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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

Speak with ME today!

1-800-980-4842

or e-mail me:
thomasnewell@comcast.net

Speak with ME today!

1-800-980-4842

or e-mail me:
thomasnewell@comcast.net
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT RESULTS

Bucks County PA                                $130,000.00 

A Bucks County Pennsylvania motorcycle accident settlement of $130,000.00 was agreed to by a Bucks County couple.  The Bucks County residents were riding their Harley on Rt. 611 above Stroudsburg PA when a car went through a stop sign and crashed into their HOG.

The passenger was thrown off of the Harley-Davidson and lost consciousness. The Quakertown resident was initially treated at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, PA for a fractured rib, lumbar vertebrae fractures and a concussion.   She was promptly transferred to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Trauma Center in Allentown, PA for a 3 day admission.

The Harley-Davidson rider was taken directly from the scene of the motorcycle accident to Lehigh Valley Hospital.  He was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures, a clavicle fracture and a wrist injury.  Surgery on the Quakertown resident's left shoulder was an open reduction and internal fixation of the left distal clavicle fracture.  A plate and 5 screws were installed to hold the fracture site in place.

Within 90 days of being hired, the Quakertown PA motorcycle accident lawyer obtained a $130,000.00 settlement.  This payout was the maximum insurance coverage available for the Bucks County residents from the Defendant's insurance company and their underinsured motorist coverage.

Please CONTACT ME if you were a motorcycle rider hit by a car and want a free HOME consultation with a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney with 28 years of experience.

 

Montgomery County PA                $100,000.00

A Montgomery County PA motorcycle accident victim agreed to a $100,000.00 policy limit settlement in less than 60 days after his motorcycle crash.  The Lansdale PA rider was on his motorcycle on Main St. in Lansdale when a negligent driver made a left turn directly in front of him.  The motorcycle and car collilded with the rider being thrown off his cycle and landing on Main Street.

The Lansdale motorcycle accident victim was treated at Abington Memorial Hospital Trauma Center.  He had a ruptured testicle which was surgically removed.  The rider also broke a total of 3 toes and tore his anterior cruciate ligament.  His Willow Grove orthopaedic surgeon recommended ACL surgery.

His Montgomery County PA motorcycle accident attorney coordinated payment of his Suzuki property damage claim, as well as the defendant's $100,000.00 liability policy limit.  Unfortunately, the cycle owner had chosen not to pay for the optional underinsured motorist coverage.  Therefore, there was no other source of insurance funds available to additionally compensate the Lansdale motorcycle accident victim.

Monroe County PA                             $75,000.00  

A Poconos PA motorcycle accident settlement of $75,000.00 was accepted by a Monroe County resident.  The motorcycle crash took place in Tobyhanna Pennsylvania.  The rider was knocked unconscious and admitted to a nearby hospital with a fractured scapula, 4 broken ribs and a shoulder separation.

The Pocono Mts. motorcycle accident victim received follow-up medical care from an Easton, PA orthopaedic surgeon and a Poconos physical therapist. Once his recovery was complete, the Monroe County Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney negotiated a $75,000.00 pain and suffering settlement with the negligent driver's insurance company. 

Northampton County PA                    $65,000.00 

A Northampton County Pennsylvania motorcycle accident settlement of $65,000.00 was approved by a Lehigh Valley resident.  The HOG owner was cut off by a driver from Easton PA who went through a stop sign.  The rider was forced to lay his Harley down as he crashed into the car.

An ambulance took the Northampton County PA motorcycle accident victim to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  An MRI showed that he had a lumbar bulging disc.  The Harley-Davidson owner initially treated with both a chiropractor and a physical therapist from the Bethlehem area.  He  also underwent painful steroid injections into his low back and suffered from road rash.

Once the rider's medical care ended, the Bethlehem PA motorcycle accident lawyer obtained a $65,000.00 settlement.  This total payout included the Defendant's insurance policy limit, as well as the motorcycle owner's underinsured motorist coverage limit.

Please see Motorcycle Accident FAQs if you were involved in a motorcycle crash and have questions as to how Pennsylvania law could possibly impact your PA motorcycle accident case. 

Lehigh County PA                                  $65,000.00 

A Lehigh County Pennsylvania motorcycle accident settlement of $65,000.00 was agreed to by a Lehigh Valley resident.  She was a passenger on a Harley-Davidson when a car pulled out in front of the HOG.  The force of the motorcycle crash caused her to be thrown off the Harley and she landed on the street injuring her back.

