PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania woman alleges that a hidden speed bump she encountered during a bicycle ride on the Carnegie Mellon University campus caused her to be thrown from her bike and seriously injured.
Jenna L. Moss of Cranberry Township filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 16 versus Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh.
“On May 2, 2021, plaintiff was lawfully operating her bicycle along Hamerschlag Drive, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania 15213. Suddenly and without warning, plaintiff struck a hidden and/or inconspicuous speed bump or protrusion at the beginning or under a short tunnel, which caused her to be violently thrown from her bicycle. Plaintiff was taken to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Presbyterian Emergency Room where she received treatment for her injuries,” the suit says.
“Defendant knew or should have known that permitting the disguised or otherwise concealed speed bump to remain on their commonly-traveled road created a risk of injuries like those sustained by the plaintiff were likely to occur. The defendant knew or should have known that this speed bump or hump was non-compliant with applicable local and state regulations pertaining to the safe use of the same. Defendant failed to provide plaintiff with any warning of the hazardous and dangerous condition present in the road at the time of the accident.”
The suit went on to detail the injuries Moss suffered in the accident.
“As a direct and proximate result of the negligence and carelessness of defendant, plaintiff has sustained the following injuries, some of which may be permanent in nature: Right tibia plateau fracture; non-displaced fracture of the right humerus; meniscal root tear of the right knee requiring surgery; bruises, contusions and other injuries in or about nerves, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, tissues and vessels of the body; nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression,” the suit states.
For one count of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of the jurisdictional limits of compulsory arbitration, plus costs, interest and all other relief permitted by the Court.
The plaintiff is represented by Chad P. Shannon of Friday & Cox, in Philadelphia.
The defendant has not yet secured legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-22-011616
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com