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. The result is catastrophic injury at rates far higher than passenger-vehicle occupants face.

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, the highest civil trial certification available, and every client works directly with one of our attorneys from the first call 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 the strongest possible case for your recovery.

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 routinely 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 find ways to argue the motorcyclist contributed.

That anti-rider bias shapes settlement negotiations and, when a case goes to trial, jury deliberations. Without an attorney who knows how to dismantle these narratives with evidence, riders risk receiving far less than their injuries warrant or nothing at all.

Pennsylvania’s Comparative Negligence Rule

Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence law (42 Pa.C.S. § 7102) reduces a rider’s recovery by their percentage of fault and bars recovery entirely if their share of fault reaches 51% or more. Insurers pursue comparative fault arguments aggressively, which makes thorough fault investigation critical from day one.

Motorcycle cases also require professional support that most personal injury claims don’t. Accident reconstruction professionals analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and road conditions to establish exactly 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 have the standing and trial experience to challenge those experts effectively in negotiations and in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas.

Insurers sometimes argue that not wearing a helmet contributed to a rider’s head injuries. Pennsylvania doesn’t bar recovery on that basis. Comparative negligence analysis focuses on what caused the crash, not what may have affected injury severity after the fact.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Scranton

Most motorcycle accidents in Lackawanna County trace back to negligent drivers who fail to watch for riders or respect their right to the road.

• Left-turn collisions: One of the most common and deadly crash patterns. 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 cause devastating collisions.
• Lane changes: Drivers who change lanes without checking force motorcyclists off the road or into other vehicles.
• Distracted driving: Pennsylvania’s hands-free law (Paul Miller’s Law, Act 18 of 2024) made handheld device use while driving a primary offense as of June 5, 2025. A citation or admission of phone use at the time of a crash is strong civil liability evidence.
• Impaired driving: Drunk or drug-impaired drivers have reduced reaction times and impaired judgment, creating extreme danger for riders.
• Road hazards: Potholes, uneven pavement, gravel runoff, and debris on curves pose risks to motorcyclists that cars simply don’t face. Recurring crash volume on I-81 through Scranton, the I-84/I-380 interchange near Dunmore, Route 6 through Carbondale, and Route 307 across the Moosic Mountains reflects how local road conditions contribute. When hazardous conditions result from negligent municipal maintenance, a government entity may share liability.
• Tailgating: Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars. Drivers following too closely 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 law gives motorcyclists a legal foundation that differs from passenger-vehicle drivers in several important ways.

Full Tort Rights & No-Fault Exclusion

Motorcyclists are excluded from Pennsylvania’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) framework, which applies only to private passenger motor vehicles. Riders always retain the unrestricted right to sue for pain and suffering. No limited tort election can strip them of that right.

Pennsylvania’s Helmet Law

Pennsylvania’s helmet law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3525) requires a DOT-approved helmet for all riders. Exemptions 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 two years from the date of the crash. Claims against government entities, such as PennDOT for road hazards, require written notice within six months. Missing that window can forfeit a valid claim, which is why prompt legal contact matters even when injuries seem manageable at first.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Riders sustain higher rates of severe injury per crash than passenger-vehicle occupants. Without a steel frame, crumple zones, or seatbelts absorbing impact energy, the human body takes everything the collision delivers.

Motorcycle accident injuries we see in our Scranton practice include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): The leading cause of motorcycle fatalities. Even with a helmet, the force of impact can cause concussion, cognitive impairment, and permanent disability.
• Spinal cord injury and paralysis: High-energy crashes frequently 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 supports disfigurement damages.
• Compound fractures and crush injuries: Limbs caught between vehicles or the road sustain fractures that often 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 is compensable alongside physical injuries.

Geisinger Community Medical Center on Mulberry Street is Lackawanna County’s only Level II trauma center. Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital also operate 24/7 emergency departments in the area. If you were treated at any of these facilities after a crash, thorough medical documentation from the outset strengthens your claim and resists insurer attempts to minimize your injuries.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Scranton

The decisions you make in the hours and days after a crash directly affect your claim. These steps protect your health and preserve the evidence your case depends 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 closes the gap insurers use to argue injuries weren’t caused by the crash.
• Document the scene. Photograph vehicle positions, road conditions, skid marks, debris, and the at-fault driver’s insurance information before anything is moved.
• Preserve your motorcycle, helmet, and gear. Don’t repair or discard them. Damage patterns document impact direction, angle, and severity for accident reconstruction.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters call quickly and use rider statements to assign fault. You have no obligation to speak with them.
• Contact a motorcycle accident attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Insurers extend fast, low offers before riders understand the full extent of their injuries. Once you accept, you can’t go back.
• If a road hazard caused your crash, act within six months. Government entity claims require written notice within six months of the incident. Prompt legal contact is essential.

ACA Law handles all communications with insurance adjusters from the moment we take your case, protecting you from recorded-statement traps and premature settlement pressure.

Compensation Available in Motorcycle Accident Cases

Pennsylvania law allows injured motorcyclists to pursue comprehensive compensation reflecting the full scope of their losses. There’s no cap on economic or non-economic damages in motorcycle accident cases. Riders can pursue the full value of what they’ve lost.