Were you injured in a bicycle accident in Chambersburg, PA? While you’re focused on recovery, an experienced Chambersburg bicycle accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can work to recover the fair compensation you deserve. We’ll fight to recover money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and more.
Our lawyers have over 120 years of experience between us. We’ve dedicated our practice to helping accident victims like you recover compensation, including workers’ compensation and Social Security disability benefits.
It’s not always easy to secure fair compensation after an accident. Call our law offices in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to schedule a free consultation at (717) 388-2378 or contact us to get the legal representation you deserve.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Bicycle Accident in Chambersburg, PA
Typically, bikes are a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get around town. On the other hand, a bicycle accident can leave you struggling with painful injuries for weeks, months, or even years.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay the price. An experienced personal injury attorney in Chambersburg at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Over the years, our lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars for accident victims like you. We’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars, and the Best Lawyers of America. We have the tools to help you navigate the insurance claims process and force the insurer to take your case seriously.
More specifically, our lawyers will:
- Conduct a full investigation into the crash
- Identify all responsible parties
- Gather evidence to strengthen your case
- Work with leading experts and specialists when necessary
- Calculate your case value
- Handle all insurance negotiations on your behalf
There’s no risk in speaking with an attorney. Your initial consultation with our Chambersburg personal injury lawyers is always 100% free of charge. Just give us a call to learn more about our personal injury practice areas.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Chambersburg?
Thousands of bicycle accidents are reported across the state of Pennsylvania each year. In 2020, during the pandemic, only 2,831 bicycle accidents were reported statewide. However, that lower number is likely due to decreased traffic during 2020.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, between 2016 and 2019, over 4,000 bicycles were involved in accidents each year.
Unfortunately, when you look at the numbers, bicycle accidents in 2020 were actually more serious than in prior years. Around 146 bicycle accidents in 2020 were fatal (over 5% of all accidents caused at least one death). In 2019, when 4,101 bike accidents were reported, 154 of those accidents were fatal (3.75% of all bike accidents).
What is My Chambersburg Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
Bicycle accident cases often involve long battles with the insurance company. When serious injuries are involved, insurance adjusters are paid to fight even harder to minimize the compensation a victim receives. The sooner you call an experienced lawyer, the better your chances of recovering full compensation.
The insurance company will work hard to convince you that your case is worth less than it really is. Our lawyers will carefully examine the facts to assess the fair value of your personal injury claim.
Relevant factors that we’ll consider include:
- The nature and severity of the injury
- The cost of your medical treatment and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Whether you miss time at work due to the injury
- Whether your future work, education, or quality of life are impacted
- The trauma of the accident and injury
- The strength of your negligence case and available insurance coverage
Insurance companies will try to use the law to convince you to accept less than you deserve. For example, they might blame you for the accident or claim you failed to mitigate damages.
Our Chambersburg bicycle accident attorneys are all-too-familiar with these and other tactics. We’re ready to start fighting for the maximum compensation available today, so call for a free case review.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Bicycle Accident Victims?
The cost of a serious injury can be shocking. Under Pennsylvania personal injury laws, victims are entitled to seek compensation to make them whole again. You can pursue compensation for both your economic damages and your non-economic damages.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Both past and future medical expenses
- Lost income during your recovery
- Diminished future earning potential
- Rehabilitation or therapies
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Getting hurt is never easy. If you were seriously injured, it’s often critical that you recover the maximum compensation possible. Our lawyers in Franklin County are here to fight for you. If you need help filing your insurance claim or determining whether a settlement offer is fair, call our law firm for a free consultation today.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Bicycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
You won’t automatically lose your right to recover damages if you’re blamed for an accident. In fact, you should expect the insurance company to try shifting at least part of the blame to you.
Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence laws, accident victims can recover partial compensation if they’re less than 51% liable. Once your percentage of blame reaches 51%, however, you lose your right to recover any compensation at all.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation For All of Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle accident injuries can be particularly serious. Often, the bicyclist’s body is subject to trauma twice: once when they’re hit by a car and another time when their body hits the pavement.
Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates often represent injured cyclists who have sustained:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Burns
- Road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Bicycle accidents are also more likely to be fatal than typical car accidents. If you lost a loved one, our lawyers are well-prepared to lead the fight to recover fair compensation for wrongful death.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania?
Some of the leading causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists
- Speeding
- Dangerous left-hand turns
- Driving too close to the shoulder
- Failing to check for bicyclists when backing up
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Lack of dedicated bike lanes and infrastructure to protect cyclists
- Hazardous road conditions, including potholes and damaged pavement
Bike riders can also contribute to the cause of an accident. While bicyclists have every right to share the road, they can also take steps to reduce the risk of accidents. For example, they can stay safe by riding with traffic, using dedicated bike lanes, and installing reflective gear to make themselves more visible to drivers on the road.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Bicycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
Most injured cyclists are required to prove negligence to recover damages from the at-fault party. Negligence is a legal term for a failure to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances.
Someone is negligent if they:
- Owe you a legal duty of care
- Breach the duty of care
- Cause your accident
- Cause you to suffer damages, or injuries, in the accident
Our lawyers have handled thousands of investigations in bike and motor vehicle accident cases.
Depending on the circumstances, our legal team will:
- Analyze police reports, medical records, and other documents
- Locate video footage from traffic cameras, businesses, or dash cams
- Search for eyewitnesses
- Hire accident reconstruction specialists to offer expert opinions
It’s important to call an experienced lawyer soon. Even if you’re still recovering, we can start our investigation to locate the strongest evidence possible. Remember, evidence tends to disappear over time–and witnesses’ memories can fade.
We’re ready to start working today. Just call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about creating an attorney-client relationship today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Pennsylvania?
Every state limits the amount of time accident victims have to sue for damages. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases is two years. In other words, you have only two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Once two years are up, you lose your right to compensation entirely–regardless of the severity of your injuries or the strength of your negligence case.
Contact a Chambersburg Bicycle Accident Lawyer For a Free Consultation
Bicycle accident injuries can have a dramatic impact on your lifestyle. They might even impact your ability to earn a living in the future. If someone else was responsible, a Chambersburg bicycle accident lawyer can help you fight for the money you need and deserve. To learn more about your legal options, call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free consultation today.