Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe, LLP

Motorcycle Accidents

How to ride safely in the colder months

Some flurries won’t stop most motorcycle enthusiasts from hitting the road, especially in Pennsylvania. However, winter is a brutal season for any driver, including motorcyclists. So how do bikers protect themselves during the colder months? Four ways to stay safe during your winter ride Luckily, there are a few simple...

What new riders should know about motorcycle courses

Learning a new skill is exciting for most adults. You have the opportunity to jump headfirst into a new hobby and possibly gain a lifelong passion, but there may be risks with specific activities. For example, riding motorcycles. Motorcycles are fun and a great activity for solo riders. However, they...

5 tips for avoiding blind-turn motorcycle accidents

Every motorcyclist wants to avoid accidents whenever possible. Yet accidents occur commonly on turns, especially blind turns and downhill turns. Recently, a serious motorcycle accident occurred in nearby Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. According to the report, four motorcyclists were injured, three of them quite seriously, from a crash that resulted from...

When is it too wet to ride?

Most Pennsylvanian residents love when the weather changes from spring to summer because they can spend more time outdoors and less time in front of the television. The same is true for motorcyclists as well, since they can enjoy the warm weather on their regular rides. However, riders need to...

Four safety tips for seasoned motorcyclists to know

Throughout riding season, many bikers enjoy the warm weather by taking frequent trips on their motorcycles. However, even experienced riders can benefit from reviewing road safety tips before putting their kickstands up. Make sure you have the right gloves Most seasoned motorcyclists know that they need the right gear to...

Will smart helmets save motorcyclists’ lives?

One of the first smart technologies was the smartphone, where everything was available at our fingertips. Then we saw smart cars that made driving more convenient for everyone. But tech companies are trying to develop a new smart gadget – a smart helmet. In 2014, SKULLY Technologies tried to tackle...

Perform a motorcycle safety inspection for increased safety

Motorcycle riding season has arrived, so you need to be sure your bike is road worthy. Over the last few decades, motorcycles have been built to higher quality standards than previous generations. In fact, these newer bikes deliver improved comfort, performance and reliability. But components can still break, fail or...

Motorcycle fatalities spike during summer holidays

Summertime is the perfect time to be cruising down the highway or back roads on your motorcycle. It can also be a deadly time, especially over those three beloved summer holidays – Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the...

$12.5 million verdict against Suzuki in motorcycle crash case

It’s every motorcyclist’s worst nightmare: having your brakes fail, unexpectedly and without warning, at the very moment you need them the most. It’s all the more dire when you later learn that the failure was a result of defective brakes – and that the bike’s manufacturer knew about the problem but...

Is it too wet to drive?

Precipitation offers challenges to safe driving, particularly among less experienced drivers. While the rainiest months are behind us, falling temperatures can leave roads wet longer and eventually cause familiar problems with ice and snow. Knowing how to drive in these conditions can help prevent car accidents and make the roads...

New motorcycle riders must be careful

The last weeks of summer is not commonly known as a time for riding motorcycles. After all, May is known as motorcycle safety month because it is the first full month with favorable riding weather. But as September gives way to October, many riders in central Pennsylvania want to make...

How motorcycle riders can be safe during the Fourth of July

If there’s any summer holiday that motorcycle riders revel in, it is the Fourth of July. There’s a couple of reasons for this; first, the weather will be spectacular for riding. There’s nothing like a warm summer day to bring out one’s bike. Second, riding a motorcycle exemplifies the freedoms...

Helpful tips inspired by motorcycle safety month

If you have seen more motorcycles on the road than usual, it may be because riders know that May is motorcycle safety month. More than just a celebration of motorcycle riders, it is about knowing how drivers can be more diligent about seeing motorcyclists. After all, a car-motorcycle accident could...

The case for including motorcycles in V2V communication systems

Automakers have made tremendous strides over the last decade when it comes to safety technology. Indeed, more vehicles than ever now have previously unheard of safety features, including lane departure warning systems, blind spot monitors and even automated braking assist. As impressive as this is, however, several automakers are hard...

Motorcycle riders should be careful during the Fourth

This weekend, scores of people who ride motorcycles will be on the road travelling throughout Pennsylvania. The weather is ideal, and the celebrations for the height of the summer are bound to bring more people out than usual. As a matter of fact, AAA estimates that more than 40 million...

Progress made on motorcycle fatalities, but more work to be done

Improving safety for motorcycle riders in Pennsylvania takes a concerted effort on the part of lots of different people and groups. In order to decrease the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities, cooperation between our state’s transportation department and the state police has had to improve — and, by many...

Pennsylvania motorcyclist dies when he hits turning truck

Motorcyclists are out in force on Pennsylvania roads these days, as the weather is nice and the days are longer. People who ride motorcycles will tell you that the feeling of being on a bike is one that is hard to match. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are sometimes difficult for other drivers...

Pennsylvania man killed when he hits turning pickup truck

Almost all of us in Pennsylvania have heard the refrain — and seen the bumper stickers — urging drivers to start seeing motorcycles. Unfortunately, it is still often the case that this is easier said than done. This point is underscored when motorcycle accidents — many of which are preventable...

Could left-hand turns become a thing of the past?

Is driving a right, or is it a privilege? While many Americans might suggest that it’s the former, it is actually the latter. Driver’s licenses are granted by the government, and can be revoked for moving violations or more serious crimes. Such actions are taken with public safety in mind....

Bad pothole season boosts risks for motorcycle accidents

As it is, Pennsylvania motorcycle riders are often at a disadvantage on the road compared to other motorists. Drivers may not always see someone on a motorcycle, even in the best of conditions. And when conditions are worse than normal, that problem can intensify. This winter, as we all know,...

Motorcycle permit limits closer to law in Pennsylvania

Based on the premise of a legislative effort in Pennsylvania, there is a right and wrong way to use a learner’s permit. Motorcycle riders in the state, according to lawmakers, have been abusing the existing motorcycle learner’s permit system. That supposed abuse has traffic safety implications and therefore, has inspired...

Hit motorcycle leads to 5 deaths in Pennsylvania crashes

In a recent post on this personal injury site, we shared a Pennsylvania motorcyclist’s thoughts about a recent incident involving a death and an assault involving motorcycle riders. He tried to make the point that not all who ride motorcycles cause mayhem like those involved in the New York incident....

State motorcycle group speaks out about recent attack by riders

Though the Sep. 29 incident wherein an SUV driver was attacked by a motorcyclist didn’t take place in Pennsylvania, the behavior of the motorcyclists involved is having an impact on motorcycling enthusiasts everywhere. The extreme nature and the footage available of the New York ride and attack could give the...

Facebook family member dies in motorcycle accident

People of all kinds enjoy the lifestyle of riding a motorcycle. Take a famous, celebrated chef, for example. Josef Desimone was the chef for Facebook and impressed its many employees with his passion and talent. Outside of his cooking, he also volunteered. He also rode a motorcycle. Mark Zuckerberg, the...

Motorcycle safety: Not just about helmets

Wearing a motorcycle helmet is not likely to hurt anyone if they get into a motorcycle accident. Therefore, many bikers might think it is a worthwhile investment to buy a helmet and a worthwhile habit to wear the head protection during their joyrides. But would those “joyrides” be less joyful...

Will 2013 be safer on Pennsylvania roads than 2012?

Traffic safety advocates follow trends on the roads, always with the hope that fewer people were hurt or killed than in years before. Unfortunately, last year was not a major safety improvement for Pennsylvania motorists. More people were lost to fatal crashes than in 2011. Being that we are already...

Pennsylvania motorcyclist dies in collision with SUV

When sport utility vehicles saw a meteoric rise in popularity in the 1990s, many buyers in Pennsylvania and across the country were attracted to them based on the belief that they were safer than smaller passenger cars. The larger the vehicle, the reasoning went, the more protection its occupants had...

