Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Illinois bicycle collision attorney Gary Annes recently reached a $152,000 settlement at a mediation for a bicycle rider. This claim arises out of an incident which occurred on August 18, 2008 and could be considered both a Chicago premises liability case as well as a bicycle accident claim.

On the morning of the occurrence our client was riding her bicycle to work. The weather was sunny and dry. She was riding her bicycle southbound in Desplaines St. in the City of Chicago.

There was a construction site located at 370 N. Desplaines St. The main defendant in the case was the general contractor on the construction project. As the bicyclist was riding southbound on Desplaines the construction site was on the rider's right side. When she was about halfway past the construction site, green mesh fabric attached to the construction fence blew out into the road and directly into the rider. The netting caught onto the handlebars and/or brake for the bicycle and yanked it back out from under her. This resulted in the plaintiff being thrown forward off of her bicycle onto the pavement. She landed on her left arm, breaking her left wrist.

The City of Chicago Municipal Code requires that a general contractor on a construction site must affix fabric mesh to the construction site fence face. §13-32-125(c). The Code further requires that the general contractor immediately repair any damage to the fence fabric. §13-32-125(e).

A photograph taken shortly after the accident showed how the fence fabric had become ripped and unattached to the fence, flipped on the outside of the fence and loose at the bottom, able to blow up and out into the street with any breeze.

The defendant failed to properly affix, repair and maintain the fence fabric. As a result the fence fabric became unattached on the bottom of the fence, flipped over to the outside of the fence and was able to flap out into the roadway with any breeze.

Following the incident the bike rider had an immediate onset of excruciating left wrist pain. She was transferred from the scene of the occurrence by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. Upon her arrival at the emergency department she complained of left wrist pain, left elbow pain, left ankle pain and left shoulder pain.

The plaintiff was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. X-rays and a CT of her wrist revealed a displaced intra-articular distal radius fracture with gapping at the lunate facet, a minimally displaced ulnar styloid fracture and a scaphoid waist fracture. An open reduction, internal fixation surgery was recommended. Initially, her left wrist, forearm and elbow were placed in a plaster cast for immobilization and she was prescribed pain medications until surgery could be performed.

Surgery was performed on August 22, 2008. The surgical procedures performed included an open repair of the left distal radial fracture with internal fixation of 2 fragments, open repair of the scaphoid fracture with internal fixation and tenotomy brachioradialis tendon of the left wrist. As part of the procedure, surgical metal was implanted into her wrist including a metal plate and five screws. Following the surgery her arm was put in a sling and she was given another prescription for pain medications.

After the surgery our client sought follow up treatment with her surgeon. She saw the doctor several times over the next few months. He ordered that a forearm-based thumb spica splint be made which the client wore. Additionally a course of physical therapy was prescribed. The client's father was a physical therapist and he provided her with therapy.

At the time of her last appointment with her surgeon, she continued to complain of left wrist stiffness, residual discomfort with point contact around the fractures.

Despite her treatment, our client continued to experience pain and discomfort in her left wrist. This was especially prevalent with changes in the weather or when pressure or weight was applied to the wrist. Additionally, due to the severity and location of the fractures, she is at an increased risk of developing traumatic arthritis in her left wrist.

For months after the accident the bicyclist could not do any activity that required the use of her left hand. Even after her cast was removed and she was able to begin to use her left hand and wrist, she continued to experience pain with almost all activities of daily living. For approximately three months she was unable to ride her bicycle.

Medical expenses incurred by our client for treatment of the injuries she suffered as a result of the negligence of the defendant totaled over $30,000. She also sustained a permanent surgical scar on her left wrist.

Continue reading "Chicago bike accident lawyer settles lawsuit for $152,000" »

According to Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois Safe Routes to School Program will be offering communities and schools districts nearly $22 million to help ensure safe routes to school for children who bike or walk to school. This program is federally funded and is used to help reduce the risks of bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Illinois.

“These projects enhance roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure within communities, which is important in keeping both drivers and pedestrians safe,” Governor Quinn said.

Our Chicago bicycling and pedestrian accident attorneys understand that the funding will be used to support nearly 230 projects aimed at repairing sidewalks as well as providing safety equipment to crossing guards and to police officers. Within the $22 million is nearly $2 million that will be dedicated to helping communities with educational materials, safety training and public service announcements used to encourage school-aged children to walk and bike to school. This allotted $2 million, officials believe, will help to make sure that the statewide program is consistent and that it produces favorable outcomes from safe-traveling projects.

According to Ann Schneider, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Safe Routes to School grants will help to make our roadways even safer for all pedestrians and bicyclists in addition to educating the community about the importance of these forms of transportation. She also stresses the importance of walking and biking and leading an active lifestyle. This program and these federal funds will hopefully help to lower air pollution and fuel consumption, says Schneider.

Ron Burke, the Executive Director of Active Transportation, agrees with Schneider. He says that walking and biking to school is safer and easier then we're all doing our part to keep our young generations healthy, active and safe.

The Illinois Safe Routes to School program is a part of a federal program conducted by the Federal Highway Administration that is used to facilitate activities and projects that will help to benefit community travel, including lowering fuel consumption, reducing traffic congestion and improving community safety.

Within the state's program, projects are funded at 100 percent with no local match required. Roughly 70 percent of the overall funding is used to assist infrastructure projects while the remaining 30 percent is uses to support community-outreach programs.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 110 people who were killed in pedestrian accidents across the state of Illinois in 2009. Many of these accidents could have been prevented with safer driving habits and with more community awareness. This new grant money is helping to reduce these numbers in the New Year. Drivers are asked to remain cautious and aware of our young and vulnerable travelers along our roadways, especially before and after school. Safe driving habits can help to avoid fatal pedestrian and bicycling accidents.

Continue reading "Grant Money Available to Help Reduce Risks of Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois" »

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys recently discussed some New Year's resolutions that you and your family can make to help make our roadways safe throughout the entire state of Illinois. We discussed how drivers and bicyclists can work together to create a city of safe travel for the both.

We would like to further discuss the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020. The goal of this plan is to make our city easier and safer to travel for bicyclists and to ultimately reduce the risks of bicycle accidents in Chicago.

Chicago recognizes bicycling as an affordable, convenient, healthy and green way to navigate the city. The problem is that many Chicagoans don't feel safe riding a bicycle along Chicago streets. A recent study in Portland concluded that about 60 percent of the population is interesting in cycling, but concerns about safety abound. Chicago faces these same challenges. Chicago is in need of more streets that allow families to safely ride bicycles without having to fear an accident.

The Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 will be used by transportation officials to guide the development of a citywide network of up to 250 miles of innovative bikeways that will make riding a bicycle a safe, easy and fun alternative to motor vehicle travel for all residents.

As a first part of the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, transportation officials will be examining the city in nine separate areas in search of ways to improve each area for better, safer and easier cycling. Some of the characteristics that these officials will look for are where bike lanes are needed, how to improve current bikeways and to determine where bikeways would be most beneficial in the future.

How you can help to ensure better bikeways for Chicago:

-Attend the Open House which will include mapping activities, information about these new bicycle facilities and an opportunity to discuss biking in your neighborhood with Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) staff.

-Look up the Streets for Cycling Plan 2010 facebook page and become an active member.

-Show up at the public meetings. There will be three meetings held in January and February.

-You're encouraged to join your Community Advisory Group. This group gives you a chance to discuss your ideas and concerns with others who are fighting for safer Chicago streets. This information can then be shared with CDOT. Send an email to join your Community Advisory Group.

We would like to ask everyone to get involved in make our Chicago roadways safer for all. This can be as simple as paying more attention to your surroundings when driving a motor vehicle. Bicyclists have a right to the roadway and should be treated with respect and caution. These travelers are more vulnerable to injury in the event of an accident and only you can help to prevent this from happening.

Continue reading "City Pushes for Safer Bike Routes to Help Reduce Risks of Bicycling Accidents in Chicago" »

Rahm Emanuel and Gabe Klein, Chicago's new transportation head, continue to push their views on a bicycle-friendly transportation policy and city infrastructure, according to the Huffington Post. The new plans are expected to make traveling more convenient for residents and to help to prevent bicycling accidents in Chicago.

Year after year, the city of Chicago ranks as a "silver" designation for being a bike-friendly city. In the 2011 League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community Rankings, our area was ranked the same Austin, Denver, Washington D.C. and New York City. With the promises from local officials, the city is expected to join the ranks of areas like San Francisco, Portland and Minneapolis, where bicycling is used as a safe and vital tool for many urban residents.

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys understand that there were roughly 600 cyclists killed in traffic-related accidents in 2009 in the U.S. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 50,000 additional bicycling injuries during the year. About 2 percent of all of the traffic-related accidents in Chicago were made up of bicycling accidents in 2008. In the state of Illinois, there were hundreds of injured bicyclists and 2 fatalities during that year. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if more bicycle-friendly roadways were available.

The state's current bicycle infrastructure in Chicago from CDOT's Bicycle Program, according to Grid Chicago:

-More than 120 miles of on-road bike lanes.

-More than 30 miles of marked shared lanes.

-Half a mile addition of car-separated bicycling tracks (Kinzie Street).

-Fifty miles of paved, off-road trails (The Lake Shore Path).

-Nearly 12,500 on-street racks for bicycles.

-A bicycle parking corral, located on Milwaukee near Damen.

-Six kiosks for bike-sharing.

Back in July, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the expansion of the Kinzie. This car-separated track is now 2 miles long. According to Active Transportation Alliance, CDOT will be installing more protected bike lanes on 18th Street from Elston Avenue and Clark and Canal and from North to Milwaukee. This project will complete nearly 4 miles of protected biking lanes. Only 96 more miles to go in the next four years to make Emanuel's promise of 100 more miles of biking lanes a reality.

Back in September, Chicago announced that it will be launching a new bike-share program. This project is to focus on regular commuters and residents instead of tourists. This program is planning on installing roughly 300 stations and roughly 3,000 bikes for residents to rent and use. The program is also expected to install an additional 200 stations and 2,000 bikes by the end of the summer in 2012.

In 2009, there were nearly 1,500 bicycling accidents in Chicago. Of these accidents, six people died. In 2010, there were more than 1,600 bicycling accidents reported to Chicago officials. During this year, 5 bicyclists were killed. The intersection of Grand/Milwaukee/Halsted has been named as the third most dangerous intersection on Milwaukee Avenue as it has reported the highest number of car-bicycle accidents. Still officials have done virtually nothing to improve this area. Safe biking advocates hope that the newly released stats of bicycling accidents in Chicago will be used to determine which areas need the most work done to make bicyclists safe.

With all of these bicycle plans, and many more in the future, Chicago is expected to one day become ideal for all travelers among our roadways; bicyclists, cyclists and motor vehicles.

Continue reading "Big Plans from CDOT to Control Bicycling Accidents in Chicago" »

As we've recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, made a promise to residents and to cyclists to construct 100 miles of shared bike lanes. He's coming through on his promise so far as he's been focusing efforts on the Kinzie bike lane. This is the bike lane that was constructed to keep bicyclists safe from accidents with motor vehicles. The bike lane has already attracted a large number of cyclists and has been able to reduce rush hour motor-vehicle traffic significantly.

He's continuing on with his promise. Emanuel says that he wants to make Chicago one of the best places to bike in the U.S. once again. The advocacy for safer biking conditions actually started back when mayoral candidate Carter H. Harrison II, campaigned as "the cyclists' champion" in the 19th century, according to BikeRadar. Surprisingly though, once Harrison was elected into office, he grew the city to its current size and turned it into a modern metropolis -- an area ideal for motorists, not bicyclists.

The previous mayor, Richard M. Daley, was also an advocate for bicyclists in the area. He spent more than 22 years in office and provided the city with more than 100 miles of biking lanes, in part to help prevent car-bicycle accidents in Chicago. Emanuel is carrying on the promise with his vow to provide the area with more than 100 miles of additional bike lanes. He's also backing the new bike-sharing program that will allow residents to use some of the 3,000 bikes in the program.

"I think he has done a great job of mentioning the things that need to be done," Julie Hochstadter, who serves as vice president of the Chicago Cycle Club.

According to the Gabe Klein, the Transportation Commissioner, the additional bike lanes are going to cost the city somewhere around $30 million. He states that the city has already applied for federal funding from the clean air program and has combined the bike-lane project with some maintenance construction for nearby roads.

Programs like this could potentially keep Chicago residents from moving to the suburbs, says Hochstadter. She also says that creating more protected boulevards could prove a way to offer residents with alternative ways to travel for daily commutes. She brings up the recent study that was conducted by the Transportation Commissioner's office that concluded that more than 20 percent of the rush hour traffic on Milwaukee Avenue is made up of bicyclists anyway.

To help accommodate bicyclists even more, the Chicago Department of Transportation recently announced the arrival of new bike racks. Back in September, crews hit the city to install new bike racks. As of now, roughly 150 of the 750 bike racks have already been installed. CDOT is planning on finishing this installation project by the end of October. The project will bring nearly 2,500 bike racks to the city. The funds for this project were provided by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program.

In addition to these bike racks, the city's Bicycle Parking team recently launched its efforts to remove bikes that have been abandoned throughout our city. The team has collected about 100 bikes so far and has donated then to charity.

Continue reading "Mayor Emanuel Pushes Effort to Reduce Risks of Bicycling Accidents in Chicago" »

Texting and driving is bad enough. But texting and cycling?

The Chicago City Council recently passed an ordinance that prohibits bicyclists from texting while riding. Bike riders have also been banned from making phone calls while riding a bike unless they're using a hands-free device, according to the Chicago Tribune. This ban will start in November. These regulations are being put on the books to help reduce the risks of bicycle accidents in Chicago.

