Whether the harm befalls a young child learning to ride a bike or an experienced cyclist commuting in Chicago, Illinois bicycle accident attorneys are concerned about the injuries that can be caused when a bicycle rider is involved in an accident.  Bicyclists cannot accurately predict when a car, motorcycle, truck or other bicycle is going to collide with their own bike.  It happens every day on busy city streets and less traveled country roads.

Bicyclists can take some precautions against injuries such as wearing helmets and obeying traffic laws.  The Illinois Department of Transportation’s website explains the legal precautions that must be taken by bicyclists.  Bicyclists are required to obey the rules of the road and to take other precautions to help ensure their safety. However, even when bicyclists take these precautions there are still times that other bicyclists and motor vehicle operators do not see them and injuries occur.

When Should I Contact an Illinois Bicycle Accident Attorney?

After you have sought medical attention for your injuries it is important to contact your Illinois bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible.  Your attorney can help you gather evidence and explain your legal options.  Typically, a plaintiff may bring a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit if another person’s actions caused injuries to oneself or a loved one. In order to be successful in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove that:

  • The defendant owed the bicyclist a duty of care.  This element is likely satisfied if both the defendant and the bicyclist were sharing a public road.
  • The defendant breached the duty of care by failing to act like a reasonable person would have given the circumstances at the time of the accident.  Your attorney can help you understand whether the defendant’s actions are likely to meet this standard under Illinois law.
  • The defendant’s actions were the proximate cause of the bicyclist’s injuries.  In other words, the injuries were predominately caused by the actions of the defendant and not by the bicyclist himself or by another cause.
  • The plaintiff is entitled to damages pursuant to Illinois law because the plaintiff proved the above three elements of his or her case.

Which Illinois Bicycle Accident Attorney Should I Contact?

It is important to contact an Illinois bicycle accident attorney with experience handling negligence cases in general and bicycle accidents specifically.

Dolan Law Offices represents bicycle accident victims throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County, and the towns of Aurora, Addison, Chicago Heights, Joliet, Hillsdale, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Des Plains, Schaumburg, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Inverness, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Bartlett, Itasca, Bloomingdale and Oak Park.

Please contact us today for a free consultation.  The Chicago bicycle accident attorneys of Dolan Law Offices will not collect a fee from you unless your case results in a monetary verdict or settlement.