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Bicycle accidents that occur on a highway tend to be severe, often leaving riders in critical condition. If you or someone close to you was injured on a bicycle due to a driver’s negligence, our team at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. can help.
Our Chicago highway bicycle accident lawyers can investigate accidents and build strong legal claims on behalf of injury victims. With over seven decades of combined legal experience, we advocate for maximum compensation for clients and their families.
Learn more about how our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers can help by reaching out now for a free initial consultation.
Why Choose Our Highway Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Chicago, IL?
Hiring our Chicago personal injury lawyers after a bicycle accident on the highway may improve your chances of getting maximum compensation for your losses. Our deep understanding of Illinois law allows us to build a comprehensive legal claim on your behalf.
We understand what you’re going through, and we’ll take the time to provide personalized care and legal assistance. When you hire our personal injury law firm, we can focus on:
Answering Your Legal Questions
We understand that you may have a lot of questions about handling a bicycle accident claim. We’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and to provide you with clear, straightforward answers.
Explaining Your Next Steps
Our personal injury lawyers will help you understand each step in the legal process after a collision involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle. We’ll help you avoid mistakes that could damage your claim and stand by you each step of the way.
Collecting Evidence and Finding the Liable Party
We’ll get to work fast on investigating the causes of your collision and gathering evidence to establish another party’s fault. Depending on your circumstances, we may focus on:
- Getting copies of the police report and traffic camera footage
- Speaking to eyewitnesses and taking their statements
- Getting dashcam and surveillance footage showing the crash
- Visiting the accident scene
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
Our personal injury attorneys know how to determine the causes of your accident, and we’re ready to begin our investigation right now.
Handling All Interactions with Insurance Representatives
We’re ready to take charge of all communications with the insurance company after a crash. We can negotiate on your behalf and assess any settlement offers made by the company to ensure they don’t undervalue your losses.
Do not accept a settlement offer before we assess it. Insurance companies want injury victims to take subpar initial settlements because that limits the money they have to pay out. Turn to our Chicago highway bicycle accident attorneys for help.
Helping with Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
We can help you file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your highway bike accident. We also have the legal training, resources, and experience to aggressively represent you in court, if necessary. We’re ready to fight for the outcome you deserve.
Contact our Chicago highway bicycle accident lawyers now to learn more about how we handle accidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles.
Compensation Available After a Highway Bike Crash
A bicycle highway accident lawyer in Chicago can help you pursue the funds you need to cover your economic and non–economic damages. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for compensation for your:
Medical Expenses
Bicycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries. The liable party may have to cover all of your medical bills, including the costs of your surgeries, emergency treatment, time in a hospital, medications, and physical therapy appointments.
Lost Income
We believe the at-fault party should have to cover your lost wages after a collision. In some cases, you may get additional funds for your lost earning potential, especially if the accident results in disabilities that prevent you from returning to your career.
Pain and Suffering
A personal injury attorney can help you seek fair payment for the non-economic effects of your accident. Depending on your circumstances, you may receive compensation for your emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical pain.
We can work with you to determine an accurate value for these losses when you reach out to us for a free initial consultation.
Causes of Bike Crashes on Chicago Highways
Driver error is a primary cause of bike crashes in Illinois. Near on-ramps and other intersections, bicyclists on highways risk being struck by drivers who do not show the appropriate level of care by reducing speed and scanning for riders.
Some drivers drive aggressively, endangering vulnerable bicyclists. Others change lanes improperly or fail to yield to bicyclists with the right of way. We understand driver negligence, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Other factors that can cause crashes include:
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence (DUI) represents a major cause of collisions in our city. Drunk drivers are generally not paying attention, and they may exhibit severe lapses in judgment, endangering themselves and bikers.
A Chicago bike accident lawyer from our team can help after this kind of crash.
Distracted Driving
Drivers often get distracted by their cellphones and other electronic devices. Other distractions can include passengers, the radio, and even food or drink. Distracted drivers take their attention off the road and can cause catastrophic accidents.
Construction Zones
Construction zones introduce numerous hazards that motorists and bikers must navigate. Construction areas often include unexpected lane changes and changes to the surface of the road that could cause a biker to lose control and crash.
Lack of Bicycle Infrastructure
Most highways do not have dedicated bike infrastructure. They may lack shared and buffered bike lanes, forcing bikers into close proximity with motor vehicles. This lack of infrastructure can directly contribute to traffic crashes.
