KAPLUNMARX IS PHILADELPHIA’S TOP CLIENT RATED, ACTUALLY LOCAL, ACCIDENT FIRM
WHO WIN
HELPING PHILADELPHIA CYCLIST ACCIDENT VICTIMS EVERY DAY
Philadelphia Cyclists Deserve Justice—KaplunMarx Is Here to Pedal Beside You
KaplunMarx is a premier accident and personal injury firm who’s founding partner who is an avid cyclist. We have also donated to local causes to help promote safe cycling initiatives in Philadelphia. We know first hand how tough it is to pursue your passion in cycling safely in this area.
Riding your bike through the streets of Philadelphia is more than just a commute; it’s a lifestyle that embraces freedom, health, and sustainability. But when a negligent driver or unsafe road conditions abruptly interrupt your journey, the aftermath can be overwhelming. Suddenly, you’re facing medical bills, time off work, and a disrupted life. That’s where KaplunMarx steps in—we’re committed to helping you navigate this challenging terrain.
At KaplunMarx, we understand the unique vulnerabilities that cyclists face on the road. Our firm is dedicated exclusively to personal injury and accident cases, ensuring that you receive expert legal representation tailored to your situation. With a 98% success rate, our seasoned attorneys have a proven track record of securing justice and substantial compensation for our clients. We’ve won millions of dollars for accident victims, and we’re determined to do the same for you.
What makes us different? For starters, we’re not a national firm with the same lawyer’s face plastered on billboards here as in Miami or L.A. We’re your neighbors. Our team is truly local, deeply rooted in Philadelphia’s communities. We grew up here and we’re raising our families here. We know the city’s streets, the common accident hotspots, and the local laws that affect cyclists like you. This local expertise gives us an edge in building a compelling case on your behalf.
When you choose KaplunMarx, you’re choosing personalized attention. You’ll have direct access to your attorney from day one. We believe that open communication is key to effective representation, so we make ourselves available to answer your questions and address your concerns throughout the entire process. You’re not just another case number to us—you’re a valued individual deserving of compassion and respect.
Our diverse and multilingual team proudly serves Philadelphia’s English, Spanish, and Russian-speaking communities. We believe that language should never be a barrier to justice. Everyone deserves high-quality legal representation, and we’re committed to making our services accessible to all.
We also understand that the financial strain of an accident can be significant. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis—you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case. This ensures that you can pursue justice without the added stress of upfront legal fees.
Unlike firms that push for quick settlements to increase their case volume, we’re prepared to go the extra mile for you. We’re not afraid to stand up to insurance companies or take your case to court if that’s what it takes to secure the compensation you deserve. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re committed to maximizing your recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Your Road to Recovery Starts Here
The aftermath of a bicycle accident doesn’t have to define your future. Let us shoulder the legal burdens so you can focus on healing and getting back to what you love. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation, gather vital evidence, and advocate fiercely on your behalf.
Take the First Step Toward Justice
We invite you to reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your legal options, and chart a course forward together. Remember, you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
Cycling accidents in Pennsylvania require experienced legal representation to protect your rights and maximize compensation. These are not simple cases. Our local bicycle accident attorneys handle complex cases involving driver negligence, including failure to yield, unsafe passing, and distracted driving. With a two-year statute of limitations, we’ll help gather critical evidence like police reports, witness statements, and scene documentation while maneuvering insurance negotiations. Given that Pennsylvania sees over 115,000 reportable crashes annually, we focus on both economic and non-economic damages to guarantee fair compensation. Our all-encompassing approach to bicycle accident cases reveals important strategies for protecting your interests.
Safety on the road requires understanding your fundamental rights as a cyclist. In Pennsylvania, we recognize cyclists as having the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle operators, with specific provisions outlined in the Vehicle Code.
This means you’re legally entitled to share the road while following all traffic laws and regulations.
We emphasize that cyclists must comply with traffic signals, use designated bike lanes when available, and maintain proper safety equipment. Your bicycle must be equipped with a front white light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector when riding after sunset.
While helmets are only mandatory for riders under 12, we strongly recommend them for all cyclists. Failure to wear one could negatively impact your case depending on circumstances.
As attorneys with a history in cycling accidents, we acknowledge that Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault rule affects compensation in accident cases. You can seek damages even if partially at fault, provided your responsibility doesn’t exceed 50%.
Motor vehicles must give cyclists at least 4 feet of clearance when passing and reduce speed accordingly. We’re committed to protecting these rights through legal representation when accidents occur, ensuring cyclists receive proper compensation for injuries caused by negligent drivers.
Recent data from Pennsylvania reveals encouraging trends in bicycle safety, with the state ranking as the sixth least dangerous for cyclists in 2024. Our state recorded 15 bicyclist deaths out of 1,179 total traffic fatalities, representing a 1.27% bicyclist fatality rate.
This translates to 0.49 deaths per 1,000 bicycle commuters, markedly lower than high-risk states like South Carolina’s 6.93 deaths per 1,000 commuters.
