Articles Posted in Bicycle Accident

If you live in Chicago, you may notice bicyclists year-round as they travel across the city. Cycling traffic may be present in all months of the year but now is a time that many drivers notice an uptick in the bike traffic: the weather is improving and, with it, the ability of many riders to take to the streets.

Now that the calendar has turned to May, it is officially National Bike Month. This means that communities like Chicago may be celebrating by hosting various bike-related activities including a Bike to Work Week, bicycle education events, and giveaways. National Bike Month is sponsored by multiple agencies across the country but the activities involved often reflect the communities in which they are held. Some areas, like Chicago, are considered bicycle friendly and therefore may have more events planned than smaller, less bicycle friendly areas.
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Bicyclists are present in nearly all areas of Chicago during the day and nighttime hours. Riding a bike can be an efficient means of transit in the city and can enable riders to avoid traffic, congestion, and other irksome problems that drivers face. However, the risks associated with bicycle transit should not be ignored as these riders are likely to be involved in bicycle accidents throughout Chicago, especially when a motorist fails to pay attention or fails to respect the rights of a nearby rider.

When an accident happens, a bike rider is injured in the majority of the instances and often is left to fight alone for his or her rights. But the laws in Illinois do not require this and rather allow any injury victim to retain an attorney of that victim’s choosing to seek and obtain the relief that is needed following a crash. If you have been hurt or if your loved one has suffered in a traffic accident, you may wish to speak with a personal injury lawyer to help you realize your options and to help you get the compensation that is due to cover all damages following the collision.

While relief can be available to these victims, the best situation arises when a crash is avoided or prevented, meaning that no one suffers from pain or injuries. To make this more of a possibility, automaker Volvo has developed a new product deemed “LifePaint” to increase the visibility of bicycles, riders, and others who are near roadways during dark hours.

LifePaint is described as an invisible spray that can coat nearly any material without damaging it. The spray is not visible during daylight hours but when hit by a car headlight in the dark, the spray makes the object it covers significantly more visible, much like it would be during the day. Riders are told they can coat their bicycles in the spray and that it will remain in place for up to 10 days or until the spray is washed away from the surface. Other options include applying the spray to clothing, safety gear like helmets, and even bags or backpacks that the cyclist might be carrying. The following video was released by Volvo in response to the development of LifePaint:

 

 
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One driver or motorist can affect the safety of all those in the same area, whether they are in the same vehicle, a different vehicle, on a bicycle, or even walking as a pedestrian. Unlike some activities of daily life, driving or riding in a car is one where the safest individual can become a victim simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the best driver in the world cannot be guaranteed to be accident-free on the road, others face the same reality. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot be promised to be free from incident even if they do everything right.

When a traffic accident occurs, the people involved might be injured and may need medical assistance. Often, these victims are bystanders or people other than an at-fault driver, meaning that the negligent person in an accident is not the only one who may be harmed. Illinois laws act to protect these innocent victims by allowing them to seek relief for their damages in a court of law, regardless of whether an at-fault driver was cited in an accident. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your options, including whether you have a valid claim, if a collision, including a bicycle accident, left you hurt or harmed your loved one.

Shortly before 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning, a collision occurred in the Chicago loop near City Hall that left two people injured. Police responded to the scene of the crash near Washington and LaSalle and determined that a motorcyclist may have run a red light, causing the motorcycle to collide with a taxi cab in the area. As the impact occurred, one of the vehicles swerved and/or veered as a result and collided with a bicyclist.

Emergency crews assessed those involved in the crash and determined that both the rider of the motorcycle and the bicyclist were injured. Both were taken to area hospitals where their injuries are not clear but both are expected to survive. At this time, it does not appear that the driver of the taxi cab was hurt in the accident.

