What Can I Do If My Kid Was Hit On His Bike?

When driving through neighborhoods or school zones, drivers must exercise caution. Parents should supervise their children on bicycles to help prevent them from getting hit by a negligent driver.

When a child is hit by a car, everybody in the area needs to act quickly.

Has your child been hit and injured while riding their bike? Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC to receive the compensation you deserve.

Our Chicago bicycle accident law firm has recovered over $250 million in settlements for our clients. Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill out the free consultation form so we can set up a time to speak with you.

Bicycle Safety

It can be dangerous if a driver carelessly drives through a neighborhood intersection, school zone, or park. A kid riding a bicycle, especially with friends, will not be as careful to stay out of the way of any approaching vehicle.

Most children ride with family or friends, which can distract a child from paying attention to the road.

There are state laws and bicycle safety rules that specify procedures that bicyclists should follow to avoid a collision with cars.

Some of these rules include bicyclists are not allowed to carry anything that keeps them from using both hands, and they must yield the right of way to people walking on sidewalks. Bike racing is also only allowed if the local government has given permission.

Who Is At Fault?

There are many cases where the bicyclist is the negligent party. In Illinois, a young boy or girl riding a bicycle will not be considered negligent for an accident with a vehicle.

Children between the ages of 7 to 14 will not be considered negligent in an accident. A 7-year-old boy or girl or anyone younger cannot be found negligent.

However, teenagers at least 14 years old can be found negligent if the investigation proves they were at fault.

What to Do If Your Child Is Struck by a Vehicle

If your child is involved in a bicycle accident with a car, if you are able, move the child and direct any of their friends out of the street or intersection.

It is important to remember that you should perform a few procedures following the accident. Making this effort can help in pursuing a claim against the driver.

Immediate Medical Treatment

When a negligent driver hits a child, injuries are inevitable.

It is advised that the parents take the child to a hospital for an evaluation. You should still seek medical treatment for a child if they seem well because injuries and pain can often appear in the following days.

Contact the Police

You should treat a bicycle accident like you would treat any crash. In Illinois, car accidents, including those with a bicyclist, need to be reported to the police.

If your child appears to have no injuries, you should still call the police so they can fill out a report documenting the incident.

Gather Information

While at the scene, you should document as much information as possible for your records.

The information you gather could help police investigators if the defendant driver left before the police arrived.

Take photographs or capture a video of your injuries, damage done to the bicycle, and damage to the vehicle. Obtain information from witnesses.

You should also document the defendant’s license plate number and insurance information. If a business or home with a video camera has footage of the crash, you can request a copy.

The crash reports made by police officers at the scene will also aid in resolving your claim. An attorney you hire may also request body video camera footage, open records, and information on the defendant.

Consult With an Attorney

A child on a bike who is struck can result in life-threatening injuries and suffering to the victim and their family. If the impact is severe, there is a likelihood that a child can be killed in a collision.

If your kids have been involved in a bicycle accident, you can seek compensation for damages. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC has decades of experience working for clients that have been injured or killed in bicycle accidents.

Call us today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our free consultation form, and we will set you up with a free case evaluation. Our experienced Chicago injury lawyers are dedicated to providing the best possible representation to our clients.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• NSC - Bike Accident Statistics
• Enjuris - Liability in Bike Accidents
• NHTSA - Avoiding a Bike Accident