Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

A 16-year-old bicyclist from New Jersey was killed on September 6 by a hit-and-run driver. According to this article on Philly.com, he was riding his bike with two other teenagers when he was struck by a 31-year-old man who allegedly fled the scene. He faces reckless driving and other charges.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that there were 8 bicyclist deaths and 1,419 injuries in 2008. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, in the United States 716 bicyclists were killed and 52,000 injured in traffic accidents. Thirteen percent of those killed were under the age of 16. Alcohol was reported in more than one third of all the fatalities.

Safety tips for bicyclists can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, some of which include: wear a helmet; ensure proper size and function of bicycle; follow the rules of the road; act like a driver of a vehicle; drive with care and share the road; stay focused and alert.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Bicycle Accident Kills Teenager" »

A 14-year old girl from Conshohocken sustained serious injuries on Tuesday when she was hit by a Chevy Cobalt as she rode across a suburban street in Philadelphia, a Philly.com article reported. The accident happened around 7:05pm on Tuesday, September 7th. Luckily, the driver of the vehicle stopped and was cooperative with police investigators. The girl was airlifted to a nearby hospital and at the time this article was written, there was no update on her condition.

Bicycle accidents in Pennsylvania can occur in suburban neighborhoods, in the city and in rural areas. Because a bicyclist has virtually no protection while riding, oftentimes serious or fatal injury can be sustained should a collision with an automobile occur. According to the NHTSA, 716 bicyclists were killed in traffic related accidents in 2008 with one-seventh of them being between the ages of 5 and 15 years of age.

It is the responsibility of both motorists and bicyclists to be aware of their surroundings and watch out for each other. Not doing so may result in serious injury or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Pennsylvania, you deserve to know and understand your legal rights. An injury, no matter how small it may seem, can have a large impact on a victim physically, emotionally and financially. The experienced Philadelphia bicycle accident attorneys at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, LLP understand how difficult an injury accident can be for a family and will utilize their skills and resources to ensure that negligent parties are held accountable. We have handled numerous cases and attained fair compensation for our clients time and time again. To learn more about Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, LLP, call us today at 1(888) 684-7192.

On July 11, a 24-year-old Wissinoming woman riding a bicycle was killed by a hit-and-run driver. A 39-year-old Frankford man has been charged in the hit-and-run. According to this article on Philly.com, he was drunk, unlicensed, and driving a black Ford Taurus that did not belong to him when he struck the cyclist. The accident happened at Torresdale and Adams Avenues in Frankford.

The female cyclist died later at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. The Taurus was found abandoned near the scene. The driver was charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, leaving the scene, and other related offenses.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that there were 8 bicyclist deaths and 1,419 injuries in 2008. Three of those deaths were people in the age range of 20-24. In the age group of 20-34, there were 349 injuries. The majority of PA bicycle deaths and injuries occur at intersections.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Accident Kills Female Cyclist" »

A 19-year-old Pennsylvania man riding his bicycle was struck and killed by an SUV in New Mexico. He was riding across the country to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

According to this article by the Huffington Post, John Anczarski, of Ringtown, Pa., died June 22 of injuries that he suffered the day before in New Laguna, N.M.

Anczarski, a University of Colorado engineering student, was riding with 3 friends for what they called “The Pink Pedal project.” They left Pennsylvania on May 23 and expected to reach San Diego next month.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating the crash because the bike accident occurred on tribal land.

Continue reading "PA Bicyclist Killed on Cross-Country Cancer Ride" »

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Suzanne K. Lammers, charged in a Main Line hit-and-run last July, is expected to plead guilty to one count of causing an accident with a serious injury.

Lammers, 76, is accused of hitting and critically injuring Andrew Mallee, a 13-year-old boy from Bryn Mawr, PA. He was riding his bike on July 15, 2009 when he was struck by Lammers’ gold 2002 Volvo station wagon. Lammers fled the scene, parked the car in her garage, and covered it with a blanket.

Mallee was treated at an area hospital for head and leg injuries. He then continued his recovery at home.

Two weeks after the Pennsylvania injury accident, investigators found the vehicle, which had a large hole in the windshield. The article said that Lammers thought she had hit a deer.

The agreement was that Lammers would plead guilty to one count of causing an accident with a serious injury. She was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but that charge has been dropped.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. Under Pennsylvania state law, the penalty is three months’ incarceration.

Continue reading "Bryn Mawr Hit-and-Run Accident Seriously Injures Bicyclist" »

The biggest city in America sets precedent on bike ridership which is great news to many of us who ride regularly. The examiner.com website reports that the New York Department of Transportation has released news that bike ridership in the city has gone up 26% in the last year. As we can imagine, parking a bike in the city could be a major issue for riders. New York City voters have made a great effort to make this problem a thing of the past by passing the “Bicycle Access to Buildings Law” in July which just went into effect on December 11th. Under this new law, riders who work in buildings that mainly consist of offices and have a freight elevator on the premises can ask for the building to allow the bicycle in.

After a building manager receives a request by a commuter or tenant, they have 30 days to allow access or deny by means of requesting an exemption. Although the new law allows bikes into buildings, individual offices are not forced to allow them.

New York City commissioner said, "While commuter cycling continues to grow, this new law unlocks a barrier that has stopped an untold number of bike commutes before they even started. While we launch a new era in bike commuting, we also recognize businesses that are making cycling a commuting and business priority for their employees."

Continue reading "Record Number of Bicyclists on the Road" »

A Cherry Hill woman riding a bike in Medford, NJ was hospitalized with multiple fractures because of a driver texting about a drug deal. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the bicyclist was riding along Route 70, wearing a reflective vest and a helmet on November 16 when she was struck by a car.

The male motorist told police he was texting when his 1994 Oldsmobile Cutless wandered onto the shoulder.

The article said that the text message related to a deal for a “controlled dangerous substance.”
Police were seeking the man’s car before the accident happened and had reports he was driving erratically.

The biker suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to her face, a vertebrae and a leg.

Unauthorized prescription drugs were found in the car, and the motorist was charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Continue reading "Driver Injures Biker While Texting about Drug Deal" »

A 40-year-old paralegal died after apparently being hit by a bicyclist in Center City, Philadelphia earlier in October. According to an article on Philly.com, the Center City law firm where the man worked has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who struck the paralegal.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital on October 15, after police picked him up near the intersection of 16th and Locust. He was found on the street, bleeding from severe head injuries. The article said that he was put into a medically induced coma to prevent further brain swelling.
At first, police reported the incident as a transport to the hospital. They later learned that several people in the area heard a loud noise, then saw two men on the ground, one of whom had been riding a bicycle and apparently crashed into the paralegal. Witnesses told police that the cyclist then fled the scene.

The bicyclist should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the death of this male paralegal. The family of any victim who dies in Pennsylvania due to someone’s negligence would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death attorney.

Continue reading "Paralegal Dies of Injuries from Being Hit by Bicyclist" »

A 79-year-old man accused of hitting a female cyclist was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident. According to an article on Philly.com, the female bicyclist was hit on October 2 by a truck in Center City and is in critical condition. Initially the driver was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence.

The woman who was injured is believed to be in her 40s. She was hit about 7:30 p.m. at 22d and Market Streets. The article stated that SEPTA police stopped the truck at 22d and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The driver of the truck should be held both civilly and criminally responsible for the woman’s injuries. She and her family would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced Pennsylvania bicycle accident attorney.

Continue reading "Cyclist Injured in DUI Hit and Run Accident" »