Best Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
Compare Our Top Attorneys
| LAWYER NAME | PA BAR ASSOCIATION STATUS | YEAR ADMITTED TO PA BAR | LAW SCHOOL ATTENDED | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan M. Feldman | Active | 1976 | Temple University Beasley School of Law | |
| Austin Ross Freundlich | Active | 2007 | Villanova University School of Law | |
| Anthony C. Gagliano, III | Active | 2008 | Widener University – Delaware Law School | |
| Leonard K. Hill | Active | 1998 | Temple University Beasley School of Law | |
| Robert E. McCann | Active | 1992 | Widener University – Delaware Law School | |
| Greg Prosmushkin | Active | 1994 | Temple University Beasley School of Law | |
| Robert L. Sachs, Jr. | Active | 1984 | Villanova University School of Law | |
| Heidi G. Villari | Active | 1998 | Widener University – Delaware Law School | |
| Michael T. van der Veen | Active | 1995 | Quinnipiac University School of Law | |
| Tyler Wilk | Active | 2016 | Widener University – Delaware Law School |
Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
Although there are a lot of similarities between automobile accidents and motorcycle accidents, there are some differences. Here’s what you need to know to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the amount of time someone has to initiate a lawsuit. For motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is two years. It’s important to note that a lawsuit only needs to be initiated before the end of the statute of limitations; it does not need to be resolved or concluded by then. Your attorney can tell you the exact statute of limitations for your situation.
Pennsylvania Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
- Licensing: Riders must pass a written test to apply for a Class M permit. To earn their license, they must pass a written examination and either pass a riding test or complete a Pennsylvania-approved motorcycle safety program.
- Helmet Use: Riders are not required to wear a helmet if they are at least 21 years old and have either held a Class M license for at least two calendar years or have passed an approved rider safety course. All riders must wear protective eyewear.
- Lane splitting: Lane splitting is not allowed in Pennsylvania.
- Passengers: Passengers are allowed. They must not crowd the driver on their seat, or require the driver to sit further forward than normal. They must wear a helmet if under 21. Footrests and handholds must be provided for passengers.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Pennsylvania is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that, when determining who was at fault for the accident, the actions of both parties are considered, and damages are reduced based on how much responsibility each party has.
For example, imagine that Car A ran a red light and crashed into Motorcycle B, which was speeding a little. The court might determine that Car A’s driver is 90% responsible for the accident, and Motorcycle B’s rider is 10% responsible. If Motorcycle B’s damages totalled $50,000, the rider could collect $45,000 (or 90% of $50,000).
However, in Pennsylvania, if a driver is more than 50% responsible for an accident, he or she cannot collect damages at all, despite the fact that the other party may have been partially responsible.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
An attorney can take a lot of the stress off when it comes to filing a motorcycle accident case. Lawyers are familiar with how the legal system works, and they also have experience negotiating with insurance companies for more favorable settlements.
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning that they only get paid if they win your case for you. Fees are typically 25-40% of the value of the case. You can try to navigate the system by yourself, or you can work with a skilled professional who will only bill you if you win. The case for hiring a lawyer to assist you with the process is hard to argue with.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA
Here are some tips to help you find the best attorney for you:
- Ask for recommendations. Friends and family may have been through an accident before. Ask them which attorney they used, and if they would recommend their attorney.
- Ask about fees up front. Make sure you know how you will be billed, and how much. Some attorneys may be more cost-effective than others.
- Trust your gut. You’ll be working very closely with your attorney, so you want to make sure they’re someone you’re comfortable with. Remember, there is no one best attorney—just the best attorney for you.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Philadelphia in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a motorcycle driver is not required to wear a helmet in Pennsylvania, are passengers required to wear a helmet?
Any passengers under the age of 21 are required to wear a helmet with no exceptions. However, for passengers over 21, the helmet requirement is based on whether the driver is required to wear a helmet. If the driver is required by law to wear a helmet, so is their passenger. If a driver is not required to wear a helmet, any passenger over the age of 21 is not required to wear a helmet. All other safety requirements must be followed.
What are the minimum insurance requirements for motorcyclists in Pennsylvania?
Motorcyclists in Pennsylvania need to carry a certain amount of insurance. The current minimums are $15,000 in bodily injury coverage per person; $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per incident; $5000 in property damage; and $5000 in first party benefits, which pay for medical expenses for the insured following an accident. Of course, many accidents cost much more than this, so you may want to consider higher coverage than the minimum required coverage.
