Articles Posted in Bicycle Accident

Some of the most avid bicyclists in Chicago choose to ride their bicycles to and from work in the city, making their commutes both transportation and exercise. It may be surprising to some non-bike riders in the city but a number of these commuters ride year round, even through the cold and snow that has been winter so far this year. Several of these individuals stopped at Daley Plaza yesterday in downtown Chicago to participate in a Winter Bike to Work Day sponsored by Active Transportation Alliance.

The event drew attention to winter bicycle commuting and also offered free hot chocolate and snacks to those who participated. Active Transportation Alliance’s goal is to promote safe bicycling in the city as well as walking and public transportation and they hoped that public events like yesterday’s will increase awareness of commuter’s options when it comes to traveling.

Bicycling is not for everyone but the rights of bicyclists do have an effect on everyone who uses the streets as transportation. The laws in Chicago make it legal for bicyclists to ride in the streets and provide these riders with all the same rights and responsibilities of other motorists, including the right to occupy a lane of transit. In some heavily biked areas, there are designated lanes for bicyclists or even protected lanes to separate bike traffic from automotive traffic.

Bicyclists and motorists should be able to share the roads safely but unfortunately, every year there are collisions between the two groups. Though they are less common than crashes between two or more cars, the results of a bicycle versus automobile collision are often devastating. In 2012, accidents involving bicycles accounted for only 1.3 percent of all roadway accidents with 3,423 collisions. But nearly all of these accidents involved harm to the rider. Of all the bicycle accidents, 3,209 caused injuries and 28 people involved were killed as a result of these collisions.
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The words “driving under the influence” make many drivers in Chicago think of someone who consumes alcohol and then drives a car while over the legal blood alcohol limit of .08. That is one way that a driver can be guilty of a DUI but far from the only way. The laws in Illinois prohibit any driver from operating a vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance. Though this includes alcohol, it also includes street drugs and can include prescription drugs in some cases. If the substance can influence a driver’s ability to operate a car, it is likely illegal for a motorist to use the substance and drive.

Ignoring the law and driving while intoxicated on some substance is a serious offense. It can result in traffic or even criminal charges and can cause a driver to lose a license, pay fines and court costs, and even spend time in jail or prison. The worst punishments tend to be linked to repeated violations of the law and in situations where an impaired driver causes an accident that leaves others injured or even killed. If a crash leaves innocent victims behind, those hurt by the impaired driver can also bring a civil claim for their damages, seeking compensation for things like medical bills, pain and suffering, or even loss of companionship when a loved one dies. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand what options may be available to you after an accident occurs.

Now, police in Naperville have reported that a fatal bicycle collision that occurred in September may have involved a driver with drugs in his system. The incident, which occurred near the intersection of Freedom Drive and Diehl Road, involved a crash between a 26-year-old male driver of a Nissan and a 56-year-old woman on a bicycle. Though emergency crews responded and transported the woman to Edward Hospital, her injuries were too severe and she later died as a result of the crash.

Police began an investigation into the incident and determined that the 36-year-old male driver had illegal drugs in his system at the time of the collision, contrary to and in violation of Illinois law. He was recently arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, a charge that may result in incarceration if he is convicted. At this time, it is not known what controlled substance was found in the man’s system. The driver has since been released on bond and will appear in court in early February to face the charges.
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Every designer in the automotive industry seeks to increase safety in the next generation of vehicles to create a safer fleet of cars on the road as well as to increase safety of those not in vehicles. Some companies have started adding features like external airbags and force-absorbing hoods to decrease the impact experienced in the unfortunate situations where a pedestrian is struck by a car. Others are adding blind spot sensors to make motorists more aware when difficult to see traffic is on their side, like a motorcycle or a bicycle.

The proliferation of sliding doors, primarily on minivans, have increased safety in their own right. Though many of these doors are designed to allow children easy access into and out of a car without opening a car door into another vehicle, they serve the additional purpose of preventing anyone from opening the door into traffic, primarily when a vehicle parks along a street. Opening a car door into traffic can be a hazard for any other driver on the road but for a bicyclist, the incident can turn tragic or even fatal.

