If you’ve suffered injuries in a bicycle accident in Reading, PA, a top Reading bicycle accident attorney at Munley Law will help you recover any compensation you deserve. Since 1959, our Reading personal injury firm has assisted victims of bicycle collisions in recovering damages, including medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and additional losses, and we can help you, too.
Over the decades, we’ve secured settlements and verdicts worth more than $1 billion. As a result, our attorneys have built a respected reputation in Berks County and beyond. In addition to multiple partners receiving Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ratings (AV Preeminent), some of our attorneys have held leadership positions in organizations such as the American Association for Justice.
Whether you’re prepared to take legal action or still considering your options, one of our experienced Reading bike accident attorneys is ready to evaluate your case and discuss your legal alternatives. Contact Munley Law for a free consultation to learn your legal options following a bike crash.
How Can a Reading Bike Accident Attorney Help With Your Claim?
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 and build a strong legal case.
- Get medical attention: Even if the accident seems 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 get medical care immediately.
- Collect evidence: If possible, take pictures of the accident scene. These can be helpful when proving fault.
- Get a copy of the police report: Under 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3746, it’s Pennsylvania law to report all accidents resulting in injury, death, or damage, preventing vehicles from being driven away from the scene safely. A police report will hold many details of the accident that you may not know. Securing a copy of this will be helpful to your lawyer.
- Talk to witnesses: Depending on the time of day the accident occurred, there may have been witnesses. If you can talk to witnesses and get their contact information, they may be able to share what they saw, which can impact 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.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What Makes Munley Law Different from Other Reading Injury Lawyers?
It can be overwhelming when looking for a personal injury law firm to take on your bicycle accident claim. With so many lawyers in your area, you may feel like any firm will do–but the reality is not so. At Munley Law, our bicycle accident lawyers serve all injury victims in Reading, Berks County, and the surrounding areas.
Munley Law differs from other personal injury law firms because we have the experience, compassion, and resources that set our firm apart. With more than 250 years of combined legal experience, our team understands the complexities of Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws and the financial hardship injuries can place on a family.
As a result, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning 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. We put every effort into pursuing justice and fair compensation on behalf of our clients. Our efforts are highlighted by the multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts we’ve obtained for injured Pennsylvanians.
In recognition of their work, our lawyers continue to be honored by the most respected legal organizations and institutions. The National Trial Lawyers named several of our partners among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, while Best Lawyers named Marion Munley Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation.
Along with Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey, Marion is board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. She and Daniel are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and both have held leadership roles in the American Association for Justice. Multiple partners have been named to the Irish Legal 100 and the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers lists.
Additionally, all our attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. If you want the best bicycle accident law firm in Berks County to fight for justice on your behalf, look no further than Munley Law.
“Munley Law is far more than just a law firm. We’re a family of attorneys who truly understand the meaning of family and bring deep compassion to every client we serve.”
J. Christopher Munley
What Compensation Can You Pursue in a Reading Bicycle Accident Claim?
If you or a loved one were hurt in a bicycle accident in Reading, PA, you have a right to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver or at-fault party. However, you cannot bring a claim forward if you have already accepted a settlement from the insurance and signed a release. After your accident, be sure to call Munley Law.
Our firm can help you recover compensation for losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs in the case of wrongful death
Remember 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 by the insurance company than the amount you are truly owed.
Due to the extensive investigations and preparation required, you also might miss the deadline of two years from the date of the accident, as set by Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2). Let a Munley Law bicycle accident attorney help with your case.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I was Partially at Fault for the Bicycle Accident?
Yes, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the bicycle accident. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can pursue compensation if you are less than 51% at fault, although your award may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Munley Law’s experienced Reading bicycle accident lawyers can work to minimize any fault assigned to you.
How Do Pennsylvania’s Bicycle Laws Affect Your Reading Injury Claim?
As a Pennsylvania cyclist, there are rules you must abide by, just as a motor vehicle must follow when sharing the road. Pennsylvania has strict bicycle laws, 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 (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3504).
- Riders can only have the allotted number of riders the bike permits—i.e., passengers cannot sit on the handlebars, stand on the back, etc (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3504).
- Cyclists must abide by the same road rules as other motor vehicles (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3505).
- When riding between sunset and sunrise, the bike must have the proper lights and reflectors (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3507).
- People under 12 cannot operate a bicycle or ride as a passenger without a helmet (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3510).
- No bicycles can be ridden on freeways (75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3503)
If you were found not to have obeyed Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws and are involved in an accident, you risk being found at fault for the collision, hurting your chances at financial recovery.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Reading, PA
As a cyclist, you must protect yourself on Reading’s streets. Unfortunately, we cannot always account for others’ actions, which can lead to devastating accidents. According to the latest numbers from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the number of bicycle accidents increased from 1,100 in 2023 to 1,271 in 2024, although the number of fatalities decreased from 27 to 19. The overwhelming majority of injury accidents (74.4%) and fatal accidents (73.7%) occurred during daylight hours.
Some of the most common Reading bicycle accidents include:
- Right-hook accidents: These occur when a motor vehicle fails to move far enough ahead of a cyclist before beginning a right turn. When this occurs, the car can strike the bicyclist riding straight ahead.
- Dooring accidents: This common cause of bicycle accidents occurs when a driver or passenger fails to exercise due care when opening their door and striking a passing bicyclist.
- Overtaking crashes: These accidents occur when a motor vehicle does not overtake properly and collides with a cyclist from behind.
How is Liability Established in a Reading Bicycle Collision?
To establish liability in a Reading bicycle accident, your lawyer must prove that negligence occurred and that negligence resulted in injuries and losses.
Proving negligence can be difficult without legal representation. To prove negligence, your lawyer 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
However, this can be hard to do, and it’s important to be aware that your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, so contacting a Reading bicycle accident lawyer from Munley Law will be critical to the success of your claim.
Choose Munley Law as Your Reading Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Reading, PA, you have a choice of injury attorneys to choose from. Go with the best option — choose Munley Law. For almost seven decades, our Reading bicycle accident lawyers have been helping clients throughout Berks County with their claims. We are here for you.
Don’t wait much longer. Contact Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation.
J. Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is an award-winning plaintiffs’ lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for accident victims and their families. As a board-certified civil trial advocate, Chris was named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation by Best Lawyers, and has been listed on Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2013.