Pa. State Police: ‘Dusting’ led to fatal motorcycle crash

Everyone knows that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and can cause traffic accidents. But another dangerous habit that appears to be growing in popularity among teens has been blamed for an accident that killed a motorcyclist and several others in Green County, Pennsylvania, last fall....

Driver in fatal motorcycle crash convicted of manslaughter, DUI

Earlier this year we told you about the case of a retired police officer who caused a motorcycle crash that killed two people and injured several others. The 50-year-old was convicted in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, this week on charges of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. But...

Fatal motorcycle crashes up in some Pa. counties, down statewide

A northern Pennsylvania county analyzing its rate of fatal motorcycle crashes reports an increase in 2012, though statewide, the numbers have been falling in recent years. Erie County’s motorcycle accident report offers a snapshot of the primary causes of accidents across Pennsylvania and the reasons many of them are fatal....

Pennsylvania driver charged in fatal hit-and-run motorcycle crash

Accidents that result in someone’s death are undeniably tragic, but especially so when the crash results in multiple deaths. A recent double-fatal motorcycle accident was made even worse when the driver of the car that collided with the motorcycle left the scene. Two men from Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, both age...

Sun glare possible factor in Pennsylvania motorcycle crash

You don’t have to be a personal injury attorney to have heard the most common excuse for motorcycle accidents: “I didn’t see the motorcycle.” This reasoning tends not to satisfy those who have been seriously injured or lost a close friend or family member in a motorcycle crash. Motorcyclists are...

Pennsylvania motorcycle crash with sedan kills driver

As we’ve discussed before on this blog, motorcycle accidents have the ability to cause serious injury or death. But sometimes in the aftermath of a crash that kills a motorcyclist, it can be extremely difficult to accurately determine the circumstances that led up to the accident, often because the driver...

Pennsylvania police officer killed in motorcycle accident

Often in this blog we’ve discussed the deadly consequences of car and truck drivers’ failure to keep an eye out for motorcycles. But there’s another danger that leads to motorcycle accidents, one that affects motorists in any vehicle: drunk drivers. People who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs...

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month promotes road sharing

Several motorists take to the highways in spring, but motorcyclists merge with traffic at a time when drivers of larger vehicles can be less compelled to notice them. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month, a designation that federal safety officials hope will prevent motorcycle accidents and draw attention to the...

2 killed in western Pennsylvania motorcycle crash with friend

Too often we hear about serious injuries and death caused by drinking and driving. The majority of these crashes involve cars, but it’s important to remember that motorcycle accidents can be caused by driving under the influence, too. Two friends from Greenville, Pennsylvania, a man and a woman in their...

Pennsylvania motorcyclist dies after collision near tavern

So often after a collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle, the driver of that vehicle will tell authorities that he or she didn’t see the motorcycle. Despite public service campaigns urging drivers to “start seeing motorcycles,” the accidents continue. A 29-year-old motorcyclist from Ambler, Pennsylvania, died after being involved...

Truck driver surrenders in fatal hit-and-run motorcycle crash

Fatal traffic accidents are always tragic, but it’s especially difficult for a victim’s family to cope with their loss when the person who caused the crash doesn’t accept responsibility, instead fleeing the scene. A man accused of causing a fatal motorcycle accident in Guilford Township, Pennsylvania, has turned himself in...

Pennsylvania motorcyclist seriously injured in 4-vehicle crash

Motorcycle drivers and passengers are some of the most vulnerable travelers on the road. Aside from being directly exposed to the elements, they’re at greater risk of injury in the event of a collision with another vehicle. Although responsible motorcycle riders take precautions to protect themselves, they can’t control the...

Pennsylvania family loses a loved one in a motorcycle accident

In several previous posts, we’ve discussed the devastating impact a motorcycle accident can have on the motorcyclist and his or her family and friends. Just recently, a Pennsylvania man was killed after his motorcycle was struck in a multi-vehicle accident. The driver of the car has been charged by police...

