When another driver makes a left turn in front of a motorcyclist or pulls out from a driveway without looking both ways, the resulting accidents can be fairly clear-cut. The driver who failed to look carefully is most likely at least partially at fault for the crash. But what happens when a motorcycle crashes seemingly on its own? Does the rider have any option for obtaining compensation?
In fact, the rider may have options under Pennsylvania’s personal injury laws depending on the situation.
Motorcyclists face different hazards on the road than other drivers do. Sometimes those hazards are the result of negligence, even if it is not obvious at first. Consider the following scenario:
A motorcyclist is driving down a road when he hits a pothole in the road. The motorcycle’s front wheel lodges in the pothole, and the rider is thrown from his bike onto the pavement. He suffered serious back injuries and a broken arm and is now faced with expensive medical bills.
The motorcyclist talks to an attorney after his accident to determine if he has any options. The attorney looks into the history of complaints about the road he was driving on and finds out that people have been complaining about the poor condition of the road for the past year. This finding may help prove that the city knew about the bad road condition and the dangers it created but failed to fix it in a reasonable timeframe. In this case, it may be possible to seek compensation from the city for failing to fix a road that it knew was unsafe.
This is just one example of how fault may still be present in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident. Motorcycle manufacturers may also be held accountable for an accident if a defect causes a biker to crash. Determining fault in these situations, however, is not always straightforward. Many people find it beneficial to work an experienced lawyer who can guide them through the process.