Our Illinois bike accident lawyers understand that distractions are causing a lot of people serious accidents. Cell phones and text messaging devices are causing accidents among motorists, pedestrians and now bicyclists. Under the new ordinance, if you're busted using a hand-held cell phone while riding your bicycle in Chicago you could face a fine of $20 for a first-time offense. Every time you're busted, the fine increases with a $100 fine for a third-time offense. If you cause an accident because you were texting or using a hand-held phone while biking, you could be slapped with a $500 fine.

According to sponsoring Ald. Margaret Laurino, 39th, this is an issue of fairness and safety. Since motorists in the city are already banned from these activities, bicyclists should be banned as well -- the risks are the same.

"This ordinance basically levels the playing field between motorists and bicyclists," said Laurino.

Some bicycling advocates are backing the new ordinance. Adolfo Hernandez, the director of outreach and advocacy with the pro-cyclist Active Transportation Alliance, says that the new ban makes perfect sense. He says that if bicyclists want to be treated equally on the roadways, they should have to follow the same rules. He continues on to say that officials should keep their focus on enforcing this law among motor-vehicle drivers -- distractions contribute to far more accidents among motor-vehicle traffic than bicycling traffic.

Chicago officers say they're going to stop cell phone-using bicyclists just like they would stop any other person on the roadway.

The Active Transportation Alliance says that its concerned that the new rule will take attention off of the ban that prohibits drivers in Chicago from using a cell phone or a text message device. Chicago officials say no way! They report that the number of cell phone citations has increased every year since the ban first started. There were nearly 3,000 violations recorded in 2008, nearly 11,000 in 2009 and nearly 20,000 in 2010.

The new ban comes after the city's announcement that approximately 300 bicycle renting stations were being installed. These stations will offer roughly 3,000 rental bikes to residents and visitors of Chicago by next summer. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s is also keeping up with his promise to install about 100 miles of protected bike lanes over the next four years.

As the bicycling community continues to grow, local officials try to keep up with accommodating these individuals. Motorists are still the biggest threats to bicyclists in the area so we ask that all motor-vehicle traffic keep an eye out for our two-wheeled travelers.

Continue reading "Cyclists Banned from Cell Phone Use to Avoid Bicycling Accidents in Chicago" »

As we recently discuss on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the city constructed the Kinzie bike lane to help ensure the safety of cyclists on our roadways and to help reduce the congestion of traffic through the city. Mayor Emanuel previously promised a 100 new miles of shared bike lanes. Kinzie is a new breed of separated bike lanes that officials believe will further reduce the risk of a serious or fatal accident.

Such lanes are meant to significantly decrease the risks of bicycle accidents in Chicago in areas that are congested and dangerous. Approximately 20 percent of the traffic on Chicago roadways is made up of cyclists.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed the construction of the Kinzie Street Protected Bike Lane in July.

According to a recently conducted study on resident's reviews on Kinzie Bike Lane:

-Of surveyed bikers, nearly 90 percent of them state that they feel safe or very safe on the bike lane.

-Nearly 50 percent of those who were surveyed reported that they feel that motorist's behavior has improved since the installation of the Kinzie bike lane.

-Bicycling traffic during rush hour is up nearly 60 percent since completion.

-A study from the CDOT reported that more than 40 percent of surveyed individuals admitted to changing their routes in the city to now take the new bike lane.

-CDOT reported that currently bicyclists account for approximately 55 percent of eastbound traffic and more than 30 percent of all traffic.

-Westbound traffic during the morning rush hour from Wells to Milwaukee has decreased.

-Rush hour during the evening hours has decreased in both directions.

-The project is still making more changes to the area. Some of the changes that are planned include increasing access to the lane and installing new signage and red-flashing beacons.

CDOT says that it will be continuing to seek the public's opinion on the new Kinzie bike lane to help make further improvements. Residents are urged to contact CDOT with and questions, comments or concerns regarding the Kenzie bike lane or any other transportation issues.

It’s about making sure that every dollar we spend is focused on building a city that works for all of its residents,” says Mayor Emanuel.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were are more than 700 people killed and more than 500,000 people that are injured because of traffic-related bicycle accidents in the U.S. each year.

Continue reading "CDOT Officials Survey Public Regarding Kinzie Bike Lane, Traffic Improvements and Risks for Bicycling Accidents in Chicago" »

Over the last week Illinois bike crash attorneys at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent cyclists who were injured by negligent drivers in two different accidents earlier this month.

In the first incident, a bicyclist was riding westbound in the 2400 block of Logan Boulevard on the far right side of the street. At that time the driver of a 2007 Chevy Equinox drove too close to him and bumped him as she passed by, knocking him to the ground.

The plaintiff was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital in Chicago. He had sustained injuries to his left shoulder, ribs and head, and also had bad road rash. There he was examined by physicians and x-rays were taken, which were negative for fractures.

During the week after the collision, the plaintiff's shoulder pain remained. He has since sought follow up medical care with a medical doctor in the Chicago area.

In a second accident, a bicycle rider was heading southbound on Sheffield. At that time he approached a 2005 Hyundai that was stopped in the street with a left turn signal on, waiting to enter an alley. As the plaintiff was traveling by on the right side of the street, the driver decided not to make the turn and swerved back to the right, hitting the bicyclist.

The plaintiff flew over the car on impact and rolled on the pavement. He sustained a concussion, and injuries to his neck, wrist and right knee. He was seen later that day at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital emergency room.

Over the next several days the bicyclist's pain only increased. He soon after started treatment with an orthopedic group in Chicago. There he is under the supervision of a medical doctor and going through course of physical therapy.

Our office is pursuing a claim against Geico, the auto insurance carrier for the at fault driver.

The Chicago Police Department handled the crash investigations for both accidents.

As cooler weather arrives in Chicago, motorists need to be aware the bicycle riders are still on the road. More and more Chicagoans are bicycling to work every day, and fall weather is not going to deter them.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has reported that in the year 2010 there were a total of 3,599 bicycle accidents statewide. 24 of those collisions involved fatalities, and 3444 of them resulted in injuries. Statistically, that means that over 95% of 2010 Illinois bicycle accidents resulted in someone getting hurt.

Just over 76% of the accidents occurred during daylight hours, and over 96% took place on urban roads. Further, 76% of the bike riders injured were male, while only 24% were female.

Continue reading "Chicago bicycle accident lawyer takes on 2 new cases" »

As Illinois bicycle crash lawyers at Abels & Annes informed you last week, we recently filed a lawsuit against a negligent motorist who struck a teenager riding his bike.

Since that time Abels & Annes, working with co-counsel, have filed two additional bike accident lawsuits. In one case, a bicyclist was injured on September 5, 2010 when he was doored by a taxicab passenger.

The colliison took place on Diversey Street in Chicago in the westbound lanes. The taxi driver failed to pull over to the side of the road and stopped in the middle of the street. Without warning, the passenger then swung his door open to exit into traffic. Our client crashed into the cab door and fell off his bike onto the pavement.

Immediately after the collision, the bicycle rider started to experience pain and discomfort in his right knee, right thigh, left hand third finger, and his left shoulder. He was transported by ambulance to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

When he arrived at the ER a history was taken, he was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. Physical examination showed bruising to the left upper arm area, and obvious deformity to the middle finger, and significant right knee swelling. X-rays taken revealed a comminuted fracture of the middle phalanx of the middle finger of the left hand and right knee effusion.

The plaintiff was given pain medication, his finger was splinted and he was given a brace to immobilize his knee and crutches to ambulate. ER physicians referred him to a hand specialist for further care.

Our client saw an orthopedic specialist several days after the accident. The physician determined that surgery was necessary and performed a closed reduction, K-wire fixation of the left middle finger. Temporary pins were inserted into his finger and removed about a month later.

The client's doctor later prescribed a course of occupational therapy to complete healing of the finger, and he continued to follow-up with the physician.

The bicyclist also had further treatment for his knee and shoulder with an orthopedic surgeon in north suburban Evanston. The physician prescribed additional physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and recommended continued use of his knee splint and crutches, to be weaned off slowly.

Due to the accident, our client incurred just under $35,000 in medical bills, plus $760 damage to his bicycle.

A lawsuit was filed because when we started to attempt to negotiate a bodily injury settlement on behalf of our client, we had two insurance companies pointing fingers at each other. The insurance company for the taxi driver was blaming the passenger for the accident, while the passenger (who has his own auto insurance policy) was blaming the taxi driver.

Due to this issue, our client agreed to proceed with a lawsuit to maximize his financial recovery against both defendants.

In another bike accident case, our client was injured when a driver of a 1994 Chrysler Concorde failed to yield while pulling out of an alley. The plaintiff was riding his bicycle in a northbound lane of traffic on Central Park in Chicago, just south of Harrison Street, when he was struck by the vehicle.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the accident. After an investigation, they placed the defendant at fault.

The bike rider was treated shortly after the accident at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. He sustained back, neck and left ankle injuries in the accident.

Continue reading "As summer ends, Chicago bike accident attorneys file two more lawsuits" »

A new resident to the state was killed while exploring the area on her bike. The woman was killed in a Chicago bicycle accident when she was riding north on Wabash and rode between a car and a dump truck that had stopped for a red light at Wacker Drive, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Police say she lost her balance and fell under the rear axle of the dump truck. As the intersection's light turned green, the truck took off before she could get out from under the wheels. A witness shouted out to the driver. The truck came to a stop and remained at the scene. Police are still investigating the incident. No charges have been filed.

“It’s a tragic accident,” Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said. “It appears from witnesses . . . the bicyclist had lost her footing and slipped under the wheels.”

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys understand the risks of cycling in the city. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were more than 600 bicyclists killed in traffic accidents on U.S. roadways in 2009 alone. Another 51,000 bicyclists were injured in because of these accidents. Illinois saw 20 bicyclist deaths in 2008 and hundreds more injuries. About three quarters of the state's serious and fatal bicycle accidents occur in Chicago.

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Blog, the city is pushing for even more residents and visitors to use bicycles as an effective and convenient form of transportation. In an effort to make two-wheeled transportation more appealing, the city and Chicago's Department of Transportation (CDOT) just recently celebrated the installation of its first on-street bicycle parking corral. This new parking corral is located on Milwaukee Avenue just south of North Avenue. This new bicycle parking lot allow for parking for more than 12 bicycles in a space that was previously used to 1 or 2 motor vehicles. This is the first of many that will be installed throughout the city.

Separate bike lanes are also being installed and may have saved a life in this case.

As the city pushes for more bicyclists, motorists are urged to adapt to these new road travelers.

Here are some safety tips for bicyclists, from Secretary of State Jesse White, to help keep you safe on our roadways:

-Abide by the same traffic laws as motorists.

-You must ride in the same direction as traffic. Riding in the opposite direction of traffic is not only dangerous, but it is also against the law.

-Allow at least 3 feet of space between you and a bicyclist when passing.

-When walking or riding your bicycle on a sidewalk or along a crosswalk you are required to obey all pedestrian signs and signals.

-You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on sidewalks or crosswalks.

-When approaching a pedestrian from behind, make sure you slow down and give an audible warning signal to notify them of your presence before passing.

-Bicycles are allowed to be parked on the road at any angle to the curb or edge of the
roadway where parking is allowed. When parking is allowed on a sidewalk, you may park
your bicycle so it will not be in the way of pedestrians.

-Slow down at intersections and railroad crossings to make sure it's safe to cross.

-Keep both hands on the handlebars at all times. You are urged to use a backpack or a bike carrier to hold your books, lunch or other items you may need to transport.

-Ride slower on wet streets, loose gravel or bumpy roads.

Continue reading "New Resident Run Over by Dump Truck in Illinois Bicycle Accident" »

Last Friday, Chicago's Department of Transportation (CDOT) celebrated the installation of the city's first on-street bicycle parking corral. The parking lot is located on Milwaukee Avenue just south of North Avenue. The new, multi-space corral allows space for more than 12 bicycles in a single space that would have otherwise been occupied by one or two cars, according to The City of Chicago's Official Site. The project was funded by the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA and put together by CDOT. This is the first of many that are to be installed throughout the city.

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys understand this is a step in the right direction for bicyclists. As bicycling gets more and more popular, the need for others to acknowledge the existence and safety needs of riders grows more and more crucial. Oftentimes bicyclists are injured or killed on our roadways because they are overlooked by motorists. With more awareness about our two-wheeled travelers, we may be able to save some lives on our roadways.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 600 bicyclists killed on U.S. roadways because of traffic accidents in 2009. Another 51,000 bicyclists were injured in these incidents. Bicycle accidents in Chicago and elsewhere that resulted in death accounted for 2 percent of all traffic deaths for the entire year. Illinois witnessed 20 bicyclist deaths in 2008; hundreds more were injured.

A bicycle corral is an on-street parking facility for bicyclists. A corral makes efficient use of the parking lane for bicycles in areas with a high demand. Corrals typically provide enough room for 12 or so bicycles in the space that would normally have been used for 1 of 2 cars.

What are the benefits of having a bicycle corral in my city?

-Businesses can benefit from these corrals as they provide a 10-to-1 customer to parking space ratio, they increase foot and bike traffic and they advertise “bike friendliness” to the area. Corrals can also improve the pedestrian environment by taking bicycles off the sidewalk.

-These corrals improve bicycle parking availability at popular destinations. They can also increase the visibility of bicycling as a convenient form of transportation.

-The high-visibility environment of the corral reduces the risk of bike theft.

-Pedestrians can enjoy the increased availability of space on busy sidewalks with heavy foot traffic. They would no longer have to dodge bikes parked along the sidewalks.

-Corrals clear up intersections and in turn improve sight lines by eliminating the opportunity for larger vehicles to park at street corners.

-Corrals offer a space where bicyclists can park and lock up where they won't be in the way of pedestrians.