In 2022, Pennsylvania experienced 115,938 reportable traffic crashes, resulting in 1,179 fatalities and 67,012 injuries. We’re seeing an average of 318 crashes daily, approximately 13 crashes every hour.
Philadelphia’s data shows promise, with no bicyclist deaths reported in the first quarter of 2024, and total traffic fatalities reaching their lowest point since 2019.
These statistics align with national trends showing a complex picture: while preventable bicycle deaths increased 10% in 2022, nonfatal injuries declined 44% from 2011 to 2021.
We’re noting that bicycle-related deaths typically peak during warmer months, particularly from July through October, with males accounting for 88% of all bicycle fatalities in 2021.
Driver negligence represents the leading cause of bicycle accidents in Pennsylvania, encompassing a range of dangerous behaviors that put cyclists at risk.
We’ve identified several critical forms of driver negligence that frequently lead to cycling accidents, including failure to yield, distracted driving, and reckless behavior behind the wheel.
When drivers fail to maintain proper attention on the road, they often violate cyclists’ right-of-way at intersections, make unsafe turns without checking bike lanes, or fail to provide adequate passing space.
Distracted driving compounds these risks, as does operating vehicles while impaired or fatigued.
The most common types of driver negligence we encounter include:
These negligent actions often result in serious accidents, including sideswipes, rear-end collisions, and “dooring” incidents where drivers open car doors without checking for approaching cyclists.
Every cycling accident victim deserves fair compensation for their injuries and losses, which is why understanding Pennsylvania’s complex insurance framework is critical for maximizing recovery.
We’ll help you navigate the essential steps to guarantee the compensation you deserve.
First, we recommend thorough documentation of all injuries and damages while seeking immediate medical attention. This creates a clear record linking your injuries to the accident.
We’ll examine available insurance coverage options, including the driver’s auto insurance and your own policy’s UM/UIM coverage. If you have stacking coverage, we can combine policy limits across multiple vehicles to increase potential compensation.
Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault rule can impact your recovery, so we’ll carefully establish the driver’s negligence while protecting you from excessive fault attribution.
We’ll pursue all available compensation categories, including economic damages for medical bills and lost income, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, and coverage for property damage and future medical needs.
Through skilled negotiation with insurance companies and, if necessary, litigation, we’ll work to guarantee you receive maximum compensation under Pennsylvania law.
We’ll help you understand Pennsylvania’s critical time limits for filing cycling accident claims, including the standard two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
Different deadlines apply if you’re a minor or filing against a government entity, with minors having until their 20th birthday to file and government claims requiring action within six months.
Legal exceptions can extend these deadlines under special circumstances, such as when the defendant leaves the state or the injury wasn’t immediately discoverable.
Understanding Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is essential for cyclists involved in accidents, as these strict deadlines determine how long you have to take legal action.
Under state law, you have two years from the date of your bicycle accident to file both personal injury and property damage claims. We emphasize that missing this deadline typically results in losing your right to seek compensation.
The statute begins running on the date of your injury, and it’s imperative to act promptly to preserve your legal rights. We’ll help you navigate Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence system, which affects your ability to recover damages based on fault allocation.
You can still receive compensation if you’re less than 51% responsible for the accident, though your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Three critical timeline considerations we manage for cycling accident claims:
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to recovery, making immediate legal consultation essential after a cycling accident.
Several key exceptions exist to Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations for cycling accident claims. These exceptions can extend or “toll” the filing deadline under specific circumstances, protecting victims’ rights to pursue legal action.
Exception Type | Description | Time Impact |
---|---|---|
Minority Status | Applies to victims under 18 | Tolls until age 18, then 2 years |
Mental Incapacity | Affects those unable to understand rights | Tolls until capacity restored |
Discovery Rule | Applies when injury unknown initially | Starts from discovery date |
Government Claims | Involves public entities | Shorter notice periods apply |
Courts may also grant extensions through equitable tolling when extraordinary circumstances prevent timely filing despite reasonable diligence. Settlement negotiations, while rarely grounds for extension alone, may factor into judicial considerations. In wrongful death cases stemming from cycling accidents, the statute begins running from the date of death rather than the accident date.
Special provisions apply to product liability claims involving defective bicycles or components, and cases involving fraud or concealment may receive extended filing deadlines. When government entities are involved, strict notice requirements and shorter deadlines typically apply.
We recommend thoroughly documenting all physical evidence at a bicycle accident scene, including photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
It’s vital to gather contact information from eyewitnesses immediately, as memories fade quickly and witnesses may become unreachable over time.
Our experience shows that exhaustive documentation of both physical evidence and witness statements markedly strengthens a cycling accident claim.
Proper documentation of physical evidence plays a critical role in building a strong bicycle accident case.
We’ll help you systematically collect and preserve all pivotal elements from the accident scene, ensuring nothing is overlooked. Our approach includes all-encompassing photography of the crash site, damaged vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
We emphasize preserving all physical items involved in the accident, including:
Our team works diligently to secure official documentation, including police reports, medical records, and any available surveillance footage.
