Practice Areas
View All
Were you hurt in a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia? Call Flager Law for a free case evaluation: (215) 953-5200.
A Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyer at Flager Law can level the playing field after a serious crash. Motorcycle riders face bias from drivers, juries, and insurance adjusters alike. The assumption is always that the rider was going too fast or weaving through traffic. Often, the truth is the opposite. A driver turned left across a bike lane, opened a door into traffic, or merged without checking the mirror. We have represented injured riders across Philadelphia since 1990, and we know how to build a case that wins.
Motorcycle cases are different from car cases in important ways. Pennsylvania limited tort does not apply to motorcyclists, which means full pain and suffering damages are available regardless of your insurance election. That changes the math on every case. Many lawyers do not understand this. We do, and we use it to your advantage.
In addition, our team has built strong working relationships with crash reconstruction experts who specialize in motorcycle dynamics. Counter-steering, lean angles, and reaction time matter in these cases. So does the helmet evidence. We bring in the right experts when the facts demand it, and we do not settle for the insurance company’s first number.
Call 911 and get medical care immediately. Even if you feel okay, internal injuries and concussions are common after motorcycle wrecks. Go to Penn, Jefferson, or Temple. Document everything at the scene if you are able. Photograph your bike, your gear, the other vehicle, skid marks, and traffic signals.
Next, do not post about the crash on social media. Insurance defense teams scour Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok looking for content they can twist. A photo of you smiling at a family event becomes evidence that you were not really hurt. Stay offline about your injuries until your case resolves.
Motorcycle wrecks tend to produce severe injuries because the rider has no protective cage. We handle traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, road rash and skin grafts, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, knee and ankle injuries, and amputations. Wrongful death cases are also unfortunately common.
Recovery from these injuries is often long and expensive. We work with life care planners and vocational economists to project future medical costs and lost earning capacity. That projection becomes part of the demand we present to the insurance company. We do not settle until the number covers what you will actually need.
We attack the bias head on. Many drivers and jurors assume the rider was reckless. We pre-empt that with evidence. Helmet camera footage, witness statements, and crash reconstruction often prove that the driver, not the rider, caused the wreck. We document your safety record, your gear, your training, and your conduct on the day of the crash.
Then we pursue every available source of recovery. The at-fault driver’s liability policy is the first source. If their limits are too low, we look to your underinsured motorist coverage. We also check for employer liability if the at-fault driver was on the job, and we investigate roadway design defects when those are a factor.
Pennsylvania does not require helmets for riders 21 and older with at least two years of riding experience or completion of an approved safety course. Whether you wore a helmet or not does not automatically bar your recovery, though it can affect damages in some head injury cases. We address that issue directly so the insurance company cannot use it against you.
More importantly, Pennsylvania’s limited tort law does not apply to motorcycles. Your pain and suffering damages are not restricted, regardless of the tort election on your auto policy. This is a major distinction that protects injured riders, and we make sure every client understands it.
Pennsylvania law allows injury victims to recover several categories of damages. The first is medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgery, hospital stays, follow-up care, physical therapy, prescriptions, and assistive devices. Catastrophic injuries from a motorcycle accident often require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and assistive equipment, all of which carry significant costs that we make sure are accounted for.
Next, you can recover lost wages and lost earning capacity. If the motorcycle accident kept you out of work, that lost income is recoverable. If your injuries limit your future ability to earn, vocational economists can project that lost capacity over your remaining work life. We work with those experts on serious cases.
Finally, Pennsylvania allows recovery for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and in qualifying cases, loss of consortium for a spouse. These non-economic damages are real and substantial. We document them carefully so the insurance company cannot dismiss them.
In serious-injury cases, future damages often outweigh the immediate medical bills. Long-term physical therapy, future surgeries, home modifications, in-home care, and reduced earning capacity all need to be calculated and proven. We work with treating physicians and life care planners to project those future costs accurately. The insurer must pay for what your injury will cost over its full duration, not just what has been billed so far.
Insurance companies are businesses. Their goal is to close claims for as little money as possible. After a motorcycle accident, expect a quick call from an adjuster offering to settle for a small amount before you even know the full extent of your injuries. That first offer is almost always a fraction of fair value. Do not accept it without legal advice.
Adjusters also use recorded statements and social media surveillance to build a defense. They may ask seemingly friendly questions that are actually designed to lock you into a story that hurts your case later. They also scan public posts looking for photos or videos that contradict your reported injuries. We handle every communication with the insurer so these tactics cannot derail your claim.
In addition, insurers sometimes delay processing in hopes that injured victims will give up and accept less. We do not let delay become a weapon. We push the claim forward on a steady schedule, and we file suit when an insurer refuses to engage in good faith.
No. Pennsylvania’s limited tort election applies to private passenger automobiles, not motorcycles. Injured riders may pursue full pain and suffering damages regardless of the tort election on any auto policy. This is one of the most important things to know after a Philadelphia motorcycle wreck.
Pennsylvania does not require helmets for adult riders who meet experience or training requirements. The absence of a helmet does not bar your recovery, though insurers may argue it increased the severity of head injuries. We address that argument with medical evidence and case law.
Motorcycle cases often involve higher damages because injuries are more severe. Settlements range from tens of thousands for minor injuries to several million for catastrophic cases. We evaluate medical costs, lost wages, future treatment, and pain and suffering before quoting a range.
Pennsylvania’s general personal injury statute of limitations is two years. Claims involving government vehicles or roadways may have shorter notice deadlines. Call us promptly so deadlines do not jeopardize your case.
Nothing up front. We handle every injury case on a contingency basis, which means our fee comes only out of the recovery we win for you. If we do not recover anything, you do not owe a fee. The initial consultation is also always free.
Timelines vary widely. A clear-liability case with moderate injuries may settle in a few months once medical treatment is complete. A disputed case or one involving serious injuries may take a year or longer, especially if it has to go through litigation. We push for the fastest fair result, never the fastest result.
Insurance companies bet that injured riders will accept less than they deserve. We make sure that does not happen. Call Flager Law at (215) 953-5200 for a free case evaluation. No fee unless we win.
