Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Blog

Starting in 1990, because of a personal interest in bicycling, members of the firm entered into a partnership with legendary bicycle tandem master builder, Steve Bilenky of Philadelphia. At the time, although our firm had been involved in product injury cases in the Delaware Valley, we had never litigated a bicycle defect injury case.

A number of well known Philadelphia firms had already begun to refer cases to our firm and it was our association with Bilenky Cycle Works that caused another well known Philadelphia firm to refer us a case that they thought had problems, but hoped that we could find a theory to successfully challenge the giant corporations who manufactured and distributed the bike responsible for the serious injuries of the plaintiff.

As a rider myself and a mechanically- inclined enthusiast, I saw immediately that the pulley braking system used by the manufacturer was an accident waiting to happen. Consultation with Bilenky confirmed that my assessment was correct.

At the time of this incident, Shimano Industries of Japan had never lost a case in court and refused to offer a single dime when confronted with the evidence and expert advice and reports that we had generated with consult from other experts. To prepare for trial, in addition to Bilenky, our firm engaged a metallurgist from Delaware County, a design engineer from Oregon, also a bicyclist and a judge on the bicycling racing circuit. A fourth expert was found in California who was a consultant to bicycle manufacturers throughout the United States and who had seen the same design defect and brake failure on the West Coast.

All of this worked out as our firm tried the case before a jury and obtained $13.5 Million, which was then the largest verdict in a products liability case in Pennsylvania.

The relationship with the Philadelphia manufacturing operation of Bilenky Cycle Works continues today. If you need help contact one of our Philadelphia accident lawyers and he will be happy to assist you in evaluating your potential case.

Bicycle injuries in the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley during the winter months are substantially reduced because of the weather. This is the right time for parents and their children to take steps to prevent bicycle injuries from happening when Spring returns. Taking time to first learn with your child, the components of his or her major means of transportation may be the key factor in preventing a serious injury from occurring when the children return to the highways and sidewalks occupied by automobiles and pedestrians. I can’t emphasize enough reviewing and using the manual that came with your purchase. It may save the life of your most precious possession from a fatal injury. If you’ve discarded the manual like most of us, Google the manufacturer’s website and it’s probably on the web. Make it a family activity and learn how to safely maintain the bike. The maintenance and care instructions may save your child from a serious injury.

How serious? Look at the number of bicycle accident fatalities. In 2006, 773 bicyclists were killed and an additional 44,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Children 14 and younger accounted for 98 of those fatalities (13%), making this one of the most frequent causes of injury related death for young children. I have supplied a few important cites and suggest that now is the time to prevent a serious injury to your mobile loved one.

Should there be an unfortunate accident causing injury and you believe that someone was at fault, either the manufacturer of the bicycle, someone who repaired and maintained it, or a third person like a driver of a vehicle, the Philadelphia bicycle accident lawyers at Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis have had great results, including the largest bicycle verdict in Pennsylvania history in the amount of 13.5 million dollars.

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