Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Chicago

A lot of bicyclist don’t get medical treatment right away. We think it is mostly due to the adrenaline pumping so hard that they feel ok.

Throughout Chicago, biking can be a preferred method of traveling. Chicago hosts over 200 miles of bike lanes and there are plans to increase the the lanes by 445 miles by 2020. Even with lanes dedicated to bicyclists, accidents involving vehicles will still occur. When a car hits your bike, damage to the car is minor, while the damage to your bike and your body will be severe. Cars come equipped with seat belts and airbags. The only air bag you have as a cyclist, is the space between you and the ground. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012 there were 726 bike accidents resulting in death. 

Bicycle Accident Facts

• Dooring is illegal in Chicago. If a driver opens their door causing an accident, the motorist is liable.
• Unobservant driver. If a driver is unfocused, forgot to look both ways, and hits you, they are liable for damages to you and your bike.
• A motorist failed to yield. When you are cycling you have the right of way over merging vehicles.
• Distracted Drivers. Motorists preoccupied by their cell phones are a threat to anyone in their vicinity. If a driver is playing on their phone and hits you, they will be liable for damages and suffering.
• Driver inattention. Many accidents are caused when a motorist pulls out in front of a cyclist. You can claim compensation.

Willens Law Offices

If you have been in a bicycle accident, you need a professional lawyer on your side. You need the experienced services of Willens Law Offices. We have lawyers dedicated to legal cases involving bicycles. We understand all of the laws and rules involving bikes and motorists. You will need money to repair your bike and heal your body. The costs of hospital visits, recovery, and long term physical therapy can be astronomical.  If you have been hit by a car or truck, we will make sure you get the compensation you deserve. In more drastic cases of accidental death, nothing will be able to replace your loved one, yet we will work hard to ensure that you are justly compensated for such a dramatic situation.

Child Bicycle Accident Injuries in Chicago

While cycling is a favorite activity of many children here in Chicago, there are risks parents and child should be aware of.

Cycling is an activity that promotes health and helps develop a child’s gross motor skills. Learning to ride a bicycle is a great milestone in a child’s life and gives them the joy of having a level of independent. However, cycling comes with its own inherent risks, and it is important for parents and children to recognize these risks. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 59 percent of individuals who reported to emergency rooms for treatment of bicycle injuries were children under the age of 15 years. Every year, close to 300,000 child bicycle injuries are reported.

Motor Vehicle-Bicycle Accidents Involving Children

Most injuries that are reported are a result of a child falling from the bicycle. However, accidents and injuries involving motor vehicle and bicycles are not uncommon. When a motor vehicle hits a kid riding a bicycle, the injuries that occur are often severe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children under the age of 14 years account for almost 18 percent of motor vehicle-bicycle accident crashes. These types of accidents cause over 9,000 injuries and about 55 deaths each year.

In the case of an accident involving a child bicycle rider and motor vehicle, liability is not always easy to establish. Children may not always know the traffic rules and may also disobey them; however, motor vehicle drivers are also responsible to watch out for bicyclists or pedestrians they are sharing the road with. Determining whether the bicyclist or the motor vehicle driver is at fault may become complicated. Consult an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer from Willens Law Offices.

Common Injuries Caused by Child Bicycle Accidents

While a bicycle accident may cause a wide variety of injuries, the most serious injuries are brain injuries. In addition to brain injuries, the other more serious types of injuries that a child can suffer in a bicycle accident are broken bones and lacerations.

Traumatic brain injuries are a common cause of disability and death among children, according to the Brain Injury Association. Every year, more than a million children suffer some type of brain injury. One of the biggest problems involving brain injuries is that the symptoms are not always immediately felt, taking hours and even days for the symptoms to present themselves. Parents may feel that their child has recovered from a head injury, but the effect of the brain injury may be felt even years later. A child who suffers a brain injury in a bicycle accident may face cognitive difficulties or lower IQ, behavioral difficulties caused by damage to the frontal cortex, emotional problems, and memory and attention problems.