Update On Supposed Hit and Run Involving Chicago Bicyclist

For the past day and a half many in Chicago's bicycle community have been concerned about a supposed hit and run on Tuesday evening that left a bicyclist dead or dying in the street at Lawrence and Kimball.  The event was posed by Chicago Redeye blogger, Goatking, who described a horrible scene he apparently witnessed first hand.  Turns out that the story was quite different than was reported.  At the request of concerned bicyclists the Active Transportation Alliance investigated and learned the following:

The person mentioned in the “Goat King” blog was not struck by a car but actually fell off of her bike around 11pm.

Active Trans staff did some research regarding the cyclist mentioned in this blog. According to the 17^th Police District, the only traffic accident reported in that area on July 27, 2010, occurred at 11pm at 3318 W. Lawrence. There was a cyclist who had fallen off of her bike and was taken to the hospital where she was treated for a bump to the head. Initial reports into 911 speculated that a vehicle was involved, but the statement that the cyclist gave the police negated that fact. No fatalities or other bicycle related incidents occurred in that area on that date.

I'm not sure what Goatking was thinking in speculating about what had happened.  What is even more disturbing is that a main stream media source, Chicago Redeye/Chicago Now, allowed this falsity to be published on its website.

Tragic Hit and Run Leaves Chicago Cyclist Unconscious

A hit and run motorist left a female bicyclist laying unconscious in the street near the intersection of Kimball and Lawrence last night, according to Chicago Redeye blogger, Goatking.  In his first hand account, the blogger describes a "gruesome" scene in which the woman lay seemingly dead in the street near "the wreck of metal that was once her bike" with her "groceries still strapped onto the handlebars" as police and EMTs worked to care for her.  Click here to read Goatking's post.

Chicago Bicyclist Injured At Lakefront Bike Path and Wilson Avenue

A Chicago bicyclist was injured on July 15th when he violently collided with a car while riding on the Lakefront Bike Path (LBP) where the trail crosses West Wilson Avenue.  Our law firm has been retained to represent him in his claim against the driver who failed to yield to bicycle traffic.  Our client was riding southbound on his Schwinn road bike along the LBP at the time of the collision.  As he rode the path across Wilson Avenue he slowed his pace and looked around for moving vehicles.  Bicyclists, in-line skaters and others who typically use the path are not required to stop before crossing the road.  However, eastbound and westbound traffic is controlled by stop signs.  Visibility is excellent and drivers would have no reason not to see cyclists using the bike path.  The incident occurred at around 6:15 p.m. on a beautiful, sunny evening.  As the cyclist peddled across the road, the driver suddenly pulled in front of him, seeming to ignore the stop sign.  Though he immediately grabbed his brakes, our client was not able to avoid the vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Corolla, and was thrown onto the car's windshield then onto the street on which he struck his head and shattered his hand.  Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet.

The bicyclist was taken from the scene via ambulance to Advocate Illinois Mason Medical Center, a level one trauma center, where he was admitted and received treatment.  He is currently expected to require several months of healing and rehabilitation.  We are, of course, taking this matter very seriously and will aggressively pursue the at fault driver and make sure she is held accountable.

The Tale of the Alleycat

Traditionally, alleycat bicycle racing was meant to replicate what bike messengers do on a daily basis: Quickly and efficiently ride through crowded urban landscapes to deliver parcels. In its purest form, during an alleycat riders are informed of a number of checkpoints they must reach. At each, they receive instructions regarding what to do next, then it's forward to the next stop. Knowledge of city streets and back alleys, as well as strength on a bike are key components for success. The first racer to travel to all checkpoints and cross the finish wins. The spoils are modest: a smallish amount of cash, a new bicycle or component. The real prize, however, comes from knowing (and letting it be known) that you are the best at what you do. Collecting wins is better than employee of the month plaques, yet not as obnoxiously self-aggrandizing as collecting yachts and sports cars.

(Click here for a fun read about a Chicago bike messenger's race experience in Philadelphia. Rated PG-13.)

Here's the thing though: Alleycat races are dangerous and illegal. Under Illinois law bike races must be approved by state or local authorities before they may take place on public streets. Generally, approval will not be granted unless accommodations are made so that the event does not interfere with traffic. 625 ILCS 5/11-1514. The point of alleycat racing is to test one's ability to travel by bike in the city under the kinds of conditions faced daily by bike messengers, in traffic. Obviously, no governmental authority would sanction a race in moving traffic. One significant downside to these races operating outside the law is that they are uninsurable. If a racer is hurt due to a poorly designed or designated course, or some other negligent act or omission by the race organizer, he or she will likely be out of luck with regard to receiving compensation.

Bad things can and do sometimes happen in alleycat racing. In March, 2008 a racer was killed during what used to be the biggest and most important such race in the city, the Tour Da Chicago. During the race, several racers ahead of the main pack approached the six-way intersection of Lincoln-Damen-and Irving Park. As they did, the pace, which had been high, slowed because the light was red. However, one of the racers, Matt Lynch, apparently tried to take advantage of everyone else slowing and shot into the intersection. When he did he was struck and killed by an SUV traveling at full speed. Matt made a mistake and it cost him his life. When deciding whether to enter an alleycat race, the prospective participate should consider the stakes and carefully take stock of his or her ability and experience. Recently, there has been a trend of alleycat races being organized and participated in by bicyclists who are not messengers, riders who may not have the kind of ability and smarts that someone who rides for hours every day on crowded city streets does. Several weeks ago I asked Ben Fietz of the Chicago Couriers Union to offer his insight about alleycat races. He graciously did so. Here is what he wrote to me:

Alleycat races are pretty much always illegal, and can be very dangerous. That said, they can also be a very important part of the messenger community and the biking community in general. It sounds crazy, but I probably wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't participated in alleycat races. In their purest form, alleycat races are a way for messengers to compete against each other and find out who is actually the fastest and who knows the city the best. I have the top spot at one of the best messenger companies in Chicago, and the truth of it is that I got into the company that I work for by racing in alley cats and proving myself about four years ago.

That used to be the main purpose of alleycats. They were races put on by messengers for messengers. But a few years ago, alleycats started to get really popular with city cyclists, and they started entering alleycats, and eventually throwing their own. It got to the point in Chicago where there were more non-messenger thrown races than messenger ones. Of course companies with hip marketing departments became aware of this scene, and sponsorship for the races grew. The early alleycat races usually didn't have any sponsors at all, they would just be a cash race, winner takes all. It has gotten to the point where people are having alleycat races in cities which don't even have any messengers in them. I heard about a race in St. Augustine Florida, which seems kind of silly. A couple of years ago, Velocity wheels sponsored and threw an alleycat in the city in Michigan which their headquarters are located. Once again, there were no messengers in the city, but they had an alleycat with a huge prize list, and people came from all over to race.

There aren't as many alleycat races in Chicago as there used to be. The Sadie Hawkins race in the fall is a yearly race, which has very little involvement by messengers, but it's a fun race and usually has a huge turnout. A messenger has been throwing a race about once a month downtown. These races are short and fast, and are set up to favor messengers. There are usually a couple of stops in each race that are very hard to find unless you are a messenger. The biggest race used to be the Tour Da Chicago, until Matt's death.

* * * * *

As far as the safety of alleycats, it is pretty much up to the individual racer to race within your limits. There isn't really any way to make a completely safe alleycat race. The whole point is that you are racing on city streets with traffic. The difference between a good alleycat race and a bad one is the level of organization and how well the race flows. But how well the race is organized really doesn't have any bearing on how safe that race will be to enter, just how much fun it will be.

Alleycat racing, if it is to be done at all, should be left to folks who know what they are doing. A group of riders racing through city streets pretending to be something they are not, professional bicycle couriers, is a recipe for disaster. Before deciding to participate in an alleycat understand what you are getting into.

Chicago's Ride Of Silence This Wednesday

A reminder: The Ride Of Silence in honor of fallen bicyclists in this coming Wednesday, May 19th. In Chicago, riders will gather at 6:30 p.m. at Daley Plaza and will get rolling at 7:00 p.m. The ride will travel north past several ghost bikes placed in memory of cyclists killed on city streets. It will end at Damen & Wellington - the location of Liza Whitacre's ghost bike. Rides will also commence from a number of suburban locations. Click here for more details and to see how to participate in this worthy and important event.

Taxi and Bicyclist Collide In Chicago Loop, Driver Flees Scene

A Loop bicyclist was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious-to-critical condition yesterday after a collision with a taxi, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It is reported that the bicyclist collided with the cab when the driver halted to pick up a fare. The driver was later cited for leaving the scene of an accident.

From published accounts it is not clear how the accident occurred. From personal experience commuting by bicycle into the Loop, it is not uncommon for taxi operators to drive erratically when stopping to pick up a fare. It is unknown whether the injured cyclist had been closely following the taxi just prior to the accident. It is important not to jump to conclusions about how this accident took place. Hopefully, the bicyclist will make a full and speedy recovery.

What is clear is that under Illinois law, leaving the scene of an accident is a no-no. A driver of a vehicle must immediately stop his or her vehicle at the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death. 625 ILCS 5/11-401. Failure to do so may result in a felony conviction. 625 ILCS 5/11-401. The driver must also give his or her name, address, registration number and identify the vehicle's owner, and render aid to anyone injured in the accident. 625 ILCS 5/11-403.

Another Crazy Driver, Another Chicago Area Road Rage Incident

On Tuesday evening CBS 2 Chicago reported on a road rage incident in which a bicyclist, Tim Heath, was intentionally struck by a motorist near 2779 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. Apparently, the two had gotten into an argument over lane space before the driver lost it and decided to run the biker down. He was lucky to avoid serious injury. Here is a link to the full story with video. At the end of the piece the reporter, Vince Gerasole, states that the police said that the woman agreed to turn herself in. It is unclear presently whether that has occurred and what charges she may face.

If precedent is any guide, the driver could face jail time. On Sunday I posted a story about a similar incident in which a driver intentionally struck a bicyclist in Naperville. In that matter, the driver reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which she pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery in a public place. She was sentenced to 42 days in jail (but will serve only half that time for some reason). She is also to pay $3,252 in restitution to the bicyclist and $1,620 in fines and court costs. Let's hope that this most recent road rage incident is aggressively pursued by Chicago police and the Cook County States Attorney's Office. Hopefully CBS will also provide some follow up.

Chicago Tonight To Air Program Focusing On Bicycle Safety

Chicago's WTTW, channel 11, will air a report on bicycle safety tomorrow night, April 13th, at 7 p.m. on the Chicago Tonight program. The show is said to focus on the difficulties encountered by a cyclist who recently broken his pelvis while bicycling.

Thanks to Sol for bringing this to my attention.

Evil Ninja With A Wrench

Last night outside of The El Mamey Lounge in Humbolt Park, 2645 W North Ave (between Talman Ave & Washtenaw Ave, a thief (or thieves) made off with more than six wheels from various bicycles parked outside. All of the bikes were locked. Many of the wheels stolen, if not all of them, where bolted on to the forks and dropouts/track ends. They did not have quick release skewers. At least one of the stolen wheels had chain tugs securing it to the frame. It has been estimated by one of the victims that the theft took place during a 10 to 15 minute time span. Apparently, all of the bikes were locked to a gate due to the absence of bike racks in front of the bar. I'm told that this prevented the use of cable locks to secure the wheels.

This sounds like a fairly astonishing feat. To steal a single wheel, especially a front wheel, with a quick release lever would be fairly easy. No tools would be required and it is a fast operation. But to steal six, or more, bolted on wheels in a short time would require use of a wrench. It would be a slow operation. And risky. How does a thief get away quickly with all of those wheels?

The Unseeing Eyes Of Motorists

Motorist need to get something straight: I didn't see Mr. or Ms. bicyclist, is not a defense. It is an indictment. This week we will file a lawsuit against a motorist that struck a bicyclist on West Montrose Avenue, near Homer Park, in Chicago in October, 2009. I am anticipating a justification I've heard before, the old "unseeing eye" defense. It is often raised in intersection cases and it goes little something like this: The motorist asserts that he or she entered the intersection while carefully looking in all directions before beginning to turn. No bicyclists were seen. As the motorist executes his or her turn, however, the bicyclist materialized, seemingly out of nowhere. The defense asserts that the collision itself notwithstanding, the motorist was careful, not negligent and, therefore, should not be held responsible for the bicyclist's injuries. This was just one of those things. . .

In our client's case, he was approaching a T-intersection created by Montrose and a driveway at Homer Park when he was struck by a motorist turning left into the park from the opposite side of Montrose. Section 9-16-020(e) of Chicago's municipal code gives the bicyclist the right-of-way over a left turning vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Yet, the putative defendant has been incredulous at the notion that she is responsible. She apparently told a witness at the scene that she never saw our client. She stated to the bicyclist in a subsequent voice mail message, "I'm sorry, but I don't believe I'm at fault... Best advice I can give you is 'be more careful'." Evidently, she is of the opinion that since she never saw our client on his bicycle -- she looked but did not see -- she should not be held responsible for the damage she caused. Nonsense.

