Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Sean Quinlan represents Philadelphia cyclists struck by drivers along the Spruce and Pine bike lanes, the Spring Garden Connector, and the Schuylkill River Trail crossings. Philadelphia is the largest city in America without protected, separated infrastructure on most of its bike network, and dooring, right-hook, and left-hook crashes injure and kill cyclists every year. Our office handles the helmet-defense, lane-position, and limited-tort issues that the defense always raises.
Why Philadelphia bicycle crashes demand a local lawyer
Cyclists have full tort rights — limited tort doesn't apply. Under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(f), bicyclists are not bound by the limited-tort election on their household auto policy. Even if you selected limited tort to lower your premium, you can recover full pain and suffering damages when you're hit on a bike — and your auto policy's PIP pays your medical bills first.
Dooring is the driver's fault under Pennsylvania law. 75 Pa. C.S. § 3705 makes it illegal to open a vehicle door into traffic without first checking that it's safe. Dooring crashes on Spruce and Pine, in Old City, and around University City are entirely the driver's responsibility, even though insurers routinely try to blame the cyclist for 'riding too close.'
Helmet non-use is not contributory negligence. Pennsylvania law does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets, and Pennsylvania courts do not allow evidence of helmet non-use to reduce a cyclist's recovery in most circumstances. The defense raises it anyway — we know how to keep it out and how to brief the issue when it comes up.
Hit-and-run is recoverable through UM coverage. If the driver fled, you can still recover under uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, your spouse's, or any resident relative's policy, with UM stacked across all household vehicles. We also pull surveillance from SEPTA, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and surrounding businesses to identify fleeing drivers.
We know Philadelphia bike infrastructure and crash patterns. Right-hooks at Spruce/22nd, left-hooks on Pine, dooring on Lombard, and Schuylkill River Trail crossings at Locust and Walnut are recurring crash patterns we've handled. We document infrastructure, sight lines, and PennDOT/Streets Department records when the City's roadway design is part of the story.
How we build your Philadelphia bicycle crash case
- 1
Secure surveillance video within 72 hours from SEPTA, Philadelphia Parking Authority cameras, residential ring doorbells, and surrounding businesses — most retention windows are 7–30 days.
- 2
Identify every available insurance policy: the driver's liability, your own UM/UIM (stacked across all household vehicles), MedPay, and any rideshare or commercial policy.
- 3
If hit-and-run, file the police report immediately and pursue UM benefits while we work to identify the driver.
- 4
Document the bicycle damage, helmet (if worn), clothing, and roadway infrastructure before evidence is discarded.
- 5
Build the medical case at Penn, Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein and pursue full compensatory damages in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
What you may recover after a Philadelphia bicycle crash
Philadelphia bicycle crashes routinely produce catastrophic injuries — TBI, clavicle and rib fractures, spinal injury, road rash, and degloving — because there's nothing between the cyclist and the pavement. Full tort applies, and Philadelphia juries respond strongly to vulnerable-road-user cases.
- Emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation costs at Penn, Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein
- Future medical care for TBI, orthopedic, and spinal injury
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life's pleasures (full tort under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(f))
- Disfigurement and scarring from road rash and surgical scars
- Replacement of the bicycle, helmet, and damaged gear
- Wrongful death and survival damages under 42 Pa. C.S. §§ 8301–8302 for fatal crashes
High-risk areas for Philadelphia bicycle crashes
High-risk Philadelphia bike corridors
- Spruce Street and Pine Street bike lanes — dooring and right-hooks
- Spring Garden Connector — high-traffic merging conflicts
- Schuylkill River Trail crossings at Locust and Walnut
- JFK Blvd / Market Street through Center City — bus and rideshare conflicts
- Aramingo Ave and Frankford Ave (River Wards) — unprotected lanes
Common crash patterns
- Dooring crashes on Spruce, Pine, and Lombard (75 Pa. C.S. § 3705)
- Right-hook turns at unsignalized intersections in Center City and West Philly
- Left-hooks across bike lanes by oncoming drivers
- Rideshare and delivery vans blocking bike lanes, forcing merges
- Hit-and-run on Roosevelt Boulevard and I-95 service roads
Talk to Sean Quinlan about your Philadelphia bicycle crash.
No Fee Unless We Win. Call now or request a free case review and Sean Quinlan will personally evaluate your case.