Bridge Collapse Liability and Accident Claims on Pittsburgh’s Aging Infrastructure

In the early morning hours on January 28, 2022, a 447-foot steel bridge on Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh collapsed, falling nearly 100 feet into Frick Park, taking with it cars and a city bus. Of the people in those vehicles and in the surrounding area, ten suffered injuries. This collapse was completely preventable, had warnings dating back to 2005 been properly addressed, according to federal investigators.

The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse raises a critical question for drivers on Pittsburgh’s roads: When a bridge fails due to neglect, who is legally responsible? This is the kind of case the Pittsburgh personal injury attorneys at Munley Law handle all across Pennsylvania to hold government agencies and private firms accountable when infrastructure failures hurt citizens.

How Dangerous Are Pittsburgh’s Bridges?

Pittsburgh is known as the City of Bridges, with more bridges than any other city in the world, but many of those structures are old and have been allowed to deteriorate. According to a June 2024 report from TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, 12 percent of bridges in the Pittsburgh area are currently rated in poor condition. The average age of all bridges in the area is 53 years, but bridges in poor condition average 82 years old. This poses a problem because most bridges were designed to last 50 years of service.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) spent two years investigating the collapse. Its final report, released in February 2024, was direct: the bridge fell because of “critical lapses in bridge maintenance and oversight by multiple agencies.”

Inspectors had flagged drainage problems and corrosion on the bridge repeatedly from 2005 onward. The City of Pittsburgh failed to act on those warnings for 16 years. The NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy made it clear that this event was preventable. At the February 2024 press conference, she stated, “The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse should never have happened.” The City of Pittsburgh did not dispute the findings.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Bridge Accident in Pittsburgh?

Bridge accident cases are more complex than a typical car crash. Multiple parties can share responsibility depending on who owns the bridge, who inspected it, and who did any recent work on it. Those who can be held at fault include:

• City and municipal governments. Many Pittsburgh bridges are owned and maintained by the city. When a city-owned bridge deteriorates despite documented inspection warnings, the municipality may be liable under Pennsylvania’s Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.
• PennDOT and state agencies. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees bridge inspection programs statewide. If state contractors’ incorrect or incomplete inspections contribute to a collapse, the state may be liable under the Sovereign Immunity Act. Claims against state agencies are limited to $250,000 per person and $1,000,000 per incident.
• Private engineering and inspection firms. When a private company is hired to inspect or certify a bridge, it can be sued for negligent work. The companies are not shielded by the same immunity as government defendants, so there is no cap on what a jury can award against them.
• Construction and maintenance contractors. If defective repair work contributed to a structural failure, the contractor who performed it may also be liable.

In the Fern Hollow case, victims sued the City of Pittsburgh and three private engineering firms. The lawsuit claims that all parties knew about the bridge’s defects as early as 2005.

Can You Sue a Government Entity in Pennsylvania?

Yes, but the process works differently from a standard injury claim, and the rules are strict. Government entities in Pennsylvania have legal protections, but there are specific exceptions. Bridge maintenance failures can fall right within them.

The most important deadline to know: Pennsylvania law requires anyone injured by a government entity to send written notice within six months of the accident. The notice needs to include your name, address, the date and location of the accident, and the name of your treating doctor.

After giving notice, injured victims generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Because these cases can be complicated, involving injuries and government bodies, getting an attorney involved early can make all the difference.

What Compensation Can Injured Victims Recover?

Victims of bridge collapse accidents may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, reduced ability to earn in the future, permanent disability or disfigurement, pain and suffering, and property damage.

• Claims against a local government: $500,000
• Claims against the state: $250,000 per person
• Claims against private firms: no cap

In the Fern Hollow case, the City proposed a settlement of a $500,000 cap, but the victims rejected the offer, claiming it had too many strings attached.

What Should You Do After a Bridge or Infrastructure Accident?

Most importantly, receive medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage sometimes don’t show full symptoms for hours or even days.

Do your best to document everything at the scene. Take photos of the damage, road conditions, visible structural problems, and your injuries. Make sure to properly store all medical records, bills, and any paperwork connected to the accident. These elements provide proof to back up your case.

Contact a personal injury attorney before that critical 6-month government notice deadline hits. An attorney can help you track down the inspection and maintenance history of the bridge, identify who is responsible, and make sure everything is handled correctly.

Pittsburgh’s Bridge Problem Isn’t Going Away

The Fern Hollow collapse made national headlines. The conditions that caused it are not unique to that bridge, with 12% of Pittsburgh bridges in poor condition.

When a bridge fails because of neglect, injured victims have real legal options. The attorneys at Munley Law have represented seriously injured Pennsylvanians for decades and understand exactly what these cases require.

If you or a family member was hurt in an accident involving Pittsburgh-area infrastructure, contact Munley Law for a free consultation.