- Our Lawyers Have Over 50 years of Personal Injury Law Experience
- Aggressive and Personal Representation
Motorcycle Injury Accident Lawyers Near Me in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Motorcycle crashes often result in devastating consequences for riders and their families. Unlike occupants of passenger vehicles, motorcyclists have little protection when an accident occurs, making motorcycle injury accidents among the most serious personal injury cases in Pennsylvania. At Fisher & Fisher Law Offices, our motorcycle accident lawyers represent injured riders throughout the Poconos, Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA), and surrounding regions who are facing overwhelming medical bills, lost income, and life-altering injuries.
How Our Experienced Motorcycle Injury Lawyers Can Help
Motorcycle accident cases are fundamentally different from other motor vehicle claims. Bias against riders, complex liability issues, and severe injuries make it critical to work with an experienced motorcycle injury lawyer who understands how to protect your rights. Our firm provides dedicated legal guidance to injured motorcyclists across Monroe, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Luzerne, Northampton, Lehigh, and Lackawanna counties.
Protecting Your Rights After a Motorcycle Crash
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize or deny motorcycle claims by unfairly blaming the rider. Plus, many people don’t realize that motorcycle insurance does not cover medical bills. Our motorcycle accident attorneys take immediate action to preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and ensure your claim is positioned for maximum recovery.
Attorney Insight
“Unlike automobile insurance, motorcycle insurance does not cover the payment of medical bills. Medical expenses must be submitted to the rider’s health insurance (which may be required to be repaid) or pursued in a claim against the at-fault driver.”
Investigating Liability and Fault
Proving fault in motorcycle accidents requires a detailed investigation. We analyze police reports, accident scene evidence, witness statements, and expert findings to establish motorcycle accident liability and identify all responsible parties.
Understanding Motorcycle Injury Accidents
Motorcycle crashes occur for many reasons, but they are most often caused by negligent drivers who fail to see or yield to motorcyclists. These accidents frequently result in motorcycle crash injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term care.
Attorney Insight
“Because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, many drivers fail to notice motorcyclists until it is too late, and drivers commonly misjudge the distance of an approaching rider.”
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Common causes include distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, speeding, failure to yield, drunk driving, and hazardous road conditions. Left-turn collisions and rear-end impacts are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Often More Severe
Without the structural protection of a vehicle, riders absorb the full force of impact. Even at low speeds, accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, and internal injuries.
Common Motorcycle Accident Locations in the Poconos
• Route 611 through Tannersville and Bartonsville
• Route 940 near Mount Pocono
Local Pocono Motorcycle Crash Insights
Motorcycle crashes occur throughout Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains and Monroe County, where high-speed highways and heavily traveled tourist routes can create dangerous conditions for riders.
According to the PennDOT, 3,298 motorcycle crashes occurred statewide in 2024 , resulting in 219 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries . PennDOT also reports that motorcycle riders are approximately 27 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles when measured by miles traveled. Although there are no official numbers, these stats become more alarming for those riders not wearing a helmet.
In the Pocono region, many serious motorcycle accidents occur on major roadways such as Interstate 80, Interstate 380, Route 611, Route 209, and Route 940 which carry large volumes of commuter and tourist traffic. Riders traveling through scenic mountain roads may also encounter sharp curves, wildlife crossings, and sudden traffic slowdowns during peak tourism seasons. In and around towns, they may be more likely to encounter other vehicles, pedestrians, and faulty traffic devices. Unsafe road conditions are common to both types of areas.
Because motorcycles offer far less protection than passenger vehicles, crashes on these high-speed routes often result in severe injuries. Riders injured in motorcycle accidents in the Poconos, the Slate Belt, or the Lehigh Valley frequently face significant medical expenses, lost income, and long recovery periods.
Attorney Insight
“Motorcycle accidents in the Pocono region often occur on high-speed highways and scenic mountain roads where traffic conditions can change quickly. When these crashes happen, the injuries are frequently severe and require careful investigation to determine liability.”
Types of Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes are often catastrophic. Many victims face permanent disabilities or require lifelong medical care following serious motorcycle injuries.
Injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes are often catastrophic. Many victims face permanent disabilities or require lifelong medical care following serious motorcycle injuries.
Catastrophic and Life-Altering Injuries
These injuries may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, severe road rash, and internal organ injuries. In the most tragic cases, families are left dealing with fatal motorcycle accidents and wrongful death claims.
Wrongful Death and Motorcycle
When a motorcycle crash results in loss of life, surviving family members may pursue compensation through a Wrongful Death claim for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and emotional suffering.
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Pennsylvania law generally requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear protective headgear. However, riders over age 21 may be exempt if they have at least two years of riding experience or have completed an approved motorcycle safety course. While helmet use can reduce injury severity, failure to wear a helmet does not automatically bar recovery in a motorcycle injury claim.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Knowing what to do after a motorcycle accident can significantly impact your health and your legal claim. Seek immediate medical attention, report the accident to law enforcement, document the scene, and avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney.
Compensation Available in Motorcycle Injury Claims
Victims of motorcycle accidents may be entitled to motorcycle accident compensation for medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Related Personal Injury Practice Areas
The personal injury attorneys at Fisher & Fisher Law Offices also represent clients in a wide range of personal injury case matters, including the following:
Car & Auto Accidents, Truck Injury Accidents, Boating Accidents, Dog & Animal Bites, Medical Malpractice, and Slip and Fall Injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do motorcycle riders have different insurance rules in PA?
Yes. While Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault” state for cars, motorcycles are not covered by the standard no-fault system.
No PIP Benefits: Unlike car owners, motorcycle insurers are not required to provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or first-party medical benefits. Riders typically must use their own health insurance for immediate medical costs.
Automatic Full Tort: Motorcyclists are generally granted “full tort” status by default. This means they are not restricted by the “limited tort” rules that often prevent car drivers from suing for pain and suffering unless they have a “serious injury”.
What compensation can injured motorcycle riders recover?
Injured riders can pursue both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party, including:
Medical Expenses: Current and future costs for surgeries, rehab, and therapy.
Lost Wages: Compensation for time missed at work and any reduction in future earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering: Because of their “full tort” status, riders can recover for intangible losses like emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace the motorcycle and safety gear.
What if the driver claims the motorcyclist was speeding?
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule.
The 51% Bar: You can still recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault. If a jury finds you were 51% or more responsible (e.g., due to excessive speeding), you are barred from receiving any compensation.
Proportional Reduction: If you are partially at fault (e.g., 20%), your total award will be reduced by that percentage (e.g., you would receive $80,000 of a $100,000 award).
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in PA?
The statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident.
Strict Deadline: If you fail to file within this window, you will likely lose your right to pursue a claim in court.
Exceptions: Limited exceptions exist for minors (where the clock may not start until they turn 18) or cases where the injury was not immediately discoverable.
Are motorcycle riders required to wear a helmet in PA?
Not all of them. Pennsylvania law requires helmets only for certain groups:
Riders under 21: All operators and passengers under age 21 must wear a helmet.
New Riders: Those who have held a motorcycle license for less than two years must wear a helmet unless they have completed a safety course approved by PennDOT.
Impact on Claims: While not wearing a helmet may not automatically bar you from compensation if you meet the exemptions, it can be used to argue comparative negligence if you suffered a head injury.
About the Attorneys who Authored this page
Joseph Kulesa Esq., Timothy B Fisher II, and Timothy B Fisher are Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys with more than 50 years of collective experience representing accident victims throughout Monroe, Carbon, Wayne, Pike, Northampton, Lehigh, Lackawanna, Luuzerne county and the Pocono Mountains. They have handled over 1000 motor vehicle accident cases, including serious motorcycle injury claims.
Between attorneys Fisher, Fisher II, and Kulesa; they belong to the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Middle District, and Eastern District of Pennsylvania and New Jersey Federal Bar Associations.
Education: Dickinson School of Law, Albany School of Law, Rutgers School of Law
Bar Admission: Pennsylvania
Last Updated: March 12, 2026