The passenger was taken by ambulance to the Trauma Center of Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown Pennsylvania.  An MRI revealed that she had sustained 2 lumbar bulging disks.  She also suffered a broken toe.  An Allentown orthopaedic specialist gave the motorcycle accident victim multiple steroid injections into her low back and started her on a rigorous course of physical therapy.

The Lehigh County PA motorcycle accident lawyer obtained the liability policy limit from the Defendant's insurance company and the underinsured motorist limits from two other insurance policies.  The Lehigh Valley motorcycle accident victim received $65,000.00 - the maximum insurance payout possible. 

Bucks County PA                                    $55,000.00 

A Quakertown Pennsylvania motorcycle accident settlement of $55,000.00 was accepted by a Bucks County PA resident.  The Harley-Davidson owner was riding on Rt. 152 in Chalfont PA when a car pulled out in front of the HOG.  The automobile driver panicked and stopped his car in the middle of the road.  The rider had no option except to lay his Harley down.

The Bucks County PA motorcycle accident victim suffered a small vertebrae fracture and soft-tissue injuries to his neck and back.  A rigorous course of physical therapy resulted in his complete recovery.  The Bucks County motorcycle accident attorney obtained a $55,000.00 settlement from the Defendant's car insurance company.  He also coordinated payments for the Harley repairs and the rider's medical bills.

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

Lehigh County PA                                         $40,000.00

A Lehigh Valley PA motorcycle accident victim received a total settlement of $40,000.00 after a crash on East Emmaus Avenue in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County.  The Tamaqua PA resident was riding his Harley when a car went thru a stop sign and made a left turn directly in front of the rider.  He was thrown off of the HOG and suffered serious injuries to his left leg.

The Lehigh County PA motorcycle accident victim was immediately taken to the Trauma Center of Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown PA.  He had a severely broken left tibia and left fibula which required surgery to repair the compound fracture of his leg.  An Allentown orthopaedic surgeon monitored his recuperation.  The Lehigh Valley PA motorcycle accident attorney obtained the Defendant's policy limit of $25,000.00, as well as the $15,000.00 underinsured motorist claim limit on the rider's insurance policy.

Monroe County PA                                        $33,500.00

A Stroudsburg PA motorcycle accident resulted in a $33,500.00 settlement after a crash in Tannersville Pennsylvania.  A motorcycle rider was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control and collided head-on with a pick-up truck.  The rider died from his injuries.  The Monroe County Pennsylvania resident was taken to Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg PA.

The driver sustained whiplash and soft-tissue injuries to his neck & back which were treated by an East Stroudsburg physical therapy/chiropractic office.  An MRI of his low back taken 7 months after the collision suggested that he had sustained 2 lumbar disc herniations.  The Pocono Mts. resident did not receive any steroid injections or nerve block injections.  The Monroe County PA motorcycle accident lawyer obtained a $33,500.00 settlement for the injured driver once his medical care had ended.

Northampton County PA 

A Bethlehem, Pennsylvania motorcycle accident settlement was reached after a motorcycle crash on Broad Street in Bethlehem.  A Lehigh Valley resident was talking on her cell phone and drove thru a stop sign into the path of the HOG.  The rider had no place to go and he crashed into the side of her car.  The Harley owner was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem PA.

After x-rays and a bone scan were taken, the Lehigh Valley PA motorcycle crash victim was treated for a stress fracture and road rash.  A Lehigh Valley orthopaedic doctor prescribed a Cam Walker to aid the healing process.  Once settlement negotiations stalled, the Bethlehem PA motorcycle accident attorney filed a lawsuit against the reckless driver.  The Defendant's insurance company quickly agreed to a settlement which covered the rider's medical bills and his pain and suffering claim.

 

Please go to CLIENT REVIEWS to read about the experiences of some of Attorney Newell's past PA motorcycle accident clients.

 

Disclaimer

Attorney Thomas Newell provides the content of this website for your information only.  Nothing provided in this website should be interpreted as being legal advice.  Each Pennsylvania motorcycle accident case must evaluated on the specific facts of that claim.  Critical factors include violations of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, the injuries suffered and available insurance coverage(s). Pennsylvania laws regarding motorcycle accident claims are constantly changing.  You are strongly advised to hire a motorcycle accident attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

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PA Motorcycle Accident
Legal Decisions

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Motorcycle Accident Victim's
Claim Denied Due to
Household Exclusion

A 2009 ruling by the PA Supreme Court denied the ability of a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident victim to receive additional underinsured motorist benefits.

