Erie Bicycle Accident Attorney
Erie, Pennsylvania, is a hotspot for bicyclists. As in any buzzing metropolis, citizens often opt for biking around town instead of driving to save gas, get exercise, and avoid trying to find parking. Unfortunately, bicycling around town doesn’t always end well. Distracted and negligent drivers can make commutes deadly for cyclists. If you suffered property damage, injuries, medical bills, lost wages, physical pain, and/or emotional suffering in a recent bike accident in Erie, contact Dallas W. Hartman P.C. We want to help you protect your rights as a victim.
What Are the Facts About Bicycle Accidents in Erie?
Erie is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania, with a population of 98,593. Erie’s metropolitan area, encompassing all of Erie County, has 276,207 residents. With plenty of things to do downtown – including biking along the waterfront area – there is a large number of bicyclists interacting with city traffic each day. Anywhere you have these two vehicles together, you will sadly have vehicle-bicycle collisions, due in large part to driver distraction and inattention.
In 2014, Erie County admitted four-pedal cyclists to the hospital for serious injuries. The medical charges for these four victims totaled $267,090. For these four victims, cycling may never be the same. They may never fully recover from their injuries or be able to confidently ride a bike through town again. At Dallas W. Hartman P.C., we don’t think it’s fair that unsuspecting bicyclists have to deal with all of these losses alone. We believe drivers and other parties who cause bicycle accidents should be held accountable for their actions. That’s why we offer our services to victims throughout Erie.
Do You Have a Personal Injury Claim?
To have grounds for a personal injury claim, an injured bicyclist must have four main elements. The first element is that of duty. The defendant (the party you are suing) must have owed you some type of duty at the time of the crash. All drivers owe others on the roadway a duty to reasonably prevent harm. This involves obeying all roadway rules, safely maintaining their vehicles, and paying attention to the road when they drive. The second element is a breach of duty. You must have evidence that the driver (or another defendant) breached his or her duty to you.
A breach of duty is any act or failure to act that does not fulfill expected standards of care under the circumstances. Texting and driving, running a red light, and failing to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists are all examples of breaches of duty. The third factor is causation. The defendant’s breach of duty must have caused or at least contributed to your bicycle accident. Finally, you must have the element of damages. Damages can include physical injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering. You must have suffered real damages to have grounds for a claim.
Free Consultations from our Erie Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Every bicycle accident is unique. It takes an experienced attorney to investigate a crash and determine whether the victim has the merit to file a personal injury claim. That’s what the Erie personal injury lawyers at Dallas W. Hartman P.C. is here for in Erie. Let us help you start a claim, and find out what your future could hold. Submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Call us in Erie today! (814) 461-8844