Bicycling is a very popular recreational activity in Chicago, Illinois, and across the United States. As a result, there are over 500,000 bike riders nation wide treated for injuries each year. Our law firm often represents bike riders who are injured in collisions with motor vehicles.

If the driver of an automobile negligently hits a bicycle rider, that bike rider will be entitled to recover against the at fault driver for their injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of income, disfigurement, loss of normal life, and any other losses related to the collision. Bicycle injuries can be very serious when hit by a car as they have very little to protect them, with injuries ranging from back & neck injuries, to multiple broken bones, to traumatic head injuries, to death.

When involved in an accident, an injured party should always try to mitigate their damages. It is strongly recommended that you or your children wear a helmet when riding a bike. Failure to wear a helmet would not bar recovery against a negligent party, but it could prevent serious head injuries.

It is also important to obey the rules of the road when riding a bicycle. Bikes are actually defined as vehicles under Illinois law and arguably should follow the rules of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Sometimes bike riders involved in accidents are surprised to receive traffic tickets for not following the rules of the road.

Injured bicycle riders should also contact the police as soon as possible so a police report can be made. Police reports are used to obtain the identity of the parties involved, identify any potential witnesses, obtain statements from the parties and witnesses, and make diagrams of the accident location. It is best to involve the police immediately. It has been my experience that sometimes at fault drivers will admit fault at the time of the accident, but later change their story if the police are not called right away.

When a bicyclist is hit by a car, you can make a claim against the negligent driver's auto insurance policy. If the careless driver has no auto insurance, you still may have a case. You can bring an uninsured motorist claim against your own auto insurance policy. If you do not have an auto policy, you may be able to make a claim against a household family member's policy. If presented with this type of insurance issue, it is best to contact our office immediately.

If you or a loved one have been hit by a car while riding a bike, please contact our office  - 24 hours.