I Love Riding In The City. . .

The new issue of Urban Velo is out and yours truly is in it.  You bet I love riding in the city!  All of the credit goes to my talented wife Maria Lopez for the photography.  Can any of you Chicagoans figure out where the photo was taken?

Resolution Reached In Case Of Bicyclist Doored In Bridgeport

A 30 year old female bicyclist doored in Bridgeport in May has received the full amount of insurance coverage from the driver's insurance company.  The cyclist suffered wrist sprains after a driver opened her car door with out looking for bike traffic near 2917 South Throop Street on the evening of May 9, 2011.  The cyclist was riding a "slow bike" with a functioning headlight and was obeying all traffic laws at the time of the crash.  My law firm represents the bicyclist.

Teenage Bicyclist Seriously Injured By Right Turning Driver In Darien

A 40 year old driver struck and seriously injured a teenage bicyclist at the intersection of Beller and Lemont roads in Darien on Sunday afternoon, according to the DownersGrovePatch.  Unconscious from the crash, the teenager was extracted from underneath the vehicle by paramedics before being rushed to the hospital.  The driver, Timothy J. Hagan, allegedly struck the cyclist while attempting to turn right from Beller onto Lemont.  The bicyclist "was crossing Beller in the crosswalk," according to the DownersGrovePatch.  The driver was ticketed for failing to yield to the bicyclist in the crosswalk.

Click here to read more.

South Side Cyclist Hit By Car While Riding Through Harold Washington Park

A 30 year old female cyclist was struck by a car while riding southbound along a bike path in Harold Washington Park on Chicago's South Side on February 12th.  The woman was crossing the path's intersection at East 53rd Street when a westbound Honda Civic traveling at about 20 mph struck the front of her bike.  The path continues on the south side of 53rd Street.  The impact sent the rider reeling along the right side of the car and onto the ground where she suffered a separated shoulder.  She was rushed via ambulance to the nearby University of Chicago Hospital.  She may require surgery to repair her badly damaged shoulder.

The driver claims that the bicyclist came off of the trail and crashed into the side of his car.  However, the damage to the woman's bike strongly suggests that it was she who was struck from the side.  My law firm is representing the injured bicyclist.

Over 10,000 Fuji Bikes Recalled After Injuries

After reports of injured riders and at least a dozen frames breaking, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced yesterday the recall of about 10,500 Fuji Saratoga Women's Bicycles.  The Commission announced that "the bicycle's frame can break in the center of the downtube during use, causing the rider to lose control and fall."  There have been at least two reports of rider injuries, including "a head laceration requiring 20 stitches."  These bicycles, made in  China, were sold nationwide from late 2007 through the end of 2011.  If you own one of these bikes you should not ride it.  A Fuji Bicycle dealer will provide a free replacement frame.

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.

Bicyclist Doored On West Kinzie Receives Settlement

A claim arising from a dooring incident that occurred in front of Chicago's East Bank Club in May has settled. My personal injury law firm represented the bicyclist who was commuting home from work when he was injured.  The 38 year old cyclist was riding along the right side of West Kinzie Street when a driver parked along the curb opened the door of her 2010 Mercedes-Benz into his path without looking for bicycle traffic.  She was ticketed by police.

The car's door opened a sizable gash along the right calf of the bicyclist who was transported via ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  The wound was large enough that bone was visible to the naked eye and required 11 stitches to close.  The cyclist also experienced weakness in his right great toe since the incident which has slowly resolved.  He also continues to have some significant scarring to his lower leg which is likely permanent.

The incident occurred about a month before installation of the Kinzie cycle track which segregates bicycle traffic from motor vehicles and eliminates vehicle parking along the curb.