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  • BETHLEHEM, PA
    140 E. Broad Street
    Northampton County
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018
    610-866-0469
  • STROUDSBURG, PA
    45 North 7th Street
    Monroe County
    Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360
    570-421-0893
  • PERKASIE, PA
    1282 Route 113
    P.O. Box 178
    Bucks County
    Perkasie, Pennsylvania 18944
    215-257-4842
  • ALLENTOWN, PA
    2015 Hamilton St.
    Lehigh County
    Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
    610-432-4160
  • EASTON, PA
    Northampton County
    Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
    610-258-6470
  • LANSDALE, PA
    Montgomery County
    Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446
    215-368-5545
  • LEHIGHTON, PA
    Carbon County
    Lehighton, Pennsylvania 18235
    610-377-2134
  • QUAKERTOWN, PA
    Bucks County
    Quakertown, Pennsylvania 18951
    215-538-5350

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MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT FAQs

  Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Attorney links

PA MOTORCYCLE ATTORNEY 

MOTORCYCLE MEDICAL BILLS 

DEALING WITH INSURANCE CO. 

PA MOTORCYCLE LAWS 

MOTORCYCLE UNINSURED CLAIM 

PA MOTORCYCLE LOST WAGES 

PA HELMET REQUIREMENTS 

PA MOTORCYCLE PASSENGER 

PA MOTORCYCLE STATS 

MOTORCYCLE CRASH CONSULT 

  MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT RESULTS

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PA MOTORCYCLE ATTORNEY

Why should I hire a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney to represent me after a motorcycle crash?

  • The driver's insurance adjuster is paid to do 2 things: settle your Pennsylvania motorcycle accident claim as soon as possible and, for the LEAST amount of money.
  • With whom would he rather negotiate  - a PA attorney who has handled over 1,000 personal injury cases or an unrepresented injury victim?

Why is Attorney Newell the right Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney for my case?

  • EXPERIENCE:           Attorney Newell has represented PA personal
                                          injury victims for over 28 years.
  • SERVICE:                   Visit CLIENT REVIEWS to read what his Pennsylvania
                                         motorcycle accident clients have said about his
                                         commitment to personal service.
  • EXCLUSIVITY:           Attorney Newell ONLY represents PA personal injury
                                         victims.
  • KNOWLEDGE:          He receives 3 email updates EACH DAY to keep him
                                         current on Pennsylvania legal news.

Please CONTACT ME to have a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney with 28 years of experience review your PA motorcycle accident claim.

 

MOTORCYCLE MEDICAL BILLS


A car cut me off on Rt. 611 near Stroudsburg, PA. The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident left me with unpaid medical bills. Is medical coverage a required part of my Harley's insurance policy?

  • No. There is no mandatory medical insurance coverage on Pennsylvania motorcycle policies.
  • Some insurance companies do provide motorcycle owners with the option of paying for health insurance coverage.

I was riding my 'cycle on Rt.145 in Allentown PA when I was involved in a motorcycle accident.  Will my car insurance policy pay for my medical bills after this Pennsylvania motorcycle crash?

  • No.  The PA Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law prevents motorcycle riders from obtaining PA medical insurance coverage thru their automobile insurance policy.

A motorcycle crash happened when a car pulled out in front of my HOG on Rt. 113 near Perkasie, PA.  Who will pay for my medical bills if I can't use my car insurance policy?

  • If you have private medical insurance, they will pay the medical bills.  Your PA motorcycle attorney will demand reimbursement for any co-pays or deductibles you must pay.
  • If you don't have private health insurance coverage, those medical expenses will be included as a part of the overall settlement of your motorcycle case.

I was a passenger on a Kawasaki motorcycle.  The rider lost control of his bike on Route 313 near Quakertown PA resulting in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident.  Can my automobile insurance policy pay for my medical bills?

  • No.  Under PA law, passengers are treated the same as riders.  Therefore, your car insurance company can not pay your medical bills.
  • Your private health insurance coverage would be responsible for your medical expenses.

Please visit MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT RESULTS for Attorney Newell's Pennsylvania motorcycle accident case summaries.