-Bicycle corrals can improve the visibly of your business from the street because they eliminate the parking of large vehicles in front of your store.

These new corrals are a direct result of the public-private partnership between the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA and the Chicago Department of Transportation. The SSA donated the facility, which was designed and constructed by CDOT.

Continue reading "New Parking Corral Raising More Awareness of Riders and Reducing Risks of Bicycle Accidents in Chicago?" »

Dooring!

It's a careless event that's causing serious injury to bicyclists in Chicago and around the world. Dooring is a dangerous collision caused by the doors of parked vehicles opening into the path of bicyclists. These accidents were, for the first time, counted as crashes in Illinois thanks to the tireless work of safety advocates and the signature of Gov. Pat Quinn.

Now there is a simple idea that can put an end to these preventable and careless bicycle accidents in Illinois.

Here it is: When you get out of your car on the driver’s side, just open the door with your right hand. Opening the driver's side door with your right hand will force you to twist your body around and look back, allowing you to see if any bicyclists or pedestrians are approaching, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers understand that this practice is already taking place in other crowded areas, like in the Netherlands, where a majority of the population uses bicycles to travel around town. As a matter of fact, drivers in this area are taught to exit their vehicle this way. This practice was also written about in a New York Times piece, The Dutch Way: Bicycles and Fresh Bread.

“Likewise, every Dutch child has to pass a bicycle safety exam at school,” wrote Russell Shorto, author of the New York Times' dooring piece. “The coexistence of different modes of travel is hard-wired into the culture.”

It is also believed that the visibility of the overwhelmingly large population of cyclists contributes to safer streets as drivers are more likely to expect them.

"Bicyclists and pedestrians are less likely to be hit by cars in cities that have greater numbers of cyclists and pedestrians," said psychologist Dan Simons, who explored this phenomenon in his book, "The Invisible Gorilla," which he coauthored with Chris Chabris.

Just last year, Chicago had more than 70 reported dooring accidents, according to the city. That's likely to be only a fraction of all the dooring collisions, as many go unreported.

"We were never against collecting the data. There was never really any large effort to make us aware that doorings could be an issue," Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) spokesman Guy Tridgell said.

Earlier this year, Governor Quinn put a new directive into effect that requires law enforcement agencies across the state to make special note of dooring accidents when they write up reports. All of their reports are later handed over to the state. The dooring data will be incorporated into annual traffic accident summaries compiled by IDOT. Our state did not previously categorize such accidents because they don't generally involve a moving vehicle.

“As more people are riding bicycles and embracing other green modes of transportation, we need to ensure that Illinois collects data that presents a complete picture of what is happening on our roads,” Quinn said in a statement.

According to the Governor's office, IDOT will be launching a public outreach effort to spread the word about the need for driver's to look around before popping open a door, especially in areas popular with bicyclists.

Continue reading "Simple Theory Aims to Reduce Bicycle Accidents caused by Dooring in Chicago" »

Illinois bicycle crash attorneys at Abels & Annes have negotiated a settlement on behalf of a cyclist and tri-athlete injured in a crash caused by a negligent motorist. The case settled for the insurance policy limits of the at fault driver, as well as additional compensation from her own under-insured motorist policy.

The accident took place on July 24, 2009, as the victim was traveling eastbound in a marked bicycle lane through the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Sangamon Street in Chicago, Illinois. A woman traveling westbound in a 2005 Nissan Ultima failed to properly yield to the cyclist, who had the right of way, causing her left hand and right knee to strike the car on impact. The victim’s momentum then took her up and over the hood before landing on her back, right shoulder, right head/helmet, and left hand. Following the collision, the victim had an immediate onset of right knee and left hand pain, swelling and bruising, head pain, and multiple lacerations and abrasion. She was then transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center by ambulance.

At the hospital, x-rays and CT scans were administered which came up negative for any fractures or brain/spine damage. After a night in the hospital, she was provided a pair of crutches, a prescription for pain medication, and instructions to follow-up with a doctor before being discharged.

Due to ongoing right knee pain, the woman went to see a doctor on August 14, 2009, who ordered an MRI scan for a possible meniscal tear. She also complained of low back pain that was radiating down into her right knee and lower leg. These injuries made it difficult for her to turn with a fixed foot, squat, or lie in bed at night, which was especially difficult for her as a tri-athlete. She described the pain in her left hand as constant. The August 19 MRI was luckily negative for serious injury. She was told to begin physical therapy and slowly increase her level of activity.

Over the next few months, the victim attended 21 physical therapy sessions between two locations and was still suffering from pain in her right knee and lower back. The pain was still persisting as of her latest evaluation on May 26, 2010, ten months after the accident, and still limiting her ability to compete in triathlons.

Our firm was able to settle with the at-fault driver for her entire policy limit of $25,000. In addition, the lawyers showed that the $25,000 was inadequate to fully compensate the victim for her injuries, and secured another $15,000 payment in under-insured motorist benefits from her own policy. The settlement allowed the victim to avoid litigation, and the court costs and stress that can come along with it.

Continue reading "Chicago bike accident lawyers secure $40,000 settlement" »

As we recently reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, Chicago has started a new project to help improve bicycle safety on our city's roadways. The first phase of this project started on Kinzie. The city chose to construct bicycle lanes here because bicyclists account for more than 20 percent of the traffic on that roadway. It was also chosen because it's a very congested area and very hazardous to bicycle riders.

“I promised the people of Chicago that we would create 100 miles of shared bike lanes in the city to ensure our transportation network supports diverse and affordable ways of getting around,” said Mayor Emanuel. “These bike lanes will help ensure that all Chicagoans can get to work and travel in their neighborhoods in the safest and most efficient fashion possible. It’s about making sure that every dollar we spend is focused on building a city that works for all of its residents.”

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys are happy to announce that the City of Chicago has almost completed the project. The project kicked off Monday, June 6th and is expected to be completed shortly. Kinzie Street is now home to the city's first protected bike lane. This is the first 1/2-mile lane of Mayor Emanuel's plan for 100 miles of protected lanes citywide.

During the summer months, bicyclists of all types hit the open road to get some exercise, enjoy the beautiful weather and to practice some earth friendly traveling habits. Now, bicyclists can do all three on a new protected bike lane that provides cyclists with exclusive space in the roadway by separating bicycle and motor-vehicle traffic.

“This is a major milestone for Chicago in terms of transportation,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein. “No matter how someone wants to move around our city, they should be able to do so, and we are committed to finding every solution to advance the transportation system of the city of Chicago.”

More than 60 percent of the trips that Chicago travelers take are three miles or less. Chicago has been constructing eight additional miles of standard bike lanes each year, but has still continue to fall short of production in other major cities. These bike lanes are a part of a comprehensive effort to redefine the city’s bike and transportation plans.

The newly constructed bike lane sits adjacent to the curb. It is equipped with a lane width that varies between 5-1/2 to 7 feet wide. For safety reasons, the bike lane is separated from moving traffic by a 4-foot-wide buffer zone. This zone includes flexible posts that help delineate the lane.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 650 bicyclist fatalities resulting from motor-vehicle traffic accidents in the United States in 2009. There were an additional 51,000 bicyclists injured in these incidents. Bicyclist fatalities accounted for 2 percent of all traffic accident deaths for the entire year. Approximately 70 percent of all bicyclist fatalities occurred in rural areas. Illinois experienced approximately 20 bicyclist deaths in 2009 alone.

Continue reading "Kinzie Bike Lane Nears Completion; Reduction in Risk of Chicago Cycling Accidents the Goal" »

The Windy City has once again been named one of the nation's Top 10 cycling cities as safety advocates and others continue to work together to add cycling infrastructure and reduce the risk of Chicago bicycle accidents.

Our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers have reported on a number of initiatives recently, including the announcement that protected bike lanes would be coming to Chicago -- the first of at least 100 miles of protected bike lanes planned by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Bicycle Magazine announced the Top 10 cities are Minneapolis, Portland, Boulder, Seattle, Eugene, San Francisco, Madison, New York City, Tucson and Chicago. It's the second year in a row the city ranked 10th best in the nation.

"One of my top priorities as mayor is to create a bike network that allows every Chicagoan -- from kids on their first ride to senior citizens on their way to the grocery store -- to feel safe on our streets," Emanuel said. "When you hop on your bike this year, please remember to bike responsibly, with care for yourself and your fellow Chicagoans."

The City of Chicago has more than 110 miles of on-street bike lanes, more than 30 miles of shared bike lanes, and many miles of off-street paths -- including the Lakefront Trail, which is nearly 20 miles. The city also has installed and maintained 12,000 bike racks and has sheltered bike parking at many CTA rail stations, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

While the vast majority of accidents are caused by careless or inattentive drivers, the city also recently began a crackdown on cyclists as authorities push safety through the summer riding months, the Chicago Tribune reported. Police handed out 240 warnings and 1 ticket during the two-hour morning rush.

The city DOT reports about 1,300 Chicago bicycle accidents occur each year -- about five riders are killed. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that many more are very seriously injured -- a number that could continue to climb with the popularity of cycling unless there continues to be significant emphasis on safety.

Resources

Lake Front Trail Map

Chicago Bicycle Laws

Continue reading "Windy City Rated Near Top by Cyclists; Advocates Work to Reduce Risk of Chicago Bicycle Accidents" »

Just after Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes cautioned that as warm weather arrives, so does the increased risk of motor vehicle vs. bicycle collisions, there comes word that a bicyclist has been injured in Evanston. Tribune Local is reporting that the incident occurred near the South Boulevard CTA station on Friday afternoon.

A 32-year-old Chicago resident who was riding from Glencoe back to his residence was hit by a car turning to go westbound on South Boulevard from Chicago Avenue. The bike rider was knocked to the ground. He suffered abrasions to his knees, left elbow and knuckles. He was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The Evanston Police Department handled the crash investigation. After an investigation, police issued a citation to the driver for an improper right turn.

Chicago area bicyclists could be hitting the streets this summer in record numbers, and motorists need to keep a proper and sufficient lookout for them. In this Evanston bicycle accident, luckily the injuries appear not to be severe, however that is sometimes not the case. Even low impacts can cause catastrophic injuries to bicyclists, so automobile drivers need to stay alert.

As the weather provides longer, beautiful days, many Chicago cyclists break out their biking equipment and hit the trail to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. One thing bicyclists don't enjoy during their strolls through town are inattentive drivers. The Chicago area offers several of the nation's best bike paths, according to a recent article posted by Yahoo! Sports.

Our Chicago cycling accident lawyers urge you to bike these trails safely and to be cautious of drivers who may not recognize or respect your presence on the road.

Many bike trails take riders by beautiful scenery along paved paths. And many bicyclists ride closer to home, through densely populated areas. With the increasing popularity of bicycling as both a recreational activity and a fitness activity, more and more first time riders are hitting the outdoors hoping to make it a part of their routine for exercise, weight loss and stress relief.

The Chicago Bicycling Program is urging even more residents to get up and get moving on their bicycles to help promote happy and healthy lifestyles. The bicycling advocates promote the use of bikes as an effective form of transportation to help residents save money, stay healthy and help the environment.

Most riders use the natural lighting provided in the daytime hours for their rides. Because of this popular riding time and with the days getting longer, about 75 percent of bicyclist fatalities occurred between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. This is also when the majority of motor vehicles are on the road -- frequently trying to share the same space.

The most commonly injured were riders between the ages of 25 and 34, while the age group suffering the most fatalities were those between the ages of 45 and 54. Men are typically seven-times more likely to be killed and four-times more likely to be injured in a bicycle-motor vehicle accident than women.

Motorists and bicyclist are urged make a conscious effort to help one another on our roadways as we all work to reduce the number of accidents. As springtime gets under way, more and more of us will be hitting Illinois roads. Please practice alert driving when traveling. Cautious driving habits can help us bring down the number of bicyclist fatalities, as Illinois experienced 20 in 2009.

A printable Chicago bike trail map is available on the Chicago Bicycling Program website for your enjoyment and navigation.

Continue reading "Spring brings beautiful weather, increased risk of Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Hazards are inescapable for bicyclists -- motorists, weather, road conditions and pedestrians can all serve as safety hazards. But there is one common risk we tend to overlook -- dooring. Over the past several years Chicago bike accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have settled several cases on behalf of Illinois bicyclists that were injured by opening car doors.

As we recently reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, officials have strengthened laws in Illinois to help keep cyclists safe. However, the Chicago Tribune reported that state transportation officials initially rejected pleas from cycling advocates to keep tabs on dooring incidents; advocates consider it to be one of the most common types of bike accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers urge bicyclists to keep an eye out for careless motorists. While the state has now agreed to track the issue, it will take more public awareness to reduce the number of instances in which a motorist carelessly opens a door into the path of a rider.

"We were never against collecting the data. There was never really any large effort to make us aware that doorings could be an issue," IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said.

A new article in the Chicago Tribune reports that a change ordered by Gov. Pat Quinn will now require that collisions caused by the doors of parked vehicles opening into the path of bicyclists be counted as crashes in Illinois. The new rule is effective immediately and requires that police departments across the state now record these dooring accidents on Illinois traffic crash forms.

"Anyone who rides a bike can tell you that dooring is a serious issue," said Gov. Pat Quinn. "One of the best ways we can increase public safety is by making sure we've got the best and most comprehensive data possible. That's why we've made this change."

This new line of accident data will be incorporated into annual traffic reports created by the Illinois Department of Transportation. As dooring accidents often cause serious injury or death, recording the data will allow officials to create a policies and prevention initiatives.

"We hope to use the data to obtain funding for education safety so drivers as well as bicyclists know what the risks are and what the factors are to create safer roadways," said Dan Persky, director of education at the Active Transportation Alliance.

Continue reading "Dooring to be tracked as cause of bicycle accidents in Chicago, elsewhere" »

Chicago's Department of Transportation is lobbying for a new bicycle lane along one of the underserved commuter corridors to help increase cyclist safety and reduce the risks of a Chicago bicycle accidents.

The projected lane, called 'Cycle Track', will be constructed for recreational and commuter use and will consist of a barricade barrier to help protect cyclists from the speedy and potentially dangerous traffic, according to bikeradar.com.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that cycling is done for fun, recreation and fitness. And it is an activity most popular with middle-aged men. Unfortunately those same men are the most likely victims of a serious or fatal accident, which can leave a family financially devastated. We encourage you to bike smart and watch for motorists.

The new bike lane, if approved, would provide a raised concrete planter box, acting as a shield, to separate a bike-only lane from traffic lanes. A portion of a $3.2 million federal grant would be used to fund construction of the lane from 69th to 77th streets down Stony Island Avenue.

“This type of bike route could offer a model for certain areas,” says Anne Alt of the Chicago Cycling Club, noting that the area would be a wise choice as hasn’t always been so cycle friendly. “Before the interstate highways were built, Stony Island was the equivalent of a highway for Chicago's south side. It still carries a very high volume of traffic at higher-than-average speeds for a city street.”

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Blog, the city remains the most dangerous place in the state of Illinois for bicycling accidents. As the Illinois Department of Transportation reports Chicago bicycle accidents accounted for one-fourth of all fatal crashes, claiming five lives and injuring nearly 1,400 cyclists.

The City of Chicago's Safety in Motion campaign offers our bicyclists these safety tips:

-First and foremost, always wear your helmet. This piece of protective gear can mean either life or death with an accident involving a motor vehicle.

-Make sure your bike is equipped with rear-reflectors. The bigger these reflectors, the more effective they'll be in making your presence known to drivers. Be sure to angle them correctly, not too far up or too far down but straight back behind you. Remember that only red ones are legal.

-Put a headlight on your bike. Make sure it's battery-powered and is either a halogen or strobe light. It is recommended for you to have the brightest, white light you can fine. Red is shunned as a front-bike light.

-Be sure to ride slower in the rain and remember that motorists may have a more difficult time seeing you in poor weather conditions.

-Plan your route ahead of time. This will allow you to choose safer routes, avoid busy traffic and keep yourself from being stranded from exhaustion.

-Be courteous around other bicyclists. When sharing a road or path, make sure to use signals and acknowledge one another as crashes can occur when the proper precautions are not taken.

Continue reading "Lobbying for New Bike Lane to Reduce Risks of Chicago Bicycling Accidents" »

The results of the first ever bicycle-count study have been released as officials prepare for the spring riding season and work to reduce the risk of Chicago bicycle accidents.

The Chicago Department of Transportation reports Milwaukee Avenue is the most heavily biked road in the city. Bicycles made up less than 2 percent of traffic on most roads, compared to between 8 percent and 20 percent of traffic on Milwaukee Avenue. And, while 17 of 26 locations studied reported about 200 bicycles daily, the 600 block of North Milwaukee Avenue reported more than 3,000.

Wells Street also recorded some of the city's heaviest bicycle traffic.

The study was conducted during the summer and fall of 2009. Results were released last week. As our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, bike lanes that share space with motorists increase the risk of a serious or fatal injury. Incoming Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed adding 100 miles of Chicago bicycle trails by the end of his first term.

Heavy bicycle traffic was found in the following areas:

-640 N. Milwaukee Avenue: 3,121

-1616 N. Milwaukee Avenue: 1,065

-1325 N. Wells Street: 1,501

-2225 W. Lawrence St.: 644

-2710 S. Halsted St.: 889

The city's master bicycle plan, Bike 2015, aims to increase bicycle use to 5 percent of all trips under 5 miles. Of the 26 areas studied in this first count, 19 were dedicated bile lanes and four were city streets with shared lanes. The other three locations included a bus/bike lane and two streets without marked bike lanes.

Continue reading "Bike count aims to improve infrastructure, reduce risk of Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Chicago bicycle accidents remain a serious threat, particularly for middle-aged men, despite newly released statistics that show a significant decline in the number of fatal cycling accidents nationwide.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported this month that 630 cyclists were killed and 51,000 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2009. That's down 12 percent from the 718 who were killed in 2008.

Twenty riders were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents; that's down from 27 who died in 2008. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports Chicago bicycle accidents accounted for one-fourth of all fatal crashes, claimed five lives and injuries nearly 1,400.

Officials continue to look for ways to improve safety. Last fall, we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog that officials were looking to expand the Lakefront Trail in an effort to reduce congestion and the risk of Chicago bicycle and pedestrian accidents.

The new data released by the government also confirms a growing trend as cycling for recreation and fitness has become increasingly popular: Middle-aged men are most at risk. The average age of cyclists killed was 41, while the average age of those injured was 31. More than 80 percent of those injured or killed were men and about one-third of all those fatally injured (244) were ages 35 to 54.

Cycling Safety Tips:

-Wear brightly colored clothing, and use reflective tape, lights and reflectors at night.

-Use hand signals and obey all traffic laws.

-Drivers need to share the road -- giving a rider at least 3-feet of clearance at all times.

-Drivers and riders alike should pay particular attention at intersections, where many crashes occur.

-Drivers need to watch for riders before opening car doors or pulling out of parking lots or parallel parking spots.

-Riders should ride in the same direction as traffic.

Continue reading "Riders remain at high-risk for Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel has a plan to expand Chicago's bicycle network that would reduce the number of Chicago bicycle accidents and give the city 100 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of his first term, the Sun-Times reported.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported on the great strides made in turning the area into one of the nation's best cycling cities. Still, bicycle accidents remain a real threat to the health and safety of those who cycle for fun, transportation or fitness.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports 1,460 Chicago bicycle accidents occurred in 2009, claiming 5 lives and injuring nearly 1,400.

Emanuel's plan includes the creation of the Bloomingdale Trail -- a $75 million, 2.65-mile trail built along Bloomingdale Avenue for cyclists traveling downtown and for school children traveling to one of the dozen schools nearby. He also wants to require downtown buildings to offer bike storage. A similar law has been passed in New York City and was successful in increasing the number of commuter cyclists.

NYC's plan included adding 200 miles of bile lanes. Transportation Alternatives reports the improvements increased the average number of daily cyclists to 236,000 -- up 28 percent from the 185,000 daily cyclists the previous year.

The number of miles traveled by bike also increased, from 1.4 million to 1.8 million.

Authorities increasingly see cycling as a viable option to reduce congestion. But, while the number of other types of fatal accident has declined in recent years, the increasing popularity of cycling has held fatality numbers constant at between 700 and 800 per year. In 2008, 716 cyclists were killed and more than 52,000 were injured in bicycle accidents nationwide.

Middle-aged men are now the most likely to be killed in a bicycle accident; that age has increased from 32 in 1998 to 41 in 2008. Nearly two-thirds of all bicycle fatalities now involve an adult between the ages of 25 and 64.

Continue reading "Emanuel would add 100 miles of cycling trails, reduce Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Illinois bike accident attorneys at Abels and Annes have signed on to represent a Chicago woman who was recently injured on the North Side. The collision occurred as our client was riding her bike in a Northwest direction on Milwaukee Avenue in a designated bicycle lane. At that time the driver of a Cadillac Deville made a right turn onto Milwaukee Avenue, failed to observe the plaintiff, and struck her.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the accident scene. After interviewing the parties, they placed the Cadillac driver at fault for the accident.

Our client sustained injuries to her face, right arm and right ankle. After the accident she was taken to St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital's emergency room for treatment. In the days following the accident, her pain did not resolve on its own and she has since sought treatment with an orthopedic physician in Chicago.

Chicago drivers need to remember that bicyclists are still on the road in the winter months. More people than ever are using bikes for transportation all year round, and not just in the warmer weather. Motorists have to keep a lookout for them on the road and use caution.

If you've been injured in a Chicago bike accident, contact the Illinois personal injury lawyers at Abels and Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 speak directly to a lawyer.

We encourage parents to take the Safe Routes to School survey offered by the Chicago Department of Transportation as safety advocates attempt to reduce the risk of Chicago bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and school bus accidents.

Our Chicago child injury lawyers frequently talk about the dangers children face -- traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for kids ages 3 to 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

State traffic statistics show that more than 5,500 kids under the age of 14 were injured in traffic accidents last year. Illinois pedestrian accidents injured nearly 1,000 students, while bicycle accidents injured nearly 700.

Many students choose to walk or bike to school. In other cases, they walk or ride a bicycle to a bus stop. Tragically, many Chicago school bus accidents occur to bicyclists or pedestrians who are preparing to load or unload from a school bus. Last year, a total of 1,537 Illinois school bus accidents were reported. Two people were killed and 482 were injured, including 78 bus drivers and 164 bus passengers.

As winter weather approaches, now is a good time to remind your child about the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety, as well as school bus safety.

Here you can find more information on Illinois' Safe Routes to School program.

The Chicago Safe Routes to School Survey is available here.

Continue reading "Safe Routes to School survey aims to reduce Chicago pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, school bus accidents" »

Illinois injury attorneys from Abels and Annes have agreed to handle a case for man was injured in a Chicago area bicycle crash. The Illinois car versus bicycle accident took place in the western suburb of Sugar Grove in mid-October, 2010.

The bicyclist was riding on Wheatfield Avenue when a motorist failed to observe him and struck the bicycle's handlebars with his side view mirror, causing the bike rider to crash and land hard on his left shoulder.

Over the next several days our client started experiencing consistent pain and a large bump on his left shoulder. He finally went to the emergency room at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois. At the ER, he was examined by emergency room doctors and x-rays were taken. The x-rays showed the bicyclist had sustained a separated shoulder in the accident. The hospital physicians referred our client to an orthopedic specialist for further treatment.

A separated shoulder (also known as a acromioclavicular separation) can be a partial or complete separation of the collarbone (clavicle) and the shoulder blade (acromion). The two parts of the shoulder are connected by the acromioclavicular (AC) and the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments.

Click here to read more about shoulder injuries.

Contact the bicycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes if you've been injured in a Chicago area accident. Our consultations are free and there is no attorney's fee unless we recover for you. Call 312-399-8988 speak directly to an attorney.

Our Chicago injury lawyers urge you to stay safe during Halloween week, which historically has been among the nation's most dangerous for car accidents and other types of injury mishaps.

Authorities will be looking for drunk drivers during a nationwide "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" campaign from Oct. 25-31. In the past 10 years, drunk drivers have caused more than half of the nearly 5,000 traffic fatalities during the week of Halloween, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And, while nighttime is always a dangerous time to be on the road, Halloween night is frequently one of the year's deadliest.

Children, teenagers and adults are also at high risk of being injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident or premises liability claim involving anything from a slip and fall accident to a dog bite.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that Halloween is among the holidays with the highest number of emergency room visits. Finger and hand injuries are the most common, while the most likely to be injured are those ages 10 to 14.

The following safety tips may help you and your family stay safe this Halloween:

-Use knives specifically designed for pumpkin carving -- not kitchen knives. And never let a child carve pumpkins.

-Be mindful of fire hazards when lighting jack-o-lanterns. Use non-flammable light sources, such as glow sticks.

-Keep Halloween costumes light and bright so children are easily seen by motorists and other pedestrians. Use reflective tape for even better visibility.

-Costumes should fit properly and be flame resistant. Be sure masks, hats and face paint do not obstruct vision. Costumes may present a trip hazard if they are too long and should be trimmed appropriately.

-Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Children and parents should carry flashlights.

-Be aware of dogs.

-Carry a cell phone in case of emergencies.

Continue reading "Chicago car accidents, pedestrian accidents just two of the many dangers during Halloween Week" »

As our Chicago injury lawyers continue to publish traffic data from the 2009 report by the Illinois Department of Transportation, we look at the issue of serious and fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents.

While the tendency with such statistics is to focus on the number of people who were killed, state statistics show that more than 50 pedestrians were injured for every pedestrian fatality last year -- A total of 5,233 pedestrians were injured and 113 were killed in traffic accidents.

Many of those were the result of Chicago pedestrian accidents with urban accidents accounting for the vast majority, 4,984, of all serious and fatal pedestrian crashes.

Those killed and injured in Illinois pedestrian accidents by age:


Under 10: 3 killed/467 injured
Age10-19:6 killed/1,072 injured
Age 20-24: 5 killed/513 injured
Age 25-34: 16 killed/764 injured
Age 35-44: 16 killed/657 injured
Age 45-54: 26 killed/655 injured
Age 55-64: 16 killed/488 injured
Ages 65 or older: 23 killed/427 injured

Likewise, Chicago bicycle accidents were responsible for many of the state's serious and fatal cycling accidents, almost all of which occurred in urban areas. More than 150 riders were injured for every rider killed in a crash -- Illinois bicycle accidents killed 20 riders and injured 3,100 in 2009. Fewer than 150 accidents occurred outside urban areas.

Those killed and injured in Illinois bicycle accidents by age:

Under 10: 1 killed/202 injured
Age10-19: 4 killed/911 injured
Age 20-24: 1 killed/395 injured
Age 25-34: 14 killed/532 injured
Age 35-44: 4 killed/346 injured
Age 45-54: 3 killed/382 injured
Age 55-64: 1 killed/182 injured
Ages 65 or older: 2 killed/80 injured

Unlike pedestrian accidents, however, the vast majority of cycling accidents involved men. In particular, middle-aged men ages 25-34 were most at risk after teenage boys, who reported the most accidents.

Continue reading "Chicago pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents injured thousands in 2009" »

Chicago car accidents on the city's streets and roads accounted for more than one-third of the state's car accidents that involved serious injury and resulted in one-fifth of the state's traffic fatalities, according to 2009 crash statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As we discussed on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the vast majority of car accidents in Illinois occur in urban areas, primarily in and around Chicago. A total of 243,189 accidents in urban areas injured 52,402 and killed 469. By comparison, 48,917 rural crashes injured 10,833 and killed 363.

But taking a look at the high number of serious and fatal accidents that occurred on the city's streets (as opposed to highways and freeways) may offer some clues for the defensive driver. A total of 117,683 crashes killed 166 people and injured more than 23,000.

The vast majority of accident statewide occurred in areas where there was no traffic control device. This typically means that someone pulled out of a parking lot or private drive and failed to yield the right of way. Or that someone turned in front of an oncoming vehicle or crossed the centerline. In fact, statistics show that rear-end collisions and turning accidents account for the vast majority of collisions.

No Controls: 156,286 accidents/451 fatalities
Stop Sign/Red Flasher: 30,634/83 fatalities
Traffic signal: 65,647 accidents/97 fatalities
Lane Use Control: 28,261 accidents/144 fatalities
RR Crossing gate: 435 accidents/2 fatalities
Other RR crossing device: 201 accidents/8 fatalities

A total of 63 Illinois railroad crossing accidents killed 11 motorists and injured 30.

Other types of accidents

Vehicle overturned: 4,558 accidents/65 fatalities
Pedestrians: 5,171 accidents/104 killed
Bicyclists: 3,246 accidents/19 fatalities
Animal: 19,558 accidents/ 6 fatalities
Fixed object: 35,257 accidents/285 fatalities
Parked: 34,653 accidents/13 fatalities
Rear-end: 80,076/72 fatalities
Head-on: 2,567/104 fatalities
Sideswipe-same direction: 23,323/16 fatalities
Sideswipe-opposite direction: 3,416/20 fatalities
Angle: 31,210/109 fatalities
Turning: 44,239: 78 fatalities

Continue reading "Rear-end collisions, turning crashes, most likely cause of Chicago car accidents" »

Illinois injury lawyers from Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent a Chicago bicyclist who was injured in July, 2010. The accident happened at the intersection of Western Ave. and Catalpa just outside Rosehill Cemetery. The bike rider was southbound on Western when a northbound cab driver made a left turn to go West and did not see our client.

The plaintiff was knocked in the air as his bicycle was slammed out from under him. He then landed on the taxicab's hood and was launched about 10 feet onto the street.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the accident and performed a crash investigation. The police ticketed the cab driver with failing to yield while turning left.

Immediately after the accident, the bicyclist had an onset of pain to his wrist and ankle. He was seen shortly after the accident at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. He was lucky to escape the Chicago bike accident with multiple sprains, bruises, cuts and scrapes.

The bicyclist believes he was able to avoid much more serious injuries when at the final moment before impact he lifted his left leg above his bicycle so the cab directly struck the bike and not his person.

Not everyone is as lucky is the Chicago bike rider in this case. Often people sustain severe and permanent injuries. Just last week we signed up the case where the bicyclist fractured his hand and he had to have surgery to repair it.

Finally, the bicycle my client was riding was worth over $2,000 and it was destroyed in the accident. We will be pursuing a property damage claim on our client's behalf in addition to his injury claim.

If you have been injured in an Illinois bike crash, call the Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free no obligation consultation. Call (866) 99-ABELS.

A female bicyclist was killed Monday morning in an Illinois car vs. bike accident that occurred in Gibson City, according to the News Gazette. The victim, Jeanne C. DeWall, was using her bicycle to deliver newspapers for the News-Gazette at the time of the crash.

The bike rider was moving eastbound on Illinois 9 when she was hit by an eastbound car that was being driven by a 73-year-old man from Paxton. The collision occurred around 6 AM in the area of Ford Country Road 905 East. She was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The Illinois State Police responded to the accident. Their investigation reportedly showed that the driver did not see the bicyclist, and that he may have been affected by headlights from oncoming traffic.

It was not reported if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, or if state police would be issuing the driver any traffic citations.

It has also not been reported if Illinois injury attorneys are involved in the case yet. In this type of accident, the family of the victim may have two types of claims to pursue. First, it is being reported that the woman was on the job at the time of the accident. The injury attorney that represents the woman's family first may be able to pursue an Illinois workers' compensation claim. Second, the attorney will pursue a third-party negligence claim against the at fault driver and his auto insurance carrier.

Click here to read the story as reported by pantagraph.com.

Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a nine-year-old boy who was injured in an Illinois bicycle accident on July 19, 2010. The collision took place in the parking lot of M & M Quick Foods, which is located at the intersection of Austin Boulevard and Division Street in Chicago.

The boy was riding his bicycle eastbound in the parking lot when the defendant quickly pulled into the lot off the street, failed to observe the bicyclist, and struck him. The plaintiff was knocked off of his bike.

The child had immediate onset of back pain and bilateral leg pain. He was taken by Chicago Fire Department Ambulance to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. There he was examined by doctors and x-rays were negative for fractures.

Over the next several days the boy's pain remained, so his mother took him to see a medical doctor. He is been undergoing treatment since the date of the accident.

The crash was investigated by the Chicago Police Department. The police report was actually written somewhat in favor of the driver that struck the bicyclist. The driver told police that the bike rider "darted out" in the parking lot. However, the police diagram clearly shows that the driver struck a bicyclist immediately upon entering the lot.

This brings up an interesting point about police reports. In this case (and in many other cases I've seen in the past), the injured party was taken from the scene of the accident before the police arrived. The officer interviewed the motorist, but did not take the time to interview the injured party, as he not at the scene of the accident and was on his way to the hospital.

Car accident lawyers run into this problem once in a while. I can tell you that just because the police write an unfavorable report, this does not affect our decision as to whether to take a case, and it certainly won't bar the plaintiff from recovering in this case. We look at the evidence in a particular case and make our own decision as to who we believe was at fault.

In this case, plaintiff was riding in the parking lot before the defendant entered. The defendant was driving too fast for conditions and failed to observe the bicyclist upon entering the lot.

Drivers in the Chicago area have to keep a lookout for bicycle riders, especially children on bikes. Chicago is now listed as one of the top 10 bicycling cities in the United States. In my experience, many drivers tend to only lookout for other vehicles and forget that there are bicycles on the road.

If you've been hurt in an Illinois bicycle accident, contact the injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 speak directly to an attorney.

Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have agreed to represent a North Side resident that was injured in a September 5, 2010 collision. The crash took place just after 6:30 PM at Diversey and Sheridan Road.

Our client was riding his bicycle westbound on Diversey Pkwy. approaching Sheridan. As he came to the intersection there was a taxicab that had just come to a stop for a red light. As our client was passing the taxi on its right side, a passenger opened the rear passenger side door into his bicycle. The taxicab driver failed to pull over to the curb and let the passengers out in the middle of the street. The bicyclist fell hard to the ground.

Our client was seen at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center shortly after the accident. He had sustained a ligament tear in his right knee, back and neck injuries, a fractured finger, and multiple abrasions. He has since followed up with a medical doctor due to ongoing pain.

The Chicago Police Department handled the accident investigation.

Drivers and passengers negligently opening car doors without checking for bicycle riders is a common occurrence in the City of Chicago. Our law firm has handled several of these cases over the past few years. There are more and more people bike riding in the City every year, and motorists have a duty to keep a lookout for them.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Illinois bike accident, call the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. We are ready to help you 24/7.

A Chicago bicycle accident claimed the life of a rider on the Dan Ryan Expressway Sunday night, according to CBS 2.

The Chicago Breaking News Center reports the accident happened in the northbound lanes near 55th Street. The 28-year-old rider was struck and killed by a Sports Utility Vehicle, according to Illinois State Police.

The accident happened shortly after 9 p.m. and police were trying to determine why the rider was on the freeway.

Also on Sunday, a Chicago pedestrian accident claimed the life of a man in his late teens or early 20s. The man was apparently pinned between two SUVs in the Logan Square neighborhood shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday. The Breaking News Center reported that the accident happened in the 2400 block of North Ridgeway Avenue.

The victim was apparently struck by a black Oldsmobile SUV, which then pinned him against a GMC Yukon.

It has not been reported if a Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer or a bicycle attorney are involved in either case yet.

While the number of fatal accidents has been in decline in Chicago and throughout the state, pedestrian and bicycle accidents remain a significant threat in Chicago. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 3,484 pedestrian accidents were reported in 2008, injuring more than 3,200 and claiming 52 lives.

A total of 1,726 bicycle accidents were reported in Chicago, killing 5 riders and injuring nearly 1,500.

The Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes are representing two clients who were struck by cars in separate accidents earlier this month.

The first accident occurred Aug. 14 at about 7 p.m. on the Lake Shore bike path near Burnham Harbor. The 24-year-old cyclist was northbound on the bike path near Soldier Field when she was struck by a taxi cab, according to Chicago Police. The 2008 Crown Victoria did not stop for a stop sign at the bike crossing, but actually accelerated. The cab struck the cyclist with its left front fender.

She was taken to the hospital with back pain and multiple bruises and contusions. The cab is owned by Royal 3 CCC Cab Company. She is also seeking follow up treatment with an orthopaedic doctor.

In the second case, an 11-year-old boy was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk along 98th Street when an Oldsmobile left the roadway and struck the child before fleeing the scene. The accident happened about 7 p.m. A witness at the scene was able to report the license plate number to police.

The boy was taken to Trinity Hospital for treatment of multiple injuries.

As our Chicago accident attorneys reported earlier this month, the city has been named one of the 10 best in the nation for cycling and continues to make great strides in bicycle safety. But serious and fatal bicycle accidents continue to be a significant safety issue.

In 2008, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported 28 riders were killed and 3,331 were injured as a result of almost 4,000 Illinois bicycle accidents. More than 3,700 of those occurred in urban areas, primarily Chicago.

Continue reading "Chicago bike accident lawyers start work on two new cases" »

The host of NPR's "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me," was injured in a Chicago bicycle accident while riding through the west suburbs, Trib Local reported.

Peter Sagal, who is an Oak Park resident was hurt in an accident with a hatchback at an intersection. He remained hospitalized with minor injuries last week, while awaiting additional testing.

Our Chicago injury attorneys continue to report on the large number of serious and fatal bicycle accidents. The next two months will be especially dangerous for riders, as cyclists seek all the riding time they can get before the onset of winter. More kids will also be riding to and from school as classes resume.

In 2008, a total of 716 cyclists were killed and 52,000 were injured in accidents nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 27 riders were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m being hit by a car,’ because it’s the kind of thing you hear about,” Sagal said in a phone interview with Trib Local from a hospital. “It’s like, ‘wow, so this is happening.”

He entered an intersection on his bike around 10 miles from his residence, he observed the car, but he does not think the driver saw him. There was a collision and a bystander called for help. He was wearing a helmet, which cracked but likely saved him from a serious head injury.

Bicycle accidents at intersections are one of the most common types of injury accidents. Seven of the Top 10 accident scenarios on BicycleSafe.com involve intersection accidents.

Earlier this year on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, we discussed ways to avoid those accidents. That blog also announced that Chicago had been named on of the nation's Top 10 cities for cycling.

It should be noted that this blog was co-written by Gary Annes, a fan of "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me".

Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have reached a personal injury settlement for a bicycle rider that was injured earlier this year on the North Side. The bike vs. car accident happened at the intersection of Clark and Cornelia back on February 6, 2010 in the afternoon. Our client was riding his bicycle southbound on Clark Street when the driver of a 2005 Ford Escape that was northbound turned left and hit him. The driver was attempting to turn to go westbound on Cornelia and failed to look for bike riders.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and ticketed the driver for failing to yield when turning left.

The bicycle rider suffered left shoulder and right knee injuries in the accident. He went to the emergency room at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. There x-rays were taken that were negative for fractures.

Over the next week our client's pain did not go away. He went for further treatment with an orthopaedic physician. The physician in turn ordered physical therapy for the client.

After several weeks the bicyclists shoulder pain remained so the doctor ordered an MRI. The scan showed our client had a mild AC joint separation in his shoulder.

Our client continued with physical therapy and the pain eventually dissipated.

The case settled for just over $31,000 and no lawsuit needed to be filed. Nationwide Insurance paid on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago bicycle accident lawyers settle injury claim for North Side resident" »

Police are searching for a hit and run driver that killed a bicyclist in Stone Park, a northwest suburb of Chicago, according to Chicago Breaking News. The victim, a 47 year old woman who lives in the 1700 block of North Mannheim Road was struck and killed Monday night.

The accident occurred in the 1800 block of Mannheim when she was hit by a southbound vehicle. The driver fled the scene of the accident. It is being reported that police are possibly looking for a Chevy with front end damage.

The victim, Marina Gonzalez, was rushed to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood and was pronounced dead a short time later.

CBS News is reporting that Stone Park detectives have interviewed several persons of interest.

Anyone with information regarding the bike accident should immediately contact the Stone Park Police Department at 708-450-3215.

Chicago B-cycle -- a new bike sharing program operated by Bike and Roll Chicago -- debuted a week ago and runs through Oct. 31, according to Explore Chicago.

Our Chicago injury lawyers have high hopes for this program. It's another sign that Chicago has become one of the premiere cycling cities in the nation. We reported in May when Chicago was named the 10th best city in America by Bicycle Magazine. The city has made great improvements to area bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure. With B-cycle, Chicago joins Denver, Montreal and other European cities where bike-sharing has become a popular public service.

But we remain concerned about the danger for serious and fatal bicycle accidents. David Abels was interviewed by Medill Reports Chicago regarding safety concerns for the new program.

"We do see a lot of bicycle accidents in the Chicago area," Attorney Dave Abels said. "The concern here is with new bikes hitting the streets in The Loop -- where driving is especially aggressive -- that these drivers are paying attention."

