What Are The Legal Issues With Bicycle Accidents In Philadelphia?

As the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States experience the spread of the current COVID-19 pandemic, people throughout the nation have been adapting to a new way of life. There have been restrictions or stay at home orders intending to limit on how often people can leave their homes. However, the majority of orders will allow people to leave their houses, specifically for things such as exercise. Due to this, bicycling has played a large role in exercising for many people in Philadelphia. We predict that bicycling activities will increase, even as we return to normal post-pandemic.

Bicycle accidents can be complicated

After an accident, it is important to gather the other driver’s contact information, or from any witnesses to the crash, in order to be prepared for a claim or lawsuit. This information and their statements will be valuable evidence for your case.

It is also important to document any injuries you may have sustained, regardless of severity, after receiving medical attention. The medical records or documents will be evidence of an injury occurring and the extent of your injuries. Taking images of your injuries as soon as possible and writing down the effect of your injuries in a journal every few days is important.

An accident involving bikes and other passenger vehicles often creates complex legal issues. That is why it is vital that a bicycle crash victim consults with a personal injury attorney who understands these cases. A skilled attorney would:

  • Explain to you the options for pursuing a case
  • Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
  • Represent you in a lawsuit if one becomes necessary

While initially handling the incident, consult with an attorney as soon as possible, do not call the insurance companies. What you say could be used against you later from first consulting an insurance company. To avoid legal issues, an attorney will handle all communication with an insurance company to resolve the incident.

It is important to note that bicyclists that are found to be partially at fault for an accident can still receive compensation, though their damages will be reduced proportionately to their percentage of fault.

Common injuries

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, we can see that bicycle accidents have created a significant impact on the citizens of the Commonwealth. According to the latest year of data available, there were:

  • 974 bicycle crashes
  • 18 accident fatalities
  • 962 accident injuries

Let us work on your behalf

Please seek legal assistance from the Dan Doyle Law Group today if you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the negligent actions of another person in a bicycle accident. Our team will investigate your and work on your case to secure any compensation you may be entitled to, such as:

  • Medical expenses related to the accident
  • Lost income if you cannot work while recovering
  • Pain and Suffering damages
  • Loss of personal enjoyment damages
  • Possible punitive damages against those responsible

If you need a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling 215-987-3730.