Chicago Personal Injury Attorney
Chicago bicyclists have the same rights to use the road as motor vehicles. Despite the law, negligent drivers can injure or fatally harm cyclists. Bike accidents can cause physical pain, emotional distress, financial stress and other damage.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a bike accident, Argionis & Associates will be your advocate. Our attorneys are available for individualized service, and our services are free unless we win the case.
The city of Chicago has a lot of infrastructure for cyclists, with more than 200 miles of shared and buffered bike lanes. The Active Transportation Alliance 2020 Regional Mode Share Report found that an estimated 1.8% of Chicagoans biked to work in 2018, and bicycles have become popular for recreation and fitness.
Despite the infrastructure for cyclists, bike accidents still occur in Chicago. Based on a 2017 study from the Active Transportation Alliance, 55% of pedestrian and bike accidents in Illinois happen in the city of Chicago, where 18 pedestrians or cyclists are injured daily. On average, one person is killed while walking or biking in Chicago every three days.
Bike accidents occur when the cyclist and/or motorist violates a traffic law, such as:
These violations and conditions can cause bike accidents like:
If a car hits you when bicycling, follow these steps:
Section 11-401(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code requires motorists involved in a bike accident to remain at the scene. However, some drivers flee the scene in hit-and-run accidents. In 2017, 26% of crashes with pedestrians and cyclists were hit-and-runs.
If you are involved in a hit-and-run bicycle crash, follow the steps above and gather information to the extent possible, given the circumstances. The police can file a report and identify the driver through your recollection of the accident, witness statements and security footage.
Though recovering compensation from a hit-and-run accident can be challenging, experienced bicycle accident injury attorneys in Chicago like Argionis will represent you to get the award you deserve for your damages.
Illinois law grants cyclists two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Cases involving property damage have a time limit of five years. You can seek compensation for these types of damages:
The value of economic and noneconomic damages varies on factors such as the:
Since Illinois operates under a modified comparative negligence standard, you can receive compensation if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. Your degree of liability is a factor in the final settlement amount.
If you want to consult with a professional attorney about your bike accident case, choose Argionis. Argionis & Associates has won many cases, resulting in generous financial compensation for our clients. We will represent you in court to get the award you deserve. Schedule your consultation today by calling 312-782-4545 or contacting us online.