Police reported that the motorcyclist was cited for running a red light and causing the accident but they have also stated that their investigation is ongoing into this crash at this time.
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Bicycle accidents happen in Chicago in numerous ways and involve many types of motorists, drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and others. The typical view of a bicycle crash may trigger an image of two bicyclists colliding but when it comes to riding in Chicago, that is not the most common type of crash that occurs. Often, cyclists and drivers of cars, trucks, or vans collide at intersections when one fails to yield the right-of-way to another. In other cases, a car passing a cyclist on the left may fail to leave enough room to pass safely, resulting in a side-swipe bicycle accident that can leave a rider seriously injured. Another common type of collision involves a stopped vehicle and an oncoming bicyclist. Failing to make sure no oncoming traffic is present may lead a driver or a passenger to open a car door and possibly to force a cyclist to strike the door, an accident appropriately referred to as “dooring.”

These are merely three common examples of why bicycles and vehicles collide on Chicago streets but they are far from inclusive. Other actions by those involved in collision cause accidents every year and may leave victims behind with injuries. While nothing can erase the damage from these collisions once they take place, but the victims of these crashes may be entitled to seek financial compensation to help cover their monetary and other losses and return them to their pre-injury state. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand Illinois laws as they apply to your collision, including whether you have a valid claim, and may also help you understand who may be held at-fault. In some cases, an at-fault driver may not receive a traffic ticket or a citation but may still be found responsible for the damages caused to a victim if a civil case is initiated.

According to Chicago police, a 47-year-old was riding a bicycle in the area of the 3600 block of South Ashland Avenue on Tuesday afternoon when a semi-tractor approached and struck the cyclist, causing a crash. The bicyclist was left with critical injuries and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where the victim’s current condition remains unclear.

Police are looking for help from the public as the driver, operating a tractor that hauls a trailer but without a trailer attached, allegedly fled the scene after striking the cyclist without speaking to authorities or checking on the condition of the victim. The driver is believed to be a white male with blonde hair and a beard, possibly in his 30s. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department.
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Bicyclists are present in all weather in Chicago. While their numbers swell in spring and summer, even brave riders can be seen during the poor conditions that plague Chicago in the winter. As cyclists continue to increase in number every year, motorists in the city limits are left to anticipate their presence and to drive with the safety of bicyclists in mind.

The laws in Chicago are designed to enable both riders and drivers to operate on the roads at the same time without conflict. For this to be possible, though, both bicyclists and motorists must obey all traffic-related rules or a bicycle accident may result.

Injuries are common following bicycle accidents and are likely to affect bike riders more often than drivers or passengers of vehicles. These victims may incur significant medical expenses yet be unaware of whether they are entitled to legal relief. As the facts of every collision vary, it is a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago area to learn about what options may be available to you and whether you have a valid claim for relief.

One of the greatest factors contributing to the large number of bicycle collisions in the Chicago area is a lack of knowledge of the bicycle-specific rules and regulations in the city. While all drivers know that a red light means stop and a green light means go, fewer are able to express the legal distance for passing a bicycle when overtaking in the same direction. In Illinois, including Chicago, motorists are required by law to leave a safe distance to pass and that distance must not be less than three feet. Drivers who do not follow this rule are likely to pose a hazard to bicyclists and also to violate the law.

While passing with a distance of less than three feet may lead to a traffic ticket or citation, the results can be much more extreme when a collision occurs. Not only will a driver face the possibility of a ticket but that driver may be held legally liable for any injuries or other damages that result from a crash. In the even that a bicyclist is hurt by a driver who passes too closely, that driver, if held liable, may be required to provide compensation for the medical expenses incurred by the victim, provide payment for wages missed while the victim recovers and is unable to work, and pay for damages including pain and suffering, scarring, and the permanency of injuries that stem from the crash. In some accidents, insurance may be a means to make a full or partial recovery in these cases, but where insurance is absent or inadequate, a driver may be personally liable for any remaining losses.
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In recent decades, the number of residents in Chicago that ride bicycles regularly or on occasion has increased dramatically. Many are now commuting by cycle while others are enjoying a ride over the weekend. In response, the city has created bicycle lanes, protected areas to ride, and even shared bicycle and vehicular areas on the street. Even where a road is not marked specifically for bicycle traffic, cyclists are entitled to ride on the roads unless it is expressly prohibited.

