Bike Accident

Have You Had a Bike Accident?  Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

There are lots of bike riders in Chicago. The city of Chicago has created hundreds of miles of specially designated bike routes. This is to encourage people to ride bicycles in and around Chicagoland. Even in winter, Chicago has a surprising number of bicycle riders on its streets.

As the number of riders increases when the weather gets nice, there is definitely an upsurge in the number of people I speak with who have been involved in bicycle accidents.

It is quite easy to be injured on a bicycle. This is especially so when you’re riding it on streets where you have to contend with potholes and pedestrians who are not paying attention.

Plus, there’s the number one danger: motorists who don’t seem to want to share the road with cyclists. If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, here are some things you ought to know so that you can protect your rights and position your case for the best outcome for you.

The Most Common Types Of Bike Accidents

Bicycles are fantastically maneuverable and experienced bike riders are quite good at stopping their bicycles quickly or swerving out of the way of danger. But that doesn’t mean they do not have serious bike accidents.

One of the most common types of bike accident involves a bicyclist riding on a street and a motorist. The latter is driving a car or truck with a partially-open door directly on the path of the bicyclist.

This is such a dangerous situation because the bicyclist can hit that door at 20 miles an hour or more. It usually results in the bicyclist going airborne and landing on the street with great force.

I would say that the second most common bicycle accident I handle is when a motorist fails to yield to a bicyclist or runs through a stop sign and does not see the bike coming.

Many times, the car or truck pulls right in front of the bicycle. There is nothing the cyclists can do but hit the side of the vehicle. This often results in a lot of damage to the bicycle as well as the bicyclist being thrown into the air.

Even though those are the two most common, there is almost no end to the variety of ways that other motorists on the roadway can cause a collision in injuries to a person on a bicycle.

Typical Bike Accident Injuries

Head injuries, facial scars and broken wrists are probably the three most common bicycle injuries I see in my law practice. I also see lots of shoulder and back injuries, which usually occur when the bicyclist is attempting to brace himself or herself.

That can result in a dislocated elbow or dislocated shoulder as well as a rotator cuff injury. Of course, if a pedestrian is struck directly by a vehicle, with no protection, the bicyclist can end up with broken bones and serious head injuries.

I wish motorists would realize how easy it is for them to seriously injure or kill a bicyclist. It might make them more careful.

Advice For You

Today, we are going to talk about how you can protect your rights if you have been injured in a bike accident. I have been representing a lot of people who have been involved in a bicycle accident lately.

Knowing what to do after a bike accident is very important. It is smart of you to watch this video so that you can learn the three things that I tell all my clients to do after a bicycle accident.

Doing these three things gives you your best chance at a full recovery from your injuries. Besides, not doing them might leave you at the mercy of an insurance company – and that’s not a position you want to be in!

In this section, injury lawyer Scott DeSalvo answers the question “What should I do if I am injured in a bike accident?”

First, you should make sure that you get a police report. Believe it or not, people involved in bike accidents that also involve a car, truck or motorcycle sometimes don’t think to get a police report.

Getting a police report is super important because the police report identifies who the other driver is, and it gives us their insurance information.

If there are any witnesses who are willing to hang around until the police arrive, then the police officer usually puts their contact information on the police report as well.

Independent witnesses can be the difference in cases like these, so always notify police and get a police report. Police report list insurance information and sometimes have witness information. Insurance companies will hassle you if you do not make one.

Second, collect witness information. This is hard to do if you’ve been seriously injured, but doing it is key. I’ve had clients who were actually driven to the hospital by an independent witness but never thought to ask for a name or get their phone number.When someone is hurt in a bike accident, the other driver always says that the bike “darted out” in front of the car. Witnesses destroy that bogus defense.

Third, document your injuries and damages. If you have “road rash” or scars, cuts or bruises, get pictures. If your bike is damaged, get photos and an estimate for repair. Documenting damages after a bicycle accident is key to proving the case.

Insurance companies love it when people delay in getting a doctor because then, insurance company lawyers can say that you weren’t necessarily injured by the bike accident. They might say you might have been injured in some other way.

If you do these three things, then you are well on your way to building a strong case and protecting your rights.

Consulting with an experienced injury lawyer is the best way to make sure you receive everything the law says you are entitled to. I offer a free case evaluation in person or by telephone, your choice.

I can answer all of your questions with no obligation. Give me a call 24/7 (operators standing by) at 888-HURT-318 (888-487-8318). No obligation and no cost.

If you aren’t ready for that, I’d be happy to send you a copy of my injury DVD video which answers the most common questions injured people have.

It can be delivered electronically to you at your e-mail address or if you would like a hard copy/physical copy, I will mail that to you for free.

Providing good information to injured people is the mission of my law office. If I can be of further assistance, please don’t hesitate to call. 

If you have any questions, please fell free to give me a call for a free consultation at 312-500-4500.