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Bike Accident Lawyer in West Chester, PA

Bikers often don’t get the respect they deserve out on the road. From distracted drivers simply not paying attention to overly aggressive ones who want to bully you out of the way, Pennsylvania bikers are uniquely vulnerable to severe accidents that often lead to expensive medical bills and life-changing injuries. 

While these accidents can be devastating, the good news if you live in the West Chester, PA area, a Hoey Legal bike accident lawyer can help. 

Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Chester County

Sadly, both cyclists and bikers are particularly at risk of being involved in an accident out on the road. With so little protection, all it takes is one careless driver not paying attention to turn a biker’s life upside down in an instant. While every bike accident is different, some of the most common causes of Chester County bike accidents include:

  • Distracted drivers using smartphones or other devices
  • Impaired drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs 
  • Failure to yield while merging or at intersections and crosswalks
  • “Dooring” accidents, where a driver opens a door into the road or bike lane
  • Poor road conditions, including potholes or inadequate signage

Identifying the cause of an accident is always the first step to proving fault in any personal injury case. Regardless of the cause, our experienced legal team here at HoeyLegal will meticulously gather all available evidence and consult witnesses and experts to build you the strongest case possible.

What to Do After a Bike Accident in West Chester, PA

One of the most important things to remember is that what you do in the moments after an accident can have a huge effect on the outcome of your case. While the immediate aftermath of an accident can be overwhelming, if you are able, here is exactly what you should do to protect yourself and strengthen your claims:

  1. Call 911 and get medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. 
  2. Report the accident to local law enforcement and obtain a copy of the police report.
  3. Document the scene by taking photos or videos of your injuries, your bike, and your surroundings. 
  4. Collect contact information from witnesses and any other drivers involved in the accident.
  5. Avoid talking to insurance companies before consulting a trusted West Chester, PA bike accident lawyer.

Protecting your own health and safety after a bike accident is always of the utmost importance. However, by following the above steps, you’ll prioritize your own safety while also creating and gathering key evidence that can strengthen your case and increase your chances of getting just compensation.

Potential Compensation for Chester County Bike Accident Claims 

While there is no way to know for certain the amount of compensation a particular claim is worth without knowing all of the specifics first, the total compensation a bike accident victim may receive is typically the sum of three different types of damages.

  • Economic (Special) Damages: Easily quantifiable expenses, including medical bills, lost income, property damage, and future healthcare costs.
  • Non-Economic (General) Damages: Compensation for intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disabilities, and loss of enjoyment in life.
  • Punitive Damages: The rarest type of damages given to the victim to punish the guilty party in cases of extreme negligence or maliciousness.

Regardless of the specifics of your case, an experienced Chester County bike accident lawyer from HoeyLegal can help you get a better idea of what you may be owed, and will always fight for you to get the maximum compensation possible. 

Why Choose HoeyLegal After a Bike Accident?

Bike accidents are some of the most catastrophic accidents that happen on Chester County roads, but if you’re the victim of an accident like this, our team here at HoeyLegal is here to help. 

We understand just how stressful dealing with the aftermath of a bike accident can be, but we’re always ready to act quickly to gather evidence, build your case, and get you the compensation you need to recover your losses. 

Our expert legal team has decades of experience representing bike accident clients, and will work tirelessly to make sure that the person responsible for your accident sees justice. We know what you and your case are worth, and we won’t let stingy insurance companies take advantage of you with some lowball offer. Instead, we’ll fight to the very end to guarantee that you get every penny of what you deserve. 

Every bike accident case is unique, but with decades of local experience and a dedication to protecting the rights of our neighbors and community members, you can trust that your case will get the personalized attention it deserves. 

You don’t even have to take our word for it. With tens of millions of dollars won for our clients over the years, our proven track record of success speaks for itself. So, don’t settle for anything less than the best bike accident lawyer in West Chester, PA. Choose HoeyLegal, and let us handle all the rest.

Contact HoeyLegal Today

Have you or someone you know been the victim of a bike accident? Are you looking for a West Chester, PA bike accident lawyer that you can trust to win your case? Give us a call at (610) 647-5151, or contact us on our website, hoeylegal.com.

Our team of legal experts is always here to answer questions and will happily tell you more about how we can help you seek justice and meet your compensation goals. We’ll even help you schedule a free, no-obligation legal consultation so that we can get to know the details of your case and set you on the right path forward.

