Articles Posted in Bicycle Accident

A motorcyclist struck two bicyclists on Saturday as he rounded a semi-blind highway corner in California, and a viral YouTube video of the crash shows just how violent these collisions can be.

The video depicts a motorcyclist rounding a corner and coming upon two bicyclists riding in his same direction. The motorcyclist is unable to avoid the collision, rear-ends the first cyclist, and then continues forward and hits the second cyclist. The first cyclist hit flies over the motorcyclist and lands on his back, striking his head on the ground.

The collision took place along Mulholland Highway, a scenic two-lane highway originally constructed to connect the city of Los Angeles to the ocean. The area is very popular with motorcyclists and bicyclists alike because of the scenic views through the Santa Monica Mountains as well as the twists and turns that can make riding the area both challenging and entertaining. Local laws allow motorcyclists and bicyclists to ride in the area and require both types of riders to share the road with one another. However as this accident depicts, crashes often happen in the area, many caused by speeding or decreased visibility.

Police and paramedics responded to the scene and examined all three individuals involved in the collision, and fortunately it appears that there were no serious injuries. All three individuals were wearing helmets at the time of the crash and it is likely that the helmets prevented significant injuries to the face and heads of the riders, including the first cyclist whose head struck the ground with significant force.

Like Illinois, there is no California state law requiring all bicycle riders to wear helmets, though there are laws governing helmet use among minors. This crash shows the importance of wearing proper safety equipment when riding a bicycle in an area with heavy traffic and there is no doubt that helmets save lives. Despite the fact that nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes involve head injuries, only about 20 to 25 percent of all bicyclists wear helmets.

Chicago is home to a large number of bicyclists who ride for both pleasure and transportation along the crowded roadways, making helmet use particularly important. In 2010 there were five fatal bicycle collisions in the city of Chicago alone with another 1,566 bicyclists suffering injuries in other crashes, many of which included head injuries.
Continue reading

Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer underwent surgery Saturday to replace his right shoulder, according to a Supreme Court spokeswoman. Justice Breyer injured his shoulder the prior day while riding his bicycle near the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.Justice Breyer has been injured in two collisions before, sustaining a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and a punctured lung from which he fully recovered. He is also expected to make a full recovery from his recent shoulder surgery.

Breyer’s accident illustrates that bicycle injuries can be severe in some cases and even fatal. In fact there were 677 bicycle-related fatalities in 2011, which accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide.

Bicycling can be a great form of exercise and transportation but it can also be dangerous. Collisions with other bicyclists, motor vehicles, and other hazards mean that cyclists must always be aware of their surroundings.

In Illinois, bicyclists are lawfully allowed to ride on the roads with motor vehicles and cyclists have all the rights and responsibilities of a driver when doing so, including following traffic laws, yielding the right-of-way, and traveling in a marked lane of traffic. However if an area has a specifically designated bike lane and/or traffic signals, bicyclists should adhere to the bicycle-specific directions.

Common injuries to bicyclists involved in collisions include broken bones, cuts and abrasions, injuries to the hands and wrists, shoulder injuries including to the rotator cuffs, and head injuries. Head injuries are common and can be some of the most threatening faced by bicyclists because of their severity and potential for permanency.

The most effective way to prevent a head injury while riding a bicycle is to wear a properly fitting helmet. To find an appropriate helmet, first measure your head for an approximate size and then visit a helmet retailer to try on a few helmets to find one that fits snugly. When a helmet is sitting flat on your head, it should not rock from side to side. Many helmets come with sizing pads to make the fit perfect for your specific head. The helmet should sit low on your forehead but far enough above your eyebrows to give you an unobstructed line of sight. Tighten the chin and side straps to make sure your helmet is secure and will protect you in the event of a collision.

Unfortunately a helmet cannot prevent all injuries bicyclists may experience in a collision. Therefore it is very important that a rider be aware of traffic at all times and ride defensively.
Continue reading

Chicago is set to launch a bike-share program throughout the city that could have a significant impact on transportation downtown. Originally planned to be launched last summer, the initial stages promise 75 solar-powered stations in downtown and River North. Within a year, the program is scheduled to expand across the city with a total of 400 docking stations and about 4,000 bicycles, serving an area roughly between 63rd Street and Devon Avenue, to Lake Michigan to California Avenue.Dubbed the Divvy program, the bikes will be available to users for either a $75 annual membership or a $7 daily pass. The program is initially being federally-funded but it is expected to pay for itself over time. The bicycles are a heavy-duty model designed for all types of adult users and will be painted Chicago blue, the same color blue as is on the City of Chicago flag. The bikes can be checked out and returned to any other station in the city and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The initial launch of the program will have several stations near major transportation hubs, including Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the downtown CTA train stations. The city believes the bicycles will provide another source of transportation for residents and tourists that is healthier and more cost-effective than driving, taxis, and even some public transportation.

