Bicycle Accident Attorneys Serving Philadelphia and Surrounding Counties
Bicyclists Have Every Right to the Roadway as Motorists
Bicyclists, for all intents and purposes, are considered pedestrians because they are not the occupant of a motor vehicle. But bicycles are considered vehicles, and, as such, bicyclists have every right to use our roadways. However, bicyclists must abide by our general motor vehicle laws as well as a separate set of special laws applicable only to bicyclists. For example, bicyclists are required to stop at all stop signs and red traffic signals, and failure to do so could result in a traffic citation. Bicyclists are also required to use hand and arm signals to indicate turning movements, decreasing of speed, etc. so all motorists nearby know of the bicyclists intentions. However, bicyclists are not permitted to ride on freeways or in the main travel lane of any other roadway. Rather, they are required to ride in designated bicycle lanes or on the shoulder.
According to the National Highway Traffic Association (NHTA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), pedestrians, which, again, include bicyclists, are injured in motor vehicle accidents every eight (8) minutes. Worse yet, a pedestrian is killed in a motor vehicle accident every two (2) hours. But there are a number of ways to protect bicyclists from accidents, but many are not implemented because it is simply not cost effective to the local government. Some examples of safety precautions include:
- Improving roadway design
- Multiway stop signs (at intersections)
- Barriers between sidewalks and roadways
- Slower speed limits
- Speed bumps
- Sidewalks
- Overpasses
- Underpasses
- Refuge islands in the medians of busy two-way streets
- Increased lighting
- Relocation of bus stops
- Relocation of parking spots
- Roundabouts
- So much more
Those Injured in a Bicycle Accident May Have Multiple Claims
Depending on the specific facts of the accident, those injured in a bicycle accident may have claims against multiple defendants, including the driver that caused the accident, the state, city, or township in which the accident happened, the designer, manufacturer, and distributor of the bicycle or the other motor vehicles, property owners near the accident location, and many others. Additionally, the injured bicyclist may also have claims against his/her own motor vehicle insurance company for medical payments, income loss benefits, uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits, funeral expenses, and much more.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much, much more. Our goal is not just to secure compensation for your immediate needs, but to ensure that your future needs are protected as well.
For examples of our success in bicycle accident cases, please visit our Notable Victories page.
For more information, and a FREE case evaluation, please contact us today.