 

DEALING WITH INSURANCE CO.


After my motorcycle accident on Rt. 22 near Bethlehem PA, the defendant's car insurance company called me and asked me to give a recorded statement.  Should I give it to them?

  • No.  You do not have any legal obligation to do so.
  • Their insurance company is only looking out for their insured's legal interests.
  • Your PA motorcycle accident lawyer can protect your legal rights while also providing the car insurance company with information needed to complete its investigation.

I was riding my motorcycle on Route 611 near Easton PA when I was hit by a car.  Should I sign the medical release form that the defense adjuster sent to me?

  • No.  He might claim that the form only allows him to get your current Pennsylvania motorcycle accident medical records.
  • Don't trust him.  Many times these forms have fine print language which allows them to get any records they want with no restrictions.
  • Attorney Newell never permits his PA motorcycle accident clients to sign medical release forms drafted by the defendant's insurance company.

Please see HOME for information regarding Attorney Newell's experience and qualifications to represent Pennsylvania motorcycle accident victims.

 

PA MOTORCYCLE LAWS


Two Gold Wing Honda motorcycles were riding side by side on Rt. 309 near Lansdale, PA when there was a motorcycle accident. In Pennsylvania, is it legal for two motorcycle riders to operate their motorcycles in the same travel lane?

  • Yes. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code does permit two motorcycles to be driven two abreast in the same lane.

I was hit by a motorcycle on Route 313 by Quakertown PA.  The rider was wearing headphones.  Is that legal?

  • No.  Section 3314 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code prohibits the use of headphones or earphones by a PA motorcycle rider.
  • The only exception is a communications headset which permits the rider to speak with his/her passenger.

Can an ATV driver legally drive their ATV on a Pennsylvania public street or highway?

  • It is illegal to operate an all-terrain vehicle on a Pennsylvania public road unless 1 of 2 very specific exceptions exists:
    • A government agency specifically permits it in a declared state of emergency, or
    • Crossing a public street or highway with strict compliance by the ATV operator with four specific requirements set forth in the PA Vehicle Code.

Please go to CLIENT REVIEWS to obtain information regarding the experiences of some of Attorney Newell's former motorcycle accident clients.

 

MOTORCYCLE UNINSURED CLAIM


I had a PA motorcycle accident on Route 313 by Doylestown PA with a car that was uninsured.  Who makes a payout for my pain & suffering due to my injuries?

  • If you paid for uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your motorcycle policy, your Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney will make a UM claim on your behalf.
  • If you did not pay for uninsured motorist coverage on your motorcycle policy, you could try to make a UM claim on your auto policy.   However, most car insurance policies have exclusions which could prevent an uninsured motorist claim after your motorcycle crash.

Please go to UNINSURED MOTORIST SETTLEMENT for case summaries in Pennsylvania motor vehicle accidents involving an uninsured motorist.

 

PA MOTORCYCLE LOST WAGES


I was injured in a motorcycle crash on I-78 near Easton PA and I'm out of work.  Who pays for my lost wages?

  • Unless you paid for optional first-party benefits or private income loss coverage, your lost wage claim will be made a part of your overall settlement demand by your Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney.

Why not CONTACT ME to have a PA motorcycle attorney who has represented personal injury victims since 1981 investigate your motorcycle accident claim?

 

PA HELMET REQUIREMENTS


When does Pennsylvania law require a motorcycle rider to wear a helmet?

  • In PA, a rider must wear a helmet if you are in any one of these categories:
    • Under the age of 21
    • 21 or older - but licensed to operate a motorcycle for less than two full calendar years
    • 21 or older and did not complete a motorcycle rider safety course approved by Penn Dot or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

When does the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code require motorcycle passengers to wear a helmet?

  • In PA any motorcycle passenger under the age of 21 must wear a helmet.

What impact has PA's new laws on helmet use had on Pennsylvania motorcycle accident injuries?

  • According to a June 13, 2008 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a report from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center stated that there was a 32% increase in PA motorcycle related head injuries in the 2 years after mandatory use of helmets was repealed.
  • Researchers also noted a 42% increase in head injury hospitalizations, while hospital charges for Pennsylvania motorcycle accident related head injuries jumped 132 percent.

