All too often, horrific Pennsylvania roadway accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles find their way into the news. And many of these accidents could have been prevented. A moment of negligence by a vehicle operator can result in years of pain and misery for the victim and his or her family for many years to come.

While there are many causes for pedestrians and bicyclists to suffer injury and even death, some are more common than others. Even though some of these accidents are the fault of the walkers and riders, the causes most often begin with someone else’s negligence.

Common Causes of Pennsylvania Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents

  • Impaired Driving: Drinking and drug use cause many of the total accidents on our roadways, and especially devastating are the ones that involve pedestrians and bicycles.
  • Distracted Driving: Cell phones, radios, kids yelling in the back seat—there are many ways for drivers to become distracted and hurt someone.
  • Speeding: Some of the worst pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Pennsylvania happen when drivers speed through school zones, intersections and crosswalks. It just takes too long for bikes and walkers to get out of the way.
  • Failure to Stop: Some drivers think they have to “beat” everyone else on the road. To do so, they will run red lights and stop signs, putting all non-vehicle travelers at great risk.
  • Failure to Yield: Pedestrians almost always have the right of way, which puts a vehicle operator at fault when he or she fails to yield. Bicyclists are often hit when a motor vehicle fails to yield and share a narrow road.
  • Inexperienced Drivers: Drivers new to the road tend to make more mistakes than more experienced ones. Sometimes not knowing how to avoid an accident contributes.
  • Malfunctioning Traffic Signals: When traffic lights are not working correctly, drivers can get confused and make dangerous moves on the roadway.
  • Making Illegal Turns: U-turns and turns against the traffic light are two ways crashes can happen.

While the list above covers the vast majority of bicycle and pedestrian road accident causes, it is important to note that sometimes the fault lies with the bicyclists and walkers. There are rules and laws that apply to both and following them greatly increases your chances of a safe trip.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a road accident, we suggest you contact a Pennsylvania pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney. At Schell Law Office we serve the residents of central and eastern Pennsylvania—and attorney Greg Schell will travel to your hometown to meet with you.

Call us today at 215-545-9000 to schedule a free case consultation. Let the healing begin.