Click here to watch the story from Medill Reports Chicago.

The program is designed to allow pedestrians to make short bike rides for health or for fun. Simply check out a bike at any of six conveniently located "B-Stations" located throughout downtown:

•John Hancock Center, Michigan Ave. & Delaware Pl.
•Daley Plaza, Dearborn St. & Washington St.
•Buckingham Fountain, Columbus Dr. & Congress Pkwy.
•Shedd Aquarium, Museum Campus
•McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
•541 Fairbanks Court at Grand Ave.

Bikes may be dropped off at any of these locations or at Bike and Roll's rental stations at Navy Pier, North Avenue Beach and Millennium Park. Visit www.chicagobicycle.com for a map and look for the iPhone App coming soon.

This is the latest in a series of efforts by the city that have allowed for significant increases in the number of cycles on the road, even as safety advocates work to reduce the number of serious and fatal Chicago bicycle accidents.

Still, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports more than 3,000 serious bicycle accidents occur each year in the state, primarily in the Chicago area. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 27 people were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents in 2008 -- up significantly from the 18 riders killed in 2007. Nationwide, 716 riders were killed and more than 52,000 riders were injured in cycling accidents.

Continue reading "Chicago Bike Accident Lawyer interviewed regarding new bicycle sharing program " »

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law into effect today aimed at reducing the number of serious and fatal Chicago bicycle accidents and cycling accidents elsewhere in Illinois, the Examiner reported.

The legislation signed Monday at the Campbell Street Bicycle Shop in suburban Arlington Heights provides new consequences for motorists who travel carelessly or too closely to bikes on the road and will create a "Share the Road" license plate. Profit from the plates will go toward education campaigns.

As our Chicago injury lawyers recently reported, the city has been named the 10th best in the nation for bike riding by Bicycling Magazine. The city's bike plan aims to increase cycling infrastructure by 50 percent to 150 bike-lane miles. Overall, the system will grow to 500 miles.

But Illinois bicycle accidents continue to threaten the health and safety of riders. In 2008, 27 riders were killed and nearly 3,400 were seriously injured in bicycle accidents.

The League of Illinois Bicyclists hailed the new laws, which will make it a Class A misdemeanor or Class 4 felony to drive recklessly near or toward a cyclist. The penalties will depend on whether or not a rider was injured.

Continue reading "New law aimed at reducing Chicago bicycle accidents, cycling accidents throughout Illinois" »

The Chicago injury lawyers and staff at Abels & Annes congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks and urge fans to stay safe during Friday's Blackhawk Stanley Cup parade.

ESPN reports the ticker-tape parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Wacker and Washington and will proceed east on Washington to Michigan and then to Wacker. The parade will be carried live on ESPN3.com and ESPNChicago.com. The Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers in a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in Game 6 on Wednesday night to capture their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961.

The Chicago Tribune reported that 19 people were arrested during the post-game celebration and Friday's celebration could get rowdy.

Allow yourself plenty of time to arrive downtown, celebrate responsibly and stay safe. Heavy traffic and enthusiastic celebration will increase the risk of Chicago car accidents, pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents in the downtown area.

Click here to review the parade route.

Mayor Daley said sponsors have stepped forward to pay for the parade and taxpayers will not foot the bill.

The city's special events department said parade festivities should wrap up between noon and 1 p.m. But, with it being Friday, revelers are likely to continue right on into the weekend, as the beginning of the Sox-Cubs three-game series gets underway at Wrigley Field and the Blues Festival begins in Grant Park.

More than 350,000 people attended a parade for the White Sox when they won the World Series in 2005. Friday's crowd is expected to be comparable.

Bus routes along the parade route will be detoured.

Have a great weekend and stay safe!

Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent an Illinois woman who was injured recently in a bike accident on the North Side of Chicago. The crash took place at Chicago Ave. & Sangamon. The plaintiff was bicycling eastbound on Chicago when the defendant who, was westbound, failed to yield while turning left and hit our client.

The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. There she was treated for multiple injuries and lacerations. She has since followed up for treatment with a medical doctor.

As warm weather arrives in Illinois, Chicagoans are again riding, and the Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes are receiving more and more phone calls regarding accidents. Drivers in the Chicago area, especially when Downtown, need to be on the lookout for bike riders.

For good safety tips for both drivers and bicyclists, visit the Illinois Secretary of State's website. The site has a "tips for motorists" section that specifically mentions the dangers of left turns and that drivers need to look out for bikes and let them pass before making the turn.

If you have been injured in a Chicago area bike accident, contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation at (312) 924-7575.

If it has two wheels, watch out for it in May.

As state and federal officials gear up to promote May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, city officials are reminding motorists it is also National Bike Month and are urging motorists to do their part in reducing Chicago bike accidents.

Last month, we reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that the city has been named one of the nation's best for cycling. But Illinois bicycle accidents killed 27 riders in 2008 and seriously injured 3,385. BicycleSafe.com offers a number or rider safety tips to help cyclists enjoy the spring and summer riding season as safely as possible.

On May 1, KMart stores in the Chicago area will be working in conjunction with Mayor Daley's Safe Routes Ambassadors program to educate parents and children about safe riding skills. Each store will also be holding a sweepstakes for a chance to win a children's bike.

Click here for more information and a list of participating stores.

Summer is prime riding season for kids. The Chicago Department of Transportation offers an online safety booklet for parents and children.

Safety tips for children include:

-Slow down and say "excuse me" or ring a bell or horn to avoid scaring or colliding with people you approach from behind while riding a bike.

-Ride one in front of the other when riding with friends.

-Take special care when approaching alleys and driveways. Look left, right, left. Slow down and stop if you can't see whether anything is coming. Look left first and last because that is the direction of oncoming traffic.

-Make sure a driver sees you before proceeding into the path of a vehicle.

-Never cross a street in the middle of the block.

-Before entering the street, stop at the curb and make sure parked cars are not about to move. Look left, right, left for oncoming traffic and make eye contact with any drivers before proceeding.

-Always ride in the same direction cars are traveling.

-Ride three feet from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening car door.

-Never ride against traffic; it's the easiest way to get hit.

-Don't ride in the street unless a parent has determined it is ok.

-Ride in a straight line, don't zig-zag or move in an out of traffic or parked cars.

-The safest way to cross a busy street is to get off a bike and push it across in a marked crosswalk.

-Keep an eye on what's behind you.

-Watch for potholes, sewer grates or other road hazards.

Parents are encouraged to review the entire manual with their young riders as spring and summer riding season begins.

Continue reading "Officials to promote safe cycling in effort to reduce Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Chicago injury lawyers are taking note that our City has been named the 10th best city in the nation for bike riding by Bicycling Magazine. As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog earlier this month, spring is a critical time for motorists to keep safety in mind in an effort to reduce Chicago bicycling accidents.

The Chicago Department of Transportation offers a host of safety and recreational resources for bicyclists and motorists. The city's Bike 2015 Plan aims to expand the city's cycling infrastructure by 50 percent, from 104 bike lane miles to 150 bike lane miles. Overall, the system will grow from 315 miles to 500 miles.

Illinois bicycle accidents killed 27 riders in 2008 and seriously injured 3,385.

BicycleSafe.com offers a number of safety tips as well as dangerous areas where cyclists should utilize extra caution:

-The Right Cross: One of the most common ways to get hit is by a car pulling out of a parking lot or entering an intersection from the right. Safety tips include using a headlight, honking, slowing down and riding further to the left.

-The Door Prize: Opening car doors pose a serious risk to cyclists. Riding further to the left will often provide a cyclist with the room and reaction time necessary to avoid a collision.

-The Crosswalk Slam: Cyclists are frequently hit while cross the street in or near a crosswalk, by a vehicle making a right turn. Using a headlight, slowing down and avoiding riding on the sidewalk or in crosswalks can help reduce the danger.

-Wrong-way Wreck: Riding against traffic poses a serious risk to cyclists and is against the law in many areas. Don't do it.

-Red Light of Death: Being pinched by a car turning right at a red light can be dangerous. Avoid stopping in a vehicle's blind spot and be aware of cars turning right when approaching a vehicle on the right.

-Right Hook: A car passing a cyclist will sometimes try to make a sudden right across the bicycle's travel lane. Cyclists can help avoid this danger by not riding on sidewalks or crosswalks, riding to the left to prevent passing and glancing in a rearview mirror before approaching an intersection.

-Left Cross: Vehicles turning left across traffic often fail to spot a cyclist in time: Using headlights, avoiding sidewalk riding, wearing bright clothing, avoiding right-handed passing and slowing down can help improve safety.

-The Rear End: Being rear-ended while on a bike can cause serious or fatal injuries. Never move left without looking behind you; don't swerve in and out of street-parking lanes; and use your mirrors and signals.

Continue reading "Chicago named one of best cities for bike riding; avoiding summer bicycle accidents remains a concern" »

Suburban law enforcement are targeting railroad crossings for increased enforcement in the wake of a fatal Chicago pedestrian accident last month in North Chicago.

Rail road crossings in suburbs, including Elmhurst, Lombard and Des Plaines, are being monitored for gate-crashers and other violators, the Breaking News Center reported.

Ignoring a crossing signal or lowered gate is punishable by a $250 fine.

As we reported last month on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, a woman and an infant were killed by a Metra train near North Chicago station.

A total of 16 non-suicide Illinois train accidents were reported last year. Commuters in a rush, kids playing on the tracks and motorists disregarding gates and warning lights are all causes of Chicago train accidents.

The Illinois Commerce Commission reports 80 collisions involving trains occurred last year -- down from the 129 collisions that were reported in 2008.

In last month's case, a woman carrying an infant in heavy fog was attempting to catch up to her family, which had already crossed the tracks; she tried to cross ahead of a train moving into the station.

Continue reading "Authorities targeting suburban railroad crossing to reduce Chicago train accidents" »

After the first three months of 2010, fatal Illinois traffic accidents remain virtually unchanged compared to the record-low year recorded in 2009, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Through April 6, a total of 170 fatal crashes claimed 193 lives, three less than the 196 people killed during the same period of 2009.

As we reported in January on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, Illinois traffic fatalities dropped below 1,000 in 2009, making it the safest year on the road in 88 years.

A total of 928 traffic fatalities were recorded in 2009, compared to 1,043 in 2008 and 1,248 in 2007. However, as our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog reported in February, officials attribute some of the decline to the economic downturn and expect the dangers of serious and fatal car accidents to increase with congestion as employment and economic conditions improve.

2010 year-to-date crash statistics include:

Cook County:
-66 fatalities in 59 fatal crashes
-29 driver fatalities
-17 passenger fatalities
-18 pedestrian fatalities
-2 bicycle fatalities
-3 motorcycle fatalities

DuPage County:
-8 fatalities in 7 fatal crashes
-5 driver fatalities
-2 passenger fatalities
-1 pedestrian fatality

Will County:
-14 fatalities in 11 fatal crashes
-8 driver fatalities
-5 passenger fatalities
-1 pedestrian fatality

Kane County:
-4 fatalities in 4 fatal crashes
-3 driver fatalities
-1 passenger fatality

McHenry County:
-3 fatalities in 3 fatal crashes
-2 driver fatalities
-1 bicycle fatality

Lake County:
-3 fatalities in 3 fatal crashes
-3 driver fatalities

Elsewhere in Illinois, 3 fatalities were recorded in Champaign County, 3 in Vermilion County, 4 in Madison County and 6 in Saint Claire County.

The Greater Chicago area accounts for 13 of the 21 Illinois counties that have reported fatal traffic accidents so far in 2010.

Continue reading "Chicago auto accidents account for bulk of Illinois traffic fatalities in 2010" »

Cyclists and motorists alike should keep safety in mind as spring brings with it an increase in traffic and the risk of serious or fatal Chicago bicycling accidents.

The federal government supports the use of bicycle helmets and bicycle helmet laws as the best defense against head injuries in a bicycle accident.

More than 51,000 bicyclists have died in traffic crashes in the U.S. since 1932, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A federal study in 2006 found that 773 cyclists were killed and more than 44,000 injured.

In 2008, a total of 27 bicycle riders were killed and 3,385 seriously injured in Illinois bicycle accidents.

The estimated annual cost of serious and fatal bicycle accidents is more than $8 billion.

With the growing popularity of cycling for recreation or fitness, the average age of cyclist killed in an accident has increased to 41 -- more than one-third of all fatalities occur to riders ages 35 to 54 and more than 80 percent of all bicycle accident victims are men.

- Children under 14 accounted for 98 fatalities, or 13 percent of bicycle accident deaths.
-13 percent were ages 15 to 24.
- 12 percent were 25 to 34.
- 36 percent were 35 to 54 years old.
- 25 percent were 55 or older.

The federal government reports that bicycle helmets are almost 90 percent effective in mitigating head and brain injuries, making them the single most-effective safety measure a rider can take. Currently, 21 states and more than 149 cities have bicycle helmet laws, primarily geared to young riders under the age of 16.

Current law requires all messengers in the City of Chicago to wear a bicycle helmet. Several other Illinois municipalities also have helmet ordinances, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.

Continue reading "Safety awarness reduces the risk of Chicago bike accidents" »

A fatal Illinois bicycle accident has claimed the life of a 17-year-old Chicago student, the Sun-Times reported.

The teen was on a spring break bicycle trip downstate when an 86-year-old driver in a minivan swerved across the center line and struck her and two friends head on, according to Illinois State Police.

All three students were from the University of Chicago Lab School. The two friends, both 18, were taken to hospitals in Evansville in serious but stable condition.

The trio was cycling on Shawneetown/New Haven Road at Ponds Settlement Road — rural roads about 320 miles south of Chicago. The driver was not hurt and authorities said he will not face criminal charges.

