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Elgin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Helping Bike Accident Victims in Elgin Recover Compensation
Elgin bicycle accident lawyer services are crucial for anyone who has been hurt on a bicycle. Even in quiet communities like Elgin, bicycle accidents still happen with alarming frequency. Because bicyclists have little protection, they often suffer catastrophic injuries in accidents involving motor vehicles.
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a bike crash, you need a seasoned personal injury attorney on your side. Our law firm helps injured bicycle riders receive full and fair compensation from the applicable insurance company, ensuring that they can recuperate in comfort. Our previous settlements include:
- $2,250,000: Policy limit recover for head injury victim
- $499,000: Settlement for bike messenger struck by a car
- $350,000: Hit-and-run settlement paid by cyclist’s insurance
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Elgin
Common bicycle accident injuries are often very severe, including broken bones, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Suburban areas like Elgin pose risks to cyclists due to a lack of protected bike lanes, confusing intersections, and high traffic volume. Common causes of bicycle accidents in Elgin include the following.
High Traffic Volume
Downtown Elgin and the surrounding areas experience high traffic volumes throughout the day as multiple state highways converge. Particularly dangerous intersections include Highland Avenue at State Street, Chicago Street at State Street, and Kimball Street at Dundee Avenue.
Dooring
Dooring bike accidents occur when drivers or passengers of parked cars open their doors into a bike rider’s path. Elgin offers free two-hour street parking on most major streets, meaning that a negligent driver could easily hit a cyclist nearly anywhere in Elgin. Particularly dangerous streets include State Street, Grove Street, and Chicago Street due to their high traffic.
Busy Intersections
The intersection of Larkin Avenue and McLean Boulevard is incredibly busy, as these are the major east-west and north-south corridors, respectively.
Cyclists may be struck by turning cars while passing through the intersection, or they may be hit by someone attempting to run through a yellow light. Larkin Avenue at Raymond Street is another busy intersection that sees thousands of cars per day.
Commercial Traffic
Randall Road is well-known throughout the suburbs as a major commercial corridor, and it has higher speed limits with limited bike lanes. The presence of large trucks increases the risk of severe injuries for cyclists because of these vehicles’ weight and speed.
Additionally, bigger vehicles have larger blind spots, making it easy for them to miss a cyclist attempting to pass them.
Speeding
Unfortunately, not everyone follows traffic laws, including posted speed limits. This is especially true along large roads like Dundee Avenue, which is a busy north-south corridor. Higher speed limits, combined with commercial traffic, can easily lead to bicyclist accidents.
Especially dangerous intersections include Dundee Avenue at Summit Street and Dundee Avenue at Larkin Avenue.
Reckless Driving
In 2020, Lance Neal fled from police after hitting another vehicle. He did not have a valid license. During the pursuit, he lost control of his car near Raymond Street and Purify Avenue and hit two cyclists. Sadly, this extreme driver negligence cost Sandra Sampey her life. Neal was charged with reckless homicide in 2021.
Bicycle accident cases can result from driving while intoxicated, road rage, or following a cyclist too closely. Sadly, aggressive driving is common across the United States, including Elgin. In one incident, two drivers were shot and stabbed after a physical altercation near Randall Road and Fox Lane.
Distracted Driving
Texting while driving is a crime in Illinois, but many people still refuse to put down their phones and focus on the road. Frighteningly, 42% of teenagers admit to texting while driving, a demographic already highly prone to car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers are distracted by their phones at least 10% of the time.
Because cyclists already have a smaller profile than other vehicles, bicycle accidents are far more likely if a motorist is not paying attention to the road. Distracted driving accidents can cause serious injuries, especially if the negligent driver does not immediately recognize that they hit someone.
School Zones
There are 86 schools near Elgin, IL, including Elgin High School, which is located near Plum Street and Liberty Street. These areas often see younger cyclists traveling to and from school, who may suffer catastrophic injuries when hit by a much larger vehicle.
Limited Bike Lanes
Areas like Big Timber Road at Tyrell Avenue have plentiful commuter traffic from those going to the train station, but they also lack protected bike lanes. This can make bicycle accidents more likely and more severe.
Elgin, IL Bicycle Accident Statistics
In 2023, Elgin police reported 20 bicycle accidents, including one fatality. All the crashes resulted in injury, and none involved property damage. Three injured bicyclists were in serious condition, and 14 suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Bike accident statistics reveal the most common cause was crossing the street, which occurred in seven cases. In three cases, including the fatal accident, the cyclist’s prior action before the crash was unknown. Only three of the victims were female, and the rest were male. Their ages ranged from 10 to 84.
