Pisanchyn Law Firm Settlement March 22

Family settles fatal motorcycle accident suit for $1.5 million

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker
The Times-Tribune (TNS) 

 

The family of a Scranton man killed when a tractor- trailer struck his motorcycle reached a $1.5 million settlement with the trucking firm.

 

Thomas M. Burke Sr., 65, of Park Drive, Scranton, was riding his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County on Oct. 4, 2013. The driver of a tractor-trailer owned by Lily Transportation Corp. of New Jersey moved into Mr. Burke’s lane and struck his motorcycle, pushing it into a barrier. Mr. Burke was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Michael Pisanchyn of Scranton, attorney for Mr. Burke’s wife, Lela Mattern-Burke, initially filed suit against the company and the driver, Joh Hatterer, in Philadelphia County Court.

 

The case was later transferred to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In a press release, Mr. Pisanchyn said evidence showed Mr. Hatterer, who died while the lawsuit was pending, was previously involved in several collisions and had a long history of driving violations.

A settlement was reached following a meeting with a mediator on March 22. The agreement sets aside $600,000 in attorneys fees to be split evenly between Mr. Pisanchyn’s firm and Jason Provinzano, who represents Mr. Burke’s estate.

 

“The Pisanchyn Law Firm believes that this settlement sends a message to other trucking companies that if they do not follow the rules … putting our community in danger, there will be severe consequences,” the release says.

Why Hire Our Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Attorneys?

Attorney Michael Pisanchyn's Harley Softail Springer

With Spring here and Summer just around the corner we are about to see an increasing number of motorcyclists on the roads, ourselves included! Unfortunately the nice weather and increasing motorcyclists also means we will be seeing and hearing about motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle accidents are not the same as passenger vehicle accidents. For starters, motorcycle accidents usually cause much more serious, even catastrophic injuries than most passenger vehicle accidents. As a result the accumulation of medical expense and long-term care expenses are very high, making the need for compensation imperative for the victim to get better and stay healthy.

Motorcyclists also face a hurdle in the legal system due to an unfair bias placed against them. We've discussed this bias numerous times. A few irresponsible and reckless motorcyclists give all of us a bad rap. Overcoming this bias and proving that an accident was not your fault is difficult, especially if the case is taken to trial.

These are just a couple differences between motorcycle accidents and passenger vehicle accidents. Just as the type of accident differs, so should the attorney who handles these cases. Our firm is fortunate enough to have attorneys well versed and experienced in passenger vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, and motorcycle accidents.

Hiring an attorney for your motorcycle accident is a difficult choice, but the first thing you should look for is an attorney who knows the difference between the different types of accidents and how to handle them each respectively. Our motorcycle accident attorneys know and understand that overcoming the bias placed against motorcyclists will be one of the more difficult parts of the case and we know how to do this. We understand that this bias is false, and that most motorcyclists are just as good, if not better, drivers as those in normal passenger vehicles.

We've helped numerous motorcycle accident victims get the compensation they deserve and we can help you too.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you should be focusing on one thing – getting better. Aside from our free consultations, no win no fee representation, and 24/7 on-call assistance, our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys will be on your side every step of the way and will take the worries and stress off your hands. From the moment you hire us to get your compensation we will:

• send investigators to the scene of the accident.
• have experts reconstruct the accident when needed.
• gather evidence to support your motorcycle case.
• most importantly, fight the insurance companies that don’t have your best interest in mind.

Please, call our Pennsylvania motorcycle lawyers toll free at 1-800-444-5309 for a free consultation, or you can email our attorneys directly. Enjoy the weather, your bike, and stay safe!