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Hit while riding your bike? Cyclists have the same right to the road as drivers.
Since 1997, the attorneys at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick have represented injured people and their families throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We work closely as one team. Every case that heads toward trial has the whole team behind it.
Thousands of people ride bicycles in and around Pittsburgh to commute, exercise or simply enjoy the city. A cyclist has little protection in a collision with a car or the pavement, so even a low-speed crash can cause serious injuries.
After a Bicycle Crash: What to Do
- Get medical care right away. Head and internal injuries are not always obvious at first.
- Call the police and make sure your version of events is in the report.
- Keep your bike, helmet and clothing as they are. Do not repair or discard them.
- Photograph the scene, the vehicle, the road surface and your injuries. Get witness names and the driver’s insurance.
- Call a lawyer before you talk to the driver’s insurance company.
Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes
- Drivers passing too closely or too fast
- Drivers turning right across a cyclist’s path
- “Dooring,” when a parked driver opens a door into a cyclist
- Distracted and impaired drivers
- Potholes, cracked pavement and storm grates that catch a wheel
- Defective brakes, frames, forks or wheels
Common Injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Broken collarbones, wrists, arms and legs
- Spinal and back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Road rash, lacerations and scarring
Pennsylvania Rules You Should Know
- Cyclists have the rights of drivers. A person riding a bicycle on the road has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, with some special rules for bikes.
- Four-foot passing rule. A driver passing a bicycle must pass to the left, at least four feet away, at a careful and reduced speed.
- Car doors. No one may open a vehicle door unless it is reasonably safe to do so and will not interfere with moving traffic.
- Helmets. Riders and passengers under 12 must wear a helmet. Pennsylvania’s bicycle helmet law also says that not using a bicycle helmet may not be treated as contributory negligence or admitted as evidence in a civil trial.
- Who pays your medical bills first. If you were hit by a car, medical benefits generally come first from your own car insurance or a household policy that covers you. If no policy covers you, benefits can come from the policy on a vehicle involved.
- Shared fault. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share.
- Deadline. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency, such as a city, township, PennDOT or a transit authority, require written notice within six months, and immunity laws limit some claims.
How We Build Bicycle Cases
- Preserve the evidence. We secure the bike and helmet and look for video from traffic cameras, buses, businesses and homes.
- Counter the bias. Some adjusters assume cyclists are at fault. We use witnesses, physical evidence and reconstruction to show what really happened.
- Look at every responsible party, including drivers, employers of drivers on the job, road owners and bike or parts makers.
- Trial-ready. Insurance companies know we are prepared to try cases to a jury.
What You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering and loss of life’s pleasures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Damage to your bike and gear
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Related Cases We Handle
Talk to an Injury Lawyer
Every case starts with a conversation with a lawyer. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. Our injury cases are handled by Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel, working with Shawn Flaherty.
Call 412-802-6666 or email Managing Partner Noah Fardo at npf@pghfirm.com. Prefer to text? Use 412-855-5511. More answers: Personal Injury FAQ.
There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery. We advance the case costs and are reimbursed from the client’s share only if we are successful. General information only, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.