Elgin, Illinois Laws Protecting Bicycle Accident Victims
Illinois Vehicle Code §11-1003.1 states that motor vehicle drivers must exercise due care around bicyclists to prevent injury. This includes giving them at least three feet of space, passing them on the left, and warning them with their horn whenever necessary.
At the same time, cyclists must respect all the rules of the road, including moving with the flow of traffic, stopping at traffic lights, and signaling when they intend to turn. Elgin Municipal Code §11.44.010 states that the city follows the Illinois Vehicle Code, but it also requires cyclists to register their bikes with the city (§11.44.020).
What to Do Immediately After a Bicycle Accident in Elgin
A bicycle accident can lead to major injuries, including head injuries and spinal cord damage. You must act quickly, both to protect yourself and ensure that you can receive a fair settlement. Follow these steps as soon as possible after a crash.
Move to a Safe Location
Many bicycle accident cases involve a victim being thrown from their bike and then getting hit by a second vehicle. As such, you must move out of the flow of traffic whenever possible and then assess your injuries.
Call the Police
Call 911 and describe your location. Ask for medical assistance and the police to be sent right away. Follow any first aid instructions that the operator gives you while giving any details that you can about the accident, such as the make, model, and color of the vehicle.
Gather Information
If the driver has remained at the accident scene, ask for their contact information and insurance details. If they left the scene, write down anything you remember about the car and the occupants, such as make, model, license plate number, and what the person looked like.
You should also get contact information for any eyewitnesses. An Elgin bicycle accident lawyer can then contact them for their testimony.
Document the Accident Scene
Get photos and videos of the crash site, including your injuries and property damage. You should keep the helmet and clothing you were wearing at the accident, which can be used as evidence for either a civil or criminal case.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t feel hurt, you should get medical treatment right away. Not only will this support your personal injury claim, but you may not realize that you were seriously hurt because of shock and trauma. For example, traumatic brain injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Do Not Admit Fault
When speaking to third parties like police and insurance agencies, do not say that you were responsible or apologize for the inconvenience. This can be used against you and lead to a denied claim. Allow your personal injury attorney to handle all communication with third parties for you.
Contact an Elgin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
An Elgin bicycle accident attorney can guide you through the legal process, talk to insurance companies on your behalf, and protect your rights. You can contact our law firm for a free consultation about your bicycle accident claim.
Investigating Your Elgin Bicycle Accident Claim
Our Elgin personal injury lawyers will immediately begin investigating your case to gather supporting evidence and establish liability. This starts by reviewing police reports and interviewing any witnesses who were at the scene.
Next, we analyze the accident, reviewing the vehicle damage to determine the value of your case. If necessary, we partner with accident reconstruction experts who can provide a better picture of the scene.
Additionally, we’ll contact medical professionals who can review your medical records and identify any future medical expenses you may have. This will help us evaluate your personal injury case and seek compensation that will cover all your needs.
How to Deal with Insurance Companies After an Elgin Bicycle Accident
Some insurance policies will cover bicycle accident victims even if they were not driving at the time, especially if you have uninsured motorist coverage. Check your policy and submit a claim if necessary.
You should allow your Elgin bicycle accident lawyer to handle communication with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, as they will try a variety of tactics to prevent you from gaining financial compensation. This includes claiming you were at fault, delaying an investigation, demanding excessive paperwork, and lowballing you.
Compensation You Can Recover Through a Personal Injury Claim
For bicycle accident cases, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses like physical therapy
- Future lost income
- Future medical costs
- Property loss
- Funeral in the case of wrongful death
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Grief
- Inconvenience
- Disability or disfigurement
Benefits of Hiring an Elgin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
A skilled Elgin personal injury lawyer is an invaluable ally who will protect your rights and help you navigate the legal system. They will thoroughly investigate the accident and gather important evidence to show how the accident occurred.
We have access to resources that the average person may not be able to find, including surveillance footage, private investigators, and accident reconstructionists. We will also consult with professionals, including doctors, physical therapists, and others, for expert testimony that supports your claim.
The more evidence that we are able to gather, the more likely that you can get fair financial compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Additionally, we will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, ensuring that you get full and fair compensation for your injuries. If necessary, we’ll file a lawsuit and share your story with a judge and jury.
Our Illinois bicycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you only pay us if we are able to recover compensation for you.
Consult an Elgin Bicycle Accident Attorney Near You!
Accidents involving motor vehicles can change an injured bicycle rider’s life forever. Common bicycle accident injuries are often complex and expensive, leading to long-term lost wages and high medical bills.
Our skilled bicycle accident attorneys in Chicago will seek compensation on your behalf. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients in personal injury cases, including bike crashes.
Let us handle your personal injury claim so that you can focus on healing. Call us or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with an experienced attorney.
