Cyclists are always vulnerable on the road. Bicycles don’t offer the protection that motor vehicles do, which is why accidents involving bicycles often result in catastrophic injuries. If you’ve been in a collision with your bicycle, you’ve likely suffered property damage as well as physical and emotional trauma that keeps you from living your life as you want to. One of the options you have is to file a personal injury claim by contacting a Levittown bicycle accident attorney.
At Wapner Newman, our team of bicycle accident attorneys can offer the guidance you need as you manage the aftermath of a collision. We can help you understand your rights and how a personal injury claim can be the best option if you’ve suffered because of another person’s negligent or wrongful conduct.
Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to speak with one of our Levittown bicycle accident lawyers.
Why Choose Us?
What Makes Our Team Stand Out
At Wapner Newman, we get results. Our team of bicycle accident lawyers has decades of experience helping clients get the assistance they need after suffering losses in collisions. We provide comprehensive services because our lawyers focus on different areas of the law. This allows us to pool our resources when needed to offer the quality representation our clients deserve.
If you’ve suffered losses because of someone else’s negligent conduct, you may be entitled to file a claim and get compensation. Because we know the significant psychological and financial strain you’re under, we never charge upfront fees for our services. We only get paid if you do.
Top Causes of Pennsylvania Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can occur for lots of reasons, but the majority of collisions are the result of driver errors. Our Levittown bicycle crash lawyers offer an idea of why these crashes occur:
Distracted Driving
If a driver is operating a motor vehicle while doing anything else, they’re not fully focused on the road in front of them. This means that they won’t notice hazards or could miss seeing a bicycle. Some of the most common distractions include using a phone, eating or drinking, and even changing radio stations. In 2022, there were 11,484 total traffic accidents throughout Pennsylvania that were the result of distracted driving.
Intoxicated Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can place everyone on the road in danger, but it can be especially serious if vulnerable road users are involved. A motor vehicle driver who is intoxicated will have a much harder time reacting appropriately to hazards. Drugs and alcohol impact reflexes and coordination, making accidents much more likely to occur. They can also make a driver more reckless, leading them to speed or rapidly change lanes without worrying about other people on the road.
Speeding
Motor vehicles traveling at higher speeds than road conditions allow or exceeding the legal limit can result in catastrophic accidents. It’s much easier for drivers to lose control of speeding vehicles, and it’s also much more likely that they won’t be able to stop in time to prevent a collision. If a speeding car hits a bicycle, it can cause much more severe injuries because of the force behind the strike.
Fatigued Driving
Drivers who are tired and sleepy can be just as dangerous on the road as those who are intoxicated. They may not be able to react in time to stop a crash and could lose control of the vehicle if they fall asleep at the wheel. All of this can be deadly for cyclists.
Road Conditions
Driver error is not always the culprit, however. In some instances, the road itself could pose a danger to cyclists. If the street has significant potholes, the cyclist could lose their balance and fall. There may also be cracks or uneven pavement levels that might not be a problem for motor vehicles but could result in serious injuries for a cyclist.
Defective Bicycle Parts
If a bicycle’s components aren’t functioning correctly, they can contribute to an accident. A wheel can burst or the chain can slip out of place. All of these issues can send you careening into the next lane or completely off the road.
Who’s Liable In a Levittown Bicycle Accident?
Understanding Negligence
If you’re filing a personal injury claim against the other party involved in the accident, you need to be able to establish liability. Most of the time, though not always, doing so means proving that negligence occurred. Proving negligence first requires that you establish there was a duty of care that the defendant breached. Our Levittown bicycle collision attorneys know how tough this can be to do.
Everyone operating any kind of vehicle on the road owes others a duty to drive safely and follow all traffic laws. If the person was intoxicated behind the wheel, they broke the law and breached their duty of care.
Proving negligence also means showing that you suffered injuries because of the accident and that you can be compensated for them. You must have received medical care to meet that last part.
Other drivers can be negligent, but so can government entities. If you suffered losses because of poor road conditions, for example, you can file a claim against the entity that provided maintenance.
Negligence applies to the majority of bicycle accidents, but not all of them. In instances when a bicycle part fails and causes you to suffer injuries, you will likely not have to prove negligence, because the accident falls under strict liability laws. You only have to demonstrate that the part was defective and that it led you to suffer losses.
Although proving negligence or strict liability might seem simple, these are complex processes that require experience. At Wapner Newman, our team of bicycle crash attorneys will gather evidence showing that the defendant breached their responsibility or that the product malfunctioned and resulted in an accident. You can focus on healing while we take care of the legalities.
Our team of Levittown personal injury lawyers has helped clients recover millions in settlements and jury awards.
Bicycle Accident FAQs
Our bicycle collision lawyers offer the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about bicycle accidents and filing a claim. We’re always available if you have further concerns.
Can I still recover damages if I was partly to blame for the accident?
Yes, you can still recover losses as long as your percentage of fault doesn’t exceed the other party’s. That’s because Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence laws.
How much is my claim worth?
All claims are unique, so the actual amount you may be entitled to can vary depending on the kind of injuries you sustained, how they impact your life, whether they prevent you from working, and many other factors. You may be able to claim both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate you for financial losses you sustained and can cover lost wages and medical expenses. Non-economic damages compensate you for non-financial losses, including the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as well as loss of enjoyment of life. If the accident resulted in the death of a loved one, you can also claim loss of consortium.
What should I do right after a bicycle accident?
You want to get medical attention as soon as possible. Often, you may not realize you’ve suffered an injury because of the shock you can experience after the crash.
You also want to report the accident to the police and exchange information with the other party. It’s vital that you then contact our team of Levittown bicycle collision lawyers to get guidance. We can ensure that you begin your claim correctly.
How long do I have to file a claim after a bicycle accident?
After being in a bicycle accident, you generally have two years from the day you were injured to file a claim. It’s crucial that you don’t wait to get assistance from a bicycle crash lawyer, however, because there are instances when you may have less time to file. If you miss the deadline, you won’t have a chance to recuperate losses, so you need to do everything possible to avoid that issue.
At Wapner Newman, our Levittown bicycle crash attorneys are always ready to offer answers to your personal injury claim questions, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Experienced Levittown Bicycle Accident Attorneys
After suffering losses in a bicycle accident, you have options. By hiring bicycle accident attorneys, you have the chance to file a claim against the at-fault party and receive economic and non-economic damages. At Wapner Newman, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights and what the process of filing a claim is like. We’ll aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to get you fair compensation and offer the support you need during this tough time.
Call our team at (215) 569-0900 to speak with an experienced bicycle accident attorney.