Scranton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers 

Board Certified Trial Attorneys. 24,000+ Cases. Every Client Works Directly with an Attorney.

Motorcycle accidents often produce devastating injuries that permanently change lives. Without a steel frame, seatbelts, airbags, or crumple zones absorbing the impact, you take everything the collision delivers. This can happen even in crashes that would leave a car driver walking away. These crashes can cause catastrophic injury.

At Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C., we represent injured motorcyclists throughout Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania. All three of our attorneys hold Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate status from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and every client works directly with one of our attorneys from the first consultation through resolution. Cases aren’t handed off to case managers or assistants.

Our Scranton motorcycle accident attorneys bring over 80 years of combined legal experience and more than 24,000 cases handled since 1982. We investigate crashes thoroughly, engage accident reconstruction professionals when needed, counter insurer bias against riders, and build a case around the evidence available.

Call (570) 712-5545 or reach us online to request a free in-person or virtual consultation about your motorcycle accident claim. Hablamos español.

Why Legal Representation Is Critical After a Motorcycle Crash

Motorcyclists face obstacles in pursuing injury claims that most car accident victims don’t. Insurance companies may exploit negative stereotypes about riders, portraying them as reckless or speeding, to shift blame regardless of the evidence. Even when another driver clearly caused the collision, insurers may argue the motorcyclist contributed.

That anti-rider bias can shape settlement negotiations and, when a case goes to trial, jury deliberations. Without an attorney who knows how to address these narratives with evidence, riders risk having their injuries and losses undervalued.

Pennsylvania’s Comparative Negligence Rule

Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law (42 Pa.C.S. § 7102) reduces a rider’s recovery by their percentage of causal fault. Recovery is barred only when the rider’s causal negligence is greater than the combined causal negligence of the defendants. Insurers pursue comparative fault arguments, which makes thorough fault investigation critical from day one.

Motorcycle cases may also require technical and medical evidence. Accident reconstruction professionals analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, road conditions, sight lines, and impact sequence to evaluate how a crash occurred. Medical professionals document long-term prognosis and future care costs. Insurance companies retain their own experts to minimize claims. As Board Certified Civil Trial Advocates, our attorneys challenge opposing expert positions in negotiations and litigation, including in qualifying matters before the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas.

Insurers sometimes argue that not wearing a helmet contributed to a rider’s head injuries. Helmet-related arguments require analysis under Pennsylvania law, the applicable statutory exemption, and the facts connecting the equipment issue to the claimed injury.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Scranton

Motorcycle collisions in Lackawanna County can result from negligent driving, roadway conditions, or a combination of factors. The evidence must show how the driver, road condition, or other responsible party contributed to the crash.

• Left-turn collisions: A driver turning left fails to yield to an oncoming motorcycle with the right of way.
• Driver inattention: Motorists who don’t check blind spots, look before turning, or notice motorcycles in traffic can cause devastating collisions.
• Lane changes: Drivers who change lanes without checking can force motorcyclists off the road or into other vehicles.
• Distracted driving: Paul Miller’s Law made handheld device use while driving a primary offense on June 5, 2025. Summary citations for violations become available June 5, 2026. Phone use, available records, and other evidence may be relevant to civil liability after a crash.
• Impaired driving: Drunk or drug-impaired drivers have reduced reaction times and impaired judgment, creating serious danger for riders.
• Road hazards: Potholes, uneven pavement, gravel runoff, debris, visibility limitations, and construction conditions can pose risks to motorcyclists. A roadway-defect claim may require analysis of notice, control, immunity, and the identity of the responsible government or private entity.
• Tailgating: Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars. Drivers following too closely can cause rear-end collisions when traffic slows.
• Dooring: In urban areas, drivers or passengers opening car doors into traffic can cause serious crashes when motorcyclists can’t avoid them.
• Speeding: Higher speeds mean less reaction time and more severe impacts when collisions occur.

Pennsylvania Motorcycle Law: What Riders Need to Know

Pennsylvania motorcycle claims require separate analysis of the state’s motor-vehicle insurance and tort provisions rather than assuming passenger-vehicle rules apply identically.

Tort Rights & the No-Fault Exclusion

Motorcyclists are generally excluded from Pennsylvania’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) framework, which applies to private passenger motor vehicles. The availability of pain-and-suffering damages can depend on the crash facts, the applicable insurance policy, and the type of claim, so riders should have their situation reviewed individually.

Pennsylvania’s Helmet Law

Pennsylvania’s helmet law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3525) requires approved protective headgear unless a statutory exemption applies. Exemptions can apply to operators and passengers aged 21 or older who have held a motorcycle license for at least two full calendar years or have completed a PennDOT-approved motorcycle safety course.

Filing Deadlines

The statute of limitations for a motorcycle accident personal injury claim in Pennsylvania is generally two years from the date of the crash, subject to exceptions and claim-specific rules. Claims involving government entities can involve separate notice and immunity requirements that should be confirmed promptly. Missing an applicable deadline can affect a valid claim, which is why prompt legal contact matters even when injuries seem manageable at first.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle crash injuries can include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Even with a helmet, the force of impact can cause concussion, cognitive impairment, and permanent disability.
• Spinal cord injury and paralysis: High-energy crashes can damage the cervical and thoracic spine, with consequences ranging from chronic pain to complete paralysis.
• Road rash: Abrasions that penetrate through skin to muscle or bone may require skin grafts and leave permanent scarring that may support disfigurement damages.
• Compound fractures and crush injuries: Limbs caught between vehicles or the road can sustain fractures that require surgical fixation and extended rehabilitation.
• Internal organ injuries: Blunt trauma to the torso can cause internal bleeding without obvious external signs, which is why same-day medical evaluation matters even when a rider feels “okay.”
• Amputations and burns: Severe crashes involving fire or crushing forces can result in permanent limb loss or extensive burns.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): The psychological impact of a violent collision can be part of an injury claim alongside physical injuries.

Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton is Lackawanna County’s only Level II trauma center and has a 24-hour emergency room. Thorough medical documentation from the outset can help connect injuries to the crash, document treatment progression, and address future medical or functional needs.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Scranton

The decisions you make in the hours and days after a crash can affect your claim. These steps can protect your health and preserve evidence your case may depend on.

• Call 911 and seek medical evaluation the same day. Internal injuries, TBI, and spinal damage can have delayed symptoms. A same-day medical record documents the evaluation and reported symptoms after the crash.
• Document the scene. Photograph vehicle positions, road conditions, skid marks, debris, and the other driver’s insurance information before anything is moved, when it is safe to do so.
• Preserve your motorcycle, helmet, and gear. Don’t repair, discard, or alter them before they can be evaluated. Damage patterns can document impact direction, angle, and severity for accident reconstruction.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters may call quickly and use rider statements when evaluating fault. Consider speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer before providing a recorded statement.
• Contact a motorcycle accident attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Insurers may extend early offers before riders understand the full extent of their injuries. A release can affect the ability to pursue additional compensation later.
• If a road hazard caused your crash, act promptly. Photograph the hazard and surrounding area, and keep any records related to the location and crash.

Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C. handles communications with insurance adjusters from the moment we take your case, so you don’t have to manage those conversations while recovering.

Compensation Available in Motorcycle Accident Cases

Pennsylvania law may allow injured motorcyclists to pursue compensation reflecting the losses supported by the evidence in their claims. The value of a case depends on liability, medical evidence, insurance coverage, permanence, financial losses, and other case-specific facts.