Are there any specific examples of helmets saving motorcycle riders' lives?

  • A July 2009 article in the Reading Eagle reported on a Berks County PA motorcycle accident involving Amity Twp. Supervisor Richard L. Gohey.
  • Mr. Gohey lost control of his motorcycle trying to avoid a truck that had turned right in front of him.
  • He went over the handlebars, landing on the road.  The cyclist credits his helmet with saving his life as his doctors said the helmet prevented severe if not lethal head injuries.

Please see MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT RESULTS for some of Attorney Newell's motorcycle accident settlements.

 

PA MOTORCYCLE PASSENGER


I was a passenger in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident on the PA Turnpike by Quakertown PA.  Who pays for my medical bills?

  • 99% of motorcycle owners do not have optional medical insurance coverage on their motorcycle policy.
  • Automobile insurance policies exclude coverage if you are hurt in a motorcycle crash.
  • Your private health insurance will most likely be the source of your medical coverage.

Please visit WHY ATTORNEY NEWELL to read about his qualifications to serve as your PA motorcycle accident lawyer.

 

PA MOTORCYCLE STATS


What is the trend for motorcycle accident deaths in Pennsylvania?

  • While the total number of deaths involving all motor vehicles is declining, motorcycle deaths are increasing.
  • In 2008, 237 occupants of motorcycles died.  In 2007, the number of deaths was 225.  In 2006, there were 187 motorcycle related fatalities.

 

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CONSULT


Will Attorney Newell come to my home to talk to me about my Pennsylvania motorcycle accident case?

  • PA motorcycle accident victims in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, Bucks County PA and Montgomery County PA have relied upon Attorney Newell to aggressively represent them.
  • Whether you live in Bethlehem or Easton, Stroudsburg or Bushkill, Lehighton or Allentown, Quakertown or Perkasie, Doylestown or Lansdale - Attorney Newell will provide you with a free HOME consultation for your PA motorcycle accident claim - no matter where you live in Eastern Pennsylvania.

When should I hire my PA motorcycle accident attorney?

  • The sooner you hire a motorcycle lawyer, the quicker he/she can:
    • obtain payment for the repairs to your cycle
    • coordinate your insurance policies to make sure that your medical providers are billing the correct insurance company
    • obtain the necessary evidence to prove that the driver of the car was at fault for the crash
    • stop all the harassing phone calls to your home by insurance company representatives.

Disclaimer

For 28 years, Pennsylvania personal injury victims have relied upon Attorney Newell for aggressive legal representation.  He has represented motorcycle accident victims in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos and Bucks County areas.  Attorney Thomas Newell provides this website content only for informational purposes and it is not legal guidance for your motorcycle accident claim.  The laws regarding Pennsylvania motorcycle accident cases evolve over time.  I urge you to hire a motorcycle accident attorney.

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PA Motorcycle Accident
Issues & News

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Scranton Motorcycle Accident Results in Rider's Death

 

On August 18, 2010 a truck-motorcycle accident took place at the intersection of North Main Avenue and Philo Street in Scranton PA.  According to WBRE, Scranton Police claim that a pick-up truck pulled out in front of the motorcycle causing the accident.  The 20 year-old motorcycle rider was killed due to injuries sustained in the motorcycle accident.

 

For a motorcycle crash

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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York County Motorcycle Rider Dies in Crash

 

On Aug. 15 2010 a York County Harley Davidson rider died after crashing on Felton Road.  According to The York Dispatch, the Harley owner lost control of his cycle, went off the road at around 2:00 a.m. and struck a mailbox post.  York Area Regional Police stated that the HD rider was not wearing a helmet at the time of the motorcycle accident.  The York County Coroner's Office stated that the York County resident died of blunt force trauma.

 

The Daily Record reports that this is the 7th motorcycle accident death in York County in 2010.  For comparison, there were 7 cycle deaths in the entire year of 2005.

