Commuter Bicycle Accidents

Bike Crash Attorneys Representing Victims in the Wheaton and Schaumburg Areas 

Commuting to work on a bicycle can be a great way to integrate some exercise into your daily routine. However, when commuter bicycle accidents happen, the consequences for the bicyclist can be devastating. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a crash in a bike lane, a road, or a crosswalk during your commute due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our experienced Wheaton and Schaumburg bicycle accident attorneys are committed to getting you the help that you need to put your life back together.

Bringing a Personal Injury Claim Following a Commuter Bicycle Accident

Many people in Illinois choose bicycles as their mode of transportation to and from work. Although, according to the United States Census Bureau, only 0.6 percent of workers nationally commute by bike, the number of bicycle commuters has increased by 150 percent since 2000 and is expected to keep rising. There may be a few reasons for that, including increases in gas prices and environmental awareness. Approximately 1.3 percent (or 15,000 people daily) of workers commuted to work by bicycle in the Chicago area in 2014.

In Illinois, bicyclists have the same rights and duties as other motorists on the road. This means that bicycle riders must adhere to traffic laws and regulations, just like individuals operating other motor vehicles. For example, they must stop at all stop signs and traffic lights. Motorists have a duty to share the road with bicyclists. Unfortunately, many motorists overlook bicyclists, causing serious commuter bicycle accidents. Car and truck drivers can cause bike accidents in a number of ways, including but not limited to:

• Excessive speeding;
• Distracted driving;
• Failing to yield to bikes that have the right of way;
• Failing to pay attention to bike lanes;
• Aggressive driving;
• Failing to watch for bikes at intersections;
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Making improper lane changes; or
• Failing to obey traffic signals.

If you have been hurt in a bike accident, you may be able to recover compensation by establishing that the driver’s negligence caused the crash and the resulting harm. Negligence takes place when an injury or death is a result of a person’s failure to adhere to the appropriate duty of care. The duty of care refers to the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used under the same or similar circumstances.

In order to win a negligence case, the plaintiff’s lawyer must establish certain elements. For example, the defendant must have had a legal obligation to act as a reasonably prudent person would have acted in the same situation. The defendant must have violated the duty of care through an act or omission. The defendant’s breach must have caused the commuter bicycle accident, and the plaintiff must have suffered actual losses as a result of the crash because of bodily injuries or property damage, or both.

All of the aforementioned elements must be shown before any financial recovery can be awarded. If liability is established, the plaintiff may be able to recover a variety of past, present, and future damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, costs of future care, property damage, disability, and any other losses related to the accident. Calculating a precise amount for damages can be a complicated process, but we understand how to come up with an appropriate dollar amount in your case.

Discuss Your Situation with a Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyer in Wheaton or Schaumburg

If you have recently been injured in a bike accident while you were commuting to work, or if a loved one was killed in a commuter bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Therman Law Offices, our attorneys are committed to holding negligent parties accountable for the harm that they cause. With extensive experience in this area of law, we can guide you at every step of the way. We help injured people and families in cities such as Wheaton, Schaumburg, Addison, Elmhurst, West Chicago, Lemont, Westmont, Oakbrook, Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, and Lisle. For more information, call 312-588-1900 or reach us online.