Bicycling is increasingly popular as a basic means of transportation in many urban cities. But the roads are not always safe for bicycle riders. Many cities are implementing and enforcing safety measures like bicycle safety lanes to protect bicycle riders, but bike accidents still happen and can be fatal to bicyclists. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that bicyclists represent two percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities in the United States. Over half of the bicycle accident cases that result in death are riders who failed to wear helmets and suffered a serious head injury.
If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident, it is crucial that you contact a bicycle accident attorney near you to ensure you recover the compensation you deserve. The Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Smith LaCien LLP have over 20 years of experience helping accident victims in the Chicago area, and we are committed to helping you secure the best possible outcome for your case. To schedule a free case consultation with a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney from our firm, call (312) 509-8900.
Our team of experienced Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Smith LaCien LLP are renowned for their integrity and diligence. They firmly stand by the principle that each client they serve deserves undivided attention and open communication.
With their collective expertise, the Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at our personal injury law firm will help you secure the compensation you deserve for your bike accident case. We have secured more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including a $9.5 million settlement against the City of Chicago for a bicyclist who was seriously injured due to a street defect. We are ready to fight for you, and we will ensure your rights are protected throughout the entire legal process.
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Chicago saw an average of 2.6 bike accident fatalities per every million residents between 2017 and 2021, an increase of 19% since the previous study between 2012 and 2016. Common causes of bike injuries in Chicago include:
When an at-fault driver or a motor vehicle hits a cyclist due to driver negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing like intoxicated driving, they are responsible for damages. A successful claim can help bicycle accident victims gain a sense of justice as well as financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Every road user must prevent causing harm to other road users. Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as other road users, but like motorists and pedestrians, they must also abide by traffic laws to keep themselves and others safe. Just ask our car accident attorneys in Chicago to learn more!
Some of the bike safety regulations and laws that bicyclists must abide by include riding a bicycle with a permanent seat attached, riding a bicycle with the number of people for which it is designed, and riding as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under certain conditions such as overtaking or passing another bicycle, or making a left turn at an intersection. These bicycle laws are designed to help you stay safe in the event of a bike crash.
Cyclists aren’t obligated to ride in designated bike lanes, but it is advised for safety reasons. Riding on the sidewalk in Chicago is illegal unless the sidewalk is marked as a bike path, or you are going to a nearby bike station or road.
Injured in a bike crash?
Contact Our Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today
We have helped clients who have suffered a variety of injuries from a bicycle crash, including:
If your loved one lost their life in a bicycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact our Chicago wrongful death lawyers today.
Bicycle accident victims need to get medical care immediately. If possible, they should collect as much evidence as possible at the scene of the bicycle accident. This includes photos, names, and contacts of witnesses and a police report. Contacting the Chicago bicycle accident injury lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP will be there for you afterward to help start your bicycle accident claim.
Time is of the essence after a bicycle accident. You may have limited time to take legal action, so it’s crucial to contact an experienced attorney promptly. If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Our team of skilled bicycle accident injury lawyers is dedicated to protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation. We will work diligently to build a strong case on your behalf.
It’s crucial to file a claim promptly after a bicycle accident in Chicago. The ideal time is once you have a clear understanding of your injuries and their financial impact, including medical costs and lost wages.
If you’re facing challenges with an insurance company, a skilled attorney can:
By acting promptly and seeking legal counsel, you can maximize your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries and losses.
Pinpointing who is at fault in a bicycle accident is crucial for holding the responsible party accountable. While cyclists strive for safety, it’s often the driver of a motor vehicle who is at fault. Research shows that motorists are responsible for the majority of bike-vehicle accidents.
Insurance companies sometimes try to minimize their payouts by unfairly blaming cyclists. To counter these tactics, an experienced attorney can:
Even if a cyclist shares some responsibility, they may still recover damages. However, their compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault. For instance, if a cyclist is 25% at fault for a $100,000 bicycle crash, they could receive $75,000.
By working with a knowledgeable attorney, cyclists can protect their rights and seek fair compensation for their injuries and losses.
Let Our Experienced Team Guide You Through the Legal Process
Bicycle accidents are traumatic and painful. If you’ve been seriously injured, you may be able to do little to help yourself other than wait in place for help to arrive, but if you can use your cell phone—or hand it to a helpful bystander to use for you—you can collect important evidence and protect yourself both physically and financially. Your cell phone becomes an important tool after an accident to do the following:
Once at the hospital, have a complete medical evaluation and tell the doctor about all of your symptoms, even those that seem minor. The trauma of a bike collision can mask serious injuries until many hours or even days after the collision. Ask for a detailed medical report with your doctor’s recommendations for your medical treatment as well as your prognosis. Be sure to keep copies of all medical bills to help calculate your damages.
To make a successful claim for damages after a bicycle accident in which a driver was at fault, the injury victim bears the burden of proving negligence through a preponderance of the evidence. Proving negligence and liability for a bicycle accident requires documenting evidence to demonstrate the following:
Once your attorney has investigated the case, diligently documented the evidence, and carefully calculated your damages to maximize your compensation, they can send a strong demand letter to the insurance company of the at-fault party for your compensation and negotiate a settlement for your damages.
A Chicago bicycle accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm can help you determine the next steps in your case and give you the legal support that you need to make a claim. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call our office in Chicago today at (312) 509-8900 or fill out our contact form to learn more.