We’ll assist in organizing repair estimates, medical bills, and treatment records to establish a clear timeline of events and expenses. This thorough documentation process strengthens your case by providing concrete evidence of damages and liability, which is essential when dealing with insurance companies or pursuing legal action.
Immediately after a bicycle accident, collecting eyewitness accounts becomes a critical priority that can substantially impact the strength of your case. We recommend gathering statements from all available witnesses while their memories are fresh and details remain vivid.
We’ll help you obtain thorough witness accounts through multiple methods, including recorded interviews, written statements, and the collection of any photos or videos they may have captured.
It’s crucial to secure contact information from each witness for potential follow-up interviews or court testimony.
While eyewitness accounts can provide valuable evidence, we recognize the challenges in obtaining reliable testimony. Witness statements may conflict with one another or be affected by factors such as shock or bias.
We’ll work to analyze and corroborate these accounts with other forms of evidence to build a stronger case.
When eyewitness testimony is deemed admissible in court, it can markedly influence the determination of fault and liability.
Our legal team will carefully evaluate each witness’s credibility and work with experts when necessary to resolve any inconsistencies in testimony, ensuring your case benefits from the most compelling evidence available.
Selecting the right bicycle accident attorney can make a critical difference in the outcome of your case. We encourage you to look for lawyers who specialize in personal injury law and have extensive experience handling bicycle accident cases specifically in Pennsylvania.
A qualified attorney should offer a free consultation to evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
During your search, we recommend focusing on these essential criteria:
We’ve found that the most effective bicycle accident attorneys maintain open communication throughout your case while handling all aspects of the legal process.
They’ll gather medical records, document financial losses, and prepare a compelling case for trial if necessary.
When you’re evaluating potential attorneys, don’t hesitate to ask about their specific experience with cycling accidents and their approach to case management.
We can help you pursue legal action even without wearing a helmet. While it may affect comparative fault assessment and compensation, Pennsylvania law doesn’t automatically disqualify your claim if you’re over 12.
We’ll help you file a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage or pursue legal action directly against the at-fault driver to recover damages for your bicycle accident injuries.
We recommend returning to cycling only after receiving medical clearance. Recovery timelines vary based on injury severity, but you’ll need rest, gradual progression, and consistent monitoring of symptoms. You’ll want to keep in close communication with your KaplunMarx attorney so that nothing you do jeopardizes your case outcome.
Most health insurance plans will cover bicycle accident injuries, but coverage varies by policy. We recommend checking your specific plan details and coordinating with auto insurance if a vehicle’s involved.
We can help you claim damages for accidents caused by poor road conditions if we can prove negligent maintenance by government entities or contractors responsible for road upkeep. Pursuing these types of claims are extraordinarily difficult. But the good news is that our attorneys will be able to tell you upfront whether they are able to build a case after just one consultation. If they can’t, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING
We charge you nothing to evaluate your claim. Since we work on a contingency basis with no upfront cost you, we can’t take every case. But if we do take it, we’ll get started on it immediately. If we don’t we will give you options.
We help get you set up with medical treatments and evaluations from healthcare professionals. If you don’t have insurance, we can help get you treatment anyway. Documenting injuries and treatments is crucial for establishing damages and proving the extent of harm suffered.
We leave no stone unturned. We do comprehensive evidence gathering, including physical evidence, witness statements, and official reports. We also do accident analysis, often utilizing expert consultations and accident reconstruction techniques, as well as thorough documentation of damages and determination of liability. This critical phase lays the foundation for the case, typically lasting several weeks to months depending on the complexity, and aims to build a strong claim for negotiations or potential litigation.
Once you reach maximum medical improvement, your KaplunMarx assigned attorney compiles a demand package. This includes a demand letter outlining the incident, injuries, medical treatments, and the compensation sought for damages.
Your attorney sends the demand package to the opposing party or insurance company. Negotiations begin to reach a fair settlement without proceeding to court.
If negotiations fail to yield a satisfactory settlement, the attorney files a formal lawsuit in the appropriate court, officially initiating legal proceedings.
We exchange information with the other side through processes like depositions, interrogatories, and requests for documents. This phase allows each side to gather evidence and understand the other’s claims and defenses.
Before trial, parties may attempt to resolve the case through mediation or arbitration. A neutral third party assists in facilitating a settlement to avoid the costs and uncertainties of trial.
If the case isn’t settled, it proceeds to trial where both sides present evidence and arguments. A judge or jury examines the facts to determine liability and award damages.
Once a settlement is reached or judgment awarded, the attorney assists in collecting the compensation, which may involve dealing with insurance companies or setting up payment plans. After all compensation is received and legal matters concluded, your attorney closes the case, providing the client with final documents and ensuring all obligations are fulfilled.
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN HURT DUE TO SOMEONE ELSE’S NEGLEGENCE, TIME CAN WORK AGAINST YOU IF YOU’RE NOT PROTECTED BY AN ATTORNEY. AT KAPLUNMARX PHILLY, ONE OF OUR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS CAN GET STARTED ON YOUR REVIEW RIGHT AWAY – OFTEN THE VERY SAME DAY.