Every year, dozens of bicyclists in Chicago are hurt in incidents known as dooring accidents, which occur when a car door is opened into the path of travel of a cyclist, causing the biker to strike the car’s door. Injury lawyers who help victims of these accidents understand that the injuries caused can range from bumps and bruises to fractures or broken bones or even to death in the worst cases. Sliding doors greatly reduce the odds of a dooring incident occurring but do not completely eliminate it as an open sliding door slightly protrudes from the closed position.In the late 1980s and early 1990s, automobile engineers with several companies took door safety one step further and created a drop down, vertical storing door. The earliest use of this technology was by BMW in their Z1 models manufactured between 19989 and 1991 and sold in Europe. The Z1’s door retracts vertically into the base of the vehicle, storing itself while leaving the driver free to enter or exit the vehicle without the constraints of a hinged door partially blocking the opening. The same disappearing door concept was also used in a 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII but was modified to fit the sedan style of the car. In one simultaneous motion, the driver’s side door or the passenger door open and store in the base of the car. An additional power source ran the door’s movements in the Mark VIII concept car which has become an internet sensation over the past few years with a main Youtube video receiving over 14 million views.
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In some ways, the roads of Chicago have the same hazards of roads anywhere in the nation. Drivers who act negligently or recklessly while operating a vehicle place others in harm’s way, including those in the driver’s car, in another car, or walking or riding in the street. Few things place selfish actions before safety more than a driver who operates a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, contrary to and in violation of local, state, and federal laws.

Though driving drunk is incredibly dangerous, thousands of motorists still do it every year in Chicago, and many of these drivers get caught by police. Some even cause accidents with others, leaving victims that are injured, or worse, killed, in their wake. When the police are able to identify an impaired driver, the driver may be criminally charged for his or her actions, but the extent of the driver’s liability likely will not end there. An accident victim or the victim’s family may be able to bring a claim for financial damages against the impaired driver which will subject the driver to financial as well as criminal liability for the damages that result from an accident. An injury attorney can help a victim bring one of these claims and recover for any injuries sustained in a crash.

Friday night, a bicycle accident occurred in Douglas Park that is believed to have been caused by a drunk driver who now faces criminal charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol. Police say that the 54-year-old Riverside suspect was driving a van in the area of 2500 West Ogden Avenue when he approached a bicyclist. The cyclist, a 28-year-old man from Heart of Chicago, was riding home from his job in a local restaurant in the same area the suspect was driving. The 54-year-old man allegedly struck the bicyclist just before midnight, causing the cyclist to crash and critically injuring him. He died of his injuries following the collision.

The driver of the van was apprehended by police who noticed his eyes were bloodshot and that the man smelled of alcohol. A blood alcohol test was performed on the driver and reportedly confirmed that the suspect’s BAC was 0.118 at the time of the accident, greater than the Illinois limit of 0.08. The suspect, a long time county employee, also reportedly admitted that he was driving the van at the time of the crash and that he struck the bicyclist, asking officers if the cyclist was alright.
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A 50-year-old bicyclist was killed in an accident on Thursday afternoon when he was hit by a car. Police have stated that the man was riding north on Nelson Lake Road in Batavia Township when a Nissan Rouge struck the rear tire of the bike, throwing the victim to the ground.

Reports indicate that the bicyclist was riding within the lane of traffic used by northbound drivers. Several drivers in a line passed the bicyclists on the left but when the Nissan approached, the 26-year-old driver did not swerve to avoid the cyclist. She continued straight and struck the bike, causing the collision.

The area where the crash occurred has one lane of traffic going in each direction. Bicyclists are permitted to ride with traffic and to occupy a lane of the road with drivers being required to share the lane. If a driver wants to pass a bicyclist, the same rules apply that would apply in the case of passing a car. It must be clear and safe to do so before the driver attempts the pass.

After the crash, the bicyclist was transported to Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the Nissan was not injured in the crash and reportedly did not seek medical treatment. She was cited by the responding officer for failing to reduce her speed to avoid a collision. Police are still investigating the incident and more charges could result depending on what is learned.

It is not yet clear why the driver of the Nissan struck the bicyclist but police are investigating to determine if alcohol, drugs, or texting were involved. In many accidents between drivers and bicycles, the driver claims that they never saw the bike until the collision. Since witnesses in this case have said that the Nissan was in a line of cars that passed the bike, it is likely that the driver noticed the cars in front of her moving towards the left to pass the bike. Despite the fact that cars were all moving to avoid something, this driver appears to have not acted cautiously or even slowed her vehicle in response to a potential object to avoid. As a result, a 50-year-old man lost his life.
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The driver responsible for a collision with a well-known Chicago bicyclist on Wednesday has been arrested and charged with reckless homicide, according to local police.

The bicyclist, described by his friends as a city cycling ambassador, was riding in the street in the 1300 block of North Clybourn Avenue on Wednesday evening when a southbound driver in a Mercedes struck him, causing a violent collision.

