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Champaign Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Champaign, IL

Champaign has a number of amazing bike routes. The 40-mile round trip route around Home Lake, the University of Illinois loop by the woods, and the 18-mile Rail Fanning trail in Tolono to name a few.

The Rail Fanning route allows you to follow the railroad tracks as the trains move out into the prairie land that cuts across the land away from Champaign.

However, as beautiful as these routes are, there are also a number of Champaign bicycle accidents that remind us how bikers need to pay attention to their surroundings.



How to Avoid Champaign Bike Accidents?

  1. Be careful at intersections– The vast majority of bikers are hit by cars at intersections. That is because it is where drivers need to be at their highest alert levels.

For example, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represented a U of I student riding their bike around the campus when they were hit at an intersection by a professor. The professor did not even see the student.

However, the accident was serious enough that afterwards the student required surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, plus rehab afterwards to properly recover.

This was months of rehab for an accident that happened in a split second at an intersection. Because of all the rehab and medical costs, we settled the case for $165,000.

It is also a poignant reminder that bikers crossing intersections need to check if the drivers surrounding them are paying attention. From visible clothing and reflectors to riding your bike in the proper place, bikers should ensure the drivers do not miss them.

It is even in your best interest to use horns or bells to get the drivers attention.

Finally, at intersections bicycle riders should stay farther left in the lane, just like they are another car. That way, they are completely visible to any vehicles behind them.

At the same time, check to make sure no cars start running the red lights or speed off when the lights change.

  1. Behave like a vehicle– Bikers in Illinois are subject to their own Rules of the Road just like vehicle drivers.

Part of this includes bikers signaling when they turn and riding their bike in the appropriate spots. For example,bicycles cannot veer back and forth between sidewalk and the street. It becomes confusing for drivers, and leads to accidents.

  1. Slow down– You do not have to go fast. In fact, late at night it is probably better if you ride slower. That way you will not be in danger of getting into an accident.

It also makes it easy for a bicycle to completely stop if the situation calls for it.

Most bikes can only go around 15-30 miles per hour. A car can average between 25-40 miles per hour on most side streets. It is not worth trying to reach those speeds at the detriment to your life.

What can you do if you got into a Champaign Bike Accident?

What happens if you followed all of the suggestions above, and still got into an accident?

The answer varies greatly based on your scenario. However, most bikers have the right to go after the vehicle that hit them.

Being hit by a car means that the drivers insurance policy will cover the accident. Furthermore, if you ride a bike and drive a car, you might also be able to make a claim on your own vehicle policy to cover the damages.

However, every scenario is different. That is why if you do have any questions about how to get justice after an accident you should contact an attorney.

For your questions, feel free to contact us at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. We successfully helped hundreds of clients over the past 6 years collect over $50 million in settlements.

Let us sit down with you for a free initial consultation. Call us today at 888-424-5757 to learn more about your legal rights with the input of a Champaign bicycle accident lawyer.

For more information on other Illinois cities we serve and the applicable laws, please visit:

Aurora Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Elgin Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Joliet Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Peoria Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Rockford Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Springfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Waukegan Bicycle Accident Lawyers