Wilkes-Barre Bicycle Accident Lawyer

When a bicycle is struck by a motor vehicle on a city street, the rider often sustains very serious injuries. After such a bike accident, they will need help getting compensation to pay for their injuries. If this has happened to you, a bicycle accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre can make the legal process go as smoothly and stress-free as possible for the injured party.

By choosing to hire an experienced Wilkes-Barre bike crash attorneys are fully committed to holding negligent car and truck drivers accountable for the injuries they’ve caused. The Wilkes-Barre injury lawyers at Munley Law have won millions in settlements and verdicts for injury victims. Rest assured that your bicycle accident case is in good hands.

Do I Need a Wilkes-Barre Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

By hiring a Wilkes-Barre bike accident lawyer, you will have someone by your side who can explain what your legal options are and give you an estimation of how much your claim is worth. Our Wilkes-Barre bicycle accident attorneys will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf so you receive the maximum amount your settlement is worth. All you will need to do is recover from your injuries.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our car accident lawyers in Wilkes-Barre have been helping bicyclists with their bike accident claims for over 60 years. We understand the pain and confusion you must feel; we will do everything possible to get you back on your feet and obtain the compensation you deserve.

What Causes Bicycle Accidents to Occur?

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, bicycle accidents have fluctuated since 2016. Although there was a decrease in accidents in 2020, the number of fatalities was at its highest since 2016. One of the top reasons bike accidents occur in Luzerne County is distracted driving. Bicyclists have little or no time to react when a car or truck veers into their path. This leads to many accidents in our area.

Other common causes of bicycle accidents in Wilkes-Barre include:

• Speeding
• Vehicles turning improperly or failing to use turn signals, in front of a bicycle
• Vehicles following a bike too closely on a Wilkes-Barre street
• Opening the door of a parked vehicle in front of an oncoming cyclist
• Failure to obey traffic signals
• Failure to yield to a bicycle
• Product defects
• Hazardous road conditions
• Roadway defects or unsafe road design
• Bicyclists injured as a result of a dog attack
• Drunk or impaired drivers

If you’ve been injured in a Wilkes-Barre bike accident, we urge you to seek medical treatment immediately. Although it may seem like you’ve only sustained some minor cuts, bumps and bruises, you could suffer from a concussion, a serious internal injury, or a head injury. It is best to be cleared by a medical professional.

Bicycle-motor vehicle collisions can be especially dangerous for a cyclist due to the lack of protection and the size of a motor vehicle. Contacting an accident attorney after is recommended. Common bike accident injuries in Wilkes-Barre include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Facial injuries
• Concussions
• Fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries
• Lacerations
• Joint injuries
• Paralysis
• Bicyclist fatalities

How Is Negligence Established in a Bike Accident in Wilkes-Barre?

To get full and just compensation for your injuries, an experienced Wilkes-Barre bicycle accident lawyer must first prove that a driver’s or another person’s negligence caused the accident that led to your injuries. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has the resources needed to launch a complete investigation of what led to your injuries and to build an effective case. Our Wilkes-Barre bicycle accident lawyers will make sure every angle is covered.

To prove negligence, the following will need to be shown:

• The driver had a duty of care to protect the cyclist. All drivers have a legal responsibility to drive safely and not to bring harm to anyone else on the roads.
• The driver breached their duty of care. For example, if a driver was texting behind the wheel and failed to see the cyclist crossing the road in front of them, that driver is neglecting their responsibility of driving safely.
• The breach had caused an injury. Using the example above, the driver hit the cyclist because they were not paying attention. The accident caused a serious injury to the cyclist.
• The accident resulted in damages. Damages include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

How Bicyclists and Drivers Can Stay Safe On Wilkes-Barre Roads

We urge bicyclists and drivers on Wilkes-Barre roads including PA Route 315, Route 115, PA 309, over the Market St. or Pierce St. bridges, on Kidder Street or the Cross Valley Expressway, and throughout the city. These areas are usually high traffic and may be filled with distracted drivers who are not paying attention to the road. Do your part, and drive with care.

Follow these 10 simple bicycling safety rules:

• Wear a helmet to reduce your risk of injury
• Follow all rules of the road
• Stay alert and pay close attention to everything going on around you
• Be sure to use hand signals
• Be extremely careful and look around completely before merging into traffic
• Ride with the traffic flow, in the same direction as the other vehicles
• Be predictable. Ride in a straight line, and don’t weave in and out of traffic
• Keep on the lookout for opening car doors and other road hazards
• Wear bright or reflective clothing
• Make sure your bike is equipped with reflectors, a headlight, and a bell

As a bicyclist, you have a right to be safe on Wilkes-Barre city roads and throughout the area. The Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Wilkes-Barre bicycle accident lawyers will help you recover the compensation you deserve for your Wilkes-Barre bike collision. This can include compensation for medical expenses, rehab and long-term care, lost wages, pain and suffering.

What Are the Most Common Types of Bike Accidents in Wilkes-Barre?

Most bike accidents are a result of another driver’s negligence. Some of the most common causes of injured cyclists we see include those hurt in:

• Left-Cross Accidents: Occur at intersections where the bike rider will approach the intersection at the same time as the car on the other side and the driver attempts to make a left-hand turn, crossing in front of the cyclists, hitting them head-on.
• Right-Hook Accidents: Similar to a left-cross accident, it occurs when the car is turning right.
• Car Door Suddenly Opening: The bike is on the side of the road, parallel to parked cars when the car door opens suddenly. If the bicyclists cannot stop in time, they run the risk of being thrown over the open door.
• Sideswipe Accidents: A driver misjudges the amount of space between their vehicle and the cyclist who is riding to their right, resulting in sideswiping the bicyclist.

Other causes of bike accidents include:

• Poorly-maintained roadways
• Defective or damaged bike
• Animal attacks
• Cyclists collide with a pedestrian.
• The bike rider is intoxicated.
• The cyclist collides with an object or debris in the roadway.

What Compensation is Available in a Wilkes-Barre Bike Accident Case?

If you have been hurt in a bike accident in Wilkes Barre, PA, you may be able to collect compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical care or treatment
• Lost wages
• Emotional trauma
• Pain and anguish

I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet When I Got in a Bicycle Accident. Do I Still Have a Claim?

In Pennsylvania, anyone under 12 must wear a bicycle helmet. However, the state does recommend everyone wear a helmet while on a bike. Whether or not you were wearing a helmet will not impact your case unless you were negligent or your injuries were self-inflicted.

Our Bicycle Crash Lawyers in Wilkes-Barre Are Ready for Your Call

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle crash, you owe it to yourself to get the best legal representation. We will thoroughly investigate your Wilkes-Barre bike accident case and work to get you the results you deserve. We believe in maximum compensation for the victims and families of Wilkes-Barre area bike accidents. And we do not charge a fee for our services unless we win your case. Contact our experienced Wilkes-Barre bicycle accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Wilkes-Barre, PA:

• Truck accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Workers compensation attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Rideshare accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Uber accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Lyft accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Motorcycle accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Pedestrian accident attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Medical malpractice attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Birth injury attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Premises liability attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Product liability attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Brain injury attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Catastrophic injury attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Wrongful death attorney in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406