Long ago, Illinois courts recognized the impotence of claiming to have looked but not seen. In 1965, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, stated,

"It is well settled that one may not look with an unseeing eye and be absolved of the charge of negligence by asserting that he maintained a continuous lookout, yet failed to see that which he clearly should have seen."

Payne v. Kingsley, 59 Ill.App.2d 245 (2nd Dist. 1965)

Often in my experience the reason offered by the motorist for having not seen the bicyclist is no justification. Traffic was blocking my vision. The sun was in my eyes. My van's support beam obscured my vision. Lame, and of no legal consequence. Folks, when you are operating a motor vehicle you must be able to see where you are going. You must be able to visualize all potential areas from which bikes, cars, pedestrians, motorcycles, etc. may emerge. If you cannot, then you may not proceed.

Date Set For 2010 Bicycle Ride of Silence

A date has been set for this year's Ride of Silence tribute to bicyclists who have been injured or killed: May 19, 2010. Riders are to gather at Daley Plaza in Chicago at 6:30 p.m. The ride will begin at 7 and will wind for about 10 miles through the city past the many ghost bikes honoring fallen cyclists. Click here to view the Ride of Silence website to learn more.

Video Shows That "Idaho Stops" Are Common Among Motorists

I have advocated for a change in Illinois law to permit bicyclists to take the "slow and go" approach (sometimes called an "Idaho stop") with regard to stop signs and traffic lights. Presently, bicyclists in our state -- like motor vehicle drivers -- are required to come to a complete stop at traffic control devices. However, as I argued in August, the current state of the law does not reflect how bicyclists should reasonably be expected to operate on roadways, especially in crowded urban settings .

One objection to enacting an Idaho stop law in Illinois is that bicyclists should not receive special treatment. They are indeed treated by our law as "vehicles" and one might argue that all vehicles should be subject to the same rules. The driver may argue, If I have to stop so should Joe bicyclist. That position is not without logic. But in the city, don't motor vehicles usually slow and go themselves; at least at stop signs? The amusing video posted below (which I found at chicagobikeracing.com) reflects how city motor vehicle drivers tend to approach stop signs. I am not suggesting that stop signs be effectively turned into yield signs for motorized traffic. But let's stop pretending that "slow and go" is something radical. We all do it, motorists and bicyclists. I submit that for bicyclists the law should permit this practice. It is much easier for a car, truck or bus to come to a complete stop then proceed forward again. Unlike bicycles they do not rely upon the strength and physical dexterity of the operator to move. Also, bikes do not pose the same hazard to other roadway users and pedestrians that motor vehicles do. The risk of permitting bicyclists to adopt the Idaho stop is far less than permitting cars and trucks to slow and go. Finally, in crowded urban settings bicycle use should be encouraged as a means for getting around. They do not pollute the air and provide significant health benefits for the bicyclist. Permitting the Idaho stop may make the riding experience more pleasant and thereby encourage more folks to peddle to the store and to work.

Memorial Ride Tomorrow For Bicyclist Killed By Dualing Van Drivers

A memorial ride and ghost bike placement in memory of Jepson Livingston will take place tomorrow, January 9, 2010. Participants are to meet outside of West Town Bikes/Ciclo Urbano, 2459 W. Division St. in Chicago before 5:00 p.m. The procession will leave at 5, with ghost bike placement taking place at 5:30 at Kosciuszko Park, 2732 North Avers Avenue.

Jepson died on December 15, 2009 when he was struck by a van that was involved in an altercation with another vehicle as Jepson rode his bicycle on West Diversey Avenue in Logan Square. Click here to read more about this tragic event.

Join The Discussion On Bicycle Parking In Chicago

Over the past few years the issue of bicycle parking has become a friction point between Chicago bicyclists and the City. Simply put; there isn't enough. There seems to be a two-fold cause of this problem: First, the number of bicycle commuters has risen significantly of late. This means more folks who need to lock their bikes for prolonged periods. Secondly, the City has been replacing old school parking meters with electronic pay-and-display boxes. While some of the old meters have been left as a courtesy to bicyclists, many have disappeared and have not been replaced with bike racks. What we now have is a situation of increased demand being met by a decreased supply of fixtures to which a bike can be locked. Problem.

