If you were hurt in a car accident on the Markley and DeKalb Street one-way pair in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. These two downtown streets carry US 202 in opposite directions. Blame most often lands on a driver who merged without enough room, drove too fast, or turned across oncoming lanes. Pennsylvania law lets an injured person file a claim against the at-fault driver.
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Norristown personal injury lawyers handle crashes on the DeKalb and Markley one-way pair. We know how a paired one-way system pushes up speeds and packs cars into tight downtown blocks. When a crash on this US 202 route leaves you injured, we help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and pursue the money you deserve.
Two Downtown Streets That Run Only One Way in Norristown
Stand at Main and DeKalb, and you can watch two systems collide. One is a tight downtown grid built for people on foot. The other is US 202, a state highway split across two one-way streets.
DeKalb Street carries US 202 north. Markley Street carries US 202 south. More than 70 years ago, in the early 1950s, the borough turned this pair of two-way streets into fast one-way legs of the highway.
The Municipality of Norristown has run it this way ever since, and it is now studying a switch back to two-way on DeKalb. At the south end, the two legs meet near Lafayette Street. From there, US 202 south crosses the Dannehower Bridge.
Why Does a One-Way Street Pair Mean Faster Traffic in Norristown?
A one-way street pair removes oncoming traffic, so drivers relax and speed up. On a normal two-way street, cars face each other and slow down. On a one-way street, that check is gone. Drivers see an open road ahead and press on the gas.
Two paired one-way streets let through-traffic move faster than the old blocks were built for. Those blocks were laid out for slow local traffic, not a fast highway leg. Higher speed means less time to react. On tight downtown streets lined with parked cars, that extra speed leaves little room for error.
Why Do Lane Changes on Markley Street Cause Sideswipe Crashes?
Markley Street has three southbound lanes and a center turn lane, and that width invites drivers to change lanes. Drivers weave to get around slower cars or to line up for a turn. Each lane change is a chance for two cars to touch sides. That kind of crash is called a sideswipe.
In 2024, PennDOT counted 7,490 sideswipe crashes across the state. Fifty-seven of them were fatal.
A sideswipe can push a car into another vehicle or the curb. The state rebuilt this leg in the US 202 South (Markley Street) project, but the extra lanes still let drivers weave between gaps.
What Makes the Main and Airy Street Crossings So Risky in Norristown?
Main Street and Airy Street cross both one-way legs at street level, where fast traffic meets people on foot. Shoppers, workers, and courthouse visitors all cross here.
Drivers on a one-way street tend to watch only one direction of traffic. They can miss a person stepping off the far curb. Turning cars add another conflict.
A driver turning off DeKalb or Markley crosses the same crosswalk a pedestrian is using. The Norristown Central Business District packs shops, offices, and civic buildings into these few blocks. That steady mix of turning cars and people on foot is where many downtown crashes happen.
How Do Buses and Transit Riders Raise the Risk in Norristown?
The Norristown Transit Center pours buses and foot traffic straight into the couplet. This SEPTA hub is the end of the line for regional rail, the M line, and eight bus routes.
Buses pull in and out near the one-way streets all day. A bus is large and slow to start. It can block a driver’s view of the lane and of people crossing.
Riders leaving the hub often cross the one-way streets on foot. When a rider steps out from behind a stopped bus, a driver moving at one-way speed has little time to stop. These transit conflicts stack on top of the couplet’s normal car traffic.
Why Are the Ends of the One-Way Pair a Crash Hot Spot in Norristown?
The ends of the couplet are where one-way flow turns back into two-way flow, and that switch causes crashes. At the south end, near Lafayette Street, Johnson Highway brings more traffic onto the southbound leg. Drivers merge and cross lanes in a short space. At the same time, cars coming off the Dannehower Bridge join the flow.
A driver reading three things at once can miss a gap or a stopped car. These transition points pack merging, turning, and crossing into a short stretch of road.
What to Do After a Crash on the One-Way Pair in Norristown
After a serious crash on the couplet, act quickly to protect your health and your claim. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations (the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit) is usually two years from the date of the crash. Missing that deadline can end your case.
Fault often turns on negligence, which means a driver failed to drive safely for the conditions. Photos of the vehicles, the lane, and the merge point help show how the crash happened. The police crash report and the names of any witnesses help as well.
On a fast one-way street, more than one driver may share the blame. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Norristown, Montgomery County, personal injury lawyers build these couplet crash cases. We handle the insurers so you can focus on healing.
FAQs: Crashes in Norristown
- Can I Still Recover Money if I Was Partly at Fault for a Norristown Accident?
Yes, in many cases. Pennsylvania follows a rule called comparative negligence, which means you can still recover money even if part of the crash was your fault. Your recovery drops by your share of the blame, and you cannot be more at fault than the other driver.
- Besides the Other Driver, Who Else Can Be Responsible After a Crash?
Sometimes, more than one driver is at fault. If a delivery truck or work vehicle caused the crash, the driver’s employer may share responsibility. The owner of a vehicle can also be on the hook in some cases.
- How Long Does an Accident Claim Take in Norristown?
It depends on how bad the injuries are and whether the insurer fights over fault. Many claims settle without a trial. A lawyer can give you a rough timeline after looking at the facts of your crash.
Talk to Our Norristown Car Accident Lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer Today
If a crash on the Markley and DeKalb one-way pair left you injured, Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer is ready to help. Our Norristown car accident lawyers handle crashes on the US 202 couplet and know why they can turn serious. Call 215-985-0138 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, as well as Cherry Hill and Marlton, NJ, we assist clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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