Scranton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The thrill of riding a motorcycle is matched by the danger motorcycle riders and their passengers face. Even the safest motorcyclists can experience a catastrophic injury or even death due to the negligence or recklessness of another. Fortunately, Scranton accident victims have an advocate in their search for justice: Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters.

Why Choose Us?

A Reputation for Excellence

At Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, our track record shows our ability to consistently recover the funds our clients need. We would like to meet you and review your case to determine what you’re truly owed. Don’t trust an insurance company to tell you the value of your case; our clients deserve more than what insurance companies offer.

Choosing Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters means choosing a firm with:

• No-cost telephone consultations
• No upfront costs or fees
• Top motorcycle accident lawyers for Scranton clients
• Individualized legal attention and care for clients.

We never settle when our clients deserve more. Instead, we fight through until an offer reflects the harm done.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters. We offer free telephone consultations to give you a preliminary case review. Call (570) 323-8711 to learn how our motorcycle accident lawyers representing Scranton clients can help.

Scranton Motorcycle Accident Liability

After a motorcycle crash, injured parties need compensation. However, compensation can be recovered in motorcycle crashes only if another party is liable. Liability arises when a party is negligent or behaves unlawfully and causes an accident.

Negligence

Traffic negligence is common and causes numerous accidents each year. They are so common that vehicle insurance is mandatory. Common acts of traffic negligence include but are not limited to:

• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Failure to yield or stop
• Following too closely
• Improper use of blinkers
• Driving while intoxicated.

Driving while intoxicated and driving recklessly are seen as more than negligence. These actions can result in criminal charges as well as punitive damages.

Liability

Insurance companies need hard evidence of liability before they pay out a worthy compensation sum. Any weaknesses in a claimant’s case turn into a reason for the insurance company to pay less. Scranton motorcycle accident attorneys meticulously investigate motorcycle accidents to collect hard evidence and build strong cases to compel insurance companies to pay.

Types of evidence Scranton motorcycle accident lawyers typically gather include:

• Police and accident reports
• Medical records
• Traffic cam and other video footage
• Witness statements
• Crash recreation data and reports
• Expert witness testimony.

Motorcycle accident lawyers representing clients in Scranton also consult with financial and medical experts to determine the future financial and medical needs of their clients.

The following parties are often found liable in motorcycle accidents:

• Auto drivers
• Motorcyclists (when a passenger is injured by their operator)
• Other motorcyclists
• Motorcycle and equipment makers and distributors
• Road construction contractors.

Landscapers and people working in their yards may also be held liable for accidents caused by leaves or other yard waste that makes it into the road. Motorcycle and equipment makers may be held strictly liable for defective products that hurt or kill. Strict liability means there is no burden on the plaintiff to prove that the defendant was negligent.

Damages

The ultimate goal of a motorcycle lawsuit is the recovery of damages. Because motorcyclists and their passengers are not under Pennsylvania’s no-fault rules, they are entitled to seek full damages, including:

• Lost income and future employment
• Medical treatment, hospital care, and rehabilitation
• Mental and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death.

Punitive damages may be available in motorcycle accident cases involving behavior that is more culpable than negligent. For example, a person who decides to get drunk and then drive can potentially face punitive damages if they injure a motorcyclist.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, we work hard to address all of our clients’ questions. Learn more about motorcycle accidents and compensation in Scranton, PA.

What is the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident lawsuits in Pennsylvania?

The statute of limitations for motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania is two years. The clock starts on the date of the accident. Minors may have until their 20th birthday to take legal action. In all cases, failure to act before the statute of limitations runs out will likely lead to a dismissed case and zero compensation.

Should I hire a motorcycle accident lawyer?

Yes. If you have incurred injuries and losses, you need maximum compensation. Without an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, you may lose out on up to 90% of the compensation you are owed. You also might receive a claim denial from the insurance company handling your case. With an attorney, you have much higher chances of getting what you are owed than without one.

What if I am partially at fault for my accident?

Pennsylvania determines fault using modified comparative negligence. This system of liability allows victims to sue when they are less than 51% liable for their own injuries. The resulting compensation they receive is reduced based on their percentage of fault.

Is there a motorcycle helmet law in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Motorcycle operators and passengers must wear helmets if they are under the age of 21 and lack two or more years of motorcycle experience. Riders who complete a motorcycle safety course approved by PennDOT are also exempt from wearing helmets.

Our motorcycle accident lawyers are here to help. Get the answers you are looking for. Give us a call today.

Get Help from an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Victims in Scranton

Protect Your Right to Full Damages

A motorcycle accident can alter your life in several negative ways. If your accident was caused by the negligence of another, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. Having an experienced lawyer on your side can protect your rights and get you the justice you need.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in or around Scranton, call Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters at (570) 323-8711 to schedule a free telephone consultation. Our Scranton motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to serve you. Don’t delay; call today.

Attorney Cliff Rieders

Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board Certified Trial Lawyer practicing personal injury law. A large part of his practice involves multi-district litigation, including cases related to pharmaceuticals, vitamin supplements and medical devices. He is admitted in several state and federal courts, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. Rieders is the past regional president of the Federal Bar Association and is a life member of the distinguished American Law Institute, which promulgates proposed rules adopted by many state courts. He is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. As a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, he served on the Board for 15 years.

Not only has Rieders held many highly esteemed, leadership positions, he authored legislation related to the Patient Safety Authority and the Mcare Act, which governs medical and hospital liability actions in Pennsylvania. He authored texts upon which both practitioners and judges rely, including Pennsylvania Malpractice Laws and Forms, and Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania, the latter governing auto and truck collisions in Pennsylvania. In addition, he wrote several books on the practice of law in Pennsylvania regarding wrongful death and survivor actions, insurance bad faith, legal malpractice claims and worker rights, among others. Rieders also serves as a resource to practitioners as a regular speaker for Celesq, an arm of the world’s largest legal publisher, Thomson Reuters West Publishing.

As recognition of his wide range of contribution to his profession and of his dedication to protecting the rights of his clients, he received numerous awards, among them the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, the Milton D. Rosenberg Award, the B’nai B’rith Justice Award, and awards of recognition from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. [ Attorney Bio ]