A bicycle crash in Philadelphia can happen in seconds, but the decisions you make right after the crash can shape your entire injury claim. Whether you were hit by a distracted driver near City Hall, doored by a parked car on South Street, or knocked down at a busy intersection in University City, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath matter. Philadelphia cyclists face real dangers every day. Bicyclist fatalities in Pennsylvania increased from 19 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, and Philadelphia ended 2023 with 10 bicyclist deaths. The city’s streets demand that every rider know exactly what to do when a crash occurs. As a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer firm serving injured cyclists across the city, MyPhillyLawyer wants you to have this information before you ever need it.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Stay at the Scene and Call 911 Right Away
• Step 2: Gather Evidence at the Scene Before It Disappears
• Step 3: Seek Medical Attention Even If You Feel Okay
• Step 4: Report the Crash and Protect Your Legal Rights Under Pennsylvania Law
• Step 5: Contact a Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney Before Talking to the Insurance Company
• FAQs About Steps to Take After a Bicycle Crash in Philadelphia

Step 1: Stay at the Scene and Call 911 Right Away

Your first move after any bicycle crash is to stop, stay where you are, and call 911. Do not ride away, even if you feel fine. Leaving the scene before police arrive can hurt your ability to recover compensation later. A police report is one of the most important documents in any injury claim, and you need officers to come to the scene to create one.

When you call 911, tell the dispatcher you were in a bicycle crash, give your exact location, and say whether anyone is injured. If you are on Roosevelt Boulevard, near the intersection of Broad and Pattison, or anywhere else in Philadelphia, be specific. First responders need a precise location to reach you quickly.

Under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, hospitals that receive Medicare funding must provide emergency care to anyone who arrives with an emergency medical condition. This means you have a legal right to emergency treatment regardless of your insurance status. Do not refuse an ambulance because you are worried about cost. Your health comes first, and medical bills are a recoverable damage in a personal injury claim.

When police arrive, give a calm and accurate account of what happened. Do not speculate about fault or apologize, even if you feel social pressure to do so. Stick to the facts. Ask the responding officer for the report number before they leave the scene. You will need that number to request the full report later. According to PennDOT, driver behavior is the leading factor in 83 percent of fatal crashes on Pennsylvania roadways, so the police report often captures critical evidence about what the driver did wrong.

Step 2: Gather Evidence at the Scene Before It Disappears

Evidence from a bicycle crash disappears fast. Skid marks fade. Witnesses leave. Traffic camera footage gets overwritten. The minutes right after a crash are your best opportunity to preserve proof of what happened, so act quickly if you are physically able to do so.

Use your phone to photograph everything. Take photos of the vehicle that hit you, including the license plate, make, and model. Photograph the driver’s insurance card and license if they show it to you. Capture the road conditions, any debris, your damaged bicycle, your injuries, and the surrounding environment. If the crash happened near a known intersection, like one of the dangerous crossings along Germantown Avenue or near the 30th Street Station area, photograph the traffic signals, signage, and lane markings too.

Collect contact information from every witness at the scene. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses are all useful. Eyewitness testimony can be a deciding factor in cases where drivers dispute what happened. A witness who saw a driver run a red light or fail to yield has information that no physical evidence can replace.

Write down or record a voice memo of everything you remember while it is fresh. Note the time, the direction you were traveling, what the driver did before the crash, weather conditions, and anything else relevant. Memory fades quickly after traumatic events, and a detailed account recorded right after the crash is far more reliable than one recalled weeks later during a deposition.

If there are nearby businesses or traffic cameras, note their locations. Your attorney can send preservation letters to those entities to prevent footage from being deleted. This is especially important on high-traffic corridors where cameras are common, such as Market Street, Chestnut Street, or along the most dangerous roads in Philadelphia where crashes happen frequently.

Step 3: Seek Medical Attention Even If You Feel Okay

Adrenaline masks pain. Many cyclists walk away from a crash feeling shaken but not seriously hurt, only to discover hours or days later that they have a concussion, a herniated disc, or internal injuries. Getting a full medical evaluation immediately after a bicycle crash is not just good for your health. It is essential for your legal claim.

Go to the emergency room, an urgent care center, or your primary care physician as soon as possible after the crash. Jefferson Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and other Philadelphia-area facilities are equipped to evaluate trauma patients. Tell your doctor exactly how the crash happened and describe every symptom, even ones that seem minor. Headaches, neck stiffness, numbness, dizziness, and abdominal pain can all signal serious injuries that require imaging or further testing.

A gap in medical treatment is one of the most common arguments insurance companies use to reduce or deny claims. If you wait a week to see a doctor, the insurer will argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or that they were not serious. Seeing a doctor the same day or within 24 hours creates a clear record linking your injuries to the accident.

Keep every receipt, bill, and medical record related to your treatment. Follow your doctor’s instructions completely. If you are referred to a specialist, go. Skipping follow-up appointments gives insurers ammunition to argue that you were not seriously injured. Every piece of medical documentation builds the foundation of your damages claim, covering everything from emergency room bills to future physical therapy.

