According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), bicycle accidents accounted for 0.8% of all accidents and 0.8% of all fatal accidents in 2019. These statistics represent 1,003 injuries and 16 fatalities.
Were you or someone you love injured or fatally injured in a bicycle accident? If so, you might be able to recover financial awards from the at-fault driver that could help pay your medical bills. A Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyer might also be able to help you recoup the wages and income you lost if your injuries prevented you from returning to your job.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can help you assess the full range of your financial damage and seek to collect compensation from the driver who caused your injuries. Call (800) 761-5225 today to set up a free consultation with our personal injury team.
Seek Compensation for These Recoverable Damages
Because a bicycle does not offer the same protection as a vehicle, a collision between your bicycle and a vehicle can leave you with severe and potentially catastrophic injuries. The injuries you suffer can lead to costly immediate and ongoing medical care. They can also mean you cannot immediately return to work or engage in the personal or social activities you enjoyed before the collision.
When our team represents you in your personal injury case, we take the total financial impact of the collision into account when we assign a value to your compensation claim. The financial expenses and losses include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost income
- Repairing or replacing your bicycle
- Physical pain and suffering
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The physical injuries you suffer in a bicycle accident could cause you to incur more than medical costs. Our team fights hard for the full financial value of your bicycle accident. Our goal is to make sure you do not add financial damage to the physical and emotional damage of a bicycle accident.
Proving the Cause and Cost of Your Bicycle Accident
To prove the cause and resulting cost of your bicycle accident, we compile a case file of records, reports, and photos that support your right to financial compensation. Our team will ask you to provide us with your:
- Official crash report
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Witness statements
- Photographs of your injuries
- Photographs of your bicycle
- Paycheck records
Obtain copies of these items as soon as they become available. Let your Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyer know if you need help acquiring any of the items on this list, or if you have additional items that support your claim for financial recovery.
Weigh Settlement Offers Very Carefully
After our personal injury team calculates the full financial damage of your bicycle accident, we start negotiating with the driver who caused the accident or with the insurance company that represents them. Our goal is to get the best possible outcome for you. To do that, we avoid accepting a speedy settlement offer and carefully weigh each of the offers we do receive.
You always have the final decision on whether to accept a settlement offer. Before you say yes to any offer, we can make sure you understand that accepting a settlement offer permanently resolves your compensation claim. That final resolution is why we weigh offers carefully and why we do not accept speedy offers that might come in before the full cost of the accident is clear. When you are ready to negotiate with the at-fault driver, our team is here to help you seek the favorable settlement you deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Petersburg, call (800) 761-5225
Comply with Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations
The difference in size between your bicycle and a four-wheeled vehicle can leave you seriously injured. If the extent of your injuries prevents you from fully participating in your compensation claim, it could negatively impact your financial recovery timeline. If too much time passes, you will not be allowed to file your lawsuit or hold the liable driver financially responsible for the financial impact of the accident.
In general, 42 Pa. CSA § 5524 allows you two years from the date of the bicycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Do not inadvertently relinquish your right to financial recovery by running out of time. Your lawyer will ensure your claim is filed in time to meet the statute of limitations so that your right to compensation is protected.
Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports that riders between ages 5 through 14 years count as one-fifth of bicycle injury and fatality victims. If the injured party in a bicycle accident claim was your minor son or daughter, 42 Pa. CSA § 5533 might allow an extension on the statute of limitations.
Speak to a Ben Crump Law, PLLC, team member about the possibility of “tolling” the statute of limitations to work in your minor child’s favor. We will work diligently to give your case every possible advantage. Give us a call today.
Petersburg Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 761-5225
We Help Injury Victims Fight for Financial Recovery
We know how challenging it can be to recover from an accident physically, emotionally, and financially. Our personal injury team can help you hold the at-fault driver financially responsible for the accident. We never shy away from tough cases because our goal is to ensure that you do not suffer further financial damage for an accident you did not cause.
Learn how a Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyer can represent you on a contingency fee basis with no upfront costs or out of pocket expenses. Contact the personal injury team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (800) 761-5225 today.
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