Unfortunately the increase in ridership has also caused an increase in bicycle-related accidents when compared to times with fewer rides. Bicycle accidents in Chicago claim numerous lives every year and leave many more riders injured and left to deal with the aftermath of a collision, from the medical expenses that may be incurred to the pain and suffering likely to be endured. When a bicycle accident results from a mistake or an error on the part of a driver involved, the victims of that collision may be entitled to financial relief for any damages sustained. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who has experience representing bicycle accident victims may help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt in a crash or if your loved one has lost his or her life.

Local authorities confirmed that a bicyclist was involved in a crash near Midway Airport early on Sunday morning. The rider was reportedly traveling east on 55th Street shortly before 1:00 a.m. when a passenger car turning in the area struck the bicyclist, causing a collision. Emergency medical crews responded to the crash and transported the rider, a 44-year-old man, to Christ Medical Center for treatment but the extent of his injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead a short time thereafter.

Police are still investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal collision and trying to determine why the driver and the cyclist were in the same area at the same time. At this point, the driver has been cited for failing to reduce her speed to avoid a crash but it is unclear whether any other citations or charges will be brought.
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Cyclists in Chicago are increasing every year. The addition of the bike share program called Divvy has only served to make bicycling more accessible to residents and visitors alike, enabling these individuals to take to the streets of Chicago and travel on two wheels. Bicycling is an efficient and affordable means of transportation and one encouraged in many areas of the city, yet unfortunately, bicycling is not always safe. Though the laws in Illinois authorize biker riders to use the streets just as other vehicles do, drivers do not always respect the rights of these cyclists, leading to collisions that may result in injuries or even death.

Bicycle accidents were responsible for 3,464 injuries and 24 deaths in Illinois in 2010 alone. Many of these cyclists were not at-fault for the collisions that occurred but were still forced to bear injuries caused by the accident, leading to medical bills, time missed from work, and pain and suffering where injuries occurred. Though these victims cannot erase a collision, they may be entitled to relief through the use of a civil claim for damages, which is separate and distinct from any traffic-related charges that may be brought by the State of Illinois. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago who has experience representing bicycle accident victims may be able to help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt in a collision.

A bicyclist was injured in an accident on Monday afternoon in Archer Heights. Though he initially survived the collision, his injuries were too severe and he died as a result of the crash yesterday afternoon. Police have reported that the collision took place near Lawndale Avenue and Archer Avenue shortly after 3:00 p.m. and that it involved a 55-year-old man on a bicycle and a semi-truck. Officials have not determined why the two collided but have confirmed that the crash resulted in the cyclist becoming trapped underneath the truck for some time before emergency crews were able to free him and transport the victim to Mount Sinai Hospital.

At this time, no traffic citations have been issued in the collision and police are still investigating the crash.
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Bicycling has experienced a dramatic increase in popularity on the streets of Chicago in the last decade. Many cyclists take to the roads to commute to and from work every day with others riding simply for pleasure or exercise. Though the reasons bicyclists are riding may vary slighting, the effect remains constant; as more bikers being to ride, more bicycles are on the roads and bicycle traffic becomes heavier on the streets.

An increase in the amount of bicycle traffic should not pose a problem to the riders and to motorists in Chicago. After all, bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities when it comes to riding that any other driver of an automobile possesses. Bicyclists can legally occupy a lane of traffic or a bicycle lane, when one is present, and ride according to the rules governing the roads. But problems unfortunately arise as drivers fail to act in a safe and responsible manner when bikes are near, leading to thousands of bicycle accidents in Chicago and Illinois annually. Too often, these bicycle collisions lead a rider to become injured, and often those injuries are severe.

When a bicycle crash is caused by a driver or operator who acts in a negligent or reckless manner, an injured cyclists may be entitled to relief for his or her injuries. Relief can be sought to cover damages that result including medical and surgical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among others. A personal injury lawyer who has experienced representing the victims of these accidents may be able to help you understand if you have a valid claim after your accident.

The increase in bicycle riding has not been due solely to those who own a bicycle, though. With the start of Divvy, Chicago’s bike share program, thousands of additional riders have been able to rent a bicycle for a trip, a day, or even to use as often as they want throughout the year. Divvy rentals set back-to-back records this weekend for the number of rides taken with 12863 rides on Saturday and 16,259 rides on Sunday. Sunday’s record ridership likely was due to the summer weather in Chicago combined with the city’s annual event, Bike the Drive, where Lake Shore Drive is closed to vehicles for several hours as cyclists take to the street.
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Chicago has one of the greatest bicycle presences in the nation but also one of the highest rates of bicycle-related accidents. As cyclists continue to use the streets as a means of transportation, they face a very real risk of being struck by a car, potentially leading to serious injuries or even the death of the rider. To combat this risk, Chicago has taken steps to increase the safety of cyclists and motorists, especially in the congested areas downtown. Some streets have seen additional bicycle markings while others are now controlled by bicycle traffic signals.

When a collision involving a bicycle occurs, the victims of those accidents may be entitled to relief for their damages. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand whether you may be able to recover for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses you were forced to incur due to your accident. In many cases, recoveries can be possible against an at-fault driver or even against the bicyclist’s own insurance company, depending on the facts of the collision itself and any official investigation that may have occurred afterwards.

Though many efforts have been expended in recent years to make the streets safer for bicycles, there is still a long way to go. Recognizing this, officials in Chicago announced plans to add an additional 20 miles of protected bicycle lanes throughout the city with the idea that collisions will be less likely to occur if bikes and cars are in segregated, separate areas of the street.

The plans for upgrades include five miles of bicycle lanes separated by bollard-style posts to prevent bicycle traffic from entering lanes designated for motor vehicle transit and vice versa. An additional 15 miles of bike lanes designated by street surface painting will be added during the spring and summer of 2014. This phase of alterations are planned to occur on Broadway between Montrose and Foster, on Harrison between Desplaines and Wabash, on Lake Street from Austin Boulevard to Central Park Avenue, on California between August Boulevard and North Avenue, on Halsted between 26th and 31st, and on Stony Island between 56th and 63rd Street.
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Over the last decade, bicycling has become increasingly popular in Chicago with many riders choosing bicycles as a primary means of transportation. Under the laws of Illinois, bicyclist have the right to ride in the streets with motorized traffic but must obey all laws that also apply to vehicles. Similarly, vehicular drivers must realize the rights of cyclists to ride in the roads and must respect those rights as they would the rights of other drivers.

Ideally, bicyclists and motorists would share the road harmoniously and in a safe, efficient manner that allows every to get to their destinations without incident. But unfortunately, hundreds of bicycle accidents occur in Chicago every year, and many of them leave the cyclist with serious, or even fatal injuries. When an accident is due to the negligence of one or more individuals involved, the victims of that crash, whether they are cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, or passengers, may be entitled to seek relief for their damages. Often, this means bringing a civil claim to recover for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand whether you have a claim for your injuries and whether you are entitled to relief.

Police in Chicago have confirmed that a collision between a cyclist and an SUV occurred late Sunday night at the intersection of West Addison Street and North Milwaukee Avenue. Around 11:30 p.m., police believe that an SUV was traveling northbound as it approached the intersection. Intending to turn left at the intersection, the driver began to turn the vehicle when a collision with a bicyclist present occurred. While not clear which direction the cyclist was traveling, police believe that the SUV may have been at-fault for the crash and have issued the driver a citation for failing to yield the right-of-way before turning. The investigation into this incident is ongoing as police continue to review the facts of the collision.

Emergency crews responded to the scene of the collision and transported the cyclist to an area hospital with injuries that were described as critical. The cyclist’s current condition and the nature of the injuries sustained are not known at this time, nor is it clear whether the driver of the SUV was injured.
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