Pennsylvania motorcyclist killed in collision with tow truck

When an accident occurs, a number of personal injuries as well as property damage can result. Depending on the situation, individuals involved may find themselves in the hospital for a long period of time, recovering from crash-related injuries. But in some instances an accident can be fatal, taking the life...

Pennsylvania woman killed in motorcycle accident

York County law enforcement is still investigating a motorcycle accident that occurred Sunday evening. A woman and a little boy were riding on a motorcycle when they were hit by a car. Police believe that the accident occurred when the car turned left, into the path of the motorcycle which...

Pennsylvania man dies in hit-and-run motorcycle accident

Pennsylvania drivers are often reminded to keep an eye out for motorcyclists. Given the size of motorcycles, it can be more difficult to spot them. This unawareness can lead to motorcycle accidents and cause serious injury for those involved, especially the motorcyclist. But motorcycle accidents can occur in a number...

Motorcycle accident claims life of Pennsylvania man

Getting into an accident of any kind is a scary experience. In some instances, people involved in a crash are seriously injured – some accidents can be fatal. Whatever the circumstances, the aftermath of an accident can be devastating and far-reaching. Earlier this week, a Pennsylvania man was killed in...

Pennsylvania man critically injured in a motorcycle crash

When the weather is warm, people like to be outside. This is no different for motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy spending time on their motorcycles on the Pennsylvania roads. But as we’ve seen in previous posts, drivers of other vehicles sharing the road with bikers sometimes do not see the motorcyclists...

Pennsylvania motorcycle crash kills one, injures two more

In some cases, a motor vehicle accident can actually cause secondary accidents to occur. Pieces of the vehicle can scatter upon impact and hit other vehicles on the road. Especially for motorcycles, pieces of sharp, flying debris can cause loss of control of the bike and result in a crash....

Motorcycle accidents take the lives of three individuals

Last week, a number of crashes occurred in the Pennsylvania area including two motorcycle accidents. Within a matter of six hours, four accidents occurred in which five people were killed. Getting into an accident is a frightening experience and can happen unexpectedly. For motorcyclists, accidents can be especially devastating given...

Philadelphia motorcyclist killed, other driver flees crash scene

In Pennsylvania, the spring and summer months bring out motorcycling enthusiasts who take to the roads. But for some riders, sharing the road with much larger vehicles can sometimes result in motorcycle accidents. Getting into a motorcycle crash can result in serious injuries like a head injury, multiple broken bones,...

Number of fatalities caused by motorcycle accidents on the rise

Recent statistics were reported surrounding highway deaths in Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police stated that the number of fatal motorcycle accidents has been increasing this past year. When it gets warmer, motorcycle enthusiasts take advantage of the weather and take to the roads. But motorcycle crashes can...

Spring temperatures draw out more motorcycle riders

It’s almost springtime in Pennsylvania. The temperature outside is getting warmer and whatever snow is left on the ground is beginning to melt. People will start to see more animals out and birds will be chirping. Spring is also the time of year when people are sick of being stuck...

Alcohol a factor in accident that killed Pennsylvania woman

Last summer, a Pennsylvania woman was killed after a car crashed into the back of the motorcycle that she and her husband were riding. The motorcycle accident caused the woman to sustain serious injuries that led to her death. Getting into an accident while riding a motorcycle can have serious...

Pennsylvania Motorcyclist Killed When Couch Blocks Traffic

Motorcycles are the smallest motor vehicles on the road on a given day. Motorcyclists are constantly watching out for other cars and trucks in traffic. Many times, motorcycle accidents occur because the driver of another vehicle did not see the motorcyclist. There are instances, however, where a motorcycle accident is...

York County Seeks to Decrease Number of Motorcycle Accidents

As more cars are out on the road every day, the need for safe driving becomes imperative. Too often accidents occur because drivers are distracted by their phones or are simply driving too fast. Distracted driving can be catastrophic when the distracted driver encounters a motorcyclist on the road. York...