FAQs about Bicycle Accidents in Philadelphia

What are biking accidents?

Biking accidents are any accidents that occur while you are riding your bicycle, these can include accidents where you ride over a defective condition that cause you to fall, or this could mean an accident where you are struck by a motor vehicle while you are riding your bike.

Can I bring a lawsuit if I am injured while riding my bike?

It depends whether you are injured due to another person’s negligence.  If someone through their negligence caused you to be injured,  then you can bring a lawsuit.  For example, if you were struck by a car while you were legally riding in the bike lane, the driver of the vehicle, through their insurance, would be responsible for your injuries.

What duty do vehicle operators have when I am riding my bike on the road?

In Pennsylvania, Motor vehicles must allow four feet of distance when overtaking a bicycle and travel at a careful and prudent speed. It is the motorist’s responsibility to provide this distance, not that of the cyclists. Motor vehicles can pass cyclists in a no-passing zone, but only if they do so by maintaining a (4) foot distance and ensuring that the due so cautiously.

Where can I legally ride my bike in Pennsylvania?

According to PennDOT, bikes may be ridden on the shoulder of the road (in the same direction as the flow of traffic) but are not required to do so. In certain circumstances, bikes may ride on the right half of the road way.

What if I am hurt because I rode into a driver’s open car door?

Operators of motor vehicles who do not ensure that the lane is free from cyclists before opening their door can be held liable for injuring or killing the cyclists as a result.

What does it cost to bring a pedestrian accident?

The best pedestrian accidents lawyers will handle your case on a contingency basis. This is where they get paid only if they recover money for you.  In this scenario, they will front your expense costs in the case as well.  The law firm of Freundlich & Littman, LLC, handles qualifying cases on a contingency basis.

THE VALUE OF MY BICYCLE ACCIDENT CLAIM

How much can I get paid for bike accident injury?

This would depend on several factors that must be weighed.  First, what is the nature of injury?  The more injured you are the more valuable your case could be.  Were you injured because of solely someone else’s negligence or partly because of someone else’s negligence?  Your case would likely be more valuable if you were injured solely because another person caused your accident.  Finally, does the offending party that caused you to be injured have insurance? The amount of insurance and the type of insurance the negligent party has will ultimately determine whether you can be fully compensated.  A minimal policy is $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident, meaning that the most one person can get from a negligent person’s insurance with a minimal insurance policy would be $15,000.00.  However, there may be ways to get significantly more money depending on the insurance amount, or whether you have insurance.  This is why it is important to obtain a lawyer experienced with pedestrian accident cases.