Gallatin County Coroner Tony Cox happened to be driving past shortly after the accident and was first on the scene. He said all three girls were unconscious in a ditch and the driver was in shock.

Under state law, drivers over 81 years old must renew their license every two years. The state said the driver had no citations on his record and passed the driving test in November 2008.

Rabbi Aaron Petuchowski of Temple Sholom, said two of the victims participated in temple life.

One of the surviving girls was wearing a helmet but suffered two broken wrists, a broken jaw and broken bones in her face.

In 2008, 27 people were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents and another 3,385 were injured, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes urge you to review your automobile insurance policy as we begin the New Year.

Having a solid auto insurance policy that includes more than the Illinois minimum coverage of $20,000 per person/$40,000 per occurrence, as well as uninsured motorist coverage, can help protect you and your family in the wake of a serious or fatal Illinois traffic accident.

The state's minimum coverage can be quickly exhausted by a serious accident and increased coverage is often available for just a few dollars more in premiums.

As a recent article published by MSNBC illustrates, a flight in a medical helicopter can cost $12,000 to $25,000.

In the event of a serious Chicago car accident, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you have adequate insurance coverage.

The MSNBC article reported on the case of a Pennsylvania women who was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter after a car crash and awoke in a hospital room six weeks later to find out she owed $500,000 in medical bills.

As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog in June, Abels & Annes partner Dave Abels told WUIS 91.9 that the state's mandatory minimum coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per occurrence is not adequate in the wake of a serious car accident.

"It covers you for small accidents but not the big accidents that you really care about where your life is changed forever," Abels said.

The Association of Air Medical Services estimates that 550,000 people in the United States are flown by medical helicopters or planes each year for a medical emergency, including car accidents.

Hopefully, few of us will be among that number. But the reality is routine medical costs in the wake of a car accidents can quickly exhaust Illinois minimum car insurance coverage limits. An ambulance ride can cost $2,000, according to the American Ambulance Association.

And Chicago pedestrian accidents, Chicago bicycle accidents and Chicago motorcycle accidents also often lead to very serious injury and sky-high medical bills, which in many cases can be covered by an adequate car insurance policy.

The Air Medical Services reports car accidents are a primary cause of medical flights, noting that nationwide, severe car accidents cause 500,000 hospitalizations, more than 250,000 serious injuries and 42,000 deaths a year in the U.S

The MSNBC article quoted Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a Harvard University researcher, as saying car accidents and the associated medical bills are a contributing factor in more than 60 percent of all U.S. bankruptcies.

Motorists should also review their policies to make sure they are properly covered in the event of an uninsured or underinsured Chicago car accident.

As reported in August on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois' tough new uninsured motorist law carries a penalty of up to a year and jail and a $2,500 fine for those who cause an Illinois car accident while driving without insurance.

But that won't help you or a family member pay medical bills in the wake of an accident. Ensuring your policy has adequate coverage in the wake of a Chicago uninsured motorist accident means your family will be protected by your own insurance policy in the event of a serious car accident, regardless of who was at fault.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyers urge review of car insurance policy at start of New Year" »

A Chicago motorcycle accident claimed the life of a 47-year-old man on Saturday -- two years after he was struck by an SUV driven by a man whose felony drunk driving case is still pending, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The 47-year-old victim had been living at the Imperial Grove Pavillion nursing home, where he died Saturday. The medical bills in such cases can be astronomical and the pain and distress placed on families is devastating.

While it will be several months before motorcycles take to the roads again in Illinois, motorists are reminded that Chicago bicycle accidents and Chicago pedestrian accidents also often result in serious injury or death because of the vulnerability of such accident victims.

While overall traffic fatalities are down nationwide, the number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities have not shown significant improvement and fatal motorcycle accidents have risen each year for more than a decade. As reported last fall on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois motorcycle accidents were up 22 percent last year. Nationwide, 5,290 riders were killed in 2008. Fatalities increased for the 11th straight year and accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And, as is alleged in this case, more than one-third of Chicago car accidents are caused by a drunk driver.

The driver is facing nine felony counts as a result of the alleged Chicago drunk driving accident. Police say it is uncertain whether the 48-year-old driver will face additional charges as a result of the victim's death.

The Sept. 2, 2007 crash occurred just before 9 p.m. at the intersection of Lawrence and Elston avenues, Chicago police reported. The victim was headed south on Elston on a 1991 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he was struck by a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which attempted to turn left in front of him.

The defendant remains free on $20,000 bail. He is next scheduled to appear before Cook County Judge Catherine Haberkorn at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, according to court records.

An apparent feud between two drivers ramming into each other resulted in a cyclist being killed in a Chicago bicycle accident on the Northwest Side when he got caught in the altercation on West Diversey, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

As Abels & Annes reported earlier on the firm's Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, authorities had been looking for the driver of a white van, who left the vehicle and fled on foot after striking the cyclist.

Police now allege the fatal accident that killed Jepson Livingston resulted from an altercation in which two drivers were ramming into each other before the driver of the van suddenly veered into the cyclist.

The incident occurred in Logan Square on Tuesday. Livingston was on his way to fill out job applications when he was run down in the 3800 block of West Diversey.

The 32-year-old native Chicagoan was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead after half an hour after the accident.

The victim's sister told reporters that Livingston loved the holidays and was going to fill out job applications amid the tough economy.

The Sun-Times reported that police were not treating the incident as accidental and that Grand Central Area detectives are conducting a criminal investigation, with the assistance of the police Major Accidents Investigation Unit.

A cyclist was killed over the weekend in a Chicago bicycle accident involving a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo, the Sun-Times reported.

The bicyclist was struck by the car shortly after 11:30 p.m. Sunday night in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, according to police.

The 22-year-old Northwest Side man was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center , where he was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon.

The driver was issued two citations for negligent driving and overtaking a vehicle on the right, according to police.

The Monte Carlo was driving south on Austin when it went around a vehicle stopped at a green light and struck the cyclist, who was headed west on Montrose. The driver stopped, called 911 and attempted to assist the cyclist, police reported.

A total of 716 bicyclists were killed in the United States last year and another 52,000 injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Illinois had the sixth-highest bicycle fatality rate in the country last year when 27 people were killed and 3,385 injured, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Five counties in and around Chicago were responsible for almost half of Illinois traffic fatalities last year, according to the 2008 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics data released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and injury lawyers at Abels & Annes are publishing a series of blogs taking a look at the new comprehensive traffic data here and on our sister site, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog.

Last year, 569 people were killed and 78,509 people were injured in urban Illinois car accidents, compared to 474 killed and 15,512 injured in rural accidents. Abels & Annes previously reported there were 408 Chicago car accident fatalities in the five-county area in 2008, accounting for 70 percent of the state's urban accidents and about 40 percent of the 1,043 traffic fatalities that occurred statewide in 2008.

The most common type of injury crash was rear-end collisions, which caused 25,817 injuries statewide in 2008, followed by "turning accidents," the state's second-most-common injury accident with 17,650 injuries.

The most fatal crashes occurred in a collision with a fixed object (283), followed by pedestrian fatalities (129), head-on collisions (105) and overturned vehicles (104).

10 Most common Illinois accidents:
Rear-end collision: 115,713
Turning: 60,399
Fixed object: 48,914
Parked: 48,507
Angle: 41,723
Sideswipe same direction: 35,366
Animal: 25,271
Vehicle overturned: 5,816
Pedestrian: 5,671
Sideswipe opposite direction: 5,492

Continue reading "40 percent of Illinois traffic fatalities occur as a result of Chicago car accidents" »

The Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have successfully recovered $27,500 in damages from State Farm insurance on behalf of a client who suffered a leg laceration and hand injury in a Chicago bicycle accident.

The case also included $2,445.98 in negotiated reductions of medical bills at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and a $142.40 reduction in medical bills from Wellington Radiology. After reductions, clients medical bills totaled just under $6,500.

The accident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. on Nov. 29,2007 when 21-year-old client was riding his bike southbound in the bike lane on Clybourn Avenue; a 30-year-old Chicago woman in a 2007 Ford Escape opened her car door into his path.

The force of the impact caused the client to flip over the bike and land on the pavement. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

It is the second settlement Abels & Annes has made for a Chicago bicycle accident victim in the last month where our client was injured by an opening car door; the firm recovered $50,000 in October on behalf of another client in the same type situation.

Illinois was ranked sixth-deadliest for bicycle accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, 27 people were killed in bicycle accidents in Illinois. Nationwide, 716 people lost their lives and more than 52,000 were injured in bicycle accidents.

For more information about the work of Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes, visit the Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog or the firm's summer safe cyclist blog.

A total of 716 bicyclists were killed in the United States during 2008 and another 52,000 were injured, according to statistics just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The vast majority of those involved in fatal bicycle accidents were middle-aged men, ages 35-64.

Overall, bicycle fatalities have declined 6 percent in the last decade -- 760 cyclists were killed in 1998. However, bicycle deaths increased from the 701 deaths recorded in 2007.

The Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes are outspoken advocates for the rights of cyclists and experienced Chicago injury lawyers who fight for the rights of cyclists who are injured or killed.

The most bicycle deaths ever recorded was 1,003 in 1975.

In Illinois, 27 people were killed in bicycle accidents, the sixth-highest in the nation.

The five states with the most bicycle fatalities were Florida (125), California (109), Texas (53), New York (42) and North Carolina (32).

One in seven bicycle fatalities in 2008 were between the ages of 5 and 15.

The average age of cyclists injured or killed has been increasing along with the popularity of cycling among older adults. The average age of cyclists killed increased from 32 in 1998 to 41 last year. The average age of bicycle injuries increased from 24 in 1998 to 31 last year.

Cycling fatalities occur primarily among men, with 87 percent of fatalities and 79 percent of injuries involving males.

Men ages 45-54 were involved in the most fatal accidents (161) followed by men ages 55-64 (103) and men ages 35-44 (77).

For more information about the work of Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes, visit the Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog or the firm's summer safe cyclist blog.

Continue reading "Middle-aged men most likely to be killed in Chicago bicycle accidents" »

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for children ages 3 to 14 years old, according to 2008 crash statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some of the most tragic and difficult cases handled by the Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes involve the serious injury or death of a child in a car accident.

In 2008, 1,347 young passengers were killed in traffic accidents nationwide and 193,000 were injured. Every day, an average of 4 children under the age of 14 are killed and 529 injured in traffic accidents.

Illinois ranked 6th in the nation for the highest number of children killed in automobile accidents. Texas (154), California (142), Florida (73), Georgia (65) and North Carolina (45) were the five deadliest states.

Nationwide, alcohol was involved in 16 percent of the fatal crashes -- about half of those occurred when a child passenger of a drunk driver was killed.

A total of 270 children were killed in pedestrian accidents and another 13,000 were injured. About half of these child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 4 and 8 p.m.

Eighty-one children were killed in bicycle accidents and another 52,000 were injured.

The report concluded that child-safety seats reduced the risk of fatal injury to infants by 71 percent and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.

Continue reading "Traffic accidents leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14" »

The severity and number of bicycle injuries has increased with the popularity of cycling for fitness, to save money amid high gas prices and to avoid congestion, according to a report presented in Chicago this week at the American College of Surgeons' 95th annual Clinical Congress.

The Chicago bicycle accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes have also seen an increase in the number of serious and fatal bicycle accidents the firm is asked to represent. Click here to visit our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog for more information about our work with bicyclists.

Researchers studying 329 bicycle accidents found the length of hospital stays has increased substantially over the years as has the number of serious injuries, including chest injuries (up 15 percent), abdominal injuries (up 300 percent) and head injuries, which were reported in about one-third of cases, according to the LA Times.

ABC7 reported the most serious injuries continue to come from bicyclists who are struck by cars.

Nationwide, bicycle accidents last year killed 716 and injured 52,000, compared to 701 deaths and 43,000 injuries in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Illinois, 27 people were killed last year, up from 18 in 2007 and the most in the 5-year study period for which statistics are readily available. Half of those deaths occurred in Cook County.

Click here for more information on the extensive work being done by the Chicago Department of Transportation on the city's bike trails, as well as safety advice, event information and other resources geared toward Chicago bicyclists.

Continue reading "Serious injuries on the rise for Chicago bicycle accidents, bike accidents nationwide" »

A Cicero man was sentenced to 7 years in prison this week for causing a fatal Chicago car vs. bicycle accident last year while driving drunk, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The 50-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Cook County courthouse in Maywood in connection with the Chicago drunk driving accident. He had been charged with one count each of aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or injury.

He admitted to running a red light in his van on Roosevelt Road about 8:30 p.m. on July 23, 2008, where he struck a 49-year-old woman crossing Roosevelt on her bicycle. He left her lying in the street, severely wounded with broken bones and a head injury and fled the scene because he did not have a driver's license, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The victim, Wilma Bradford, 49, of Cicero, survived for six months in a coma before dying in January as a result of her injuries.

Police found the hit-and-run driver in the attic of his home about an hour after the crash. Blood and urine samples taken four hours after the crash showed he had cocaine in his system and a blood-alcohol content of .06, just under the legal limit of .08.

His license was suspended because at the time of the accident and he had just been convicted of misdemeanor driving under the influence, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini.

It has not been reported if the family of the victim is pursuing a civil wrongful death action against the driver.

Continue reading "Cicero driver sentenced to prison for killing bicyclist in Chicago drunk driving accident" »

Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent a Chicago bike rider that was seriously injured this past week by an opening car door on the North Side. The accident took place in the 3600 block of Southport between Addison and Waveland on August 15, 2009. Our client was riding southbound when a driver who was not paying attention swung his car door open into traffic, causing him and another biker to fall. The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident.

The Chicago bicyclist was treated the same day in the ER at John Stroger Cook County Hospital in Chicago. There he was x-rayed and diagnosed with fractures in his right wrist, left elbow, and left clavicle.

