Bicycle accidents can be devastating for victims, often leaving them with significant injuries and long term disabilities. Unfortunately, many bicycle accidents are also fatal. A recent bicycle crash in Philadelphia that took the life of an 18-year-old cyclist and is just the latest fatal bicycle crash in our area. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our Philadelphia bicycle accident lawyers want to discuss these incidents in our area and what you can do if your loved one is injured while riding.
On July 7, 2020, an 18-year-old bicyclist died while riding along Kelly Drive. Police say that the crash occurred at around 9:00 p.m. near the 800 blocks when a white Acura traveling eastbound struck him. Authorities say that the teen was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the Acura remained at the scene of the crash to assist in the investigation. This incident marks the second fatal bike crash in less than a month in Philadelphia. In June, a 17-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle in Roxborough.
Philadelphia bicycle advocacy groups have become more popular over the recent years, especially following the death of 24-year-old Emily Fredericks, who was fatally struck by a Gold Medal Environmental group in 2017. Fredericks’ family reached a $6 million agreement with the company in 2018.
In 2017, Philadelphia’s Vision Zero plan was announced with the aim of eliminating all traffic-related fatalities by the years 2030. As part of the goals of Vision Zero, the city wanted to vastly expand protected bike lanes and other cyclist safety enhancements.
Data from the Pennsylvania DOT shows that there were almost 1,000 total bike crashes in the Commonwealth during the latest reporting year. Out of those incidents, there were 962 injuries, and 18 people lost their lives. Unfortunately, nearly all reported bicycle versus vehicle crashes result in some sort of casualty. Even when a bicyclist is wearing a helmet, the human body can sustain significant damage during an impact with a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. It is not uncommon for a cyclist to sustain broken and dislocated bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and more.
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a bicycle accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our team has extensive experience handling these cases, and we will work to recover the following on your behalf:
When you need a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.