Motorcycle Accidents Are Almost Always a Matter of When—Not If

When it comes to riding a motorcycle, it’s not a question of if you’ll be involved in an accident—it’s when. As personal injury attorneys, we’ve seen it time and again: even the safest, most experienced riders are vulnerable on the road. The reality is, the automobile almost always wins—and when a crash happens, the injuries can be life-altering.

Real Case: A Pennsylvania Couple’s Motorcycle Accident

I recently had the privilege of representing a husband and wife who were out enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon ride on their Harley Davidson. As they traveled down a straight stretch of State highway with the right of way, a pickup truck pulled out from a side street and collided with them—striking the husband directly on his left leg. The force of the impact caused multiple fractures, including a compound fracture, where the bone broke through the skin.

There were no weather issues, no visibility concerns—just a driver who failed to observe two motorcyclists lawfully using the road.

Why Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Matters

Thankfully, my clients were prepared. They carried multiple first-party insurance policies with the same insurer—an often overlooked but critical form of protection. In motorcycle cases, we frequently see policies that lack sufficient coverage to handle the full cost of medical care, lost wages, and other damages. In this case, the at-fault driver had modest liability limits, meaning my clients had to rely on their own policies to pay for immediate expenses.

We were able to resolve all insurance claims at maximum value. While the compensation couldn’t take away the surgeries, the pain, the permanent hardware placed in his leg—or the anniversary trip they had to cancel—it did help restore some measure of stability. And that’s exactly what the civil justice system is meant to do.

Lessons for Pennsylvania Motorcycle Riders

Many riders never experience this kind of trauma—but some do. And when they do, preparation is everything. Max out your coverage. Stack your policies. Always wear protective gear. In this case, the wife escaped relatively unharmed thanks to her gear and her husband’s quick thinking. But it could have easily been a different story.