She was wearing a helmet, riding at a safe speed and keeping to the side of the roadway. But the bus driver approaching her from behind didn’t see her and violated the Four Foot Rule.

My client was a college student riding her e-bike from classes back to her apartment in Philadelphia. A bus approached her from behind, struck her and ran her over, causing serious injuries to her leg and hip.

She had been riding responsibly, but sometimes even doing everything right isn’t enough to protect a bicyclist from a careless driver.

Her case became a hard-fought legal battle. We retained an accident reconstruction expert to help establish exactly how the collision occurred and multiple medical experts to document the seriousness of her injuries and how they would affect her future.

Ultimately, we were able to secure a multi-million-dollar settlement for her.

Although this accident occurred in Philadelphia, the lessons from her case apply to anyone riding a bicycle or e-bike in West Chester or anywhere else in Chester County:

Safety comes first. But even a safe cyclist can’t control what drivers around them do.

Bicycle and E-Bike Safety in West Chester and Chester County

Bicycles and e-bikes are increasingly popular for exercise, recreation, commuting and transportation. But cyclists have very little protection when they collide with a car, truck or bus.

Pennsylvania generally gives bicyclists the same rights and responsibilities on the roadway as drivers of motor vehicles. That means cyclists need to obey traffic signals and other rules of the road—but drivers also have a responsibility to share the road safely with cyclists.

Pennsylvania law provides an especially important protection when a motor vehicle overtakes a bicycle: the driver must provide at least four feet of clearance while passing and must do so at a careful and prudent reduced speed.

For drivers, that means slow down and give cyclists room.

For cyclists, there are also important steps you can take to reduce the risk of a serious bicycle accident.

1. Wear a Bicycle Helmet

Wear a properly fitted helmet every time you ride.

A helmet cannot prevent every injury, and it certainly cannot protect the rest of your body from the force of a car or truck. But it provides important protection against serious head injuries.

My client was wearing her helmet when the bus struck her. Unfortunately, that couldn’t prevent the severe leg and hip injuries caused when the bus ran her over, but wearing it was still the right decision.

2. Make Yourself Visible

Never assume that a driver sees you.

Use appropriate front and rear lights and reflectors, particularly when riding in low-light conditions. Visible clothing can also help motorists recognize that a cyclist is ahead of them.

This is particularly important around intersections, driveways and areas with heavy traffic.

You may have the legal right-of-way, but that won’t protect you from being physically injured by a driver who doesn’t see you.

3. Ride Predictably and Follow the Rules of the Road

Ride with traffic and avoid sudden or unpredictable movements.

Use appropriate hand signals before turning or changing your position in the roadway. Obey traffic lights and stop signs.

Following Pennsylvania bicycle laws doesn’t guarantee that another driver won’t cause an accident, but predictable riding gives motorists a better opportunity to see you and react appropriately.

4. Be Extremely Careful Around Trucks and Buses

Our client’s case is a powerful example of why cyclists need to be particularly cautious around large vehicles.

Buses, tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are much larger and heavier than bicycles and have areas around them where cyclists can be difficult for drivers to see.

Give large vehicles as much room as reasonably possible. Be particularly careful when a truck or bus is turning or passing.

At the same time, the responsibility for bicycle safety isn’t just on the cyclist. Drivers of buses, trucks and cars must keep a proper lookout and safely share the roadway with bicyclists.

5. Watch Out for the “Door Zone”

Parked cars create another serious danger for cyclists.

A driver or passenger can suddenly open a vehicle door directly into the path of an approaching bicycle. A cyclist may strike the door or be forced into moving traffic while trying to avoid it.

Stay alert when riding alongside parked vehicles and watch for signs that someone may be about to exit a car.

6. Control Your Speed on an E-Bike

E-bikes create some safety issues that traditional bicycles do not.

Because an e-bike can travel faster, riders may have less time to react to a vehicle, pedestrian, pothole or other unexpected hazard.

Ride at a speed appropriate for traffic, visibility, weather and roadway conditions—and slow down when circumstances require it.

