Recumbent Bicyclist Struck By Motorist Along Lakefront Bicycle Path, Suffers Head Injury

A bicyclist on a recumbent suffered a head injury when she was struck by a motor vehicle as she crossed West Wilson Avenue along Chicago's lakefront bicycle path.  The crash occurred just before 1:00 p.m. on June 26th.  The bicyclist was traveling northbound on the path.  When she reached the intersection with Wilson Avenue she slowed when she saw a vehicle at the eastbound stop sign.  Bicycle traffic at that location is not required to stop or yield to motor vehicles and has the right of way.  The cyclist proceeded across Wilson.  As she approached the median dividing east and westbound traffic the car that had been stopped at the sign suddenly accelerated forward and crashed into her.  She was propelled from her recumbent bicycle up onto the car's hood, smashing the windshield with her helmeted head.  She was then thrown to the ground where she slid along the pavement before loosing consciousness.  She was taken via ambulance to Weiss Memorial Hospital where she received an extensive workup.

Our law firm is representing the bicyclist against the driver.  This is the second time within the last year that we have represented a bicyclist injured at West Wilson Avenue's intersection with the lakefront path.  The bicyclist continues to receive medical treatment.

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.