Settlement For Bicyclist Injured When Passengers Exit Taxi Into Chicago Bike Lane

A substantial financial settlement has been reached by our law firm on behalf of a bicyclist doored when a taxi cab driver allowed his passengers to disembark into a dedicated bicycle lane at the 2400 block of North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago on March 17, 2011.  The 40 year old cyclist was traveling southbound in the bike lane when passengers suddenly emerged from the taxi, which had stopped in southbound traffic.  Unlike the typical dooring incident, the bicyclist in this case was doored from the left rather than the right side.  The bicyclist had been wearing a helmet and his bicycle was equipped with lights.  He was treated for a sprained knee and left hand fracture.

Taxi cab drivers owe a duty of reasonable care to roadway users in the location and manner in which their passengers are permitted to exit the vehicle.  This duty extends to bicyclists, permitted users of Chicago streets

Chicago Bicyclist Doored by Taxicab Discharging Passengers Into Bike Lane

On March 17th a 40 year old Chicago man was struck by a taxicab door while riding his bicycle southbound in the dedicate bike lane along the 2400 block of North Lincoln Avenue.  This was an unusual dooring incident in that the bicyclist was struck by the door from his left.  The taxi had stopped in the street to allow passengers to alight as the cyclist pedaled by.  As he passed along the vehicle's right side the door opened unexpectedly, crashing into the side of the bicycle vaulting the rider into a parked car.

The bicyclist was transported from the scene via ambulance to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was treated for a left hand fracture and sprained knee.  Though released from the hospital he is still undergoing medical treatment.  Our law firm has been hired to represent the cyclist.  By discharging his passengers into a dedicated bike lane, the cab driver violated the Municipal Code of Chicago which requires all drivers to avoid opening a vehicle door into moving bike traffic.  The Code also prohibits blocking any portion of a bike lane with any part of a vehicle.