Riding a bicycle or walking to your destination doesn’t just keep you healthy; it helps protect the environment and cut down on roadway congestion.
However, if you’re a bicyclist or pedestrian in a high-traffic area, sharing the road with large commercial trucks, there are certain safety issues you must take into account — especially if you’re traveling at night.
However, wearing a helmet and reflective gear and following the rules of the road isn’t always enough to prevent you from being involved in an accident.
Accidents involving motor vehicles accounted for 783 bicyclist deaths and 5,977 pedestrian fatalities in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These are sobering statistics. At The Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, P.C., our Philadelphia truck accident lawyers represent numerous clients who have been injured in nighttime accidents due to a truck driver’s negligence. These clients often face mounting medical bills and lost time at work.
What should you do if a truck hits you while you’re on a bike or walking down the street? We’ve outlined the most important first steps in this slideshow video.
Bicyclists and pedestrians have just as much right to use the roads as trucks do, but we see plenty of cases in which truck drivers fail to respect those rights. Here are a few factors that are commonly involved in truck-pedestrian accidents at night:
- Fatigue
- Poor visibility
- Excessive speed
- Drugs or alcohol
- Overloaded truck
- Lack of adherence to safety regulations
When accidents happen, bicyclists and pedestrians face an uphill battle. They have to prove that any or all of the above factors caused their injuries while fighting the insurance company to pay damages. Trucking companies often hire aggressive lawyers to look out for them, and accident victims need a legal advocate who can match that level of intensity. If the other side tries to offer you a meager settlement immediately after the accident, an experienced lawyer will work hard to get you a fair amount that makes you whole.
With more than 40 years of experience representing accident victims in Philadelphia and New Jersey, our truck accident lawyers are dedicated to standing up for the rights of pedestrians. If you were struck and injured by a truck driver while riding, walking, or jogging at night, contact The Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, P.C., today for a free consultation.
