Pittsburgh Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle Accident Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

If you were injured while riding a bike in Allegheny County, an experienced Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyer can help you understand your rights, your options, and your next steps.

More and more people are turning to bicycles as a primary way to meet their daily transportation needs. Bicycling is also a popular sport for recreational purposes. However, cyclists are often put on a collision course with car drivers who don’t always willingly share the road or yield the right-of-way.

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, we aggressively fight for the rights of cyclists by holding negligent parties responsible and securing the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Bicycle Accident Attorneys and Dedicated Cyclists

Members of our firm are serious bike enthusiasts. We understand the issues involved in bike accident cases, and we advocate aggressively on behalf of cyclists who are injured because of negligent or careless drivers.

If you or a member of your family suffered a bike accident injury, call Ainsman Levine, LLC, to discuss the circumstances with our experienced Pittsburgh bicycle accident attorneys. Our team has decades of experience when it comes to navigating bike accident laws, personal injury litigation, and we also have an excellent record of helping people recover compensation they are entitled to for medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

Common Pittsburgh Bicycle Crash Scenarios

In 2023, over 340,000 cyclists were injured nationwide. In Pittsburgh, bicycle accidents tend to follow a few patterns because of the flow of city traffic, the terrain, and the infrastructure. Understanding how these crashes happen is important when it comes to identifying liability and applying bike accident laws accordingly. Some of the most common Pittsburgh bicycle crash scenarios include:

• Failure to yield at intersections. Drivers often misjudge the speed of a cyclist, overlook them entirely, or focus only on other vehicles. This can lead to dangerous accidents at intersections.
• Left-hook and right-hook turns. These accidents happen when a driver turns left or right in front of a bicyclist, often after they either pass the rider or when the cyclist is traveling straight through an intersection.
• Dooring accidents. On streets with heavy curbside parking, drivers or passengers could open their doors into the direct path of a cyclist, which can result in sudden impacts or dangerous swerves into traffic.
• Unsafe passing or sideswipe crashes. Motorists who don’t give cyclists enough space on roadways can force a cyclist into the curb, into parked cars, or into moving traffic.
• Rear-end crashes. Distracted, speeding, or aggressive drivers sometimes hit cyclists from behind, and even low-speed impacts can cause serious injuries, thanks to the lack of protection that a bicycle offers.
• Road hazards. Potholes, uneven pavement, debris, and construction zones can cause cyclists to lose control or be thrown into traffic.

Each of these crash scenarios raises unique legal and factual issues under Pennsylvania’s bike accident laws. However, a Pittsburgh bicycle accident attorney from Ainsman Levine, LLC, can evaluate how the collision happened, identify all of the potential responsible parties, and determine how these factors could shape your bicycle accident case.

Injuries Associated With Bicycle Accidents in Pittsburgh, PA

When a cyclist is hit by a car or thrown from a bike, there’s nothing to absorb the impact. This means that even a low-speed crash can lead to painful, life-changing injuries for riders. Unfortunately, the hazards caused by hostile or inattentive motorists and unkempt, debris-filled roads result in many bike riders experiencing injuries.

Injuries can be minor, but are often catastrophic. Common injuries include:

• Broken limbs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Scrapes
• Road burns
• Lacerations
• Bruises
• Concussions
• Amputation

Severe crashes may even result in death. We are serious when handling injury and wrongful death claims for plaintiffs in Pittsburgh who need high-quality legal representation. Our Pittsburgh bicycle accident attorneys can help you navigate Pennsylvania’s bike accident laws, and we’re driven to secure every available avenue of compensation so that you can start rebuilding your life.

Our team is committed to fighting for the most favorable resolutions for your bicycle accident case as efficiently and effectively as possible, and we base our success on integrity and honest hard work that opposing insurance attorneys recognize and respect.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Pittsburgh

The minutes, hours, and days following a bicycle accident can be stressful and disorienting, but what you do next can have a major impact on both your recovery and your potential legal options. Taking the right steps early on can help protect your health, preserve important evidence, and strengthen your bicycle accident case under Pennsylvania’s bike accident laws. You should:

1. Call 911 and request assistance from law enforcement. Ask for a police report or incident number so there’s an official record of the crash, even if the collision seems minor.
2. Get a medical evaluation the same day. Even if your symptoms feel mild, it’s important to seek medical care, as injuries like concussions or internal trauma aren’t always obvious.
3. Photograph the scene. If you’re able, take pictures of vehicles and license plates, damage to your bicycle, skid marks or debris, intersections, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
4. Collect witness information. Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash, as independent witnesses can help resolve disputes about fault.
5. Avoid admitting fault. Don’t apologize, speculate about what happened, or provide any statements to insurers before first speaking with a lawyer.
6. Preserve all the evidence. Keep your bike, helmet, and clothing in their post-accident condition, and save all medical bills, receipts, and anything else related to your accident.
7. Write down what happened. Often overlooked, recording your own recollection of what happened while the details are still fresh can help strengthen your claim.

Following these steps can make a meaningful difference when it comes time to navigate Pennsylvania’s bike accident laws. The team at Ainsman Levine, LLC, is ready to guide you through the process and support you from day one, so we can secure the compensation you deserve.

FAQs

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?

The amount of time you have to file a bicycle accident claim in Pennsylvania is dictated by the personal injury statute of limitations. That means that most cases are subject to a two-year window that starts on the date of the accident. However, there are exceptions, so the sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can evaluate your claim and make sure everything is filed on time.

Can I Still Get Compensation if I Was Partially Responsible for the Crash?

Yes, you can still get compensation if you were partially responsible for the crash. PA follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This rule allows the court to assign a percentage of blame for your role in the accident. Once that’s determined, and damages are awarded, your compensation is then reduced by that same percentage amount.

What if a Defective Bicycle Part Contributed to the Accident?

If a defective bicycle part contributed to the accident, it might be possible to also file a product liability claim. These kinds of cases can involve manufacturers, distributors, or retailers, and they often require professional analysis. Product-related claims follow legal standards that are different from traffic accidents, so early investigation and preservation of evidence is a must.

What if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured or Fled the Scene?

If the driver who hit you was uninsured or fled the scene, you could still have options. In cases where the driver was uninsured, liability could fall on other parties, like an employer if the driver was working, the owner of the vehicle if the driver borrowed the car, or a government entity if road conditions led to the accident. In addition, it might be possible to file a civil claim against the driver directly.

Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Cases Handled on a Contingency Fee Basis

As a local law firm, we’re intimately familiar with the local procedures and expectations that can impact the outcome of your claim. We regularly appear before the Washington County Courthouse, the Allegheny County Courthouse, and the Beaver County Courthouse.

Our offices are just off the Parkway, next to the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Contact us to discuss your questions and concerns with one of our experienced Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyers today. When you hire a bicycle accident lawyer from this law firm, there are no attorneys’ fees or costs if you do not recover money damages in a settlement or jury verdict.

We understand that your injuries or other circumstances may make it difficult for you to come to our offices in downtown Pittsburgh. Our lawyers can arrange to make home, office, and hospital visits throughout Western and Central Pennsylvania.