A nurse came upon the crash shortly after it occurred and rendered emergency treatment to the victim until paramedics arrived. He was transported to Northwestern Community Hospital where the cyclist later died.

The driver of the Mercedes stayed at the scene and was interviewed by responding officers. Based upon the collision, the driver was taken into custody and later charged with reckless homicide, felony aggravated driving under the influence involving death, and other misdemeanor charges.

The victim in this crash was known and liked by many in the Chicago bicycling community. He rode his bike to work everyday and was always happy to discuss biking with anyone who was interested. Friends say he was previously employed at an outdoor sporting store in Lincoln Park where he was all too happy to load up on biking gear and talk with customers about cycling in the city.

A regular at Chicago’s Critical Mass monthly bike rides, the victim was honored and remembered at last week’s ride from Daley Plaza through the city. The victim has also participated in rides specially designed to bring attention to bicycling safety, including the recent Ride of Silence that hit the city. Ride of Silence is a world-wide movement that organizes a ride in hundreds of cities on the same day at the same time to bring attention to bike safety and as a remembrance of those killed while riding.

The area of this collision allows bicyclist to ride in the same lane as vehicular traffic and requires bikers to follow the same rules of the road. In an effort to make the roads safer for cyclists and drivers alike, the city has taken significant steps to create designated bicycle lanes, separate bicycle traffic control signals, and even installing barriers between the lanes of bike and vehicle traffic in downtown areas to keep traffic as efficient and as safe as possible.
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A bicyclist riding in the 1300 block of North Clybourn Avenue was hit and killed by a car on Wednesday night. It is not yet clear what caused the collision to occur but the victim has been identified as a well-known bicyclist in the city who encouraged others to bike and who believed in biking safety.

The victim was well known in the Chicago cycling community and consider to be a bicycle ambassador by many. Friends say he regularly participated in Critical Mass, a large-scale bike ride that occurs once a month to promote bicycling and the shared use of the roads between cyclists and motorists. The victim also recently rode in Ride of Silence, a world-wide movement that has mass bicycle rides in designated cities on the same day and at the same time. Ride of Silence is designed to call attention to cyclists who have been killed while riding bikes and also allows friends and communities to honor their memories.

The victim in this case previously worked at an outdoor clothing and sports store that was popular with many locals and is located on North Halsted Street. Reportedly, whenever he was asked about cycling in the city, the victim always talked enthusiastically with customers and touted the benefits of cycling for transportation and enjoyment. His friends say the victim was always focused on safety while riding and always wore a helmet.

By all accounts, the victim in this accident was a knowledgeable and skilled bicyclist who was familiar with the city streets and the rules and regulations of the roads. This highlights the fact that when a driver is negligent, even the most skilled and able bicyclist can become an accident victim.

Cycling in Chicago is becoming more popular every year. The number of riders, number of bicycles, and the distance biked is increasing all the time and the city is changing in response. Some streets now have designated bicycle lanes for bicycle-only traffic while others have a barrier to separate bicyclists from motor vehicles. Some parts of the city even have bicycle-specific traffic lights to enable optimum efficiency and control of this type of transit. The area of Clybourn where the victim was killed did not have a designated bicycle lane but did allow bicycles to share the standard lanes of traffic with other vehicles.
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As Chicago’s Divvy bike sharing program prepares for a launch this summer, cities across the nation are doing the same. At the start of 2013, there were 22 major cities nationwide that had a bike sharing program similar to the one Chicago plans to use beginning in June. By 2014, that number is expected to double.Bike share programs are simple in concept: people who want to use a bicycle as transit or for pleasure can rent a bicycle for a specified length of time, use it as they please, and then return the bike when they are finished. Most programs, including Chicago’s, allow cyclists to rent either by the hour or to become a subscriber, where a designated fee is paid for unlimited monthly or yearly use. The most common form of bike share program uses solar powered docking stations and allows cyclists to check out a bike from one station and return it to another station, simplifying the process for those who only need transit one way. This also allows for an automated system that can keep costs low, making bike rental affordable for many regardless of what city they call home.

The first major bike sharing program began in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2007, though many credit the recent success experienced in Washington, D.C. for the proliferation of similar programs throughout the nation. The nation’s capital is in the process of expanding their program into Virginia and anticipates having 3,700 bicycles and more than 300 docking stations by the end of the year.