Over at The Chainlink John Greenfield, a former Active Transportation Alliance employee and bike parking manager for Chicago Department of Transportation’s Bike Program, has posted a helpful update on how the City is addressing this issue:

The City [has adopted] a policy of leaving 1/6 of the parking meters in place on blocks without bike racks in business districts. In some cases where there is high bike parking demand, meters are retained even if there are existing racks. The City removes the coin mechanisms of the retained meters and labels them so that bicyclists know that they have been left for their convenience.

In addition, CDOT is currently installing additional bike racks on some blocks where meters were removed to help mitigate the loss of bike parking in areas with high bike traffic, e.g. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.

In the future, CDOT may retrofit the retained meters. The meters may have their heads removed and have rings bolted on to the poles to create “post-and-ring” bike racks. This would make it easier to park two bikes on a meter.

Mr. Greenfield notes that an article on this subject will appear in a bicycle magazine and he would like to include quotes from local bicyclists. To add your comment to his discussion thread click here.

Twenty-three Year Old Killed Riding Her Bicycle On Chicago's North Side

A 23 year old woman was struck by a motor vehicle and killed while riding her bicycle near Damen and Wellington on the North Side of Chicago today, according to The Chicago Breaking News Center. The incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m.

Here is an additional link with a bit more information on this tragic incident.

How To Report Bike Lane Hazards To CDOT

When a bicyclist sustains injury due to a public roadway hazard he or she may seek compensation from the local governmental entity responsible for maintaining the road. There are, however, significant hurdles that must be overcome to do so successfully as I described in an earlier post. One of those hurdles is notice. An attorney representing an injured cyclist will need to prove that the city, town, village or other governmental entity responsible for the road knew or should have known about the hazard. During litigation the lawyer will make a request to the responsible entity seeking disclosure of any and all documents which may have put it on notice of the hazard, such as citizen complaints, and hope that if any exist they will be turned over. If the government responds that no such documents exist then the attorney must prove that the hazard was significant enough and existed for such a period of time that the government should have known about it, and taken steps to correct it. This is called "constructive notice". Having to prove constructive notice can be challenging. How long is so long that the government should be deemed to have been aware? Having documented proof that the government had actual notice of a particular road hazard yet failed to repair it is certainly much better.

Chicago bicyclists should report roadway hazards to the city, especially when the hazard, e.g. a pothole or sinkhole, is present in a bike lane. I recently inquired via email with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) as to how residents may report hazards in the city's bike lanes. There are two ways to do so, by calling Chicago's help line at 311 or online at www.servicerequest.cityofchicago.org. Here is the email thread:

Two questions:

1) To whom should I report hazards or dangerous conditions, i.e. sink holes, debris, etc., in bike lanes, paths and bike ways in the City of Chicago?

2) How should I make such a report?

Thanks.
--
Brendan Kevenides

--

Dear Mr. Kevenides ,

Thank you for your letter. We appreciate your dedication to bicycling and your enthusiasm for improved bicycling facilities in the City of Chicago.

One if the quickest and most effective ways to report pavement damage is to call 311 and input the information yourself directly into the system and onto the maintenance list. You can also do this online at https://servicerequest.cityofchicago.org.

Establishing and maintaining quality bikeways is consistent with Mayor Daley’s goals of creating safe road conditions for all users and encouraging bicycling in Chicago. Your input encourages our implementation of these goals.

Sincerely,

Joshua Koonce

Bikeways Planning Assistant

Chicago Department of Transportation

Chicago Bike Program

30 N. La Salle Street, Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60602

It would seem that the online reporting option creates a clear record of a complaint about a hazard. After submitting a report you will receive a message that states:

Service Request Entry Complete!

Thank you for reporting your city service needs. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your service request tracking number and a link to the status query page once your service request has been added to the primary service request tracking system. . .

There is a "tracking system"! This is significant because it means that the injured cyclist's attorney can make a request to CDOT for any and all electronic "service requests" within the "primary service request tracking system" to obtain proof the city knew of a particular hazard. Perhaps CDOT creates written documentation of service requests that are made via telephone. But it is clear that there is typewritten documentation of such requests that are made online. Having typed complaints about a particular hazard that the city failed to respond to would be a tremendous help to the injured bicyclist and his or her attorney. When making an online service request please be as specific as possible. For example, if you are reporting a pothole in a bike lane, when the online form asks, "What size and shape is the pothole?" you should respond with something like, "Pothole is in the bike lane in front of ABC store, is quite large and presents a hazard to bicyclists." With this kind of description who could argue credibly that the city was not on notice of the hazard and the danger it posed to cyclists?

