident victims, including involvement in a $4.3 Million Jury award for a motorcycle accident victim.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on August 12, 2026.