Users will not be provided with bicycle locks or helmets through the program. The idea is to lock the bicycle to a station each time it is not in use, making locks unnecessary. The use of helmets will be encouraged by the city but not provided as keeping track of the helmets and sanitizing them between users has been deemed not cost effective.

Another attention-grabbing aspect of this new program is the replacement cost: lose a bicycle and you could be charged $1,200 to have it replaced. Riders may also be charged for damage done to a bike while they are using it.

Bicycling is an excellent means of transportation as well as a good source of exercise and a way to have fun in nice weather. However as bicycle lawyers, we regularly see collisions that result in significant injuries to our clients. The sheer mass and size of a car when compared to the small size and weight of a bicycle means that in a collision, the bicycle almost always sustains more damage, and the bicyclist greater injuries, than the driver of a car.

Chicago is taking strides to make riding safer for bicyclists both downtown and throughout the city. Most notably, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has advocated for more designated bicycle lanes or specified areas for bicyclists to ride separate from motorized vehicles. The belief is that the designated lanes make for safer travel for both bicyclists and motorists in some areas, reducing collisions and reducing injuries and deaths.
Continue reading

A 27-year-old bicyclist was reportedly critically hurt when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. The Lakeview resident and bicycle courier was allegedly hit just before noon near Wood Street while on his way home from Wicker Park. According to the bicyclist’s mother, the man was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident. Still he was allegedly transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a cracked skull, 23 broken ribs, a punctured lung, cracked vertebrae, and a number of other broken bones.

The man’s mother stated the bicyclist only remembers being struck by the door of a vehicle that unexpectedly opened in his path and waking up inside of an ambulance. A witness reportedly told paramedics that the bicycle rider was also hit by a truck. Due to the severity of his injuries, authorities reviewed video footage taken at a nearby bank to determine whether the 27-year-old was indeed struck by a second vehicle. The security camera allegedly captured a white pick-up truck running over the man before driving away. The bicyclist’s parents have reportedly issued a plea asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward.

In 2008, bicycle accidents purportedly killed 27 people and hurt an additional 3,385 throughout Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety data claims there were 577 bicycle accidents involving a car door in the Chicago Metro between 2009 and September 7, 2012. Such collisions allegedly occur most frequently on heavily traveled roadways. In addition, more bicycle accidents that involved a car door purportedly occurred on the North Side of Chicago, in Hyde Park, and near the University of Chicago.

Bicyclists in Illinois are required to obey the same laws as other drivers while traveling on streets and other roadways. Unfortunately, most bicycle crashes that involve an adult are caused by automobile drivers who simply fail to yield to bicyclists at traffic signals and stop signs. If you were hurt by a motorist while traveling on your bicycle in Chicago, you should contact a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights.
Continue reading

Last month, a 32-year-old bicyclist was killed when he was struck and pinned beneath a tractor-trailer near Walter Payton Prep in North Chicago. According to the Chicago Police Department, the man was headed south in a bike lane near the intersection of Oak and Wells Streets when he swerved to avoid being hit by the door of a parked car. Instead, the man reportedly wound up directly in the path of a southbound semi-truck. Tragically, the bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Both the truck driver and the man who purportedly opened his car door into the path of the bicycle rider remained at the scene of the fatal incident until police arrived. Although the crash is under investigation, the man in the parked car was allegedly ticketed for opening his door into traffic.

Several neighborhood residents stated the area is often clogged with both drivers and bicyclists. Chicago cyclist Charley Jordan said he has been involved in two accidents where a motorist failed to keep an eye out for bicycle riders. He stated he is careful to remain alert and obey all traffic laws in an effort to ensure his own safety.

In 2008, Illinois bike accidents reportedly killed 27 people and injured an additional 3,385. According to the Division of Traffic Safety at the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 577 bicycle accidents involving a car door in the Chicago Metro between 2009 and September 7, 2012. Such crashes reportedly occur most often on roadways that are heavily traveled by commuting motorists. Additionally, allegedly due to the number of bicyclists living in the area, more bicycle accidents that involved a car door occurred on the North Side of Chicago, in Hyde Park, and near the University of Chicago.

In Illinois, bicyclists are required to obey the same laws as motorists while traveling on roadways. Unfortunately, most crashes that involve an adult bicyclist are caused by motor vehicle drivers who fail to yield to bicycle riders at traffic signals and stop signs. If you were injured by a motorist while riding your bicycle, you should contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer as soon as possible in order to protect your rights.

Our office works on bicycle cases on a regular basis, and we have handled many dooring cases. Motorists swinging their vehicle doors open into traffic without looking for bicyclists has become an ongoing problem, especially in urban areas.
Continue reading

Thought bicycling accidents in Chicago weren’t a big deal? Think again! According to Crash Portal, there have been more than 4,930 bicycle accidents reported in the City of Chicago from 2007 to 2009.

