Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

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" »