A bicycle accident can happen in seconds and leave you dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about what comes next. Whether you were struck by a car, forced off the road, or hurt due to a dangerous road condition, you deserve experienced legal representation that takes your case seriously and fights for everything you are owed.
The Rummel Firm represents bicycle accident victims throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We understand how overwhelming this time can be, and we are here to handle the legal process so you can focus on healing. Call (412) 790-1456 for a free consultation.
Attorney Drew W. Rummel built this firm around a simple commitment: treat every client with the personal attention their case deserves and fight relentlessly for the best possible outcome.
We do not pass cases off to paralegals or treat clients like case numbers. Our case results speak to what that approach produces, and we are ready to bring the same dedication to your bicycle accident claim.
Bicycle accidents in Pennsylvania are most commonly caused by driver negligence. The most frequent contributing factors include distracted driving, failure to yield at intersections, unsafe passing, dooring incidents where a driver opens a car door into a cyclist’s path, speeding, and impaired driving. Road hazards such as potholes, debris, and poorly marked construction zones also cause serious cycling accidents independent of any vehicle involvement.
When a bicycle and a motor vehicle collide, the cyclist absorbs nearly all of the impact. There is no protective frame, no airbag, and no crumple zone. Even a low-speed collision can fracture bones, cause traumatic brain injury, or result in severe road rash and soft tissue damage. Higher-speed impacts can be fatal. Pennsylvania law requires drivers to give cyclists at least four feet of clearance when passing, but that rule is violated routinely, and the consequences for riders are severe.
These cases overlap in many ways with motorcycle accidents and motor vehicle accidents in terms of how liability is established and damages are pursued.
Pittsburgh’s terrain and infrastructure create particular challenges for cyclists. Narrow lanes, steep hills, limited shoulder space, and heavy traffic on corridors like Penn Avenue, Liberty Avenue, and the Boulevard of the Allies make urban cycling genuinely dangerous. Bridges and tunnels create bottlenecks where cyclists and vehicles are forced into close proximity. Knowing where accidents commonly occur helps, but it does not eliminate the risk posed by inattentive or aggressive drivers.
Electric bikes have grown rapidly in popularity throughout Pittsburgh, and with that growth has come an increase in e-bike accidents. E-bikes can reach speeds that surprise both riders and motorists, and the rules governing where they can legally operate are not always clearly understood. Accidents involving e-bikes may raise distinct questions about liability and applicable traffic laws, and an experienced attorney can help you navigate those issues.
Cyclists involved in collisions with vehicles frequently suffer serious and lasting injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken collar bones, arms, and legs, facial fractures, internal organ damage, severe road rash, and knee and shoulder injuries requiring surgical repair. Even with protective gear, the human body is no match for the force of a vehicle impact.
Helmets absorb and distribute the energy of an impact by compressing a foam liner inside the shell, which reduces the force transmitted to the skull and brain. A properly fitted helmet significantly reduces the risk of fatal head injury and can lessen the severity of concussions and skull fractures. However, helmets do not eliminate the risk of traumatic brain injury, particularly in high-speed collisions, and they provide no protection for the rest of the body. Whether or not you were wearing a helmet at the time of your accident, you may still have a valid claim for your injuries.
The steps you take immediately after a bicycle accident can significantly affect your claim:
A successful bicycle accident claim can seek compensation across two broad categories.
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
| Covers the direct financial losses caused by the accident, including medical expenses, future treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and equipment. | Address the personal impact of your injuries, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the effect on your relationships and daily activities. |
Insurance companies handling bicycle accident claims look for ways to reduce what they pay, including disputing the severity of your injuries, arguing that the cyclist shares fault, or making early settlement offers that fall far short of what your claim is actually worth.
At The Rummel Firm, that representation goes deeper than legal strategy. Attorney Drew W. Rummel brings a background as a paramedic and volunteer firefighter to every case he handles. That experience means he understands the medical realities of traumatic injuries, connects with clients who are going through one of the hardest periods of their lives, and knows how to present the human impact of an injury in a way that resonates.
When you work with The Rummel Firm, you get direct communication, honest guidance about what your case is worth, and an advocate who stays with you from the first call through the final resolution. For bicycle accident victims facing an insurance company with far more resources, that kind of representation makes a real difference in outcomes.
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Pittsburgh, do not wait to get legal help. The Rummel Firm is ready to review your case, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (412) 790-1456 to get started by scheduling your free consultation.