Whether you were on a motorcycle or a pedal bike, recovering after an accident is never easy. Our team is always here to be the trusted advocate you need to fight for you to the very end. Don’t push off pursuing your claims until it’s too late. Contact a Chester County bike accident attorney from HoeyLegal and take the first step toward getting the compensation you deserve today!

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Distracted Driving

Pennsylvania defines distracted driving as “an activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” Drivers have to focus on driving, so they can react to the information on the road, such as road conditions, hazards and other drivers. Distracted drivers do not react appropriately and thus put others at risk for severe injury or death. Examples of distractions, besides using cell phones and texting, include drinking, eating, adjusting the radio, adjusting climate controls, adjusting seats, combing hair, putting on make-up, daydreaming, reaching for dropped items, engaging in heavy conversations, and focusing on events outside of the car.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence typically refers to alcohol use, but drug use can also impair drivers and cause severe car accidents.  In either situation, enjoying cocktails at happy hour, celebrating with drugs or alcohol, drinking too much wine for dinner and unwinding after a long week at work results in too many motorists driving under the influence.  Controlled substances impact each person differently, making it common for someone to misjudge his or her level of impairment.  These poor judgments can lead to severe and sometimes fatal car accidents.

Driver Fatigue

Driving without enough sleep is commonplace for many in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across the nation. Truck drivers, shift workers, and those with sleep disorders are most vulnerable to causing an accident because they are drowsy or fatigued. Not having enough rest slows down reaction time and impairs the senses. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) claims that eighteen (18) hours without sleep impairs a driver to the same extent as someone who has a 0.08 blood or breath alcohol concentration after consuming alcohol.

Speeding

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that one-third of all car accidents involve speeding. Drivers who rush, run late, or simply lack patience may choose to speed when they get behind the wheel. Speeding makes it more likely that a driver will lose control of his or her vehicle and makes it more difficult to react to road hazards and other vehicles. Speeding also increases the impact of a car accident and makes it far less likely that a negligent driver may maintain control of his vehicle sufficient to prevent a collision. High speed car accidents make it far more likely that those involved will suffer severe injuries or death.

OBTAIN NECESSARY COURT ORDERS TO PRESERVE EVIDENCE

At HoeyLegal, we know from our litigation experience that tractor-trailer drivers often operate at least one cellular phone which is in use at, during, or immediately prior to a tractor-trailer accident. Additionally, most tractor-trailers are equipped with data recorders which capture, in real-time, important vehicle operation events including speed, hard braking and other evasive maneuvers taken by the operator and the tractor-trailer.  It is imperative that this evidence be obtained before it is destroyed.  At HoeyLegal, our trial attorneys will obtain any necessary court order to preserve this evidence for trial.

IDENTIFY ALL AT-FAULT DEFENDANTS

Oftentimes, there are several defendants responsible for the tractor-trailer accident. In most cases, at least two defendants are responsible for the ownership and operation of the tractor-trailer.  There may be additional defendants responsible for the hiring and retention of the tractor-trailer driver.  At HoeyLegal, our investigators will promptly identify the responsible defendants and immediately request the preservation of all evidence related to the hiring and retention of the driver, inspection of the vehicles and the supervision and drug/alcohol testing of the vehicle operator.

LOCATE, EXAMINE AND INSPECT THE TRACTOR-TRAILER

Our accident investigators include mechanics who will immediately respond to the accident site and the location where the truck has been impounded in order to photograph the truck and conduct necessary mechanical inspections of the vehicle. In the event that a court order is necessary to examine and inspect the trucks, HoeyLegal Attorneys will promptly file the necessary motions to enable the HoeyLegal mechanics and inspectors to conduct a prompt evaluation of the mechanical function of the at-fault tractor-trailer

ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION

Our expert accident investigators include former Pennsylvania State Police accident investigators and nationally recognized engineers who will carefully photograph the accident scene and conduct all necessary measurements of skid marks, yaw marks, displacement of debris and thoroughly examine the accident site to preserve all evidence for the time of trial.

INTERVIEW ALL WITNESS

Our investigators will promptly interview and record all witnesses that observed the accident and collect all biographical information from the witnesses so they will available to testify on your behalf at trial.

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