Free consultation with an injury lawyer. Call 412-802-6666, text 412-855-5511, or send us a message.
Hurt in a motorcycle crash? You deserve to be judged on the facts, not on assumptions about riders.
Since 1997, the attorneys at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick have represented injured people and their families throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We work closely as one team. Every case that heads toward trial has the whole team behind it.
After a Motorcycle Crash: What to Do
- Get medical care right away. Riders have no vehicle body to absorb the impact. Head, spine and internal injuries can be worse than they first feel.
- Call the police so there is an official report.
- Do not repair or throw away your bike, helmet or gear. Damage to them can show how the crash happened and how hard you were hit.
- Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, the road surface and your injuries. Get witness names and the other driver’s insurance.
- Call a lawyer before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company.
Why Motorcycle Crashes Happen
- Drivers turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle
- Lane changes without checking blind spots
- Following too closely
- Speeding and distracted or impaired driving
- Potholes, gravel, uneven pavement and poorly marked road work
- Defective brakes, tires or other parts
Drivers often say, “I never saw the motorcycle.” That is not a defense. Every driver has a duty to look for motorcycles and yield to them like any other vehicle.
Common Motorcycle Injuries
- Road rash, sometimes requiring skin grafts
- Broken bones and crushed limbs
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Facial injuries and permanent scarring
What Makes Motorcycle Cases Different
Some insurance adjusters and jurors start with a bias against riders. They assume the rider was speeding or reckless. We answer that with evidence: scene measurements, vehicle damage, video, witnesses and, when needed, an accident reconstructionist.
Insurance also works differently for riders. Pennsylvania does not require motorcycle policies to include the medical benefits that car policies must carry, so it matters what coverage you and your household have. We sort that out early.
Pennsylvania Rules You Should Know
- Helmet law. Pennsylvania requires a helmet unless the rider is 21 or older and has either been licensed to ride for at least two full calendar years or completed an approved motorcycle safety course. A passenger 21 or older riding with an exempt rider is also exempt.
- Eye protection. Every operator and passenger must wear approved eye protection, except on a three-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab.
- No helmet does not mean no case. If you were not wearing one, talk to a lawyer before you assume anything.
- Medical benefits. Car policies must include at least $5,000 in first-party medical benefits. That requirement does not apply to motorcycle policies.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy can pay when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough.
- Shared fault. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share.
- Deadline. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency, such as a city, township, PennDOT or a transit authority, require written notice within six months, and immunity laws limit some claims.
How We Build Motorcycle Cases
- Preserve the evidence. We secure the bike, helmet and gear, and we ask nearby homes and businesses for video before it is recorded over.
- Experts when they matter. Accident reconstructionists can show speed, sight lines and who had the right of way.
- Find all the coverage. We look at the driver’s policy, your own UM/UIM coverage and any other policy that may apply.
- Trial-ready. Insurance companies know we are prepared to try cases to a jury.
We handle motorcycle crashes on highways and back roads throughout Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
What You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering and loss of life’s pleasures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Damage to your motorcycle and gear
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Representative Results
From our motor vehicle cases:
- $3.5 million for a seriously injured client through an arbitration award under the client’s own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
- $1 million, the full policy limits, in a highway crash where the defense tried to blame our client
See more case results. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Related Cases We Handle
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Brain injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Talk to an Injury Lawyer
Every case starts with a conversation with a lawyer. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. Our injury cases are handled by Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel, working with Shawn Flaherty.
Call 412-802-6666 or email Managing Partner Noah Fardo at npf@pghfirm.com. Prefer to text? Use 412-855-5511. More answers: Personal Injury FAQ.
There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery. We advance the case costs and are reimbursed from the client’s share only if we are successful. General information only, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.











