At Greenberg Gross, we know motorcycle riders face risks that most drivers never have to think about. And how, even when a rider follows the law, wears proper safety gear, and operates responsibly, they remain far more exposed than people in passenger vehicles or trucks.
We file personal injury claims against drivers who negligently glance at their phone, change lanes without looking, turn left across traffic, or misjudge a motorcycle's speed and cause collisions that can leave a rider with life-changing injuries.
Our Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers help injured riders pursue compensation after serious crashes. We understand the unique challenges motorcycle accident victims face and work to build strong cases that hold negligent drivers accountable.
Greenberg Gross LLP is ready to stand by your side
We Know the Risks in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, motorcycle riders navigate some of the region's busiest roads, including I-95, I-76, Roosevelt Boulevard, Broad Street, Columbus Boulevard, Kelly Drive, and countless city intersections where visibility, traffic congestion, and driver inattention can create dangerous conditions. Many motorcycle accidents occur because drivers simply fail to see riders until it is too late.
After a motorcycle crash, the physical, financial, and emotional consequences can be severe. Riders likely face extensive medical treatment, time away from work, ongoing rehabilitation, and uncertainty about how they will support themselves and their families during recovery.
Count on us to help. Call (215) 602-7211 for a free consultation with our Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorneys to learn more or begin the legal process.
Why You Should Choose Greenberg Gross for Your Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Claim
Motorcycle accident claims can be more challenging than typical car accident cases. Our team is up for the challenge and won’t back down when insurance companies unfairly stereotype motorcyclists.
Adjusters may assume the rider was speeding, taking risks, or somehow contributed to the collision even when the evidence shows otherwise. These assumptions can affect how liability is evaluated and how compensation is calculated.
At Greenberg Gross, our motorcycle crash attorneys understand these tactics and know how to respond to them. We thoroughly investigate motorcycle crashes, preserve important evidence, work with medical, economic, and accident reconstruction professionals when necessary, and build claims based on facts rather than assumptions.
Our team has earned a national reputation for handling complex, high-stakes litigation against powerful defendants and insurance companies. We build our cases on strong evidence, with the expectation that every claim may go to trial, and we’ll be ready.
When you partner with Greenberg Gross, you work with attorneys who recognize that motorcycle accident injuries often extend far beyond emergency room treatment. We take the time to understand how the crash affected your health, career, independence, finances, and future so that your claim reflects the full scope of your losses.
Hear From Our Clients
Why Do Motorcycle Riders Face Greater Risks?
Motorcycles offer freedom, maneuverability, fun, and efficiency, but they also provide far less physical protection than passenger vehicles. A vehicle driver involved in a crash may be protected by a steel frame, airbags, seat belts, and other safety features. A motorcyclist often has little more than protective gear separating them from the roadway.
Because of this reality, crashes that might result in relatively minor injuries for a driver can cause devastating harm to a motorcycle rider. For example, motorcycle riders may be thrown from their bikes, slide across pavement, strike fixed objects, or be impacted directly by another vehicle. Even at moderate speeds, these collisions can result in catastrophic injuries.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle in Philadelphia
Many motorcycle crashes occur because another driver fails to see a rider, misjudges how quickly a motorcycle is approaching, or is otherwise negligent. Common causes of Philadelphia motorcycle accidents include:
Left-Turn Accidents
One of the most common motorcycle accident scenarios occurs when a driver turns left across an oncoming rider's path. Drivers often claim they never saw the motorcycle. More likely, the rider may have been fully visible, but the driver failed to look carefully or misjudged the motorcycle's speed and distance.
Lane-Change Collisions
Motorcycles can be more difficult to spot in mirrors and blind spots. Drivers who change lanes without checking carefully may sideswipe a rider or force them off the road.
Rear-End Accidents
Motorcycles can stop more quickly than many passenger vehicles. When drivers follow too closely or become distracted, they may not stop in time and rear-end the motorcycle, throwing the rider from the bike.
Intersection Crashes and Failure to Yield
Intersections are particularly dangerous because multiple vehicles are moving in different directions at the same time. A driver who fails to yield or ignores a traffic signal can place a motorcyclist directly in harm's way.
Dooring Incidents
Drivers or passengers may suddenly open a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, leaving the rider without enough time to avoid a collision. The rider might strike the car door, or swerve into traffic, or off the road to miss the door. Either way, the rider can suffer serious injuries from this negligent behavior.
Road Hazard Accidents
Potholes, uneven pavement, debris, construction zones, and roadway defects can create risks that affect motorcycles more severely than passenger vehicles.
Negligent Driver Behavior
Similar to car and truck accidents, a motorcyclist may be injured in an accident caused by another person’s distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, drunk or impaired driving, or aggressive driving.
In Philadelphia, congested traffic patterns, construction zones, narrow streets, and heavy commuter traffic can increase the likelihood of these dangerous situations. When drivers don’t adjust their behavior in these circumstances, riders can be seriously harmed.
Our attorneys investigate not only how the crash occurred but also why it occurred. Understanding the underlying cause often helps establish who was at fault and identify the evidence needed to prove the claim.
Serious Injuries Commonly Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accident injuries are often far more severe than injuries sustained in passenger vehicle crashes. Our motorcycle injury lawyers accept cases involving these common injuries and more.
| Injury | Potential Long-Term Impact |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Cognitive changes, memory problems, personality changes, and reduced earning capacity |
| Spinal Cord Injury | Paralysis, mobility limitations, chronic pain, and lifelong care needs |
| Broken Bones | Multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, and permanent limitations |
| Road Rash | Scarring, infection risks, skin grafts, and cosmetic concerns |
| Internal Injuries | Organ damage and life-threatening medical complications |
| Neck and Back Injuries | Chronic pain, mobility restrictions, and ongoing treatment |
| Burn Injuries | Permanent scarring and extensive medical care |
| Amputations | Significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences |
Many riders require months or years of treatment following a serious crash. Some injuries may permanently affect a person's ability to work, participate in hobbies, or perform everyday activities.
