Union County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Sean Quinlan represents Union County-area victims of motorcycle accidents and their families across Union County. We represent clients across Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, White Deer, and Kelly Township, with all local civil litigation finalized at the Union County Courthouse located at South Second and St. Louis Streets in Lewisburg. Motorcycle riders are not the cause of most motorcycle crashes — drivers who fail to look are. Pennsylvania motorcycle cases require an attorney who understands both the bike and the bias.
What sets Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents cases apart
The most common motorcycle crash pattern is a left-turning car violating the rider's right of way. Insurance adjusters consistently try to flip the blame onto the rider — we don't let them.
Pennsylvania's 'limited tort' rules do NOT apply to motorcycle injuries (75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3)). Riders retain full rights to recover pain and suffering, regardless of the tort election on their auto policy.
Not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar recovery. 75 Pa. C.S. § 3525 sets the helmet rule for riders and does not itself address civil lawsuits, so the defense may try to raise it, and an attorney can confirm how that applies to your case.
Catastrophic injuries — road rash, orthopedic trauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries — are the norm rather than the exception, and the medical costs reflect that.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage often becomes the most important asset in the case. We stack policies and pursue every available source of recovery.
How we build your motorcycle accident case
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Independent scene investigation and reconstruction — we don't let the police report be the last word.
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Preservation of the bike, gear, and helmet for forensic analysis.
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Full medical workup including orthopedic, neurological, and psychological evaluation.
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Insurance audit: liability, UM/UIM stacking, household coverage, and any commercial policies in play.
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Demand and litigation strategy built around a clear, jury-ready story of what really happened.
What you may be entitled to recover
Pennsylvania law allows victims of motorcycle accidents to recover both economic and non-economic damages. The categories below apply to most Union County cases — the specific value of your claim depends on the facts.
- Emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation medical costs
- Future medical care, including revision surgeries and long-term therapy
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life's pleasures (riders are NOT bound by limited tort)
- Disfigurement and scarring from road rash and burns
- Property damage to the motorcycle, helmet, and gear
Union County motorcycle accidents guides
Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Lancaster, PA: Your Legal Rights and Options
Learn your legal rights, full-tort exceptions, and key filing deadlines after a serious motorcycle crash on Lancaster County roads.
Read articleHurt as a Motorcycle Passenger in PA: Whose Insurance Pays?
A motorcycle passenger in Pennsylvania cannot recover first party benefits under 75 Pa.C.S. 1714, so payment usually comes from the liability insurance of the other driver, the motorcycle operator, or both. Limited tort generally does not apply to motorcycle occupants under section 1705(d)(3). UM and UIM coverage may help, but household exclusions enforced in Mione and Kennedy can defeat it.
Read articleGettysburg Motorcycle Crashes: Adams County Rider Claims
A motorcycle crash around Gettysburg can be litigated in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, and riders generally have two years to sue under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. Section 1705(d)(3) preserves full tort rights for occupants of vehicles other than private passenger motor vehicles, while § 1714 says motorcycle operators and occupants cannot recover first party benefits.
Read articleMotorcycle Accident Lawyer in Northeast Philadelphia
Injured in a Northeast Philadelphia motorcycle crash? Learn your rights under PA full tort carve-outs, comparative fault laws, and crucial filing deadlines.
Read articleNorristown Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Injured in a Norristown motorcycle crash? Learn your rights under PA law, including why limited tort does not apply and how to protect your injury claim.
Read articleAmbridge Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: Protecting Injured Riders in Beaver County
Injured in a crash near Route 65 or Merchant Street? Learn how Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance laws, limited tort exceptions, and strict filing deadlines protect your recovery.
Read article
Corridors, courts, and trauma centers
High-risk Pennsylvania corridors
Crash-pattern guides for the highways where motorcycle accidents happen most often.
- I-76 Schuylkill Expressway Accident Lawyer
- I-95 Philadelphia Corridor Accident Lawyer
- I-81 Truck Corridor Accident Lawyer (Luzerne–Lackawanna)
- I-80 Poconos Accident Lawyer
- Route 22 Lehigh Valley Accident Lawyer
- Carlisle Pike Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Route 30 York County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Routes 94 & 194 Hanover Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Route 30 Franklin County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Where these cases are litigated
How injury cases move through Pennsylvania's busiest civil courts.
Talk to Sean Quinlan about your motorcycle accident case.
No Fee Unless We Win. You may be responsible for certain case costs and expenses in addition to the fee, as explained in your written fee agreement. Call now or request a free case review and Sean Quinlan will personally evaluate your case.
Union County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer FAQs
Does limited tort apply to motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania?
No. Even if you elected limited tort on your auto policy, Pennsylvania law (75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3)) preserves full tort rights for injuries sustained while operating a motorcycle. You can recover pain and suffering regardless of injury severity.
Can I recover if I wasn't wearing a helmet?
In many cases, yes. Pennsylvania's helmet statute, 75 Pa. C.S. § 3525, does not make helmet non-use a bar to recovery. Riders 21 or older who meet the statute's experience or training requirements are not required to wear one. The defense may still try to argue about it, and comparative negligence under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102 can reduce a recovery if fault is shown, so an attorney can confirm how this applies to your case.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage steps in. If you have multiple vehicles on your policy or in your household, we can often 'stack' those limits. We also identify any underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage available.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim?
Pennsylvania's general personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of the crash. Claims against government entities (e.g. a roadway defect against PennDOT) have a six-month notice requirement, so don't wait.
How long does a motorcycle case take?
Simple, fully-documented cases sometimes resolve within months. Serious-injury and wrongful-death motorcycle cases typically take a year or more — we move them as fast as the medicine and the defense will allow without leaving money on the table.
Union County neighborhood & roadway motorcycle accident FAQs
Where would my Union County motorcycle accident case be filed?
Suit is ordinarily filed in the Union County Court of Common Pleas in Lewisburg, where venue is proper under Pa. R.C.P. 1006 if the crash or incident happened in Union County or a defendant regularly conducts business there. Cases valued below the arbitration threshold are first heard by a board of arbitrators before any appeal to a judge and jury. Sean Quinlan litigates in county courts across Pennsylvania from the firm's Camp Hill office.
Which Union County roads produce the most serious motorcycle accidents?
The heaviest crash volume in Union County tracks I-80, Route 15, and Route 45, along with the local arterials feeding Lewisburg. Corridor matters: a high-speed limited-access crash, an intersection collision on a signalized arterial, and a rural two-lane roadway each generate different evidence — different reporting agencies, different camera availability, and different roadway-design questions. We investigate a Union County case around where it actually happened.
What happens in the first two weeks of a Union County motorcycle accident claim?
The first two weeks decide most cases. In a Union County matter, we document the roadway and sightlines before conditions change and confirm that the limited tort restriction does not apply to you, because 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3) preserves full tort rights for injuries sustained while operating a motorcycle. We also handle the insurer's contact so you are not giving a recorded statement while you are still being treated.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Union County?
Most Pennsylvania injury claims carry a two-year limitations period under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, and that deadline is the same in Union County as anywhere in the Commonwealth. Shorter deadlines apply when a government entity is involved: written notice within six months under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522 for claims against a Union County municipality, borough, or PennDOT. Call before you assume you still have time.
Does being partly at fault stop my Union County claim?
No, unless your share of the fault exceeds that of everyone you are suing. Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102: you can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, and your award is reduced by your percentage. A Union County jury decides those percentages, and insurers routinely assign more fault than the evidence supports as an opening position.
Do I have to travel to meet a lawyer about a Union County case?
No. We handle intake by phone and video for Union County clients and travel to you when meeting in person matters. The consultation is free, the case is handled on a contingency fee, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. You may be responsible for certain case costs and expenses in addition to the fee, as explained in your written fee agreement. Call (717) 724-7503.