What to Do After a Bike Crash on a Highway
After a highway bike accident, you should take the following steps:
Notify the Police
Make sure you notify law enforcement after a bike crash on a Chicago highway. Reporting the crash will ensure that the police file an official report about the incident. We can use this report when building your personal injury claim.
Get Medical Care
You should get immediate treatment for your injuries after a biking crash. Getting prompt care from a medical professional can connect your injuries to the incident, potentially making it easier for you to get payment for your healthcare costs.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm
Focus on getting the legal support you deserve after a crash by reaching out to our dedicated team after a collision. We’ll get to work immediately on your claim, handle all legal matters, and provide the support you deserve.
We understand what you’re going through after a collision, and we want to help you make a full financial recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Highway Biking Accidents
Our bicycle highway accident attorneys in Chicago can answer questions like:
What Are My Rights and Responsibilities as a Biker in Chicago?
Bicyclists in Illinois have the same rights as other motorists on the road. This means they also have the same duties, including avoiding actions that cause foreseeable harm to others and abiding by the rules of the road.
Motorists and cyclists sharing the highway face a particular challenge because bicyclists often cannot keep pace with passenger vehicles. Bicyclists must adhere to rules regarding where they are permitted to ride on the highway. While some highways offer paved buffered bike lanes, others do not.
How Much Money Will I Get After My Highway Bike Accident?
The funds that you qualify to receive after a bike crash will vary based on several factors. Your level of compensation will depend on the extent of your losses, including your hospital bills and emotional pain.
Your degree of fault will also play a role in determining how much compensation you receive from the liable party.
What Are Common Injuries From Highway Bike Crashes?
Some of the most common injuries caused by bike crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Head and face injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
You should get immediate medical care for any injuries caused by a collision.
What Does My Lawyer Have to Prove to Show Negligence?
A lawyer pursuing a negligence claim against the driver who hit you would show the following four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. All elements must be satisfied for a victim to financially recover.
To show a duty of care, drivers must assess their surroundings for hazards and adapt their speed and driving behavior as necessary. After establishing the driver’s duty of care to others on the highway, including bicyclists, the injured individual must show that the defendant breached their duty.
A driver may violate or breach their duty of care by acting in a careless manner based on the circumstances. For instance, drivers must remain aware of their environment to avoid causing a crash. If a driver is not scanning for other vehicles and cyclists on the road, then their actions likely do not reflect those of a reasonably prudent person.
Your lawyer must also show that the at-fault party’s breach of duty caused your accident and led you to suffer economic and non-economic losses.
What If I’m Partially Responsible for the Crash?
You may still seek compensation for your losses if you’re partially responsible for a bike crash due to the comparative negligence laws in Illinois. These laws state that you can seek compensation as long as you’re less than 50% responsible for a motor vehicle crash.
However, your compensation will drop based on your percentage of fault. For example, let’s say you sustain $10,000 in losses in a bike crash, but you’re 10% responsible for the crash. In this situation, you’ll only qualify to receive $9,000 in payment toward your losses.
What If an Uninsured Driver Hits Me While I’m Biking?
You may still receive compensation if an uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you. In this situation, we may help you file a claim through your uninsured motorist coverage. This form of insurance coverage can also help with your losses after a hit-and-run.
We can review your insurance policy to see if you have this form of coverage and then take charge of filing your claim.
How Can I Make Bike Riding Safer?
You can lower the risks associated with bike riding by using the appropriate safety gear each time you take out your bicycle. Make sure you wear a helmet and use reflective clothing, especially if you plan to bike at night.
You can further protect yourself by leaving as much distance as possible between you and motor vehicles. You may want to consider off-street pathways, like the Lakefront Trail, when riding your bike.
An accident could happen no matter what steps you take to protect yourself. We’re here to offer legal help when you need it most.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bike Crash?
Generally, you have two years to take legal action after a bike collision in Chicago. However, this deadline can vary based on the specifics of your situation. We can give you more information about the personal injury statute of limitations for your claim when you reach out to us for help.
How Much Will My Bicycle Accident Lawyer Charge to Handle My Claim?
Our team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only receive payment for legal fees after resolving your claim. This helps minimize the financial strain you experience after an accident. Our payment will come as a percentage of your final settlement or judgment.
Talk to Us After a Highway Bike Crash in Chicago, IL
A consultation with the Chicago highway bicycle accident attorneys at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. can help you understand whether you have a viable claim and how to pursue monetary damages.
We understand the severity of a highway bicycle accident and the accompanying physical and emotional aftermath. Our office is proud to assist clients injured by the wrongful actions of another party. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
