Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
The rights of bicyclists are clearly defined by the laws of the State of Illinois, yet every day, those rights continue to be threatened and they continue to be ignored. In some cases, one cyclists ignores the rights of another. In other instances, it is the operator of a car or other vehicle that fails to recognize a biker’s right to ride. Regardless of the perpetrator, any incident of threatening conduct increases the danger faced by everyone and raises the risk of a bicycle accident occurring.
In 2013, there were 3,624 bicycle accidents across the State of Illinois and 3,353 of those incidents resulted in injuries. Another 30 proved to be fatal. These staggering numbers show that the odds of injury or death happening when a cyclist is involved in a crash are extremely high, especially when compared to auto accidents that fail to produce injuries in roughly half of crashes.
Armed with the knowledge of the serious threat posed should a bicycle crash happen, all individuals who utilize Chicago’s roads – whether they are bicyclists, motorist, or pedestrians – should act in accordance with local rules and should always make safety a priority. Yet every day, an average of nearly 10 collisions occur in Illinois that involve at least one cyclists and a large number of those crashes happen in the Chicago area.
While injured cyclists cannot turn back the hands of time, they may be able to move forward after an accident by obtaining financial compensation they need and deserve. This right is protected by local laws and enables those who are hurt due to the actions of another to receive payment they need for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering as well as any other damages that have been or will be incurred. Rarely are these claims easy and they often involve complex legal issues so victims may wish to speak with a personal injury attorney to verify their options and make sure they are protected.
A Saturday night bike ride turned tragic for one man in Hanover Park when he was struck and killed by a vehicle. Police in the area confirm that the man, age 53, was traveling in the vicinity of Irving Park and Barrington late at night when a collision occurred, causing the man extreme injuries. Though he was transported to an area hospital by emergency crews, the man’s injuries were too severe and he died shortly thereafter.
Police have not confirmed what caused the bicyclist and the driver to collide or whether any citations are pending in this matter.
If you have suffered personal harm in a bicycle accident in Chicago or if your family member was hurt or killed in a crash, make sure your rights are not ignored. Call the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you sort through the details to uncover your legal rights and your options.
If you call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575, you will speak with a licensed attorney who will offer you a free case consultation without obligation regarding your accident and your injuries. We have someone standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we always fight for the best possible outcome in every case we handle.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. together have decades of experience helping bike accident victims and we want to help you as well so please do not hesitate – call us now and let us help you move beyond a collision and back to your normal life.
Prior Blog Entry:
Celebrate Safely During Blackhawks Victory Parade and Rally, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 17, 2015.
Resource:
Bicyclist dies after being struck by vehicle in Hanover Park, by Denease Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, published June 28, 2015.