An Erie man was seriously injured recently when he collided with another vehicle while riding his motorcycle. The accident provided a classic, if unfortunate, example of how dangerous the roads can be for motorcyclists.

The motorcycle accident happened as the 52-year-old man was driving his Harley-Davidson east on Station Road last Tuesday just after 11 p.m. Near the intersection with Saltsman Road, he crashed into the passenger side of a minivan driven by a 43-year-old Erie woman. The man was ejected from his motorcycle by the collision. It is not known whether he was wearing a helmet

The motorcyclist was taken to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center-Hamot, where his most recent condition was listed as 'serious.' The woman and child in the minivan had only minor injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

That the motorcyclist required serious medical attention and the people in the van were largely unharmed after the accident is a good illustration of how much more dangerous accidents of almost any kind are for motorcyclists. People in passenger vehicles have a thick shell of metal around them to keep them safe; motorcyclists do not.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and have been seriously injured, it may be worth your while to speak with a personal injury attorney who has experience with motorcycle crashes. He or she will be able to elaborate how you could go about seeking recompense for injury-related expenses like medical bills and lost wages.

Source: The Erie Times-News, "Motorcyclist 'serious' after crash with minivan," 7 July 2011.