As of May 2013, the five biggest bike sharing programs, in terms of the number of bicycles owned, were Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; and Denver, Colorado. Chicago’s program calls for 4,000 bicycles within the next year which would give it the largest number of bikes in a share program in the nation, assuming other cities do not expand in that time frame, but Chicago is expected to be surpassed by New York City. The Big Apple is in the process of initiating a bike share program with plans to incorporate 6,000 bicycles throughout the Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs.

New York City is known for its bicycle traffic and the share program has been anxiously anticipated for some time due to several delays in its implementation, though it is scheduled to go live in just weeks, about the same time as Chicago. Chicago is in the process of adding significant bicycling attractions including designated bicycle lanes and increased bicycle parking throughout downtown which some think will increase the use and success of the Divvy program.
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A Chicago driver was traveling in the 7800 block of West Irving Park Road late Tuesday night when the driver struck an elderly bicyclist, killing him. The cyclist, an 83-year-old Chicago resident, was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.Both the driver and the cyclist were reportedly riding westbound on Irving Park when a collision occurred in the Dunning neighborhood. It is not clear exactly how the two collided but police have placed the driver of the car at fault and stated that the driver has been cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

The area where this collision occurred is often traveled by bicyclists who are allowed to ride in the street with motorized vehicles. The road does not have a designated bicycle lane and therefore bicyclists are required to ride with other traffic, sharing the same lane and obeying the same traffic laws. The block of West Irving Park also has street parking in some areas which can make the lanes more narrow for both bicyclists and motorists as they travel.

This collision occurred at approximately 9:10 p.m. when darkness had set in the city. There is street lighting that lines much of the eastern side of the road but it is not as prevalent on the western side, meaning that the combination of the nighttime darkness and sparse use of artificial lighting should have put the driver on heightened alert to the presence of bicyclists. It does not appear that that was the case, unfortunately.

In 2011, there were 3,107 bicycle collisions in Illinois resulting in 2,912 injuries and 27 fatalities. Of those crashes, 469 occurred during darkness hours on roads with artificial illumination, meaning that this type of collision is all too common – more than one a day, every day, for the entire year.

The elderly are less likely to be involved in bicycle accidents because there are fewer elderly riders than there are younger riders. However when older individuals are struck while riding a bike, the injuries are often severe or fatal due to the vulnerable nature of the cyclist.

 

 
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What is Critical Mass in Chicago, and why is it cool?

Critical Mass, a worldwide movement to encourage bicycling for fun and transportation, takes place on the last Friday of every month. With warmer temperatures finally arriving in the city, Critical Mass is likely to involve thousands of cyclists every month, yet still many in Chicago do not have an understanding of what Critical Mass is and what it means for non-bicycling commuters.Critical Mass began in San Francisco in 1992. Since then, cyclists in cities across the globe have embraced the principles of Critical Mass and initiated their own rides. It derives its name from a practice in China where bicyclists wait to cross an intersection until there are enough of them to form a “critical mass,” creating safety in numbers as the bicyclists cross.

There is no set leadership or organization to Chicago’s Critical Mass. Anyone who wants to ride and participate is welcome to do so and the riders vote on designated paths to travel. The riders have met at Daley Plaza since 1997 and continue to meet there at 5:30 pm on the last Friday of every month where the riders take to the street and usually ride for three or four hours before disbanding.

I happen to be bicycle accident attorney, and my office overlooks Daley Plaza, so I love it. Once a month I sit there and watch literally thousands of bicyclists form a mass across the street from my office. I have never ridden in it, but I do on occasion go outside and take photos and video. It is really fun to watch.

Critical Mass is an opportunity for bike riders in the city to claim their right to ride in the streets in numbers too large to be ignored. The group attempts to stay together as much as possible because the large size means that motorists are less likely to attempt to weave in and out of the group as might happen with a smaller number of riders, making the event safer for all involved. Occasionally city police officers have been known to ride along with the group which has also increased safety.

Critical Mass claims to have no political association or statement to make; the riders are out simply to ride and promote bicycling as a means of transportation. All types of bikes can be seen as well as the occasional skateboarder and rollerblader but forms of motorized transportation, including motorized bikes and Segways, are discouraged.

Drivers, pedestrians, and unaffiliated cyclists might experience some delays if Critical Mass crosses their path on a Friday evening. The massers travel at five to 10 miles per hour, which is slow enough to bother some drivers. The sheer size of the group means that some intersections can be blocked for extended lengths of time and might force others to find an alternate route to their destination. If you come across a Critical Mass ride, you are encouraged to remain patient while the cyclists pass and only proceed when it is safe to do so. This will help prevent many accidents and near misses and keep everyone safe.
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