  

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Pike County Motorcyclist Killed by DUI Driver on Rt. 209

 

On July 29, 2010, a Pike County PA rider was killed by a drunk driver on Route 209 in Marshalls Creek.  According to the Pocono Record, the Dingmans Ferry rider was involved in a motorcycle  accident that resulted in him and a female passenger being ejected onto the Rt. 209 roadway.  A passerby stopped to help them.

 

It was then that a drunk driver from Henryville, PA drove thru the wreckage of the first crash.  The car hit the cycle rider, as well as the Good Samaritan.  The rider was killed and the passerby suffered a compound leg fracture.  The Poconos motorcycle rider was a decorated Iraqi war veteran and had recently re-enlisted for 10 more years with the United States Army Reserves.

 

For a motorcycle accident

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Prison Term After Montco Motorcycle Fatality

 

On July 12, 2010, a Norristown motorcycle rider was sentenced to a prison term of 11-1/2 to 23 months for the June 23, 2009 death of his passenger after a motorcycle crash on the Dannehower Bridge.  According to the Pottstown Mercury, the motorcycle was stolen and the defendant was riding while his license was suspended.  The rider had previously plead guilty to a homicide by vehicle in the death of his female passenger in the Montgomery County PA motorcycle accident.

 

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5 Riders Killed in Lancaster County Motorcycle Accident

 

On June 27, 2010, a horrific crash on Route 72 near Lititz Road in Penn Township took the lives of 5 motorcycle riders.  Penn Twp. Police reported that 3 Harley-Davidsons with 2 riders each collided with a taxi van on Rt. 72 in the southbound lane of travel.  A female passenger on one of the Harleys was the only survivor.  She was admitted in critical condition to Lancaster General Hospital.  The Lancaster County District Attorney is investigating the cause of the fatal collision.

 

For a PA motorcycle crash

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Northampton County Motorcycle Crash Fatality

 

On June 18, 2010, a motorcycle accident on State Route 611 in Forks Township, Northampton County resulted in the death of a 58 year-old Montgomery County rider.  According to wfmz.com, the Horsham PA cyclist struck the rear of a stopped car waiting to turn from Rt. 611 onto Old River Road.  The motorcycle rider was taken to Easton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

 

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Route 33 Accident Kills Driver and Rider

 

A May 27, 2010 accident involving a car and motorcycle on Route 33 resulted in the death of both operators.  According to wfmz, the crash took place at 10:00 p.m. in Lower Nazareth Township.  A southbound car crossed the center median on Rt. 33 and collided with a northbound motorcycle being driven by a Nazareth resident.  The Northampton County Coroner's Office declared both operators dead at the scene of the tragic accident.

 

For a cycle accident

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Bucks County Motorcyclist Dies in Horsham PA Crash

 

On May 16, 2010, a 26 year old Perkasie PA motorcyclist died in a crash on Moreland Avenue in Montgomery County Pennsylvania.  As described on wpvi.com, Horsham Twp. police claimed the Bucks County motorcyclist lost control on a bend in the road, hit a telephone pole and was thrown from the cycle.  The rider was not wearing a helmet and apparently died from severe head trauma.  Witnesses claim the cyclist was passing motor vehicles on the right before the crash.

 

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 Monroe County PA Motorcycle Crash Kills 2

 

On April 30, 2010, a Poconos motorcycle accident resulted in the death of a cycle rider and his passenger.  As described in the Pocono Record, a Lackawanna County motorcycle rider was operating his 2006 Ducati motorcycle on Locust Ridge Road in Tobyhanna Twp. when he lost control, left the road and crashed into a tree.

The rider and female passenger were declared dead at the scene by the Monroe County Coroner's office.  The Pocono Mountain Regional Police investigated the motorcycle accident.

 

For a motorcycle collision

consultation call

800-980-4842

  

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Wayne County Motorcycle Accident Death

 

An April 2, 2010 motorcycle crash in Wayne County took the life of a Lake Ariel Harley-Davidson rider.  The 50 year-old cycle operator was driving, without a helmet, on Route 191 in Wayne County PA when he attempted a left turn.  According to the Pocono Record, a car being driven by a 17 year-old girl from New York struck the motorcycle on Rt. 191 before it could complete its turn.  The Harley rider was thrown onto the highway.  He was taken to Community Medical Center in Scranton PA where he died.