Since the accident he has followed up with Greenleaf Orthopaedics in Lake County, Illinois, and has been informed that he will need to undergo surgery to repair his elbow fracture. The procedure is scheduled for later this week.

As we have stated in previous articles, careless motorists opening car doors into traffic is a serious hazard to bikers in the Chicago area. Especially during summer months, drivers have to be aware of the large number of bike riders on the streets of Chicago.

Our law firm currently represents another bike rider who was hit by a car door a month ago. He is currently paralyzed, he suffered a collapsed lung, and his future health is uncertain at this time.

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes remind motorists that over 400,000 children head back to the city's 666 schools over the next month.

The Chicago Public School's first day of classes for most students is September 8th, and Track E students already started this week. Most of the suburban schools start in the coming weeks of August.

The start of the school year puts school buses back on the road, kids at bus stops and crosswalks, school zones where children are likely to be in the roadway and kids walking or bicycling to school.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced last week a $13 million initiative to encourage more children to walk or ride their bikes to school. The federal Safe Routes to School program includes 171 funding projects, from sidewalk repair to equipment for police and crossing guards.

“With Illinois ranked fourth in the nation for childhood obesity rates, providing children with a safe and secure means of walking to school is an important tool to improve the health of our children," Quinn said.

The program is designed to:

Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation option

Facilitate projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools

School Bus Safety

The Illinois State Police have issued a pamphlet for motorists regarding school bus safety.

"The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are injured outside the bus," state police report. "Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm."

Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus displaying red warning lights face a mandatory three-month license suspension for a first offense and a one-year mandatory suspension of subequent offenses.

School Zone Safety

A new law makes it illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone unless it is equipped with a hands-free device.

Back-to-School Safety

The federal government also offers back-to-school safety tips for parents, students and educators on topics ranging from playground safety to alcohol and drug abuse.

In the past week the Chicago bike accident lawyers at Abels & Annes have agreed to represent three bicyclists that were injured recently in three separate bike vs. car accidents.

One case involves a 29 year old Chicago woman who was riding her bicycle eastbound on Lawrence Avenue in a designated bike lane. As she entered the intersection of Lawrence & Washtenaw an eastbound vehicle turned right and failed to notice the plaintiff. Our client was knocked to the ground, landing on her left side.

She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Swedish Covenant Hospital where she was diagnosed with a fracture in her left foot, and left knee and shoulder injuries. She has since followed up with a medical doctor and has been scheduled for surgery to repair the fracture.

The accident was investigated by the Chicago Police Department. The officer ticketed the at fault driver for failing to yield to the bicyclist.

Our law firm will be pursuing a claim against the defendant's auto insurance carrier to recover for our client's injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of income (as she is off work due to the accident).

Most of the bicycle vs. car accident cases we work on occur when a driver is turning and fails to keep a proper look out for bike riders. Drivers need to remember that they are sharing the roads of Chicago with many bicyclists, especially during this time of the year, and careful driving is required.

Another common accident is when drivers fail to look for for bicycles when opening car doors. This type of accident can be a nightmare for bicyclists, as they have little or no time to react to the swinging car door, and the bike rider usually flips over, exposing him or her to serious injuries.

The bicycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes join Chicago and Illinois authorities in advocating safety and awareness this summer to reduce bicycle accidents.

The Chicago Department of Transportation began a series of 20 Share the Road events last week that will stretch across five city wards and into August in an effort to increase awareness.

"To ensure everyone's safety, all users of the public way need to follow the rules," said CDOT Commissioner Thomas G. Bryrne. "Safety is our No. 1 priority and the Share the Road program is an effective way to work toward that goal."

Nationwide, 698 bicyclists were killed and another 44,000 seriously injured in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Bicycling is a popular form of recreation and a practical means of travel for more than 4 million people in Illinois. But the Illinois Department of Transportation estimates more than 4,000 Illinois residents are seriously injured each year in bicycle accidents.

IDOT has released a public service announcement for the summer, emphasizing the legal requirement to give cyclists at least three-foot of clearance when making a pass. "There is plenty of room for us all, Please Don't Squeeze."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the majority of bicycle accidents occur between 5 and 9 p.m.

"Our goal is to keep everyone on the road safe," 42 Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly said. "Cyclists need to be protected but they also need to ride responsibly and follow the laws of the road."

The city plans to have 500 miles of bike trails by 2015 -- motorists should remember every bicycle on the road means one less car adding to the congestion.

An excellent map of Chicago-area bike paths and trails is available by clicking here.

Citywide, law enforcement is receiving special training to enforce the new bicycle safety ordinances that were passed in March 2009 -- and the city's bike-lane parking ordinance will carry a $150 fine, up from $100 last year.

IDOT offers the following rider safety tips as part of its Summer Survival Guide.

Continue reading "Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes call for summer of safety and awareness" »

A Chicago Police Officer has been charged with the hit and run death of a teenage bicycle rider, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The charges include reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or injury, and aggravated DUI.

The car vs. bike accident occurred in the 8000 block of South Ashland on Friday at 1:30 am. The victim, 13 year old Trenton Booker, was riding his bicycle when he was hit by an off duty police officer who was driving his Dodge Charger the wrong way on a one-way street.

The officer has been relieved of his police powers and he was arrested after the accident. Further, a Chicago Police Department internal investigation has begun. The officer is a 39 year old narcotics officer who has been with the police department for 17 years.

The victim was going to graduate from 8th grade in June.

In Chicago, Illinois a bicycle rider that was hit by a cab near Grant Park opened his eyes today as his family looked on at Northwestern Hospital. The bike vs. taxi accident happened at the intersection of Balbo & Columbus just after 10 pm on Tuesday night.

A witness to the accident states that the collision occurred when a speeding cab ran a red light. The witness says the victim was eastbound on Balbo and had almost made it across Columbus when he was hit. He also states that the taxicab was going at least 10 mph over the posted limit.

The bicyclist was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Northwestern. He suffered a subdural hematoma, and surgeons had to remove a large piece of his skull to relieve the swelling. The bone is frozen at the hospital will be reinserted at a later date.

The family of the victim has retained Abels & Annes to pursue a civil claim against the at fault driver and the taxicab company.

In Chicago, Illinois as spring weather arrives, more and more bicycle riders are on the street. It is only the end of March and injury lawyers at Abels & Annes are working on their first bike vs. car accident case of the season.

A North Side resident was injured last weekend when he was struck by an opening car door. He was riding southbound on Southport Avenue just north of Addison Street in a marked and designated bicycle lane. As he was passing a parked car on the west side of the street, the driver swung the vehicle door open into the bike lane causing the plaintiff to flip over it and land on his back.

The bike rider immediately had severe shoulder and neck pain. An ambulance transported him to Thorek Hospital on Irving Park Road in Chicago. At the ER he was diagnosed with a separated shoulder.

As of today, the plaintiff is having shoulder pain and swelling, and neck pain. He is going for follow up treatment with a medical doctor in the Chicago area.

Last year in Chicago our law firm saw a dramatic increase in bike accident injuries (pedestrian accidents seem to be on the rise as well).

While the bicyclist in this case could not have avoided the accident, here are a few safety tips offered by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office:

1. Only one person should ride on a bike;

2. If riding with a group on the street, ride in single file and not next to each other;

3. Try to avoid riding at night;

4. Rid your bicycle as close as possible to the right hand side of the road;

5. Keep both hands on your handlebars;

6. Know the rules of the road, as bicycle riders have the same responsibilities on the road as motor vehicle drivers;

7. Always where a helmet; and

8. Make sure your bike is in good operating condition before riding.

If you have been injured in an Illinois bike crash, contact Abels & Annes to speak to an accident lawyer today at 312-924-7575.

Illinois accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have settled a motor vehicle vs. bicycle collision for one of our clients. The traffic accident occurred on August 21, 2008, at approximately 5:00 p.m. as the plaintiff was riding her bike southbound on California Avenue approaching its intersection with Grace Street in Chicago, Illinois. When she reached the intersection, she stopped at a stop sign and then proceeded into the intersection.

As she rode southbound she saw a car eastbound on Grace Street stop at the stop sign. The car failed to see our client and accelerated into the intersection, striking the bike. The front of the car hit the rear tire and rear portion of the bicycle frame. The impact caused our client to be thrown forward off her bicycle, hitting the pavement with her face and both of her knees. When Chicago police officers arrived at the scene, the driver admitted to them that he had been distracted when he began to enter the intersection.

Our client was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Swedish Covenant Hospital where her history was taken, she was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. She complained of mouth pain, left elbow pain, right leg pain, and bilateral knee pain. She had a lip laceration and her two front teeth were loose, one was noticeably cracked. In addition, she had abrasions to both of her knees, her right calf, and her left elbow. She was prescribed pain medication and upon discharge instructed to seek follow up care.

The next day our client sought follow up care from her dentist. Upon examination, the dentist discovered that she had fractured several teeth. Due to the severe nature of the damage sustained, it was necessary for her to obtain more specialized care from an oral and cosmetic surgeon.

Our client also sought follow up treatment with an Orthopaedic physician for ongoing and persistent pain in her knees that she suffered from the collision. The pain made walking, or riding a bike, or walking up or down stairs extremely difficult. Her examination revealed swelling in both knees and the doctor diagnosed her with post traumatic synovitis of both knees. Our client was prescribed medication and instructed to return for a follow up evaluation. She returned for follow up treatment and continued to have peripatellar pain in her right knee and occasional aches and pain in her left knee. The doctor ordered her to continue with her medication.

As a result of injuries sustained to her teeth in the collision, our client’s diet was restricted to only soft foods for three months and she was forced to go several weeks with her front teeth missing while she awaited temporary implants. Also, her knees continued to cause her pain and limit her mobility and activities. The case settled for $20,000.00, which is the defendant's insurance policy limits. There was no other insurance coverage available to pay a greater amount on the claim.

Chicago bike accident attorneys from our firm represent many clients who have suffered injuries resulting from bike v. car accidents. If you have been injured in a Chicago area bicycle accident, please contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

Accident Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have resolved an automobile vs. bike accident case for Aaron Eiger, a former classmate of Dave Abels from Evanston Township High School. The collision took place on October 17, 2007 on the North Side of Chicago.

Aaron was riding his bicycle northbound on Southport in a marked bicycle lane. The defendant was driving her SUV southbound on Southport and began to make a left turn to turn into an alley. The driver failed to look to ensure that it was safe to make this maneuver and struck Aaron on his bicycle. The force of the SUV hitting Aaron on his bicycle threw him on through the air into a parked car.

Following the collision Aaron had an immediate onset of pain and discomfort. Aaron was taken from the scene of the collision by ambulance to Illinois Masonic Hospital. At the time of his arrival he complained of left knee pain and shoulder pain. A history was taken, Aaron was examined and diagnostic tests, including x-rays were preformed. Aaron was prescribed pain medications. Upon discharge he was diagnosed with a left knee contusion and multiple abrasions. Aaron was instructed to follow up with a physician.

Two days later Aaron sought follow up treatment from Dr. Steven Sclamberg, M.D. He sought treatment for his complaints of left knee and right shoulder pain. Aaron continued to treat with Dr. Sclamberg through August 7, 2008.

Aaron also underwent physical therapy at Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers for two months. During the course of physical therapy he reported pain with activities such as lifting and carrying his young children.

Aaron incurred over $8,000 in medical bills and his case settled for $35,000.

In the Chicago suburb of Burbank, Illinois a bicyclist has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. The accident happened on September 28, 2008 at about 3 a.m. in the 6300 block of West 87th Street.

The victim, Richard Horvath, 53, was struck while riding his bike just 3 doors away from his residence. A witness thought the offender was driving a white Chrysler, however, Burbank police have recovered pieces of what they believe is part of a white Dodge Ram pickup truck at the scene.

Horvath was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and when he arrived he had no vital signs. He was resuscitated and lived about 23 hours before passing away.

The Burbank Police Department is investigating the accident and anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run should contact them at (708) 924-7300.

In Chicago, Illinois a bicycle rider has been injured as a result of a collision with a car in Logan Square. The accident happened when the bicyclist was southbound on California Avenue crossing Logan Blvd. on a green light. At that time the defendant, who was eastbound on Logan, ran the red light, hit the bicyclist, and then struck another southbound car. The driver was ticketed for failing to obey the red light.

The bike rider, who is a Chicago resident, was taken by ambulance to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. At the hospital she was diagnosed with a spinal fracture. The bicyclist is having further treatment with an orthopaedic surgeon in Chicago.

The injured bike rider has retained Abels & Annes, P.C. to pursue an injury claim against the at fault driver.

In Chicago, Illinois bicycle accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached an insurance policy limits settlement for a local resident stemming from a March 2008 crash. Our client was riding to work southbound on Halsted Street near Division in a bicycle lane. He was hit by a car that was turning left / westbound. That is the last thing our client remembers until he woke up at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The plaintiff sustained brain hemorrhaging and a sinus fracture as a result of the Chicago bike vs. car accident. He was inpatient at the hospital for several days. The defendant's insurance company tendered their policy limits of $20,000 and our firm is pursuing an under-insured motorist claim against our client's own insurance carrier for an additional $80,000.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Insurance Policy Limits Bike Accident Settlement" »

In Chicago, Illinois a bicycle rider has been killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news sources. The accident happened early Sunday morning when the bicyclist was turning left from westbound Logan Blvd. to proceed south on Western Avenue.

The bike rider was hit by an eastbound car that was traveling through the intersection on a yellow light that was turning red. The driver, a 29 year old woman, was given a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The bicyclist, a Logan Square resident, was later pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on the North Side.

Continue reading "Fatal Bicycle Accident on the North Side of Chicago" »