Bicycle Accidents

In Pennsylvania a bicycle is considered a vehicle and, as such, is regulated by a set of general rules (common to all vehicles) and a specific set of rules (designed for bicycles).

Pennsylvania’s consolidated statute contained in Title 75, contains the specific law that governs the operation of all vehicles which operate on Pennsylvania highways. It is important that an operator of a bicycle (especially for young cyclists who do not have a driver’s license) to be familiar with the rules of the road. It is obvious that serious injuries including death can result from not following the rules.

For example, in 2007, Nationwide there were a total of 698 cyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes. Children 14 years and under account for thirteen percent and although there was a 61% decrease from ten years before, it is much too high. Another startling statistic is for the year 2007 where it was estimated that 43,000 bicyclists were injured but not killed in motor vehicle crashes. 24% of these cyclists were fourteen years or younger.

If you have specific questions about Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws or a bicycle accident here in Chester County, Pennsylvania including West Chester, King of Prussia, Honey Brook, Coatesville, Thorndale, Downingtown, Lionville, Exton, Frazer, Malvern, Paoli, Phoenixville, Devon, Berwyn, West Goshen, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Avondale, West Grove, Oxford, Parkesburg and all surrounding areas, please feel free to call Peter Hart or Stephen Karp at 610-430-2200, or send us an email through our Contact Us page.

Karp and Hart limits its practice to handling only personal injury claims which include, of course, bicycle accidents resulting in personal injuries which may result from a collision with another vehicle; a defective bicycle itself or a defect in the public road surface which causes physical injury to the operator.

In a recent article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday, November 5, 2009, journalist Allison Steele provides a compelling case for cracking down on careless cyclists in Philadephia and the number of accidents and injuries they cause. The article is “As Bicycle Ridership Grows, Philadlelphia tells Scofflaws: Stop! Read Article

Rules of the Road

Bicycles in many States are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same
responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:

Obey All Traffic Laws.
A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. It should be noted that every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights of a motor vehicle operator and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to such a driver with only limited exception. For example, a cyclist must operate his or her vehicle on the right side of the road and must obey all traffic signals which apply to other vehicles.

Some of the rules of the road which we consider very important in the personal injury arena as it relates to bicycle accidents involve proper turning signals. For a left hand turn, the arm and hand should be extended horizontally. For a right turn, the left hand and arm should be extended upward. To stop or decrease speed, the left hand and arm should be extended downward.

Some lesser known rules require that a person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent regular seat attached to the bicycle. Further, no bicyclist may transport more persons at one time than the number for which the cycle was designed and equipped.

Another rule that cyclists usually not aware of is if the person who is operating, that the cyclist is not permitted to carry packages, bundles or articles which would prevent him or her from keeping one hand on the handlebars. (That seems to make sense).

Bicycles operated between sunset and sunrise, must be equipped with a white front light visible for a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a red reflector facing the rear of the bicycle which should be visible also for 500 feet. There should also be amber reflectors on each side of the bicycle.

Go With the Traffic Flow.
Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it. A cyclist may operate his bicycle on the shoulder of a highway but in the same direction as traffic.

If a cyclist is proceeding at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic at the same time and place under the conditions then existing, then he or she shall drive in the right hand lane as close as practicable to the right hand curve or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or while preparing for a left turn at an intersection. In other words, slower vehicles such a bicycles, should stay as far to the right as possible. If they do, then they have as much right to be on the road as an automobile.

Cyclists should not ride more than two abreast on highways. Cyclists are prohibited from riding on freeways.

Yield to Traffic When Appropriate.
Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

Although, cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks, they must yield the right-of way to any pedestrian and should also provide an audible signal before overtaking or passing a pedestrian.

Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.

Wear a Helmet.
Although helmets are not necessary, they are highly recommended by the medical profession as well as the attorneys Karp and Hart because of the serious head injuries which can result from a fall. Any child under 12 years of age may not operate a bicycle unless he or she is wearing a helmet which meets the standards of the American Standards Institute for Protective Head Gear or other similar authority.

Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.

Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

Kids and Bicycle Safety

Bicycle riding is fun, healthy, and a great way to be independent. But it is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it’s a vehicle! Be cool – follow some basic safety tips when you ride. The below summary dealing with kids and bicycle safety is provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Please copy this and require your children to read it before letting them riding the roads of Pennsylvania.

Safe Riding Tips

Before using your bicycle, make sure it is ready to ride. You should always inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and working properly. Remember to:

Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet. Protect your brain, save your life. For more information see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication “Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet.”

Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.

Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.

See and Be Seen. Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.

Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.

Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.

Avoid Riding at Night. It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (white lights on the front and red rear reflectors are required by law in many States), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.