 

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Kutztown PA Motorcycle Fatality

 

On March 24, 2010, a Kutztown University student died from his injuries suffered in a March 18, 2010 motorcycle crash.  The Dresher PA motorcycle rider was traveling on Kutztown Road in Maxatawny Township when a car driven by another Kutztown student made a left turn in front of the 'cycle rider.

The Berks County PA motorcycle accident victim flew off his bike and landed on the roadway.  He was then hit by another car driven by a Leesport PA resident.  He was flown by Medevac to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown PA.  The motorcycle rider was in a coma and died due to multiple traumatic injuries six days after the motorcycle crash.

 

For a PA motorcycle accident

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Boyertown Motorcycle Rider Killed in Berks County Crash

 

On March 20, 2010 a Boyertown PA motorcycle accident victim was declared dead at the scene of a crash in Pike Township, Berks County.  The Pottstown Mercury describes that the 52 year old rider was operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Club Road when he tried to make a left turn onto a side street.  The motorcycle rider lost control and turned the cycle on its side.  The Boyertown resident struck a utility pole resulting in significant internal injuries.

 

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Hit & Run Criminal Charges in Lancaster Motorcycle Accident

 

On March 18, 2010, a Lancaster PA man was charged with multiple criminal offenses after a Jan. 2, 2010 car-motorcycle hit and run accident.  Lancaster police concluded that the owner of a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee struck a motorcycle being driven by a 30 yr. old Lancaster County resident.

The unconscious rider was left lying on the road as the driver fled the scene.  According to an article on fox43.com, the hit and run driver's operating privileges had previously been suspended and he was driving without a license.

 

For a PA motorcycle collision

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Rt. 309 Motorcycle Accident Victim Hospitalized

 

On March 9, 2010, a 2007 Suzuki motorcycle rider was seriously injured in a Route 309 crash.  As described in an article in The Intelligencer, the rider was traveling south on Rt. 309 when a car driven by a woman from Skippack, PA turned left in front of the cycle.  The 39 year old Suzuki owner was admitted into Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

 

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Not Guilty Plea After Death in Montco Motorcycle Crash

 

On February 26, 2010, a Norristown man entered a not guilty plea to multiple criminal charges, including homicide by vehicle, after a June 23, 2009 motorcycle accident that resulted in the death of his passenger.  According to a report in The Pottstown Mercury, the Montgomery County PA motorcycle rider was operating a stolen Suzuki GSXR cycle at a high rate of speed on Route 202 in Upper Merion.  Witnesses observed the cycle weaving in and out of traffic.  Ultimately, the rider struck the rear of an SUV on Route 202 in West Norriton.  He lost control and struck a barrier on the Dannehower Bridge catapulting the passenger into the Schuylkill River.  Police investigation discovered that the Norristown resident's driving privileges had been suspended until 2011.  Trial has been set for later in 2010.

 

For a PA 'cycle crash

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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14 Motorcycle Deaths in 2009 in Montgomery & Bucks Counties

 

Information provided by PennDOT listed 6 motorcycle accident deaths in Montgomery County PA in 2009, with 8 such fatalities in Bucks County. A report in the Bucks County Courier Times noted that there were 9 motorcycle accident deaths in each County in 2008.

 

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American College of Emergency Physicians & Motorcycle Helmet Use

 

The American College of Emergency Physicians has taken a strong stance in favor of mandatory use of helmets for motorcycle occupants.  As detailed at acep.org, head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes and helmets provide the best protection for head injuries.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unhelmeted motorists are 40% more likely to die from a head injury.  The NHTSA estimates that motorcyclists are 37 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants in passenger cars.  5,290 motorcyclists were killed in crashes throughout the United States in 2008.  Motorcycle helmet use in Pennsylvania has dropped drastically since the 2003 repeal of the mandatory motorcycle helmet use laws.

 

For a PA 'cycle accident

consultation call

800-980-4842