Step 4: Report the Crash and Protect Your Legal Rights Under Pennsylvania Law

Pennsylvania law gives injured cyclists specific rights, but those rights come with deadlines. Missing them can cost you the ability to recover any compensation at all. Reporting the crash promptly and understanding the legal framework that applies to your case is a critical step.

Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, actions to recover damages for injury to a person founded on negligent or tortious conduct must be commenced within two years. That two-year clock typically starts on the date of the crash. If you were hit by a city vehicle, a SEPTA bus, or any other government-owned vehicle, the deadline is even shorter. Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522, you must file a written notice of claim with the government unit within six months of the injury. Missing that six-month notice deadline can permanently bar your claim against a government entity, even if the two-year statute of limitations has not yet expired.

Pennsylvania also uses a modified comparative fault system under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. Under this rule, you can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. This means that how the crash is documented, and by whom, directly affects how much compensation you can receive. A driver who blames you for the crash will try to push your fault percentage above 50 percent to eliminate your recovery entirely.

Notify your own auto insurer about the crash as well. Pennsylvania’s Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, found at 75 Pa. C.S. § 1701 et seq., may entitle you to first-party medical benefits through your own auto insurance policy, even as a cyclist. These benefits can help cover immediate medical costs while your claim against the at-fault driver is pending. If you hold a limited tort policy under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705, there are restrictions on recovering pain and suffering damages unless your injuries qualify as “serious” under the statute, though cyclists injured by negligent drivers have pathways to full tort recovery depending on the circumstances.

Step 5: Contact a Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney Before Talking to the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly after a bicycle crash. They may seem helpful and sympathetic, but their job is to settle your claim for as little money as possible. Talking to an adjuster without legal representation is one of the most common mistakes injured cyclists make, and it often results in a settlement that does not come close to covering the full cost of the injuries.

Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company, including your own, before speaking with an attorney. Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim. Phrases that seem harmless, like “I’m doing okay” or “I didn’t see it coming,” can be twisted to suggest your injuries are minor or that you were not paying attention.

An attorney can handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf, send preservation letters to protect evidence, identify all liable parties, and build a complete picture of your damages. In some Philadelphia bicycle crashes, multiple parties share responsibility. A driver who hit you may have been working for a delivery company. A dangerous road condition near a construction zone on Broad Street or a pothole on a neighborhood street in Kensington could mean the City of Philadelphia or a contractor shares liability. Identifying all responsible parties requires legal knowledge and investigative work that begins the moment you hire an attorney.

If the driver who hit you was uninsured or underinsured, your own policy may provide coverage under uninsured or underinsured motorist provisions. An attorney can also review whether your health insurance, medical payments coverage, or other benefits apply. The damages in a serious bicycle crash can include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and compensation for a damaged or destroyed bicycle. Getting the full picture requires legal guidance. A car accident lawyer familiar with the specific challenges cyclists face in Philadelphia can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a bicycle crash in Philadelphia, call MyPhillyLawyer at (215) 227-2727. Our office is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We are ready to review your situation and help you understand your options. You can also reach us toll free at 866-352-4572.

FAQs About Steps to Take After a Bicycle Crash in Philadelphia

Do I have to call the police after a bicycle crash in Philadelphia?

You should always call the police after a bicycle crash, especially when a vehicle is involved or anyone is injured. A police report creates an official record of the crash, documents the driver’s information, and can capture witness statements. Without a police report, you may face an uphill battle proving what happened when you file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Even in minor crashes, having that official documentation protects your legal rights.

What if the driver who hit me drove away?

A hit-and-run crash does not end your ability to recover compensation. Collect as much information as possible at the scene, including the vehicle’s color, make, model, and any partial plate number. File a police report immediately. Your own uninsured motorist coverage under your auto insurance policy may provide compensation for your injuries even when the at-fault driver cannot be identified. Pennsylvania law also allows the statute of limitations to be tolled in certain hit-and-run cases while law enforcement works to identify the responsible driver.

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. If your crash involved a government vehicle or a road defect maintained by a government entity, you must file a written notice of claim within six months under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522. Missing either deadline can permanently bar your claim. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your crash to make sure you do not miss these critical cutoffs.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?

No. The first offer from an insurance company is almost always lower than the full value of your claim. Insurance adjusters make early offers before the full extent of your injuries is known, before all your medical bills have arrived, and before lost wages and long-term impacts are fully calculated. Accepting a settlement releases the at-fault party from further liability. Once you sign, you cannot go back for more money, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than initially understood. Always have an attorney review any offer before you accept it.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the bicycle crash?

Yes, in many cases. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative fault rule under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50 percent or less. Your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you are found 20 percent at fault, you would recover $80,000. However, if your fault exceeds 50 percent, you are barred from recovery entirely. This is why accurate documentation of the crash and strong legal representation matter so much from the very beginning.