Involved in a Motorcycle Accident?

Fault in a motorcycle accident isn't always as cut and dry as insurance adjusters would like you to believe. In Pennsylvania, we operate under a modified comparative negligence rule. That means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault- as long as you were less than 50% responsible.

Determining fault involves analyzing a wide range of evidence:

• Police reports
• Eyewitness testimony
• Accident reconstruction analysis
• Surveillance footage (if available)
• Vehicle damage
• Skid marks, debris patterns, and weather conditions

But here's the kicker: insurance companies often assume you, the motorcyclist, are reckless by nature. They’ll try to pin part or all of the blame on you- even when you're the one who was injured. This is why it's so critical to have an experienced legal team like ours on your side.

At Georgelis Larsen & Sabatino, we dismantle weak arguments with facts and fight back against bias with hard evidence. We know how to expose inconsistencies in the other side's story and present your case clearly, credibly, and powerfully.

Yes, you can still pursue compensation- even if you weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. However, it can complicate matters.

Pennsylvania law allows riders over the age of 21 to ride without a helmet if they’ve been licensed for two years or have completed an approved safety course. But regardless of legality, if you weren’t wearing a helmet and you sustained a head injury, the insurance company will likely argue that your own negligence contributed to the extent of your injuries.

Here’s where experience matters: our attorneys know how to separate liability from injury mitigation. We’ll make sure the focus stays where it belongs- on the other driver’s negligence. If the accident was caused by someone else’s recklessness, that’s the central issue. Not your helmet.

We work with medical experts and accident reconstructionists to prove that even with a helmet, your injuries may have occurred. And we fight to ensure that this detail doesn’t unfairly reduce your compensation.

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident is two years from the date of the accident. That may sound like plenty of time- but in reality, the clock ticks fast when you’re dealing with medical treatment, insurance paperwork, and the mental fog that often follows trauma.

What’s more, crucial evidence can vanish in days, if not hours. Witnesses move. Surveillance footage is deleted. Skid marks fade. And insurance companies love nothing more than delays- they’ll use them to argue that your injuries weren’t serious, or that you waited too long to be taken seriously.

At Georgelis Larsen & Sabatino, we urge injured riders to contact us immediately after an accident. We move fast to preserve evidence, document injuries, and handle communications with the insurance company so you don’t have to. The earlier we get involved, the stronger your case becomes.

If you were partially at fault in your motorcycle accident, you can still recover compensation- as long as you’re not more than 50% responsible under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule.

Here’s how it works: if you’re found to be 20% at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you’d still recover $80,000. However, if you're determined to be 50% or more at fault, you’re barred from recovering anything.

But here’s the reality: fault percentages are not scientific. They’re determined by people- sometimes a judge, sometimes a jury. That’s why having a sharp, strategic legal team matters.

We dissect every aspect of the crash- road conditions, signage, traffic patterns, the other driver’s behavior- and build a compelling case that clearly shows the other party's greater liability. Our firm’s track record in reducing or eliminating comparative negligence claims speaks for itself.

Not necessarily- and definitely not fully. Unlike standard automobile insurance in Pennsylvania, motorcycle insurance policies do not include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) by default. That means if you're injured on your bike, your medical bills and lost wages may not be covered by your own insurance.

What is typically covered:

• Bodily injury liability (if you caused injury to someone else)
• Property damage
• Optional medical payments coverage (if you chose it)

The result? Many motorcyclists are shocked to learn they’re underinsured until it's too late. That’s why pursuing a personal injury claim becomes critical to recover what your insurance won’t pay- especially for serious injuries, surgeries, or long-term rehab.

We at Georgelis Larsen & Sabatino will analyze your policy, identify third-party liability, and aggressively pursue compensation through every available channel, including the at-fault driver’s insurance and, if necessary, your own underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage.

The police report is often the starting point for building your case- but not the final word. It includes vital information such as:

• Names and statements of involved parties
• Citations issued
• Preliminary fault assignment
• Road and weather conditions
• Witness contact information

But it’s important to know: police officers are not accident reconstruction experts. Their report might be incomplete or even contain errors. If you disagree with something in the report, you must address it early- before insurers lock onto it.

Our legal team knows how to dissect police reports, request amendments when appropriate, and dig deeper. We cross-reference police findings with physical evidence, video footage, and expert witness testimony to build a more accurate and compelling picture of what actually happened.

Pain and suffering can’t be measured with a calculator, but they’re a real- and legally compensable- part of your injury claim. This category includes:

• Physical pain
• Emotional distress
• PTSD, anxiety, or depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Courts and insurance companies may use the “multiplier method,” where your economic damages (like medical bills) are multiplied by a number between 1.5 and 5 depending on injury severity. Alternatively, they may use a per diem method, assigning a dollar value per day you suffer until recovery.

At our firm, we don’t just throw numbers at a wall. We sit down with you, understand how your life has changed, and build a strong narrative- backed by evidence from doctors, therapists, family members, and your own documentation. That’s how we turn subjective pain into a powerful part of your case.

You can handle the claim yourself. You can also perform your own root canal. But neither is recommended.

Insurance companies are not in the business of doing what's fair. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible, and they’ll use every legal and psychological trick in the book to make that happen. Without a seasoned attorney, you risk:

• Accepting a lowball settlement
• Missing crucial deadlines
• Saying something that hurts your case
• Overlooking long-term damages

At Georgelis Larsen & Sabatino, we handle everything- investigation, paperwork, expert consultations, negotiations- so you can focus on healing. And here’s the best part: you don’t pay us unless we win. That means we have every reason to fight for the maximum possible compensation.

At Georgelis Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C., we operate on a contingency fee basis- which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. No hourly billing. No retainers. We front all the costs of litigation and only get paid when you get compensated.

This allows injured riders to get top-tier legal representation without the stress of out-of-pocket expenses. We also offer 100% free consultations, so you can speak directly with an attorney and understand your legal options with no obligation.

And if you're worried about whether your case is “big enough,” don’t be. We take every case seriously because every client matters. Whether your injuries are moderate or catastrophic, we will fight for every dollar you're owed- because that's what we’ve been doing for decades.