Bicycle Accident

Record Results For Injured Bicyclists

In Illinois, victims of preventable accidents have the right to recover compensation for their damages by pursuing civil personal injury lawsuits against at-fault parties.

If you or your loved one were injured while riding a bicycle by a careless driver, unsafe property conditions, or some other act of negligence, our award-winning Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Power Rogers may be able to help you fight for the financial recovery you deserve.

Why Power Rogers?

Power Rogers has recovered millions for injured bicyclists and pedestrians and holds the record for the largest bicycle accident recovery in Illinois history – a $17.5M settlement for a bicyclist struck by a tractor-trailer.

Other reasons to choose our firm:

• We have recovered more than $5 billion in compensation for clients, including $900 million more than our closest competitor since the year 2000.
• We have been ranked the “No. 1 Plaintiff’s Law Firm” in most dollars earned for clients by Chicago Lawyers magazine’s Annual Settlement Survey 11 years in a row.
• Our attorneys have earned national recognition from The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Lawdragon 500, and many other leading legal organizations.

Speak with a Chicago attorney about a potential bicycle accident lawsuit. Call 312-210-8411 or contact us online for a FREE case evaluation.

We Set The Record For The Largest Bike Accident Recovery In Illinois

Power Rogers has won record results in a range of cases involving serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and traffic accidents. This includes the largest financial recovery, settlement or verdict, for a bicycle accident victims in Illinois history – $17.5 million.

Our record bicycle accident result was recovered in October 2019 for a client who was cycling next to a curb when a negligent truck driver made a right turn without adequately checking their surroundings, causing our client to fall off her bicycle and into the path of the truck’s rear tires.

Other facts about the case:

• Our client suffered serious crush injuries that necessitated a leg amputation below the knee. She also suffered a fractured arm, fractured pelvis, and severe road rash.
• While the defense argued our client was not following appropriate bike etiquette at the time of the crash, attorney Joseph A. Power Jr. was able to prove that because there was no designated bike lane on the street where the crash occurred, she was legally cycling next to the curb.
• Our team also gathered evidence of a video recording captured from a nearby building and testimony from an accident reconstruction expert that showed the trucker accelerated when making the right turn and failed to notice the victim’s bicycle in the process.

This record recovery was a needed victory for our client, who will use the funds to pay for her extensive medical bills, future medical expenses, and prosthetic limbs. The recovery also compensated our client for her significant pain and suffering and other economic and non-economic losses.

Bicycle Accident Statistics In Chicago

Although Chicago has hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes and big plans to become one of the nation’s most bike-friendly cities, accidents and injuries still happen frequently.

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), bicyclists in Chicago are 5 times more likely to be injured or killed in a crash than people in vehicles. Here are some additional statistics from CDOT and the Active Transportation Alliance about bicycle accidents in the Chicago region.

• In 2016, there were nearly 7,000 bicycle and pedestrian crashes in the Chicago region and more than 100 fatalities.
• A bicyclist or pedestrian was injured every two hours in area traffic crashes in 2016.
• 25% of bicycle crashes are hit-and-run collisions.

When And Where

• Most bicycle crashes resulting in injury happen between 4:00 and 7:00 pm; most fatal crashes happen between 8:00 pm and midnight.
• In the Chicago region, Cook County and the City of Chicago see the most bicycle crashes, followed by DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and Kendal Counties.
• Roughly half of all bike crashes happen in the summer months of June, July, and August.
• Over 55% of injury and fatal bike crashes happen at intersections.

Bike Crash Causes

• The most common driver error in bicycle crashes is failure to yield the right of way.
• Other dangerous driving behaviors include speeding, distracted driving or cellphone use, driving under the influence, and disobeying traffic signs and signals.

Who Is Liable For Your Bicycle Accident?

That depends on what happened in your crash.

While it is important to identify all possible causes and contributing factors based on the specific facts of a case, victims may generally bring personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits against parties whose negligence was a substantial cause of their accidents, or who are otherwise liable for injuries.

This may include:

• A negligent motorist who causes a car crash with a cyclist.
• A truck driver or trucking company responsible for a commercial truck accident.
• A government entity, contractor, or transit operator responsible for bus vs. bicycle accidents, or poorly maintained roadways
• Manufacturers, distributors, or retailers of defective products, including defective bikes, bike parts, or safety gear.
• A premises owner that failed to address dangerous property conditions.
• A pet owner responsible for a bicycle crash resulting from an animal attack or dog bite.

In Illinois, a recently passed bill known as Dennis’s Law makes it clear that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Unfortunately, not every motorist upholds their duty to safely operate a vehicle or share the road with riders. When their negligence results in injury, victims have every right to pursue a recovery of their damages.

Compensation For Bicycle Accident Victims

Bicyclists are highly vulnerable to serious and fatal injuries, including broken bones, brain injuries, spine injuries, and tissue damage. These injuries can change the lives of victims and their families forever.

Given the potential for far-reaching repercussions, bicycle accident victims often need substantial compensation for damages such as:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Lost enjoyment or quality of life
• Other emotional and financial damages

At Power Rogers, we know bicycle accidents can be devastating, which is why we fight aggressively to recover the maximum compensation possible – both for past losses and expected future damages.

In one case handled by our firm, for example, we secured a $7.75 million settlement for a bicyclist struck and partially run over by a right-turning truck as she was crossing the street.

Our client suffered symptoms of PTSD and injuries to her pelvis and abdomen resulting in permanent scarring and the potential need for long-term use of a diverting colostomy. Although this particular recovery did not provide for lost income because our client was not working at the time (personal injury victims can recover lost earnings when they miss work or are unable to earn the same income after their accidents), it did account for her future medical needs and pain and suffering.

Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Victims Across Illinois

Power Rogers has helped numerous victims and families obtain needed compensation following preventable accidents. Backed by extensive resources, we handle all up-front costs associated with litigating a case, and only collect a fee when a successful recovery is made.

After an accident, our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys can evaluate your options and explain how we may be able to help you hold at-fault party(s) accountable. Contact us to request a FREE consultation.