Bicycle Accident Laws in Pennsylvania: Rights Every Cyclist Should Know

Bicycle Accident Laws in Pennsylvania: Rights Every Cyclist Should Know

Cycling in the Lehigh Valley is growing. The trail system is expanding, bike lanes are appearing on more streets, and thousands of students at Lehigh University, Moravian University, and Lafayette College rely on bicycles for daily transportation. But with more cyclists on the road comes more conflict with motor vehicles, and Pennsylvania’s bicycle laws aren’t always well understood by either drivers or riders.

If you’ve been hit by a car while riding your bicycle, understanding your legal rights is the first step toward recovering the compensation you deserve. The bicycle accident lawyers at Leeson & Leeson represent injured cyclists across the Lehigh Valley, from Allentown to Bethlehem to Easton.

Pennsylvania Bicycle Traffic Laws (Title 75 § 3501–3510)

Under Pennsylvania law, bicycles are classified as vehicles. That means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers on the road. Here’s what the law says:

Cyclists Must Follow Traffic Laws

Under § 3501, every person riding a bicycle on a roadway has all the rights and duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle. This means cyclists must obey traffic signals, stop signs, lane markings, and all other traffic control devices. Running a red light or stop sign on a bicycle is illegal, just as it is in a car.

Riding Position

Under § 3505(a), cyclists must ride as close to the right side of the roadway as practicable. However, there are important exceptions. You can move left when passing another vehicle or bicycle, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards like potholes, debris, or parked cars, or when the lane is too narrow to safely share with a motor vehicle.

Riding on Sidewalks

Pennsylvania law (§ 3508) generally permits cycling on sidewalks, except in business districts and where local ordinances prohibit it. When riding on a sidewalk, cyclists must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.

Equipment Requirements

Under § 3507, bicycles operated between sunset and sunrise must have a front lamp visible from at least 500 feet, a rear red reflector visible from at least 500 feet, and amber reflectors on both sides. These requirements aren’t optional. Riding without proper lighting after dark is both dangerous and a violation that can affect your legal claim if you’re hit.

Helmet Law

Under § 3510, all cyclists under 12 must wear an approved helmet. There’s no helmet requirement for riders 12 and older, but wearing one significantly reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury.

Motorist Duties Toward Cyclists

Under § 3303(a)(3), drivers must maintain a minimum distance of four feet when passing a bicycle. This is Pennsylvania’s “Safe Passing” law, and violations carry a $250 fine plus a potential 2-point license penalty. If a driver passes too closely and causes a crash, this violation is strong evidence of negligence.

Common Bicycle Accident Scenarios in the Lehigh Valley

Bicycle-vehicle collisions follow predictable patterns. Understanding these patterns helps injured cyclists identify fault and build stronger claims:

• The right hook. A driver passes a cyclist and then immediately turns right, cutting directly across the cyclist’s path. This is one of the most common and dangerous scenarios, particularly at intersections along Hamilton Street in Allentown and Main Street in Bethlehem.
• The door zone. A driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of an approaching cyclist. This is called “dooring” and is especially common on streets with on-street parking. Under § 3705, no person may open a vehicle door on the side of moving traffic unless it’s safe to do so.
• The left cross. An oncoming vehicle turns left in front of a cyclist traveling straight through an intersection. The driver misjudges the cyclist’s speed or simply doesn’t see them.
• Rear-end collisions. A driver strikes a cyclist from behind, often because they’re distracted or failed to maintain a safe following distance. These crashes frequently result in the most severe injuries.
• Intersection conflicts. Drivers running red lights, rolling through stop signs, or failing to yield at intersections are common causes of bicycle crashes, particularly in congested areas near Route 22 crossings.
• Road hazards. Potholes, cracked pavement, loose gravel, railroad tracks, and storm grates with slots that catch bicycle tires. When a government entity’s failure to maintain the road causes a crash, the cyclist may have a claim against the municipality or PennDOT.

Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact

Cyclists are vulnerable. There’s no metal frame, no airbag, and no crumple zone absorbing impact. When a 4,000-pound vehicle strikes a person on a bicycle, the results are predictably devastating:

• Traumatic brain injuries. Even with a helmet, the forces involved in a bicycle-vehicle collision can cause serious brain injuries. The Bethlehem traumatic brain injury lawyers at Leeson & Leeson work with neurological experts to document the full cognitive, emotional, and physical impact of TBI.
• Spinal cord injuries. Being thrown from a bicycle and striking the ground, a vehicle, or a fixed object can cause spinal fractures and cord damage. These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis.
• Fractures. Collarbones, wrists, arms, legs, hips, and ribs are all commonly fractured in bicycle crashes. Complex fractures often require surgery and extended rehabilitation.
• Soft tissue injuries. Road rash, torn ligaments, herniated discs, and deep lacerations can cause chronic pain and long-term disability.
• Internal injuries. Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and other injuries that may not be immediately apparent.

Joseph F. Leeson, III, Esq., brings a unique advantage to catastrophic bicycle accident cases. As both an attorney and a CPA (Inactive), he calculates the full lifetime economic impact of these injuries, including future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and diminished quality of life, with a level of precision that insurance companies can’t easily dismiss.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

The steps you take after a bicycle accident directly affect the strength of your legal claim:

1. Call 911. Report the accident and request medical assistance. A police report is a critical piece of evidence.
2. Get medical treatment. Go to the ER even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries, including brain injuries and internal bleeding. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest operates a Level I trauma center for the most severe injuries.
3. Document the scene. Photograph your bicycle, the vehicle, the intersection, traffic signals, road conditions, your injuries, and any visible damage. Get the driver’s name, insurance information, and license plate number.
4. Get witness information. If anyone saw the crash, get their names and phone numbers. Witness testimony can be decisive in bicycle accident cases.
5. Don’t negotiate with the driver or their insurer. Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly. They’re trained to minimize your claim. Politely decline to give recorded statements and direct them to your attorney.
6. Contact a bicycle accident attorney. An experienced attorney can preserve evidence, investigate the crash, identify all liable parties, and protect your right to full compensation.

How Leeson & Leeson Fights for Injured Cyclists

At Leeson & Leeson, we know that cyclists face an uphill battle. Insurance companies often try to blame the cyclist, arguing they were riding unpredictably or violating traffic laws. We push back aggressively on these tactics and hold negligent drivers accountable.

• Top 10 Personal Injury Law Firm 2025 by Attorney and Practice Magazine.
• $1.8 million jury verdict secured. We have the courtroom experience to take cases to trial when settlement offers fall short.
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2025 & 2026. Joseph Leeson has been recognized among the top up-and-coming personal injury attorneys in the country.
• No upfront fees. We handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we win.

If you’ve been hit while cycling on Hamilton Street, the Lehigh Valley trail system, near a university campus, or anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, contact Leeson & Leeson today.

Frequently Asked Questions