One thing was not made clear to me from my inquiry with CDOT: For how long service requests are kept in the "system". Does CDOT keep such requests for 30 days, 6 months, 7 years? One would hope that requests are kept until such time as the hazard is repaired or corrected, but who knows. In any big organization data, information, documents can just disappear by accident or not. In light of that reality I propose that if you submit an online service request to CDOT regarding a bicycling hazard that you send a copy of the confirmation email you will receive following your request to The Chicago Bicycle Advocate at bhk@kenneallylaw.com. In that way we will have a data source to look to when clients come to us with a case arising out of a roadway hazard. Working together we can make Chicago safer for bicyclists.

A Website That Could Help You Ride Safer

With information we can avoid danger and affect positive change. As bicyclists who ride through the crowded city we rely on our skill and experience to get us from point to point safely. We also hope. We hope that drivers give us the three feet of space the law requires. We hope that drunk drivers stay far from us. We hope that a sink hole has not cropped up in the bike lane since we were last there. We hope that lady in the SUV on her cell phone with three kids trying her nerves from the backseat sees us. Hope is a good thing. But when my health and safety are on the line give me information over hope any day. Roadguardian.com provides cyclists with the means to report and receive information about danger spots so they can ride smarter and safer. I was made aware of this helpful site by a post last week at www.bikerumer.com. Roadguardian.com provides cyclists with information regarding:

• Where have cyclists experienced close calls?
• Where have cyclists been hit and injured?
• Where have cyclists been killed?
• Where have dogs chased cyclists?
• Where are the pot holes located?
• Where have cyclists been harassed by motorists?

At the moment the site has only two incidents listed in Chicago. For our city, the site is not yet a useful resource. But if enough bicyclists post incidents on the site it certainly can be. With accidents and incidents posted on the site perhaps trends will become clear and danger areas can be corrected or simply avoided. It is up to bicyclists to make this a useful tool. Let's get to work.

Cyclist Injured Near Montrose and California

A bicyclist was injured on October 5th when he was struck by a car near Horner Park, just east of North California Avenue and West Montrose Avenue in Chicago. We have been retained to represent him in his claim against the negligent driver. Our client was riding his Trek road bike eastbound on West Montrose at the time of the collision. As he approached a driveway leading into Horner Park, riding along the right side of the street, he saw a silver car stopped in the westbound lane of Montrose angled as if waiting to turn into the driveway. Because the driver was stopped he fairly assumed that she saw him and was waiting for him to pass before making her turn. However, just as he reached the driveway the car darted into his lane and struck his bicycle, sending him flying forward onto the hood of her car. He was immediately groggy, having smacked his head. He also had pain shooting through his wrists which accepted much of the impact. Bizzarly, the driver exited her car and accused our client of being some how at fault for damaging the hood of her car. She then left the scene before police arrived without providing her name, address and insurance information. Luckily, there was a witness to the accident and the driver was later found.

Our client was treated after the incident at Swedish Covenant Hospital where he was diagnosed with two badly sprained wrists. The injury, for which he is forced to wear immobilizing splints, has understandably kept him from his job as an airport baggage handler. Our firm is taking this matter seriously and will aggressively pursue the at fault driver and make sure she is held accountable.

Bicycle Commuter Seriously Injured Near 4900 Block of South California Avenue

We have been retained to represent a cyclist who was seriously injured when he was struck from behind by a vehicle along the 4900 block of South California Avenue in Chicago on September 12th. Our client, a former United States Marine, was rushed from the scene unconscious via ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion, a fractured shoulder, and deep gouges in this head, face, arm and leg requiring surgical closure. He continues to work toward recovery, but he is expected to have some permanent scarring and disfigurement.

The incident took place at around 5:30 p.m. The bicyclist was on this way home from work at the time we was struck. Our firm is initiating a full investigation of this matter, and is looking into allegations that the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

30% Increase In Bicycle Commuting In Chicago

Chicago commuters are part of a nationwide increase in the number of people bicycling to work. Between 2005 and 2008 30 percent more Chicagoans biked to work, according to statistics from United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey for those years. During that three year period the city experienced a 7.78 percent increase in the total number of workers 16 years of age and over. The nation as a whole saw a 36 percent gain in the number of bicycle commuters during the same period. Nationwide, there was a 43 percent increase in bicycle commuting between 2000 and 2008.