Pittsburgh Bicycle Accidents Law Firm

With the growing number of Americans becoming health focused and environmentally conscious, more individuals are choosing to walk or ride their bikes to commute to and from work instead of driving their cars. Electric bicycles, commonly known as e-bikes, are also emerging as a popular option for seniors and others who have difficulty peddling a regular bike.

The Pittsburgh area is home to a number of accessible biking trails, some that are flat and run along former railroad lines, and others that are hilly and more ideal for mountain biking. Serious bikers enjoy the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile bike and hiking trail that connects Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland.

Although biking is a very enjoyable activity and a great way to commute to your job, bicyclists are also at risk of serious injuries if they get involved in an accident. In many parts of Pittsburgh, there are no defined bicycle lanes, forcing them to share the roads with motorists. This often means very narrow spaces between a bike and a motor vehicle, increasing the risk of a bicycle accident even further.

When a bicycle gets hit by a car or truck, the bicyclist is the one who is most often going to take the worst of it. Bicyclists have very little protection, and when they are knocked off their bike, there is not a lot to keep their bodies from slamming hard against the pavement. This can result in severe and catastrophic injuries, which may include:

• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken arms and broken legs
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations/loss of limbs
• Wrongful death

Bicycle accidents are especially traumatic for the most vulnerable in our society, which include, children, the elderly, and those who have some type of disability. Those in these groups are at the greatest risk of serious injury when they get hit while riding a bike, because they are not usually as equipped to handle the effects of an impactful fall. One of the issues with e-bikes that is especially concerning is the speed at which they travel and the danger of higher impact accidents.

Your Experienced Pittsburgh Bicycle Accidents Lawyers

When someone gets injured in a bike accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, they deserve to be fully compensated. But unfortunately, accident injury victims are not always treated fairly by insurance companies. The goal of an insurer is to minimize their losses, which means paying out as little as possible to those who file injury claims. With so much at stake, it makes sense to have an experience legal advocate in your corner who is looking out for your best interests.

At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., we have been standing up for accident injury victims in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and throughout the US for nearly five decades. Our lawyers are focused exclusively on personal injury and related areas of the law, and we have been recognized by our peers and clients for the skilled and personalized legal representation we are known to provide.

When someone retains our services after getting injured in a bicycle accident, we go to work immediately to thoroughly investigate the case and put together the strongest possible claim. Because of our in-depth understanding of the complexities of these types of cases, we know what to look for and what important facts and pieces of evidence will be needed for your case to stand up at trial.

The majority of accident injury cases are settled before they ever make it to trial, because it is generally in the best interests of all parties to avoid costly and protracted litigation. That said, we are ready and able to litigate the case if the other side is not willing to negotiate in good faith. Because they know we are serious about going to trial if necessary, this is often enough to motivate them to make a fair offer.

Common Reasons Bicycle Accidents Occur

In Pennsylvania, there are a number of situations in which a bike accident may happen. Some of the most common include:

• Rear-End Collisions: A vehicle can crash into the rear end of a bicycle when the driver fails to stop at a red light or stop sign in time to avoid a collision.
• Sideswipe Accidents: If a driver does not check his/her blind spots or they are texting on their phone and weave out of their lane, they could sideswipe a bicycle that they failed to see.
• Left-Turn Accidents: Making a left turn is one of the more dangerous driving maneuvers, and one of the reasons is because it can be difficult to judge the speed of an oncoming vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle. A driver could also sideswipe a bicycle that is riding to the left of them as they are making their turn.
• Dooring: Accidents sometimes happen between bicycles and parked vehicles when a driver opens their door at the same time that the bike is riding by. It is generally the vehicle driver’s responsibility to see to it that the road or parking lot is clear before they open up their car door.
• Recklessness Due to Alcohol or Poor Judgment: A good number of bicycle accidents happen because of various forms of reckless driving, such as excessive speeding, weaving wildly in and out of lanes, and tailgating. Oftentimes, reckless drivers are intoxicated, or they could simply lack the maturity to drive a vehicle safely.

Damages in Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Cases

Cycling through the Commonwealth offers some of the most scenic routes in the Northeast, from the rolling hills of Lancaster County to the bustling, bike-friendly corridors of Center City Philadelphia. Whether you are commuting along the Schuylkill River Trail or navigating the steep inclines of Pittsburgh’s South Side, the risks facing cyclists are a constant reality. 

When a collision occurs because of a motorist’s negligence, the physical and financial consequences are often staggering. In Pennsylvania, the legal framework allows victims to seek compensation, but understanding the nuances of these “damages” is essential for anyone pedaling through the Keystone State.

The Framework of Compensatory Damages

When a cyclist is struck by a vehicle near the Art Museum in Philadelphia or while crossing the Smithfield Street Bridge in Pittsburgh, the law allows for “compensatory damages.” These are intended to make the victim “whole” again, at least in a legal and financial sense. These damages are broadly categorized into economic and non-economic losses.

Economic Damages: The Tangible Costs

Economic damages represent the direct out-of-pocket expenses that can be calculated with a high degree of certainty. In the aftermath of an accident, these bills pile up quickly.

