BYCYCLE ACCIDENTS

In Philadelphia, nearly 11,000 people commute to and from work by bicycle and many of the city’s streets have constructed special bike lanes. Unfortunely many drivers are either unaware or do not respect a bicyclists rights to share the streets .

The majority of Philadelphia bicycle accident cases arise from aggressive driving, negligence, or lack of attention on the part of an operator of a motor vehicle. Some examples of this behavior are:

• A motor vehicle turning directly in front of a bicyclist;
• A motor vehicle pulls out into traffic in front of the bicyclist when entering the street from a driveway or parking spot
• A motor vehicle commits a traffic violation such as running a red light or failure to stop at a stop sign;
• The operator of a motor vehicle fails to look both ways and/or to take notice of the presence of a bicyclist when resuming travel after a stop;
• The operator of a motor vehicle is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Bicycle accidents can also be caused by road conditions such as debris and uneven pavement.

It is a sad fact that bicycle accidents, especially those caused by a motor vehicle can cause very serious injuries and may even result in death. Recovering from a bicycle accident may be costly and time consuming. In addition, some injuries, such as amputation or spinal cord injuries, can have permanent life-altering effects.

If you are involved in a bicylce accident, even if you feel you were not injured, it is important to contact law enforcement and file a report, as soon as possible. Some injuries such as back and neck injuries, do not reveal themselves till some time has elapsed after the accident occurred.