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Waukegan Bicycle Accident
When you are injured in a bicycle accident, you must deal with the physical pain of your injuries and the stress and financial burden of mounting medical bills. In addition, if you suffer an injury such as a broken bone or concussion in a bike accident, it can take months before you can return to work and resume normal activities.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury lawyers understand that these expenses can quickly become overwhelming if not properly managed by an experienced attorney familiar with how insurance companies operate. In addition, you need someone who knows how insurance companies value claims to get the compensation you qualify for under Illinois law.
Contact our Waukegan personal injury attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
The Waukegan bicycle accident attorneys at our law firm understand what it takes to help cyclists injured in accidents recover damages after serious injuries because we ride bicycles!
National Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/NIOSH), in 2019, the number of bicycle accident injuries rose to 528,000. This number represents a significant increase from 431,000 in 2001.
The estimated cost of these bicycle accident injuries was over $5 billion, with an average hospital stay lasting six days.
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of bicycle fatalities. In 2010, 726 cyclist deaths from collisions with other vehicles, while only four percent were attributed to a collision with a fixed object or fall.
Illinois Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, each year in Illinois, bicycle accidents cause over three hundred injuries and fatalities. The most common type of bicycle accident is when an automobile collides with a cyclist.
This statistical data makes up forty percent of all crashes. Fifty-five percent of these collisions happen in urban areas, while thirty-eight percent occur on roads with designated bike lanes.
The Illinois Department of Transportation also reports that the most common time for a bicycle accident is between four and six in the evening. This number correlates with the fact that most people are commuting home from work at this time.
In Chicago, there are many precautions that cyclists can take to avoid being in a bicycle accident. Wearing a helmet, obeying the rules of the road, and wearing reflective clothing are the most obvious things that can be done.
However, cyclists should also stay alert by avoiding smartphones and earbuds. In addition, cyclists should signal their intentions before changing lanes or turning, try to ride predictably to reduce the likelihood of erratic behavior by other road users, avoid riding on sidewalks (if possible), and never assume that the other person is paying attention.
If you are involved in a Chicago bicycle accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately for your injuries. You should also contact the police to file an official accident report.
When seeking damages, you must demonstrate that another party's negligence led to your injuries and provide evidence to substantiate this claim.
Who Is Most Likely To Be Injured?
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine has released a study that provides statistics for all road users involved in a crash. The study found that the following are more likely to be injured in a crash:
- Male cyclists are almost twice as likely as female cyclists to be injured in a crash
- Cyclists aged 45-54 are the most likely to be injured in a crash
- Crashes involving motor vehicles are more likely to result in serious injury
- Those who ride at night are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash
What Can You Do To Reduce Your Risk?
There are many things that cyclists can do to reduce their risk of being involved in a crash. Wearing a helmet is the most obvious and important step that can be taken. In addition, riders should always obey the traffic rules, ride in a visible location, and use lights when riding at night.
If you are involved in a crash, seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not think you are injured, it is important to have a doctor check you out. Many injuries, such as concussions, may not be apparent right away.
The number of bicycle-related injuries in the United States is rising, with an estimated cost of over $5 billion. The most common cause of fatalities among cyclists is a collision with a motor vehicle.
Male cyclists are almost twice as likely as female cyclists to be injured, especially those aged 45-54. Cyclists can reduce their risk of being involved in a crash by wearing a helmet, obeying the traffic rules, and riding in a visible location. If you are involved in a crash, seek medical attention immediately.
Common Causes of Waukegan Bicycle Accident
Driver negligence is the leading cause of bicycle accidents in the United States. Cyclists can reduce their risk of being involved in a crash by wearing a helmet, obeying the traffic rules, and riding in a visible location. If you are involved in a crash, seek medical attention immediately.
Waukegan and Lake County are like heavily congested metropolitan areas where commercial trucks, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and bicyclists share the road. Unfortunately, this congestion often leads to bicycle accidents.
Many things can cause bicycle accidents, but the most common are:
- Driver inattention or distraction: Any distraction behind the wheel by texting, talking on the phone, eating, or drinking can lead to a serious accident. Drivers who are not paying attention are a danger to everyone on the road, especially to injured bicyclists.
- Driver error: Errors by drivers can include failure to yield the right of way, turning into a cyclist, and running a red light or stop sign.
- Defective bike equipment: A bicycle accident caused by improper maintenance, or a defect can lead to severe injuries. Defective equipment may include a flat tire, brake failure, or loose handlebars.
- Road hazards: Rough roads, potholes, and construction can cause cyclists to lose control and fall.
- Vehicles turning left in front of a bicyclist: Any motor vehicle making a left turn without observing the cyclist could be a serious accident.
- Opening a car door into the path of a bicyclist: A bicycle accident caused by car "dooring" is a serious concern in the Chicagoland area when drivers unexpectedly open their car doors, unaware of oncoming bicyclists.
- Cyclists riding on the wrong side of the road: Not all bike accidents result from negligent driving. Sometimes, the cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road, placing themselves in the dangerous pathway.
- Motorcycle lane-splitting: Any motorcyclist who splits the lane to move Vassar to congested traffic places pedestrians and bicyclists at risk.
- Commercial trucks (and passenger vehicles) turning left in front of bicyclists: Any vehicle making a turn without seeing the bicyclists on the shoulder side is also dangerous.
- Not obeying bike lane rules: Different municipalities throughout the Chicagoland area have installed bike lanes, but some cyclists don't need to obey the same traffic laws as cars. Failing to obey the law can be very dangerous for cyclists and drivers around them.
- Distracted walking: Pedestrians texting, talking on the phone, or listening to music with headphones are also dangerous to cyclists.
There are many things that cyclists can do to stay safe on the roads. Some tips are:
- Always wear a helmet
- Obey the traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs
- Ride in a visible location, such as on the right side of the road or in a bike lane
- Use lights when riding at night
- Be aware of your surroundings and the drivers around you
- Never drink and ride
If you are involved in a bicycle accident, it is important to seek medical attention right away. You may also want to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
What to Do If You Are Involved in an Accident
If you are involved in an accident, certain steps should be taken to protect yourself and your rights:
- Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not think you are injured, the injuries may not be apparent right away. It would help if you visited a doctor as soon as possible to ensure that no damage was done.
- Contact the police within 24 hours of the accident: Notifying police is important in establishing liability and receiving any benefits you may be owed. Police reports are useful in proving how the accident occurred and who is at fault, making it easier to file a claim with your insurance company or against the person deemed responsible for the accident.
- Gather information about others involved in the accident: Gather their contact information if any witnesses of the event. If you can, take a picture of the accident scene.
- Contact your insurance company: Whether the other party was responsible for the accident or it was your fault, contact your insurer or notify them of any claims you intend to file against them. All expenses related to the accident should be covered by insurance, so all parties are on the same level.
- Research your options: We all know that accidents happen, but how they are resolved is up to you and your lawyer. Most attorneys will offer a free initial consultation where you can discuss the circumstances surrounding the accident, what legal actions you may take, and any special circumstances or injuries involved in the accident.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, contact the attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC. We are experienced in dealing with these cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
In addition, we can work directly with the negligent driver and their insurer and gather information, including cameras on traffic control devices and positions of stop signs.
When Can You Sue for Bicycle Accidents?
If you are injured in a bicycle accident, you may be able to sue the driver of the vehicle that hit you for damages. To ensure you win your case, you must be able to demonstrate that the other party was negligent and that their negligence led to your injuries.
Under civil tort law, the injured party, or their personal injury lawyer, must prove the four elements of the case, including:
- The defendant owed the victim (plaintiff) a duty of care for their safety
- The defendant breached their duty, leading to an accident
- The accident caused the victim's damages
- The victim's damages are provable in court
In many cases, Waukegan bicycle accident lawyers can easily prove how the defendant was at fault for causing their client's damages. Fortunately, approximately 95% of all cases are resolved out of court, where the evidence is never shown to a jury.
However, the remaining cases can be complex, requiring filing a lawsuit in civil court and presenting evidence at trial.
Filing a Bicycle Accident Case for Compensation
Every injured party hurt in a bicycle accident has a legal right to file a civil lawsuit or compensation claim for monetary recovery to cover their damages.
Many of these cases are highly complex and require the skills of Waukegan bicycle accident attorneys specializing in personal injury cases.
The steps to file a bike accident compensation claim include:
- Filing a police report
- Contacting your insurance company
- Obtained all available insurance information and other data to help build your case
- Consulting with a personal injury lawyer
The police report is important to have as it will document the facts of the accident and who was at fault. Your insurance company will also want a copy of the police report to help them determine if they need to provide coverage for the accident.
When Multiple Parties are Involved
Not every case is clear cut, or only one motor vehicle driver is responsible for causing the collision. However, the injured party can seek compensation from all parties at fault for their damages in these cases.
This information can include filing a lawsuit against multiple insurance companies or naming every negligent driver in the bike accident case. The only way to assure you get compensated for your damages is to involve every liable party in the accident.
If you or someone you know was hurt in a bike accident, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC. We have experience in these cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
When Wrongful Death is Involved
Sadly, the number of fatal bicycle accidents is on the rise as our roadways continue to become more congested than ever.
Although the decedent was killed through someone else's negligence, they could include a commercial truck driver, passenger vehicle motorists, motorcycles, or others in some cases.
When the death occurs, the surviving family members have the legal right to seek financial compensation to recover their damages and losses. Qualifying family members might include the surviving spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, and others.
In many cases, the victim dies without a will or named executor to handle the estate upon the death. When this occurs, the judge will likely appoint a family member to take responsibility.
Not all family members will receive the same amount of compensation. The judge will decide who receives money damages based on the severity of their losses.
Compensation could include funds for medical and funeral expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other damages.
The wrongful death attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help the family members through this difficult time and assist them in seeking financial compensation for their damages. Our law firm has successfully represented many families in these cases and knows what it takes to get results.
How Much is My Bicycle Accident Compensation Case Worth?
Every bicycle accident case is unique, with different facts and evidence. As a result, determining the case's true value can be challenging.
However, our Waukegan bicycle accident lawyers use various methods, tools, and contributing factors to determine how much your case could be worth accurately.
Some of these contributing factors include:
- The extent of the injured party's injuries
- The length of time the healing process will take
- The current value of lost wages
- The amount of future lost earnings
- How the family will survive without funds until the victim heals
- The extent of pain-and-suffering the victim feels
- Funeral & burial costs in wrongful death cases
Typically, before your personal injury lawyer sends a demand letter to the defendant, the insurance company, or bike accident attorneys, they will investigate the injury compensation case. During the investigation, additional evidence and facts will arise that can help exactly determine what happened and who is at fault.
Sometimes, only an accident reconstruction expert can accurately determine what happened, if the victim was in a bike lane, in the wrong place, and where they were struck by the motor vehicle. However, additional information can be gleaned from the police officer who files a report after speaking to all eyewitnesses.
In complex bike accident cases, the personal injury attorney will likely conduct depositions to get accurate information of what witnesses and participants remember about the accident.
After the case is filed, our bike accident lawyers will work with experts to determine exactly how much the case is worth.
What Are My Options After a Bicycle Accident?
Each bicycle accident victim has the right to hire an attorney and file an injury claim against the party deemed responsible for their injuries. In road traffic accidents, cases are often difficult where a commercial truck driver struck the decedent.
The victim's family members often hire bicycle accident attorneys to file a wrongful death claim to recover financial compensation for their damages and losses.
When this occurs, the bicycle accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help them through this difficult time and assist them in seeking financial compensation for their damages.
Hiring a Waukegan Bicycle Accident Lawyer to Resolve a Personal Injury Case
Were you injured in a bicycle accident, or did you lose a loved one through wrongful death? If so, don't hesitate to contact our law offices of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC for a free consultation. Our law firm can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact our Waukegan office at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form, text message, or email to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal issues.
Our legal team accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits through contingency fee agreements. This process ensures you pay nothing into your case is resolved through a negotiated settlement or jury award.
Our Chicago, IL legal team currently represents clients throughout Illinois, including in the following localities, Cook County, Lake County, Kane County, McHenry County, Winnebago County, DuPage County, Arlington Heights, Highland Park, Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Chicago.
We represent Waukegan residents in various practice areas, including medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability, nursing home abuse, slip and fall cases, trucking accidents, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian deaths.