• Medical Expenses: This covers everything from the initial emergency transport to a level-one trauma center like Penn Presbyterian or UPMC Presbyterian, to long-term rehabilitation. It includes surgeries, diagnostic imaging, and prescriptions.
• Lost Wages: Many cyclists use their bikes for daily transit to offices in Harrisburg or the tech hubs of University City. If an injury prevents you from working, you can recover the income lost during your recovery.
• Lost Earning Capacity: If a permanent injury—such as a traumatic brain injury sustained on a rural road in the Poconos—prevents you from ever returning to your previous career, you may be entitled to the difference in what you would have earned over your lifetime.
• Property Damage: A high-performance road bike or a well-equipped commuter e-bike can cost thousands of dollars. Economic damages cover the repair or replacement of your bicycle and any gear, such as helmets and GPS units, damaged in the crash.

Noneconomic Damages: The Intangible Impact

While economic damages look at your bank account, noneconomic damages look at your life. These are the intangible losses that do not come with a receipt but are often the most devastating.

• Pain and Suffering: This compensates for the physical discomfort and the loss of the “joy of life.” It is the difference between a weekend spent riding the Pine Creek Rail Trail and a weekend spent in a hospital bed.
• Mental Anguish and Psychological Distress: Many victims suffer from PTSD or anxiety after a crash, making it difficult to ever get back on a bike or even ride in a car.
• Disfigurement: Road rash, surgical scars, or limb loss can lead to permanent changes in appearance, which are compensable under Pennsylvania law.
• Loss of Consortium: In severe cases, the injury may impact the victim’s relationship with their spouse or family.

The Rule of Comparative Negligence in the Commonwealth

Pennsylvania operates under a “modified comparative negligence” standard. This is a critical concept for any cyclist to understand. Under the statutes of the Commonwealth, an injured party is permitted to recover damages only if their own responsibility for the incident does not exceed 50%.

If you are found to be 51% or more at fault—perhaps for failing to have proper lighting while riding through the shadows of the Wissahickon Valley Park after dusk—you are barred from recovering any compensation from other parties.

If you are found to be partially at fault but stay under that 51% threshold, your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines your total damages are $100,000 but finds you 20% responsible because you were outside of a designated bike lane on a busy street like Broad Street in Philadelphia, your final award would be $80,000.

Steps to Take After Getting Injured in a Bicycle Accident

If you ever end up in a bike accident, there are some very important things you should do right away (or shortly after) in order to ensure your health and well-being and protect your legal rights:

• Move away from the road. As much as you are able, move your bike off the road and out of the flow of traffic. This will help prevent even more damage from occurring.
• Do not leave the scene of the accident. One of the top rules with any type of traffic-related accident is to never leave the scene until you are told that it is okay to. Leaving the scene of an accident opens up the possibility of a hit and run charge, even if you are on a bicycle.
• Call 911. The number one priority after getting into a bicycle accident is your health, and if there is any hint of anyone being hurt, the first call you should make is to 911 to summon an ambulance to the scene. While you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive, take a moment to examine yourself for cuts, bruises, broken bones, and other injuries. The adrenaline rush that you experience at the time of the accident could prevent you from noticing all of your injuries, so make sure to get fully checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
• Contact the police. Anytime there is a traffic-related accident with injuries, the police should be called to the scene. In many instances, the 911 operator will call the police for you, but either way, make sure that they are summoned. The vehicle driver or whoever caused the crash may want to settle everything without police involvement, but this is a very bad idea. Bringing the police will produce an official accident report, and this report will be relied upon heavily during any legal claim that you bring after the accident.
• Document the Accident. Even though there will be a police report, you should obtain as much documentation of your own as well. Take multiple photos of the accident scene showing the damage to your bicycle, the vehicles involved, etc. And if there are any individuals who saw what happened, try to obtain statements from them at the scene. In many cases, witnesses will be willing to record an audio statement on your smartphone, and this can be invaluable for your subsequent accident injury claim. Finally, create your own report of what happened while everything is fresh in your mind. This could either be a written or audio report depending on your preference and what you are physically able to do.
• Exchange information. You should always exchange contact insurance information with the other parties involved in an accident, even if there is very little damage and you do not notice any immediate injuries. As we touched on earlier, you may develop symptoms after the adrenaline rush wears off, so you will want to have their information just in case. While interacting with the other parties, be courteous, but NEVER apologize or admit any fault for the accident. Leave that for the experts to sort out.
• Contact a Skilled and Knowledgeable Attorney. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, the responsible party’s insurer will want to pay you as little as possible for your losses. In a situation like this, it makes sense to have a strong legal advocate in your corner who is looking out for your best interests. As early as possible after the accident, get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Contact Our Seasoned Pennsylvania Bicycle Accidents Attorneys

At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., we understand the enormous physical, emotional, and financial toll bike accidents can take on victims and their families, and we are here to provide strong legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. We deal directly with the other side and take care of all the complicated legal tasks, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Throughout the process, we communicate regularly and provide frequent case updates, so you are always kept informed.

To schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our legal team, message us online or call our office today at 412-567-1232 or toll-free at 866-466-5789. We look forward to serving you!