Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Did you recently get hurt in a bicycle accident in Philadelphia? The personal injury lawyers at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers will help you fight to recover compensation from whoever’s responsible for your injuries.

Our team has been dedicated to protecting injury victims in Philly for decades. Together, we have more than 80 years of combined legal experience. If you’ve been injured, we’ll be there for you, too.

Contact our Center City law offices or give us a call (215) 875-7030 to schedule a free initial consultation with our skilled legal team. We can review your case, explain your options, and address any questions you might have.

Why Should I Call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers After I’m Involved in a Bike Accident in Philadelphia?

bicycle accident

When you ride a bike, you don’t have much to protect you if you’re involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. So, you’re vulnerable to some pretty severe injuries. After an accident, your time and attention really need to be focused on yourself and your physical recovery. That’s tough to do if you’re also trying to navigate a challenging, contested legal claim.

At Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how important money can be after an unexpected bicycle accident in Philadelphia. We also know that insurance companies won’t make things easy for you. They’ll put up a fight and might even try to blame you for the crash.

Fortunately, we have decades of experience dealing with these stingy companies. We know how they’ll handle your case and the tricks they’ll use to attempt paying you less than you deserve. We also know how to force them to take your case seriously and leverage a meaningful settlement.

We’ll fight for you when we:

  • Dig deep into the details of your case to determine why the accident happened and who might be responsible
  • Demand compensation from all liable parties
  • Minimize your contribution – if any – to your Philly bicycle accident, and
  • Work closely with expert witnesses who can provide essential insight into the more detailed aspects of your case.

When you call our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys for help, we’ll go above and beyond to secure maximum compensation on your behalf. This can give you time to concentrate on getting better, returning to work, and adjusting to life after your accident.

Bicycle Accidents Are a Serious Problem in Philadelphia, PA

Studies suggest that, based on bicycle accident statistics, Philadelphia is one of the most dangerous places in the United States to ride a bike. In fact, a 2017 study revealed that Philly was the 9th most dangerous city for cyclists.

Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Statistics

In the five years period between 2013 to 2017, there were 6,409 bicycle accidents in Pennsylvania. The number of bike-related crashes remained fairly constant in that span of time.

In 2013, there were 1,383 traffic accidents involving cyclists in the state. That number dropped in 2017. That year, there were 1,141 bike accidents.

However, despite the slight drop-off, that still represents a staggering number of collisions. On an average day in 2017, there were between 3 and 4 bike crashes. So, every 6 or 8 hours, someone riding a bicycle in Pennsylvania is involved in a motor vehicle accident. Studies show that most bicycle accidents – nearly 75 percent – happen in urban areas like Philadelphia.

When you consider that cyclists tend to sustain severe, even fatal injuries, in an accident, that number is quite high.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Philadelphia

Why are bicycle accidents happening with such frequency in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia? Here are a few of the most commonly-cited reasons:

Lack of Dedicated Bicycle Infrastructure: Bicyclists are safest when they’re able to ride in protected bike lanes. That’s because there’s a physical barrier between cyclists and larger vehicles. Unfortunately, Philadelphia doesn’t have too many of those. Some lanes exist on South Street and near the South Street Bridge. However, there just aren’t enough to allow cyclists to navigate the entire city safely.

Distracted Drivers and Cyclists: Distractions are a leading cause of car accidents, including those involving bicyclists. When drivers and/or riders aren’t paying attention to the road, the likelihood of an accident increases significantly.

Drunk and/or Impaired Driving or Riding: It’s dangerous when a person gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That’s also true for cyclists. Unfortunately, impaired motorists contribute to many bicycle accidents every year.

Failure to Follow Local Laws: Bicyclists are required to comply with state and local traffic laws. That includes stopping at red traffic signals, yielding the right of way to pedestrians and other traffic, and riding with the flow of traffic. Accidents are more likely to occur when riders ignore safety laws.

We Handle All Bicycle Accident Cases in Philadelphia, PA

When you get hurt in a bicycle accident in Philadelphia, your life can be changed forever. At Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers, we appreciate that any injury – big or small – can have a lasting impact. That’s why we’re prepared to help you demand compensation for all of your bike accident injuries, including:

Give our Philadelphia law firm a quick call to set up a time to discuss your case in detail today.

Securing Compensation After a Philadelphia Bike Accident

Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault rules, you can potentially recover compensation from anyone who is apportioned blame for your accident. Liability generally extends to anyone whose negligence or harmful actions cause an accident. This might include:

  • Drivers of passenger vehicles
  • Truck drivers
  • Bus drivers
  • Transit companies
  • Other bicyclists
  • Pedestrians
  • Employers of negligent parties
  • Government agencies, or
  • Manufacturers of unsafe or defective vehicles or safety equipment.

It’s important to note that Pennsylvania law bars recovery if you are allocated more than 50 percent of the blame for your accident. If you share fault – but less than 51 percent – you can still seek damages. However, your financial award will be adjusted downward to reflect your role in the accident.

For example, let’s say you’re allocated 30 percent of the fault for your bicycle accident. Your financial recovery will be capped at 70 percent of your damages.

What Damages Are Available If I Got Hurt in a Philadelphia Bicycle Accident?

Following a bicycle accident in Philadelphia, you may have a legitimate claim for damages if someone else is at least partly responsible for your injuries. Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys will aggressively pursue all available compensation, which might include money for:

  • Medical bills and expenses
  • Property damage
  • Lost income and wages
  • Disability
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, and more.

We’ll work hard to make sure that your case isn’t undervalued. How? We’ll connect with experts who can provide some important insight into the more complex parts of your case. They can shed light on causation and the severity of your injuries. When we understand those details, we can position ourselves to maximize your financial recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bike Accident Lawsuit in Philadelphia, PA?

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is typically two years. So, you’ll have a maximum of two years from the date of your accident to initiate a civil legal claim for damages. You’ll be barred from getting compensation if you wait too long to assert your rights.

Call Our Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today

Have you been injured in a bicycle accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Contact Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers and find out how our Philadelphia bike accident lawyers might be able to help. We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or online today.

Our Philadelphia, PA personal injury law firm also provides: