Local streets bring drivers and cyclists into close contact. When sharing the road with bicyclists in Philadelphia, drivers must have patience and leave enough space to respond to changing traffic. A driver who follows too closely, turns across a bike lane, or opens a door into a cyclist’s path can cause serious injuries. If a collision occurs, a bicycle accident lawyer could review how the crash happened and explain the next steps.
A bicycle accident attorney could also protect important evidence before it disappears. Video from nearby businesses, vehicle damage, and witness accounts may help establish fault. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we preserve records and communicate with insurers while you focus on treatment.
State law generally gives a person riding a bicycle on the roadway the same rights and duties as other vehicle operators. Under 75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 3501, a person riding a bicycle on a roadway generally has the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except where the Vehicle Code provides otherwise. This principle matters where bicycle lanes end, or parked vehicles limit visibility.
Drivers who overtake a bicycle must also leave a safe passing distance. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3303 requires a motorist passing a cyclist to move at least four feet to the left and travel at a careful, reduced speed. When a Philadelphia driver fails to follow that rule while sharing the road with a bicyclist and causes an accident, the violation may support a negligence claim, though the available evidence will determine how liability is assessed.
Many crashes occur at intersections because a driver turns without checking for a cyclist traveling beside the vehicle. Others involve a parked motorist opening a door into a bike lane. Limited sightlines and sudden lane changes can make these incidents difficult to reconstruct without prompt investigation.
When a crash results from Philadelphia drivers and bikers sharing the road unsafely, evidence from the scene can clarify whether the driver used a turn signal or yielded before moving across the cyclist’s path. Our lawyers may obtain traffic-camera footage and request nearby surveillance video. We also compare the physical evidence with police reports and witness statements to identify inconsistencies before an insurer relies on them.
Insurance companies may argue that a cyclist contributed to the collision by riding outside a bike lane or failing to use visible equipment. Those arguments do not resolve fault by themselves. The state follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, which means compensation can be reduced by the injured person’s share of responsibility and barred when that share is greater than 50 percent.
For this reason, a Philadelphia attorney should evaluate both the driver’s conduct and the cyclist’s actions to ensure they shared the road safely. Medical documentation must also connect the crash to the claimed harm. We review the emergency and follow-up treatment along with any continuing limitations to present a clear account of how the injuries affected your daily life.
Time limits can affect the claim as well. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 generally provides two years to file a claim for personal injuries resulting from negligence. Earlier action may be necessary when video could be overwritten or when a government entity may share responsibility for a roadway condition.
Safety on local streets depends on motorists and cyclists following traffic rules and watching for one another. When a driver causes a preventable collision while sharing the road with bicyclists in Philadelphia, our attorneys could investigate to determine what happened, address disputed fault, and preserve the supporting records.
Contact Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. to discuss your case. We could review the evidence and pursue compensation when the facts support a claim.
