Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Reading Personal Injury Lawyer / Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Our Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyers Are Here To Help

Berks County is home to some of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful biking trails and road biking options. However, bicycle accidents are also likely to occur for these vulnerable road users in Reading.

If you or a loved one were injured in a Reading bicycle accident, call the Reading bicycle accident lawyers of Munley Law. With more than 60 years of experience fighting for the rights of Pennsylvania’s injured, our team will work tirelessly to recover the compensation you and your family deserve following these devastating accidents.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Reading?

Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health found that in Berks County in 2020 alone, there were 36 hospital injuries for bicyclists. While this may not seem like many people, for those victims of Reading bicycle accidents, the impact of a bike accident can be catastrophic.

Pennsylvania Bicycle Laws

As a Pennsylvania cyclist, there are rules you must abide by, just as a motor vehicle must follow when sharing the road. Pennsylvania has some of the strictest bicycle laws in the country and following them can be the difference between a safe ride and a disastrous collision.

Below are some of the laws that have been implemented in the Keystone State:

• Riders must use a seat on the bike when riding.
• Riders can only have the allotted amount of riders the bike permits–ie. No sitting on handlebars, standing on the back, etc.
• Cyclists must abide by the same rules of the road as other motor vehicles.
• When riding between sunset and sunrise, the bike must be equipped with the proper lights and reflectors.
• Any person under 12 years of age cannot operate a bicycle or ride as a passenger unless they are wearing a helmet.
• No bicycles can be ridden on freeways.

If you were found to not have obeyed Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws and are involved in an accident, you run the risk of being found at fault for the collision, hurting your chances at financial recovery.

What Are Some Common Bicycle Accidents?

As a cyclist, you must practice the utmost care to protect yourself on Reading’s streets. Unfortunately, we cannot always account for the actions of others, which can lead to devastating accidents.

Some of the most common Reading bicycle accidents include:

• Right-Hook Crashes: These accidents occur when a motor vehicle fails to move far enough ahead of a cyclist before beginning a right turn. When this occurs, the bicyclist riding straight ahead can be struck by the car.
• Dooring: Dooring occurs when a driver or passenger does not exercise due care when opening their door, and striking a passing bicyclist.
• Overtaking Crashes: These collisions occur when a motor vehicle does not overtake properly and collides with a cyclist from behind.

If you have been involved in any of the above collisions, call the Reading bicycle accident lawyers of Munley Law.

Establishing Liability in a Reading Bicycle Collision

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes in the United States every year. While you are more likely to sustain serious injury when involved in a collision with a car, the law doesn’t automatically assume that the motor vehicle driver is at-fault for a bicycle collision.

To establish liability in a Reading bicycle accident, you must prove that negligence occurred and that had the negligence not occurred, the accident and resulting injuries and losses would not have happened.

To prove negligence, you must show that:

• There was a duty of care owed to the bicyclist
• There was a breach of that duty
• The cyclist suffered injuries
• The breach caused those injuries to occur

Under Pennsylvania’s 51 percent comparative negligence rule, you may be found partially responsible in a bicycle accident in addition to the motor vehicle driver having fault. If you are found less than 51 percent at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation for your injuries and losses.

However, this can be hard to do, so contacting a Reading bicycle accident lawyer from Munley Law will be critical to the success of your claim.

How to Build Your Bicycle Accident Claim With a Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a bicycle accident can be a traumatizing experience, especially when it is you versus a passenger vehicle. However, following the accident, there are steps you should take to protect yourself to help build a strong legal case.

• Get medical attention: Even if the accident seemed minor, getting a medical evaluation will help establish the baseline for your injuries. In the days that follow, more injuries may appear once the adrenaline wears off, so it’s important to keep an eye on any changes you experience and to get medical care right away.
• Collect evidence: If you are able, get pictures of the accident scene. These can be helpful when proving fault.
• Get a copy of the police report: A police report will hold a lot of details of the accident that you may not be aware of at the time. Securing a copy of this will be helpful to your lawyer.
• Talk to witnesses: Depending on the time of day the accident occurs, there may have been witnesses to the accident. If you can talk to witnesses and get their contact information, they may be able to share what they saw, which can be impactful to your case.
• Call a Reading bike lawyer: Recovering from a bicycle accident can be daunting and when you add filing a legal claim against the at-fault driver to the mix, you may be overwhelmed. Don’t take it on alone–let Munley Law handle your case.

Compensation in a Reading Bicycle Accident

If you or a loved one were hurt in a bicycle accident in Reading, you have a right to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver. However, you cannot bring a claim forward if you have already accepted a settlement from the insurance. After your accident, be sure to call Munley Law. Our firm can help you recover the following forms of compensation for your losses:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial costs in the case of wrongful death

Keep in mind that the value of your claim will change based on the extent of your injuries, how much income you lose while away from work, the liability of each party, etc. If you handle the claim alone, you may be talked into much less compensation than is fair. But a Munley Law bicycle accident attorney can help.

What Makes Munley Law Different: Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyers with Experience

When looking for a personal injury law firm to take on your bicycle accident claim, it can be overwhelming. With so many lawyers in your area, you may feel like any firm will do–but the reality is not so.

Munley Law is different from other Reading bicycle accident lawyers because we have the experience, compassion, and resources that put our firm above the others. Our team understands the complexities of Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws and we know the financial hardship injuries can place on a family.

Because of this, we work on a contingency fee basis which means you pay nothing upfront for our legal resources. Instead, you only pay if we win your settlement or verdict. It’s never more than what you won, so you can focus on what’s important.

Munley Law is Your Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were hurt in a bicycle accident in Reading or the surrounding area, call Munley Law. Our firm has more than 60 years of experience fighting for the rights of accident victims and we will do the same for you.

Time is of the essence–you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim against the other party(s). While that may seem like ample time, it goes fast.

For a no-obligation, free consultation, call the Reading bicycle accident lawyers of Munley Law or connect with us online.