Bicycle Accidents on Dangerous Roadways

Studies show that most serious cyclists are hyper-conscious about their safety when on public roadways. Most wouldn’t think of getting on the road without proper safety gear, and are vigilant to monitor traffic and minimize the risk of injury. However, when roadways are poorly maintained or signs or traffic signals are inadequate or not functioning, even the most defensive of bicyclists can be at risk for serious injury. When that happens, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Conditions That Can Pose Serious Risks to Cyclists

Road conditions that don’t present significant dangers to motorists or pedestrians can be extremely dangerous for cyclists. These include:

• Potholes or broken pavement—Because of the skinny tires on most road bikes, if your front wheel falls into a pothole, or a crack in the road, you can easily lose control of your bike, causing you to fall to the pavement or worse, into the path of a motor vehicle operator. In addition, even if you are traveling at a rate of 10 to 15 miles an hour, the evasive action necessary to miss a pothole can cause you to wipe out.
• Water, gravel, sand or other substances on the roadway—The skinny tires on a road bike are not meant to provide traction or grip. The presence of construction materials, water, gravel, sand, oil or other potentially slippery substances can cause a road biker to lose control in a split second.
• Broken traffic signals or poorly marked intersections—Unfortunately, many motor vehicle operators look only for other cars or trucks. If an intersection does not have clear markings, or if a traffic light is malfunctioning, the chances are good that a driver will not pay enough attention to see you on the road.
• Inadequate shoulders on roads—Many new roads are being built with no shoulders whatsoever, forcing cyclists to ride on the road.

Contact Our Office

At Metzger & Kleiner, we offer a free initial consultation to every client. To schedule an appointment with an experienced Philadelphia bicycle accident lawyer, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 215-622-2210 in Philadelphia, 610-563-2186 in the Lehigh Valley, or toll free at 800-228-1760.

We take all bicycle accident injury claims on a contingency basis. We won’t charge attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses.