A bicycle accident can leave you with serious injuries and many expenses. The most obvious costs are the immediate treatment — including a possible ambulance ride. However, you may also have ongoing medical treatments, lost wages, and property damage on your bike that deserve compensation.
If you are looking for a Fort Washington bicycle accident lawyer, you may have questions about whether you can pursue compensation for these damages and what next steps you should take. At Friedman Schuman Layser, our local personal injury team is committed to getting you the financial compensation you need during this difficult time. When you are too injured to handle the legal claim yourself, we do it on your behalf so you can focus on family.
Statute of Limitations for Bike Accidents
In Pennsylvania, personal injury claims have a two-year statute of limitations. For most bicycle accidents, this means that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. It is important to pay attention to this deadline because missing it will usually result in a dismissal and no compensation.
It is also best to file a lawsuit as soon as possible after an accident to preserve the quality of evidence. Forensic evidence (such as skid marks or debris at the site of the accident), eyewitness testimony, and video footage from security cameras are all more likely to be useful and detailed when collected quickly. If too much time passes, evidence may be degraded or missing, and memories may not be as clear, making it more challenging to present the strongest case. Our lawyers can handle all of this for you.
There are some notable exceptions to the statute of limitations. If the injured person is a minor, the two-year period starts when they turn 18. The deadline can also be extended if an injury (such as internal damage) is not discovered until later. At that point, the two-year window begins upon the date of discovery.
The Role of a Bicycle Injury Lawyer
A bicycle accident lawsuit often includes a lot of negotiation and preparation, and our Fort Washington attorneys can make this process a lot easier in many ways. First, we can evaluate the case and advise on whether there is a valid claim. If so, we can help gather evidence to determine fault and establish negligence.
In many cases, compensation in a bicycle accident will involve insurance companies — possibly more than one. In Pennsylvania, a bicyclist may be covered under their own car insurance (even though they were not driving at the time of the accident) or the insurance of a family member living in the same household.
Even if you have your own coverage, however, you may need to pursue additional damages from the at-fault party. We can manage these communications to keep track of documentation and requests for more information. If a settlement offer is extended, we can weigh it against all your costs (including those expected in the future) and advise on whether it is an acceptable offer.
If we cannot get the insurance to offer a fair settlement, we can file a lawsuit and represent you in court to get a fair judgment from a jury. We understand that this is the last thing you want to be thinking about as you recover from broken bones, a brain injury, and possibly even paralysis, which is why we are committed to being your personal representative in court.
Call Our Fort Washington Law Office After a Major Bicycle Accident
Things may be difficult right now, but there is hope in the form of financial compensation. Our Fort Washington bicycle accident lawyers can help you decide what your next steps should be. From gathering evidence in the discovery phase to communicating with insurance companies, Friedman Schuman Layser provides crucial legal counsel.
Call us today to speak with a lawyer who is dedicated to your case and ready to help.