Drivers turning in and out of the Cottman Avenue shopping plazas in Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia, must cross the sidewalk. They often watch for gaps in traffic rather than for people walking. The long walk across Cottman Avenue, a wide state highway, creates a second danger for shoppers on foot. If you are hit by a car in either area, a personal injury claim against the driver can help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyers represent people hit by drivers at plaza entrances and crossings along Cottman Avenue. This discussion explains how these pedestrian accidents occur and what Pennsylvania law expects from the drivers involved.
Cottman Avenue Serves Both Through Traffic and Shoppers in Philadelphia’s Rhawnhurst
Cottman Avenue forms the southern border of Rhawnhurst. It is also Pennsylvania Route 73, a state highway maintained by PennDOT. Drivers passing through use the same lanes as shoppers slowing down to turn into two shopping centers along the avenue. The Cottman & Bustleton Center covers 22.55 acres, and the Cottman & Castor Shopping Center covers 8 acres.
Real estate developers named the neighborhood for George and William Rhawn. Much of it was still farmland as late as 1940. After World War II, builders such as A.P. Orleans filled it with twin homes, ranch houses, and duplexes through the 1960s.
People who walk to the plazas from those blocks must cross the same driveways that drivers use.
Why Do Drivers Turning Into Rhawnhurst’s Plazas Fail to See People on the Sidewalk?
Drivers turning off Cottman Avenue often watch the traffic around them instead of the sidewalk ahead. Left turns require waiting for a break in oncoming traffic, whereas right turns mean braking with other vehicles close behind. Once there is room, many drivers turn quickly, crossing the sidewalk before they check for people walking past the entrance.
Wide driveway entrances can make turns feel easier, tempting drivers to take them faster than they would at a sharp corner. Near the Cottman & Castor Shopping Center, pedestrians must watch out for drivers entering the plaza as well as vehicles turning at the Castor Avenue intersection. Even a low-speed collision with a turning car can cause severe injuries, including broken bones or brain trauma.
What Makes Leaving a Plaza Lot Dangerous for People Walking Along Cottman Avenue?
Drivers leaving a plaza lot often pull across the sidewalk before stopping. Parked vehicles and signs near the exit can block their view of oncoming traffic and people walking along the driveway. Drivers turning right usually look left for a gap in traffic, often failing to check for pedestrians approaching from their right.
A vehicle stopped across the sidewalk also blocks the walkway, forcing people to step around it toward moving traffic. Because many shoppers drive in and out of the plazas, people walking along Cottman Avenue may pass several exiting vehicles in a row.
How Does a Long Crossing of Cottman Avenue Put Pedestrians in Danger?
Cottman Avenue is wide, so people crossing it on foot spend more time in the path of through traffic. The crossing takes even longer for older adults, parents with children, and people carrying shopping bags. Drivers on Cottman Avenue often move faster than drivers on nearby side streets. They may not expect anyone to cross between corners.
Crossing away from an intersection is especially dangerous. NHTSA data shows that 73% of pedestrian deaths nationwide in 2024 happened away from intersections, compared with 18% at intersections. Earlier fall sunsets add to the danger, because people on foot are harder for drivers to see after dark.
Who Has the Right of Way Where a Plaza Driveway Crosses the Sidewalk?
People walking on the sidewalk do. Drivers entering or leaving a plaza lot must yield to anyone on the sidewalk. A driver who hits someone walking there is usually at fault for the collision.
The same NHTSA report found that only one vehicle was involved in 90% of pedestrian deaths in 2024. When a single driver is involved, the claim usually centers on what that driver saw and whether they looked before turning. The spot where the vehicle stopped can also help prove a failure to yield, especially if it ended up across the sidewalk.
Crossing Cottman Avenue outside a designated crosswalk can make a claim more complicated, but it does not prevent you from seeking compensation. Under Pennsylvania law, fault is split by percentage. As long as you were 50% or less at fault, you can still recover money, although your payout will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What Should You Do Right Away After Being Hit by a Turning Driver?
Get medical care right away, then gather proof of where the vehicle turned and where you were walking. Photograph the driveway, the sidewalk, and any parked vehicles or signs that blocked the driver’s view. Camera footage may not be kept for long, so ask the plaza’s property manager and nearby stores to save any video of the entrance. Report the collision to the police, and write down the names of anyone who saw it.
Keep your medical records, bills, and notes on any work you miss. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our pedestrian accident attorneys move quickly to request any footage and show how the driver’s turn caused the crash.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents at Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia, Shopping Plazas
- Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Pedestrian Accident Claim Is Pending?
Your own auto insurance pays first, as Pennsylvania car insurance policies include medical coverage regardless of who was at fault. If you do not own a car, coverage may extend from a relative living in your household, or from the policy of the driver who hit you. Your personal health insurance can step in to cover any remaining costs.
- Should I Accept a Quick Insurance Offer After a Pedestrian Accident in Rhawnhurst?
Usually not without talking to a lawyer first. An early offer is based on what the insurer knows at that moment, often before your doctors can say how long recovery will take. Once you sign a release, you generally cannot reopen the claim, so get advice before accepting money or giving a recorded statement.
- How Long Does a Pedestrian Accident Claim Take in Rhawnhurst?
It usually takes at least as long as your medical treatment. Once treatment ends, the driver’s insurer reviews your medical records and bills before negotiating a settlement. If you and the insurer cannot agree on a fair amount, a lawsuit can add many months.
After a Crash, Call Our Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer
If a driver hit you near the Cottman Avenue plazas, reach out to our Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer. Our attorneys can collect evidence of the driver’s fault and handle the insurance companies while you focus on recovery. 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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