7. Avoid Distractions

Your eyes and attention belong on the road.

Using a phone or allowing headphones or other electronics to distract you can make it harder to recognize an approaching vehicle or other hazard.

Situational awareness is one of a cyclist’s most important defenses against an accident.

What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident in West Chester?

If you’re involved in a bicycle or e-bike accident in West Chester or elsewhere in Chester County, your health comes first. Get appropriate medical treatment, particularly if you suffered a head injury, fracture or other significant injury.

After that, preserving evidence can be extremely important.

If you’re physically able to do so—or if someone can help you—consider:

• Photographing the accident scene, bicycle, motor vehicle and your injuries
• Getting the driver’s name, contact and insurance information
• Obtaining names and contact information for witnesses
• Identifying nearby businesses, homes, buses or vehicles that may have video of the accident
• Keeping your damaged bicycle, helmet and other equipment
• Avoiding repairs or disposal of important physical evidence

In a serious accident, I recommend talking with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer before giving a recorded statement to an insurance company or signing documents relating to the accident.

Why Serious Bicycle Accident Cases Require Careful Investigation

Bicycle accidents can present unique legal and factual issues.

After an accident, vehicles may be moved, witnesses can disappear and surveillance video can be erased. In catastrophic crashes, the injured cyclist may have no memory of the collision and may be unable to explain what happened.

That’s why early investigation can be so important.

A serious West Chester bicycle accident case may require investigation of the accident scene, witness interviews, surveillance or vehicle video, electronic data, police records, physical evidence and the vehicles themselves.

In appropriate cases, an experienced bicycle accident attorney may also need to retain an accident reconstruction expert to determine how the crash happened.

Our client’s e-bike case demonstrates why this matters.

We didn’t simply rely on the fact that a bus had struck a cyclist. We retained an accident reconstruction expert to help establish how the collision occurred. We also retained multiple medical experts to document our client’s injuries, treatment, prognosis and future needs.

Serious bicycle accident cases require serious preparation.

What Compensation Can an Injured Bicyclist Recover?

Every bicycle accident case is different, but a cyclist injured because of someone else’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for losses including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Future medical treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of life’s pleasures

The value of a bicycle accident claim depends on many factors, including how the collision occurred, the severity and permanence of the injuries, available insurance coverage and the impact the injuries have on the person’s work and life.

Looking for a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in West Chester or Chester County?

I’m Tim Rayne, a Chester County Personal Injury Lawyer, Kennett Square native and lifelong Chester County resident. For more than 30 years, I have represented injured people and their families in Chester County and throughout Pennsylvania.

I have been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Top 100 Lawyer in both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, but when you’re seriously injured, what matters most isn’t an award.

You need a lawyer who will listen to you, investigate what happened, understand your injuries, retain the right experts when necessary and be prepared to fight the insurance company if it refuses to offer fair compensation.

That’s the approach we took in our client’s e-bike case, and it ultimately resulted in a multi-million-dollar settlement.

Safety First. Experience When It Matters.

I hope you never need a bicycle accident lawyer.

Wear your helmet. Make yourself visible. Follow the rules of the road. Ride defensively. Be particularly careful around buses and trucks.

And if you’re driving a motor vehicle and approaching a cyclist, slow down, pay attention and give them room. Pennsylvania requires at least four feet when passing a bicycle.

But sometimes being careful isn’t enough.

My client was wearing a helmet, traveling at a safe speed and riding responsibly when a bus driver approaching from behind failed to see her.

When that happened, she needed an experienced legal team capable of investigating the collision, working with accident reconstruction and medical experts and fighting through a difficult case.

If you or someone in your family has suffered serious injuries in a bicycle accident or e-bike accident in West Chester or elsewhere in Chester County, I’m happy to talk with you about what happened and help you understand your options.

Tim Rayne
Chester County Personal Injury Lawyer
West Chester & Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

trayne@macelree.com
610-840-0124

Free consultation. No obligation. No attorney’s fee unless there is a recovery.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated based on its own facts and circumstances.