Anyone traveling Philadelphia by bicycle has just as much right to the road as any motorist. It’s only common sense to keep anyone on a bike safe. It’s also the law. Drivers can forget this and what’s more, a city employee, paid to drive public transportation vehicles and trained in city traffic laws can also become careless and cause an accident.
The mistakes continue and each year it costs lives in Philadelphia. The Bicycle Coalition tracks the sad accident numbers for the city each month. In Philadelphia, in 2020, 153 people tragically lost their lives in traffic accidents. 51 of those cases involved pedestrians and another six victims were people on bicycles.
Bicyclist Tragically Hit And Killed By Philadelphia Bus
A bicyclist lost his life after being struck by a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia’s Torresdale neighborhood Wednesday night. WPVI-TV reported the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Frankford Avenue on February 24, 2021.
Philadelphia Police say the male rider in his forties was traveling along the 9900 block when he was struck by the Route 66 SEPTA bus. He was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead a few hours later.
The investigation continues into what led to the accident.
Support for SEPTA Bus Accident Victims and their Families
SEPTA bus drivers are supposed to show extra care to keep passengers, pedestrians, and anyone on a bicycle safe. When they fail in this duty, the city should be the first to step forward to help injured victims and in tragic cases, help families recover from the loss of a loved one.
Families who have lost a loved one in an accident involving a city vehicle can make sure they aren’t left on their own to face the consequences by filing a wrongful death claim. This claim asks the city of Philadelphia to help family members with medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and estate settlement fees. Reimbursement for the lost income and emotional support the deceased would have provided loved ones in the years to come can also factor into any settlement.
Any claim filed against the local government can make for a complex case and it’s important that families have legal representation to help them navigate the special legal rules that apply. The first difference will be in the statute of limitations to file a claim. Normally, families who have lost a relative have up to two years to file a claim over the accident. But in cases involving SEPTA families must notify the city within six months of the accident date. After that six months, a claim may become impossible to file.
Contact a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or a family member were the victims of a mistake by a SEPTA driver, don’t face the City of Philadelphia and their lawyers alone. Reach out to the Pearce Law Firm, P.C., for a free consultation on your family’s case.
Contact a Philadelphia SEPTA Bus Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce to protect your family in the wake of a tragedy. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.