Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer - Bicycle Safety

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

Bike Helmet Safety: Use your head

Kristina Labanauskas — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

It should come as no surprise that wearing a helmet while biking might help reduce your risk of injury in the event of a fall or accident. But, are you aware of just how dangerous not wearing a helmet can be?

Lack of helmet use is a leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which occurs as a result of a blow to the head that causes damage to the brain. A TBI occurs every 21 seconds in the U.S. And, 85% of all TBI is preventable.

According to 2006 statistics from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 44,000 cyclists were reported in traffic crashes in 2006. 1 in 8 of those with reported injuries had a brain injury. 770 bicyclists died on U.S. roads; over 90% died in crashes with motor vehicles. And, 2/3 of the deaths were from traumatic brain injury.

Clearly, wearing a helmet is fundament in terms of bike safety. Still, wearing a helmet in and of itself is not enough. You need to wear the right helmet and use the helmet correctly. Essentially, the helmet must be safe and must fit properly

Safe helmets have an endorsement of sorts. You should notice a sticker on the helmet from one of the following groups: the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or the SNELL Standards for Protective Headgear.

In terms of a proper fit, here are some basic requirements:

-Accurate measurements: The helmet is intended to be worn level across the top of your head. Measure accordingly.

-Snug fit: The helmet should not move more than one inch in any direction.

-Adjust straps: Be sure to adjust the helmet straps so they are snug. If there is still movement, use foam pads (which should be included with the helmet) to ensure a good fit.

Finally, if you are in a bike accident, replace the helmet. There might be damage to the helmet that you can’t see but might affect the helmet’s protection level nonetheless. You might be out a few bucks (literally, as acceptable helmets range from $10-$20), but in terms of safety, you will be in better shape.

In addition to wearing the right helmet, there are other safety measures to be taken. You should be familiar with and adhere to the rules of the road and wear additional safety gear that applies to your particular needs (for example reflective gear for night biking).

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas