Free Consultation
Injured in a bicycle accident? Our experienced attorneys are ready to fight for your rights.
Locations We Serve
Rockford Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Helping Rockford Bike Accident Victims Recover Financial Compensation
Rockford bicycle accident lawyer guidance is crucial for your personal injury claim, as crashes can result in severe injuries, emotional trauma, and even death. Our Rockford personal injury lawyers can help you recover compensation, protect your legal rights, and ensure that you can recuperate in comfort.
We are renowned for getting fair compensation for our clients that cover everything from lost wages to emotional distress. Our previous successes include:
- $2,250,000 – Policy limit settlement for woman hit on her way to work
- $605,000 – Personal injury lawsuit for victim struck by a truck
- $510,000 – Policy limit settlement for victim suffering from traumatic brain injuries
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Rockford
Rockford is one of Illinois’s largest cities, home to around 146,000 people. With so many motor vehicles on the road, bike accidents are bound to occur, even with the best safety precautions. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include the following.
Limited Bike Lanes
The League of American Bicyclists honored Rockford as a bike-friendly community, citing its 50 miles of on-street bike lanes and 21 miles of off-street multi-use paths. However, not all of these are protected bike lanes, and they are mostly concentrated in the downtown area.
Due to the limited infrastructure for cyclists, major arteries like Main Street, Wyman Street, State Street, and Chestnut Street are notorious for bicycle accident cases. The city also notes that Apine and Minns, Hart and Forest Hills, and 9th and State are difficult intersections to pass.
Dooring
Dooring accidents happen when negligent drivers open a parked car’s door without checking for cyclists. They are common on busy streets with street parking, including Alpine Road at Harrison Avenue, Alpine Road at Highcrest Road, and Main Street at State Street.
Complicated Intersections
Rockford is notorious for its incredibly confusing intersections, including the five-way intersection between Guilford, Royal, Prospect, and Sinnissippi. In these cases, driver negligence, like failing to check a blind spot, can easily lead to traumatic injuries for a cyclist.
Sadly, even simple intersections, like Latham Road and Deborah Avenue, can see fatal bike crashes. In November 2024, a 65-year-old cyclist suffered catastrophic injuries after being pinned under a Sunrise school charter SUV. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
High Traffic Volume
Riverside Boulevard is a high-traffic area on the north side that intersects with other high-volume routes, including North Main Street and Perryville Road. Because many cars pass by regularly, the intersection between Riverside Boulevard and Alpine Road has an especially high number of car accidents.
Commercial Traffic
Harrison Avenue and 11th Street are in a busy commercial district on the south side, meaning that thousands of large trucks use this intersection to make deliveries or transport goods. A bike crash involving a commercial vehicle can cause significant injuries or even death due to the vehicle’s larger weight and size.
Outdated Infrastructure
Rockford has long been known for its charming but aging streets, which are prone to potholes and other damage. On the west side, Auburn Street and Kilburn Avenue do not have protected bike lanes and are in poor shape, making them dangerous for cyclists and motorists alike.
Higher Speed Limits
East State Street is a very busy corridor with higher speed limits, increasing the risk of serious injuries for cyclists. The intersections of East State Street at Perryville Road and East State Street at Alpine Road are known for their high-speed crashes, which could lead to permanent disability for cyclists.
Reckless Driving
Even when cyclists do everything right, they may still be hit or killed by negligent motorists. In November 2023, a driver under the influence of drugs slammed into a telephone pole and pinned a cyclist around the 800 block of Brooke Road. While the cyclist was extricated and rushed to the hospital, he later died from his injuries.
Sadly, over 25% of traffic fatalities in 2020 were related to drug use, including cannabis and alcohol.
Distracted Driving
While distracted driving can happen anywhere, it’s especially dangerous on busy main roads like those in downtown Rockford. Cyclists should take extra caution in areas like Main Street at State Street, Main Street at Chestnut Street, and Wyman Street at State Street.
Rockford, IL Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 22 bicycle accidents were reported to Rockford police in 2023. While this may seem low, it’s important to note that not all bike crashes are reported, even if the cyclist suffered injuries.
Sadly, one injured cyclist passed away in 2023, while 12 cyclists had non-incapacitating injuries, and four complained of pain at the accident scene. Twenty of the victims were male, and only two were female. Bicycle accident statistics reveal their ages ranged from 9 to 74.
Nine of the bicycle accidents occurred while crossing the street, both at intersections and in the middle of the street. Additionally, three occurred while biking against the flow of traffic, and three happened while biking with traffic.
Rockford, Illinois Laws Protecting Bicycle Accident Victims
According to §11-1003.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, drivers must always exercise caution around cyclists to avoid injuries. This includes giving them at least three feet of space, passing them on the left, and warning them with a horn or other signal.
Drivers who cause cycling accidents can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if the victim is not seriously injured or a Class C felony if there are severe injuries.
Rockford Municipal Code §16-74 notes that cyclists are under the same requirements as motor vehicle operators in regard to obeying traffic signals and yielding to pedestrians, meaning you may be liable if you break traffic laws.
What to Do Immediately After a Bicycle Accident in Rockford
Bicycle accidents can be terrifying, but you must act quickly to protect your personal safety and legal rights. Follow these steps as soon as possible.
Get to Safety
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for cyclists to be hit again by another car if they remain in the roadway. Get to safety and begin assessing your injuries.
Report the Accident
Call 911 and describe your location before requesting medical attention and police officers.
Gather Information
If the driver has remained on the scene, ask them for their contact information and insurance details. However, if this is a hit-and-run bicycle accident, our experienced attorneys can work to identify them through surveillance footage. Write down any information you remember about the vehicle.
You should also ask any witnesses for their contact details. Our law firm will interview them to determine the legal liability of everyone involved.
Document the Scene
In addition to filing a police report, you should document the accident through pictures and vehicles. Take photos of your damaged bicycle, any other property damage, and your injuries. When you arrive home, keep any clothing you were wearing and your helmet, as this can be used as evidence.
Seek Medical Treatment
You must seek medical assistance immediately after an accident. Not only does this help document your injuries for a personal injury claim, but you may not be aware that you’ve been seriously hurt due to shock and trauma.
Be sure to keep copies of your medical bills and records, as your Rockford bicycle accident attorney will need these to calculate damages when seeking compensation.
Do Not Admit Fault
You must not admit fault to police or insurance agents, as this can make it difficult for your legal team to demand financial support from the insurance company. Instead, let your attorney handle all communications for your personal injury case.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
You should call a Rockford bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Per §735 ILCS 5/13-202, Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, and much of this time will be spent negotiating with insurance companies. To ensure that we have time to investigate the case, schedule your free case review immediately.
Investigating Your Rockford Bicycle Accident Claim
Our skilled Rockford bicycle accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate all details of your personal injury claim. This includes reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, analyzing the accident, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts if necessary.
We will also consult with medical professionals about your prognosis and review your medical records. This helps us calculate your medical costs and identify any future treatment you may need as a result of the accident.
Through our analysis, we can determine who was at fault for the accident and why their negligence contributed to the crash. Negligence means that the person failed to act responsibly toward others on the road.
How to Deal with Insurance Companies After a Rockford Bicycle Accident
In some cases, your auto insurance policy may cover bicycle accidents, so report the accident to your own insurance company to see if you may be covered. You can also use your insurance if the other party is uninsured or underinsured.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company will work to diminish their responsibility, even for wrongful death damages or serious injuries.
They may use unfair tactics like lowballing you, demanding additional documentation, ignoring your messages, or insisting that bicycles aren’t covered, even though the 2023 Illinois Supreme Court case Carmen Galarza v. Direct Auto Insurance Company states that uninsured motorist policies cover cyclists.
To give you the best chance at financial compensation, allow your attorneys to handle communication with insurance agents. They will be able to assess your potential damages accurately and will be familiar with what kind of compensation is common for accidents like yours.
Potential Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Every personal injury case is different, and there is no set amount of compensation. Those who suffered major injuries like broken bones or spinal cord injuries will receive more pain and suffering damages, while those who only had minor injuries will receive less.
You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages for a bike accident. Economic damages cover hard financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses like physical therapy
- Future lost income
- Future medical needs
- Property damage
- Burial in the case of wrongful death
Non-economic damages assist you with the emotional and social effects of a bicycle accident, including:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
- Loss of companionship
- Grief in the case of wrongful death
Benefits of Hiring a Rockford Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Attorneys offer critical support throughout the personal injury claim process, helping you navigate the legal system and protecting your rights. This begins with a thorough investigation of the incident, where they will gather witness testimony, police accounts, surveillance footage, and more.
Attorneys can also consult with doctors and other professionals to assess what future needs you may have so that these can be included in your claim. When this is complete, your lawyer will begin negotiating with the insurance agency with a demand letter that considers every element of the crash.
Attorneys are skilled negotiators and will push for maximum compensation, including filing a lawsuit if necessary.
Our Illinois bicycle accident law firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means that you owe us nothing unless we are able to recover compensation on your behalf. By deducting our legal fees from your settlement, we ensure that you can focus on recovering, not paying more bills.
Consult a Rockford Bicycle Accident Attorney Near You!
Our Chicago-based bicycle accident attorneys have a proven track record of success in pursuing legal action against negligent drivers. We’ve recovered millions in financial compensation for our clients, ensuring they can afford future medical expenses and recuperate in comfort.
To schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, call us or use our online contact form.
