Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer - Bicycle Accidents

Hit-and-Run Driver Seriously Injures Bicyclist

Kristina Labanauskas — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:32:00 GMT

A hit-and-run driver stuck a bicyclist Wednesday afternoon while she was riding on the shoulder of Huntley Road in West Dundee, Illinois. The Carpentersville woman was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital. Witnesses believe the car was a silver Honda Civic.

In Illinois, it is not only against common sense and decency, but it is also against the law for a driver to not stop at the scene after an accident. In fact, the driver’s failure to stop can result in a felony conviction.

As for the injured party, don’t lose all hope. Sadly, you might never get the justice you deserve in seeing the at-fault driver suffer the criminal consequences of his or her wrongful and callous conduct. However, you may be able to recover for your injuries and cover the expenses of your medical treatment and other losses through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which Illinois drivers are required by law to carry.

UM coverage is used when there is no coverage at all on the other vehicle. This can apply not just when the other driver has no insurance but also when a driver is the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

So, take care of yourself and your injuries, and discuss your options with your insurance company and a licensed attorney.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas

City of Chicago to Increase Bike Safety through Enforcement of Bike Laws

Kristina Labanauskas — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:31:00 GMT

More and more people are getting out on their bikes these days in an effort to save the environment and to save money, and the City of Chicago supports the increase in bicyclists. Along with this increase comes a greater need for safety awareness and precautions, for all those on the road.

The City of Chicago’s Bike 2015 Plan supports increasing bike usage and reducing bike-related injuries. One way the City plans to reduce such injuries is by improving its bike-law enforcement.

Surprisingly, many riders don’t know that they are held to the same standards as motor vehicle drivers. Although there are some laws that are obviously directed at bicyclists only (think wearing a headlamp at night or no adult riding on sidewalks), overall Chicago and Illinois laws require that cyclists abide by the same Rules of the Road as motor vehicle drivers. The law provides the same rights to cyclists as to those driving motor vehicles but the laws also hold cyclists to the same responsibility standards.

Actual enforcement of the bike laws on bicyclists has been pretty lax to date. Fairly recently, the City has conducted a campaign in which participants stop bicyclists to educate on them on the law and safety, not to give out tickets. This grace period may soon come to a close, though.

This has some bikers confused, some upset. But, the City is not out to punish the bicyclists; rather the goal is to change habits and to warn about dangerous behavior in an effort to improve overall safety and prevent serious accidents.

Bikers might argue that the better way to improve safety would be cracking down on bad drivers, as bikes are clearly no competition for a vehicle in a collision. This year alone, 4 Chicago cyclists have died in bike-car collisions. However, bicyclists and motor vehicle operators need to respect one another to ensure bike and motor safety as a whole. Without bicyclists being safe and following rules, even the safest, most prudent of motor vehicle drivers would find it hard if not impossible to avoid a dangerous collision.

If you are unfamiliar with the Rules of the Road, you should familiarize yourself before you take your next ride. You should take all measure necessary to help to ensure that you have a safe, injury-free ride every time you get out on the roads.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas

Chicago Bicycle Accident Highlights Importance of City Bike Safety

Kristina Labanauskas — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

On any given day, you will see dozens of bicyclists navigating through the busy City streets. Yet, statistics show that biking during the summer in urban traffic can be downright deadly. In fact, since October, a total of 5 cyclists have been killed in Chicago alone. Just earlier this month, a 22-year-old bicyclist died as a result of a bike accident in Chicago when his bike hit an open door of a parked vehicle and he was thrown into oncoming traffic.

According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA):

Between 1996-2006 fatalities of pedalcyclists (their term referring to two-wheel nonmotorized vehicles powered solely by pedals), occurred more frequently in urban areas, at non-intersection locations, between the hours of 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. and during the months of June, July and August.

So, should we lock up our bikes and lose the keys forever? Of course not! Biking is great exercise not to mention a lot of fun. Plus, for many it is not just a recreational activity. A lot of urban bikers either rely on their wheels for a paycheck (e.g., fearless bike messengers) or for their commute, justifiably avoiding sitting in a motor vehicle in bumper-to-bumper traffic or riding on packed and increasingly pricey public transportation.

Ok, then. The easy solution is to ride on the sidewalk, you say. Not in Chicago, you won’t. Unless you have just moved here or are from out of town, you have no excuse not to know that a City ordinance makes biking on sidewalks illegal. And, for good reason, as I don’t think I am alone in the sentiment that the pedestrians legally using sidewalks take up enough room as it is.

So, the remaining options for bikers intending on riding in the City is to get on the Lake Path and stay there or to wear protective gear and get informed on bike safety and the Rules of the Road.

The rules of the road include obeying traffic signs, signals and lane markings and riding in the same direction as traffic while in the street. And, in spite of the obvious size and horsepower advantages motor vehicles have over bikes, bicyclists are considered vehicle operators and as such are required to obey the same rules of the road as other motor vehicles.

In addition to abiding by the rules of the road, wearing protective gear can go a long way in injury prevention. According to the NHTSA, a helmet is the best way to prevent head injuries resulting from bike accidents. But, not any old lid will do. Be sure that you wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Also, if you intend on riding at night, be sure to equip your bike with a front light and red reflector or flashing lights and wear bright or reflective clothing and retro-reflective tape to help drivers see you better.

Even if you are armed with the above knowledge and have taken every single possible precaution, accidents and even fatalities still can happen. If you have been injured or a family member has been killed in a traffic accident, you should seek professional legal advice to determine whether there may be a recovery.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas