Bicyclist Killed in Oakland Accident

On Friday evening, a woman was killed while riding her bicycle in Oakland. The woman was 34 years old and worked for the University of Pittsburgh.

The accident occurred just after 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of South Bellefield and Forbes Avenue near the university’s campus. Police said the victim became trapped between two vehicles in a chain-reaction accident.

The bicyclist was behind a vehicle in the left turning lane of Forbes Avenue. A vehicle in one of the two through lanes tried to cross over into the turning lane but struck the vehicle that was behind the bicyclist. That vehicle then struck the bicyclist, pushing her into the car in front of her where she became pinned between the two vehicles.

One of the people involved in the accident tried to assist the bicyclist before paramedics arrived. She was then taken to UPMC Presbyterian where she later died from her injuries.

The four-lane road has no dedicated bike lane where is crosses through the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.

When a crash happens between a bicycle and a motor vehicle, usually the bicyclist is the one to be seriously injured or killed.

In this particular case, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. It is important for the injured party or their family to file a claim after an accident to help accommodate medical bills, funeral costs and other unexpected expenses that arise as well as damages.

Accidents can happen at any time and as a bicyclist it is important to know what your rights are. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, contact the attorneys at Berger and Green for a free no obligation consultation to evaluate your case.

Source:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Woman killed in bicycle-car accident in Oakland”