A young man was riding his motorcycle when he was involved in a collision with an automobile. The Defendant's car insurance company paid its policy limit.The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer made underinsured motorist (UIM) claims against his motorcycle insurer (Universal) and his car insurance company (Erie). Universal paid its policy limit. Erie refused to make a settlement offer by relying on the household exclusion portion of its policy. The Allegheny County Trial Judge ruled in favor of Erie Insurance Company. His Decision was affirmed by the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.Both Appeals Courts ruled that the insurance policy language clearly excluded underinsured motorist coverage if the motorcycle rider was occupying a vehicle owned by him or a relative but not insured under that Erie policy. Erie Ins. Exchange v. Baher, 972 A.2d 507 (Pa. 2009)

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Motorcycle Accident UIM
Stacking Claim Denied

A 2008 decision by the PA Superior Court overruled an Allegheny Court of Common Pleas ruling and prevented a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident victim from stacking additional underinsured motorist coverages. The cyclist was hit by a pick-up truck and thrown to the ground. The rider was then accidentally run over by the truck while he was lying on the street. He received the policy limit from the Defendant's insurance policy.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer made underinsured motorist claims against Geico under his client's motorcycle policy, as well as a separate insurance policy for his 2 pick-up trucks. Geico denied the UIM claim versus the truck policy based upon the household vehicle exclusion provision. Since the rider was hit while operating the motorcycle, the exclusion set forth in the truck policy prevented an additional recovery.

The Trial Court granted the rider's Motion for Summary Judgment and ordered that he be permitted to make a UIM claim against all of his insurance policies. The PA Superior Court reversed the lower court opinion. Since the pick-up truck insurance contract eliminated additional coverage when the rider was occupying a vehicle owned by him and insured under a different policy, the Appeals Court upheld the exclusion and denied the PA motorcycle accident victim the ability to stack all of his insurance policies. Geico v. Ayers, 955 A.2d 1025 (Pa. Super. 2008)

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Motorcycle Accident Victim
Can't Admit Summary to
Impeach Witness

A 2007 Opinion of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a decision of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas and denied a new trial for a PA motorcycle accident rider.  The motorcycle rider was on State Route 64 in Centre County when a tractor-trailer operator made a left turn up ahead of him.  The rider crashed his cycle into the back of the trailer.  A Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer filed a lawsuit against the truck driver and his employer.

At trial the defense alleged that the motorcycle rider was driving too fast, was inattentive and had plenty of time to avoid the motorcycle-truck accident.  Another tractor-trailer driver was called as a defense witness to testify at trial.  The rider's attorney cross-examined him regarding alleged prior inconsistent statements he gave to the investigating police officer and an insurance company representative.

The Centre County Trial Judge refused to admit into evidence the summaries of the witness' statements.  The jury found the motorcycle rider 53% at fault for the crash and his personal injury claim was dismissed.  The Appeals Court upheld the lower court ruling since a summary of a witness's statement can't be used for impeachment purposes unless it was adopted by the witness as his own.  Croyle v. Smith, 918 A.2d 142 (Pa. Super. 2007)

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Household Exclusion Does Not
Apply to Partner After
Motorcycle Accident

A 2007 ruling by the Superior Court of PA reinstated a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident victim's claim for additional underinsured motorist benefits.  The motorcycle owner was a partner in a business operating a machine shop.  He personally owned a Harley-Davidson which he would sometimes use to make customer calls for the partnership.  The business purchased a commercial insurance policy, including automobile insurance, from Continental Casualty Company.  Two vehicles specifically owned by the partnership were the only listed motor vehicles on the auto policy.

The Harley rider was struck by a car and sustained significant injuries.  He received the policy limit from the Defendant car driver, as well as the UIM policy limit from the Harley Davidson insurance policy.  His Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer then sued Continental to obtain its UIM policy limit.  The Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas Judge granted the insurance company's Motion for Summary Judgment.  The Trial Judge ruled that since the Harley Davidson motorcycle was not specifically listed as a covered vehicle under the commercial policy, the household exclusion prevented the UIM recovery.

The Appeals Court found that since the insurance contract covered the partnership, the term 'named insured' would also apply to the Plaintiff who was one of the 2 owners of the partnership.  Any ambiguity in the insurance contract language would be interpreted against the drafter of the insurance contract.  The Harley rider testified that he expected the commercial policy to cover both him and his partner when they used their personal vehicles on behalf of the partnership.  The case was remanded for an evidentiary hearing to take testimony as to whether the personal injury victim was on partnership business while riding his Harley at the time of the crash.  Continental Casualty Co. v Pro Machine, et al., 916 A.2d 1111 (Pa. Super. 2007)