And these accidents claimed the lives of a dozen cyclists. The distribution of these accidents throughout the city is pretty even, with a slightly higher concentration of accidents reported in the Loop, which is probably to be expected. With that being said, the obvious exception is Milwaukee Avenue, where drivers are evidently playing human Frogger with cyclists. Cyclists, watch out for those doors!Our Chicago Personal Lawyer Blog recently reported that our city is trying to increase safety for bicyclists. And we recently noted all of the improvements being made through the Chicago Bicycle Program. Meanwhile, Mayor Emanuel is still working at fulfilling his promise of 100 more miles of safe bike routes to help increase safety for cyclists throughout the city.

In the last year, the city has opened 20 miles of new bike lanes, about 10 miles or newly marked shared lanes, about 2 miles of protected bike lanes, a mile of bike lanes with brand new striping and a mile of newly buffered bicycle lanes. While these improvements are wonderful, they don’t mean much without cooperation from motorists. Drivers still need to be aware of their surroundings and of cyclists near and on our roadways. These two-wheeled travelers are extremely vulnerable in the event of an accident with a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, many of these accidents end in death.

Right now, there are nearly 120 miles of on-street bike lanes, over 30 miles of shared marked bike lanes, a number of off-street biking paths, nearly 15,000 bicycle racks and high-capacity, sheltered, bike parking areas at CTA stations around the city. It’s no wonder why residents and visitors take advantage of these amenities. Officials in Chicago are working diligently to make this city a mecca for bicyclists.

Bicycle Accident Statistics, (Illinois, 2008), according to My Fox Chicago:

-Nearly 30 bicyclists were killed.

-Nearly 3,390 bicyclists were injured.

-The yearly estimated costs for these kinds of accidents are close to $10 billion.

-The average age of cyclists who were killed was 41-years-old. More than a third of all fatal bicycle accidents occurred to riders between the ages of 35- and 54-years-old.

-About 80 percent of the accident victims were men.

Riders are asked to hit our streets with a plan. Preparation is the best step is helping to prevent an accident. While you’re at it, make sure you check out the Chicago Bike Map.

Lastly, remember to stay out of the “Door Zone.” This is the 4-foot area alongside a parked car. This is where many cyclists experience “dooring,” when a cyclist is injured after running into an unexpected opening car door. When riding in a bike lane, ride on the left side of the lane-at least 4 feet from parked cars.
Continue reading

Even in the middle of winter, Chicago accident attorneys at Abels & Annes receive phone calls about collisions involving bicyclists. More and more area residents are riding bicycles, and motorists often fail to keep a proper lookout for them. Just this morning I was behind a vehicle in traffic that changed lanes without looking, cutting off the path of the bicyclist. If not for a quick turn by the bike rider, there could have been a serious collision.

The City of Chicago continues to try to prevent these accidents. In a recent announcement, the Chicago Department of Transportation notified residents that the Chicago Bicycle Program installed and painted new stripes on nearly 40 miles of on-street bicycle facilities in the city in 2011. This is a giant victory for the city, and for bicyclists, considering only about 10 miles of lanes were completed in 2010.

The Chicago Bike Program continues to work diligently to make our city safer for bicyclists and to reduce the risks of bicycle accidents in Chicago. If you remember, Mayor Emanuel made a promise as he took office to complete 100 miles of safe bike routes to help increase safety in Chicago. He’s still carrying out that plan and bicyclists across the city thank him!”Mayor Emanuel’s commitment to making Chicago a pioneer in bikeway design and implementation has fueled these remarkable achievements,” said Commissioner Gabe Klein Chicago Department of Transportation.

We also have to recognize that the fight against these types of accidents is far from over. But the City does seem to be making progress. In 2011, CDOT was able complete installation and restriping of more about 40 miles of on-street bicycle areas through more than 50 different safety projects in more than 30 wards in the city. Now that we’re in 2012, the city is striving for even bigger accomplishments.

Chicago Bicycling Safety Achievements in 2011:

-More than 15 miles of brand new bicycle lanes.

-Nearly 10 miles of restriping.

-Nearly 10 miles of newly-marked shared lanes.

-About 2 miles of protected bicycle lanes.

-A new mile of buffered bicycle lanes.

-One mile of restriped shared bicycle lanes.

There were a lot of firsts for the Bike Program in 2011, too. These firsts included the first bicycle-friendly intersection designs, the first bike boxes, the first buffered bicycle lane and the first protected bicycle lane. The Department was also able to install the city’s very first on-street bicycle parking corral. This is the corral in Wicker Park.

Some of the most important achievements in 2011 included the completion of Kinzie Street, 18th Street and Jackson Boulevard bikeway infrastructure projects.

On the Kinzie Street infrastructure, bicycle riding has increased because riders reportedly feel safer along this roadway now. What counts as a double win is the fact that this new design hasn’t hindered vehicular travel.

Mayor Emanuel is still committed to fulfilling his promise of installing 100 miles of protected bike lanes during his term as the city’s mayor. To make it better, plans for 2012 have already begun.

2012 Safe Biking Plans:

-Install protected bike lanes along Elston Avenue.

-Install protected bike lanes along the west side boulevards.

-New bikeways within a half a mile of every Chicago resident by 2015.
Continue reading