We Fight the Bias Motorcycle Riders Often Face
One issue that makes motorcycle accident claims unique is the bias that riders often encounter, especially from insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and even some witnesses. Unfortunately, many people may assume a motorcyclist was speeding or taking risks simply because they were riding a motorcycle.
Those assumptions are often unfair and inaccurate.
At Greenberg Gross, our motorcycle crash attorneys know that most riders are safety-conscious and skilled. We focus on objective evidence rather than stereotypes to determine what actually happened.
When an insurance company attempts to blame a rider without evidence, our team fights back to challenge those claims and present the facts clearly.
How We Prove Liability in Motorcycle Accident Cases
Establishing fault requires more than showing that a collision occurred. We must present legal proof, such as accident reports, vehicle damage, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, and other evidence, to show how the crash happened.
Depending on the circumstances, our team may gather and review:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Traffic camera footage
- Surveillance video
- Vehicle damage
- Accident scene photographs
- Medical records
- Cell phone records, when appropriate
- Electronic vehicle data
In serious cases, accident reconstruction analysis may help explain vehicle movements, speeds, visibility conditions, and other important details. Our goal is to create a clear, evidence-based explanation of why the collision occurred and who should be held responsible for your losses.
What If I Was Partly Responsible For the Crash?
Some accidents are caused by more than one person or action. In cases where the rider may share some responsibility for the collision, Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence system.
Under this rule, an injured motorcyclist may still recover compensation from other liable parties even if the rider was partially responsible for the accident. However, any recovery may be reduced according to the rider's assigned percentage of fault.
Insurance companies often attempt to shift the blame onto the rider under a comparative negligence argument to reduce the amount they must pay. Our attorneys work to counter unsupported allegations and ensure that fault is assigned fairly based on the available evidence.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle accident injuries often create substantial losses that extend well beyond immediate medical bills. Depending on the facts of the case, compensation may be available for:
| Category | Examples |
| Medical Expenses | Emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, medication, therapy, rehabilitation, and future care |
| Lost Income | Missed work, reduced earning capacity, and future wage and benefit losses |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life |
| Permanent Disabilities | Long-term impairments and lifestyle changes |
| Scarring and Disfigurement | Visible injuries and related emotional impacts |
| Property Damage | Motorcycle repairs or replacement, and damaged riding gear |
At Greenberg Gross, our motorcycle accident attorneys include both current and future damages in our compensation demands so that settlement discussions or jury requests reflect the full impact of the crash.
Why You Should Contact Our Team Today
Motorcycle accident evidence can disappear quickly. Vehicle damage may be repaired. Surveillance footage may be deleted. Witness memories may fade, or they may move away. Accident scenes may change.
As soon as you reach out to our skilled legal professionals, we can begin our investigation and help preserve evidence before it is lost. Our team can take the necessary steps to obtain records, identify witnesses and take their statements, preserve photographs, and gather information that may become more difficult to access later.
Ask the Greenberg Gross Team...
What should I do if the insurance company calls me?
You should be cautious about providing a recorded statement or discussing who was at fault before understanding your legal rights. Insurance companies may try to settle your claim quickly after the crash. Talk to our team before making any important decisions, giving a statement, or signing anything.
What if I was not wearing a helmet?
Pennsylvania motorcycle helmet laws require riders under age 21 to wear a helmet. Riders over 21 are not required to wear a helmet under certain circumstances, but insurance companies will likely argue that your injuries were more severe because you did not have a helmet. We can review the facts of your case and explain whether the lack of a helmet may affect your claim during a free consultation.
How long will my motorcycle accident case take?
Every case is different. Factors such as injury severity, liability disputes, available insurance coverage, and settlement negotiations all affect the timeline.
What if the driver says they never saw me?
This is one of the most common explanations given after motorcycle crashes. Failing to see a rider does not automatically excuse a driver's negligence, and our attorneys can investigate whether the driver should have seen you before the collision occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Claims
Are motorcycle accident settlements usually larger than car accident settlements?
Not necessarily. However, motorcycle accidents often involve more serious injuries, which can significantly increase the value of a claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania statute of limitations generally gives injured motorcycle accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, but exceptions may affect this deadline. If a lawsuit is not filed before the applicable deadline expires, you may lose the right to pursue compensation from the responsible parties.
What if I was injured while riding as a passenger?
Motorcycle passengers may have legal rights when another party's negligence contributes to a crash. Liability may involve the driver of another vehicle, the motorcycle operator, or various other parties.
Will my case have to go to trial?
Many motorcycle accident claims settle before trial. However, some cases require litigation when insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation. Either way, our Philly motorcycle accident lawyers will be prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Greenberg Gross Today
Motorcycle accident injuries can leave riders facing extensive medical treatment, financial stress, physical pain, and uncertainty about the future. You do not have to navigate insurance disputes and legal challenges without solid legal guidance.
At Greenberg Gross, our Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers help injured riders pursue compensation after serious crashes caused by negligent drivers. Our team can investigate the collision, preserve critical evidence, identify available insurance coverage, and fight for your legal rights.
Call (215) 602-7211 today to speak with our team and learn how we may help rebuild your future after a Philadelphia motorcycle accident.