Some of the most catastrophic and traumatic accidents happen on bicycles. Bicyclists face more dangers than vehicle drivers are, because they don’t have a metal shell protecting them in an accident. In Philadelphia, there are a large number of bicyclists interacting with motor vehicles every day. The number of bicycle accidents we see every year is startling and few statistics cover the related damages.

Dangers of Bicycling

Every bicyclist deserves to feel safe on the roads, whether on the sidewalk or riding in bike lanes among cars. Unfortunately, a large number of drivers don’t pay enough attention at crosswalks or while making turns, placing the lives of bicyclists in danger. As distracted driving increases in our area, so does the number of car accidents – unfortunately, many of which involve pedestrians and bicyclists.

Simply wearing a helmet isn’t enough to protect bicyclists from devastating injury, even death. Head and spinal cord injuries, as well as severe internal bleeding, often happen when cars hit bicyclists, as do the more-common injuries of bruising, broken bones, and concussions. The imbalance of power involved in car-bicycle crashes always places the bicyclist in the most danger, even though these accidents are rarely their fault.

The most common injuries we see surrounding bicycle accidents include:

• Soft tissue injury (abrasions and lacerations)
• Skull fracture
• Concussion
• Facial and dental fractures
• Dislocations and strains
• Rib fractures
• Lung injury
• Abdomen injury

Due to the potential for being run over by a car, bicyclists are also at risk of being crushed underneath a vehicle, usually resulting in death. Head and neck injuries can also lead to paralysis or permanent disability.

Pennsylvania Bicycle Crashes

Data is current as of October 4, 2016 from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Why Are Bicycle Accidents So Common?

Although bicyclists and drivers are supposed to follow the same rules on the road, many drivers resent bicyclists’ presence on roads. Most people get frustrated if they’re stuck behind one or a group of bicyclists on the road and often drive too closely to them or rush past them to express their irritation. Other drivers honk at bicyclists or shout at them to get out of their way, startling the rider and creating a potential hazard should they fall off of the bike.

Bicyclists in Philadelphia are in constant danger from distracted drivers, negligent drivers, and reckless drivers. Our city strives to increase the street department budget to engineer better intersections, red light safety cameras, and on-street bikeway networks. While our efforts to protect bicyclists are noble, they still fall far behind our neighboring cities.

The vast majority of bicycle accidents occur at intersections, due to vehicles turning without stopping for pedestrian crosswalks. Drivers see a green light and turn without properly scanning the intersection for crossing bikers, resulting in a high number of crashes annually. Be extra cautious while crossing intersections on a bike, even if you have the right-of-way or the “Walk” sign is lit up.

What to Do if You’re Involved in a Bicycle Accident in Philadelphia

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact a Pennsylvania injury lawyer to learn what you should do moving forward. Whether your case was a hit-and-run or you’re in communication with the driver, we can help begin litigation and legal proceedings. Our firm works on a contingency basis, meaning that we don’t collect a dime unless we recover a monetary award for you.

At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we’ve seen too many bicycle accidents to count in the Philadelphia area. We are knowledgeable and experienced with the laws surrounding bicycles on the roadways, and we know how best to represent you in a bicycle accident lawsuit. Our lawyers can help support you in your time of need, provide sympathetic counsel, and get the medical and other compensations you deserve.