What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accidents in Pennsylvania
Anthony Maggeo was a 30-year-old heavy equipment operator and low-bed trailer driver from Abington. On Sunday, July 2, Anthony was spending an afternoon of his holiday weekend enjoying two of the things he loved: the outdoors, and riding his ’89 Harley. Heading south, he followed South Delaware Drive as it curved along the Delaware River, and went to pass a slower-moving car. He then collided head-first with a Jeep, and was later pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a grieving family and fiancée.
How Common Are Motorcycle Collisions?
Anthony’s tragedy is unfortunately far too common on Pennsylvania’s roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent data (from calendar year 2015), nearly 5,000 motorcyclists are killed every year in motorcycle accidents; approximately 90,000 more are injured. About 200 of the fatalities and 4,000 of the injuries occur in Pennsylvania each year.
What Factors Contribute to Motorcycle Collisions?
Although every accident is unique in its details, there are several clear patterns that have emerged from the NHTSA’s data analysis:
- Like Anthony, most motorcyclists (74%) who are involved in a collision are hit from the front.
- Nearly half of motorcycle fatalities involving a second vehicle occur when the other vehicle turns left in front of a motorcyclist who was either continuing straight or passing the turning vehicle.
- 24% of motorcycle fatalities involve collisions with fixed objects.
- About one-third of motorcyclists killed in crashes are found to have been speeding.
- More than a quarter of motorcyclists killed on the road are found to have blood alcohol contents (BACs) high enough to have been convicted of a DUI.
- An estimated 740 Pennsylvanian motorcyclists die each year whose lives could have been saved had they been wearing helmets.
How Can I Be Safe While Riding?
It’s easy to see from the list above that responsible motorcyclists can control many of the primary factors leading to tragedies on the road: wear a helmet, obey the speed limit and the other rules of the road, and never drink and ride. But it’s also easy to see that many of the factors are completely out of even the safest rider’s control. Motorcycles can be difficult to see anyway, so with distracted driving becoming more and more of a threat, dangers like being cut off by drivers who don’t look before making left turns are only going to get worse.
What Should I Do If I’m In An Accident?
The most important thing to do if you’re in an accident is take care of yourself—get checked out by the medics that respond to the scene, and if they recommend it go to the hospital or see a doctor for follow up treatment. After that, it’s important to speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible to make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect yourself and your rights. Pennsylvania law puts time limits on claims for damages, so even if the accident was 100% the other driver’s fault, if you wait too long you might be stuck paying all the bills. Our attorneys specialize in representing riders, so if you need representation call us to schedule a consult with the