Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcycle Accidents
It's common knowledge that motorcycle riding can be riskier than traveling via auto or a truck. Indeed, a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that motorcyclists were 35 times more likely to get injured per mile traveled than were motor vehicle operators. That said, many factors influence precisely how much risk you're at when you ride your bike.
The most significant act that a rider can do to protect his or her safety is to wear a helmet that's appropriately rated and fitted. NHTSA figures suggest that this alone cuts injury rates by a figure of nearly 40 percent. Curiously, in states that impose strict motorcycle helmet laws, injuries and fatalities due to riding accidents drop sharply in a statistically significant way. Conversely, in states in which helmet laws get relaxed, accident fatalities and injuries spike dramatically.
Other risk factors include the size of the motorcycle's engine, the age and driving record of the operator, and even the time of day (night time is far more dangerous). Evidence suggests that riders who take training courses tend to be safer. Similarly, those who wear bright, reflective clothing while they ride tend to boast safer driving records than do riders who wear darker clothes.
Pennsylvania motorcycle accident cases can often get quite complex, given the diverse contributing factors that might be involved. For instance, if a motorcycle collides with a car or truck at an intersection, not only might the car, truck, and motorcycle driver be liable or partially liable, but so might a parts manufacturer or even a municipal traffic overseer.
Given the discrepancy in size/mass between motorcycles and most other motor vehicles on the road, the physics of collisions tend to put cyclists at a disadvantage. Injuries are caused, from a physics point of view, from sudden acceleration or deceleration. Acceleration/deceleration is equivalent to a change in momentum, so vehicles most susceptible to having their momentum changed are therefore likely to be more dangerous. Given that motorcycles weigh far less than cars and trucks do, they're almost invariably on the losing side of the "momentum battle" and are thus more prone to danger. This makes sense intuitively. A car which barely nudges a motorcycle can send the bike flipping into another lane, whereas a motorcycle that drives headlong into the side of a truck may not even slow or stall the much bigger vehicle.
To get your motorcycle accident legal questions answered, trust the talented, accessible, and experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorneys of Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP. For decades, this firm has given clients exceptional service and great results at settlement and at trial. Find out more on our website or discuss your needs directly with us at 1-888-684-7192.