From daily commutes and exercise routines to family rides through the park, bicycling can be a fun and healthy way to get from point A to point B while enjoying the outdoors.
Unfortunately, even a careful cyclist may face serious risks, especially when sharing the road with much larger, heavier and faster motor vehicles.
How many bike accidents occur in Illinois?
In 2018, 2,359 Illinois bicyclists experienced some type of injury while riding, and 346 cyclists experienced serious injury. There were 24 cyclist fatalities in the same year, with about a fourth of those fatalities occurring in Chicago.
What are the most common types of cyclist accidents?
Failure by motorists to look out for bicycle traffic is one of the leading causes of cyclist accidents. In addition to impaired or distracted driving, negligent behaviors include:
- Weaving or unsafe lane changes
- Turning without checking for bikes
- Driving too close to bike lines or driving, idling or parking in bike lanes
- Failing to yield right of way
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Opening a door across bike traffic while parked (dooring)
Who is responsible for a bicycle injury?
Everyone has a basic obligation to follow the rules of the road and stay alert should the unexpected happen. Unfortunately, when a motorist is negligent, a cyclist may easily experience catastrophic injury. Bikers should know that they may be able to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more if a driver failed to operate his or her vehicle with a reasonable level of care.