Wilkes-Barre motorcycle riders deserve the same legal protections as other motorists after a motorcycle accident. We fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has programs in place which attempt to reduce the rate of motorcycle injury and fatality accidents in the state. Locally, Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program clinics are held in Wilkes-Barre and dozens of other locations statewide. Although there were 16,673 safety program participants in 2016, there were more than 3,300 motorcycle accidents in 2016. Unfortunately, these numbers reflect no improvement over the year before.
Accidents caused by careless and inattentive drivers continue to be a major hazard for motorcycle riders in Pennsylvania. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash because of another driver’s negligent actions, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre may be able to help you hold them liable for your accident-related expenses and losses.
Trusted since 1959, the Munley Law team can help you understand your legal rights and explain your options for collecting compensation. Our case evaluations are always free, and we charge no fee unless we win compensation on your behalf.
Call us today at (855) 866-5529 to discuss your case with a Wilkes-Barre motorcycle accident attorney for free.
Recovering Damages in a Wilkes-Barre, PA Motorcycle Accident Case
When we handle a motorcycle accident claim, we can typically recover two types of damages:
Economic Damages
Economic damages, sometimes called special damages, include the expenses and financial losses you suffered. Some of the most common include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Ongoing care costs
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- The costs of repairing or replacing your motorcycle and other personal property
- Out-of-pocket costs
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic, or general, damages cover the intangible losses you suffered. They are more difficult to put a price on, but can easily eclipse the value of your physical damages. The most common non-economic damage we pursue is pain and suffering.
If you lost a loved one in a Wilkes-Barre motorcycle accident, we may be able to help you hold the at-fault driver accountable by filing a wrongful death action on your behalf. Call us today to learn more about this special type of claim by talking to our motorcycle accident attorneys.
Negligence and Your Wilkes-Barre Motorcycle Accident Case
When a driver acts in a careless or reckless way that causes you to suffer injuries, this is known as negligence. To recover compensation, we must prove the other party was negligent. The four elements of negligence are:
- Duty of care: The driver had a responsibility to behave in a reasonable way to prevent an accident and keep you safe.
- Breach of duty: The driver failed to do what she needed to do.
- Causation: This failure caused your accident and injuries.
- Damages: You suffered physical injuries as well as financial damages.
For example, imagine the driver failed to yield when turning left at a green light. She had a legal responsibility to check for oncoming traffic but failed to see you and turned anyway. This caused you to lay the bike down and slide into her vehicle. This is negligence, and we would likely be able to hold her liable for your economic and noneconomic damages. This is why it is imperative to talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer before deciding how to handle the accident.
Proving Motorcycle Accidents Claim in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Our personal injury lawyers will launch a full investigation into every Wilkes-Barre motorcycle accident case we work on, building a solid case against the at-fault driver and proving the value of your damages. This process includes:
- Identifying, reviewing, and analyzing any evidence in your case
- Obtaining the police report and other documents
- Surveying and documenting the crash scene
- Calling in accident reconstruction specialists, if necessary
- Working with other experts to help us understand your accident and injuries
- Interviewing any witnesses
- Attempting to find video of the crash
- Collecting bills, receipts, and other documentation of your damages
We will work aggressively to get you the most favorable outcome possible in your Wilkes-Barre motorcycle accident case.
Filing an Insurance Claim or Lawsuit in Your Wilkes-Barre Motorcycle Accident Case
After we have a case that supports a full payout, we will send a demand letter to the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurer. This letter will outline their policyholder’s negligent actions, your injuries, and the damages you suffered.
This demand letter usually triggers settlement negotiations, which could take several weeks or even months. However, the outcome is often a fair settlement agreement based on your full damages.
Filing a lawsuit after a Wilkes-Barre motorcycle crash is rare, but we are not afraid to litigate any case we handle, if necessary. If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement or denies your claim outright, we can file a civil lawsuit and take it in front of a judge. In court, we will present the case we built, and ask the judge to determine how much compensation you deserve.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Wilkes-Barre About Your Crash Today
The trusted motorcycle accident team from Munley Law may be able to help you get the money you need to cover your medical bills and lost wages after a Wilkes-Barre motorcycle crash. We offer free case reviews and consultations, and we can help you understand if you have viable case against the motorist who caused your accident and injuries.
We offer free case evaluations for motorcycle accidents, during which we can determine you are eligible for compensation. If we take your case, we handle it on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us today at (855) 866-5529 to schedule your meeting with a Wilkes-Barre motorcycle accident lawyer.
