Bicyclist Injured In Bucktown By Motorist Who May Have Grown Impatient With Congestion

A 44 year old Chicago bicyclist was struck by an SUV and injured while on his way home from work on February 2nd in the Bucktown neighborhood.  The cyclist was riding southbound in the dedicated bike lane on North Damen Avenue at around 6:20 p.m. when he was hit.  The driver was stopped in traffic along southbound Damen when, perhaps growing impatient with the congestion, he suddenly peeled-off to the right in an attempt to turn onto West Willow Street hitting the cyclist.  The motorist did not signal his impending maneuver and claims that he did not see the bicyclist who was riding with an operating light on the front of his bike and lights attached to his wheel valve stems.  Also in the SUV was the driver's wife and child.  They told the cyclist they were on their way to the United Center for an ice skating show.

Despite the cyclist's split second effort to avoid the collision, the SUV banged into his left knee, the impact throwing him to the ground.  Immediately following the crash, the bicyclist attempted to stand but was unable to put any weight on the injured knee.  He was transported via ambulance from the scene to Resurrection St. Mary's Medical Center.  He is still undergoing treatment.  My personal injury law firm is representing the bicyclist.

Settlement For Bicyclist Injured By Taxi On North Kingsbury Street, Despite Not Guilty Finding

Today, our law firm obtained a substantial settlement for a bicyclist injured in June, 2010 by a taxi cab in the 700 block of North Kingsbury Street in Chicago.  On the morning of June 3rd, our client was riding his bike to his Loop office when a taxi, which had been stopped along the curb on Kingsbury, suddenly pulled into the street, crashing into him.  The bicyclist sustained a fractured collar bone.

The driver was ticketed at the scene, but was found not guilty by a Cook County Traffic Court judge at the citation hearing.  However, with some hard investigative work -- and a little luck -- we were able to locate a witness to the incident.  The witness' statement likely aided us in obtaining a good result for our client despite the not guilty finding.

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.

Bicycle Commuter Injured By Taxi At Kingsbury and Chicago

A Chicago bicyclist was injured on June 3, 2010 when he was struck by a taxi on North Kingsbury Street, just south of its intersection with West Chicago Avenue. The incident occurred shortly after 8:00 a.m. as the cyclist was riding to his Loop office at a design firm where he works as an engineer. Our firm has been retained to represent him in a claim against the negligent driver and the cab company.

Our client was riding south along the right side of Kingsbury when the cab driver suddenly gunned his engine and burst into the south bound lane from the curb where he had stopped just as the cyclist was peddling past. The taxi struck the bicyclist throwing him from his bike. Our client struck the pavement violently, sustaining a fractured clavicle as well as injuries to his knee and back. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet and avoided serious head injury. He was transported from the scene via ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He remains in treatment, his right arm in an immobilizing sling to facilitate healing of the fractured clavicle. We intend to pursue this matter aggressively to ensure that the driver and cab company are held accountable.